KIN 829 | Safety and Injury Control

Summer semester

3 credits

Course topics: Emergency action planning; managing the health and safety of sport participants; prevention, care, and management of injuries; concussion knowledge and awareness

Past instructors: Jessica Wallace, Ph.D., ATC (University of Alabama) (2016-present)

KIN 846 | Sociocultural Issues for Sport Practitioners

Summer semester (new course for 2021)

3 credit

Course topics: Intersections between broader social issues and sport. Institutional structures, social interactions, and cultural norms/values of sport. Social context and the interplay between sport and social issues. Critical examination of sport and professional practice.

Past instructors: Andy Driska, PhD

KIN 849 | Theory and Practice of Modern Sport Leadership

Spring semester

3 credit

Course topics: Theories of management and organizational behavior in a sport context. Practical strategies and methods for management, development, and advancement of sport professionals, athletes, and stakeholders. Principles of diversity and equity and inclusive leadership.

Past instructors: Jeffrey MacCharles, PhD (2021); Andy Driska, PhD (2020)

KIN 850 | Special Topics in Sport Coaching and Leadership

Special topics courses are determined 6-12 months in advance and are offered when warranted. A description of the course topic and description will appear in the MSU schedule. Announcements of special topics are made through our program blog, email, and social media.

A student may count a maximum of 9 credits of Special Topics courses towards their academic program plan.

Past Special Topics Courses

• Summer 2020 – Social and International Perspectives on Sport Coaching and Leadership (Jennifer Roth, PhD, with Jill Kochanek and Pelle Kvalsund)
• Spring 2021 – Media, Communication, and Sport (Jeff MacCharles, PhD)

KIN 851 | The Sport Enterprise

Summer semester (new course for 2021)

3 credits

Course topics: Fundamental business aspects of the sport industry. Principles of marketing, communications, economics, budgeting and finance applied to sport. Principles and methods of revenue generation, management of expenditures through controlling and budgeting. Economic perspectives and theory in relation to sport entities and facilities.

Past Instructors: Jeff MacCharles, PhD

KIN 852 | Ethics in Sport Coaching and Leadership

Spring semester, Summer semester

1 credit

Course topics: Ethical decision-making processes and moral obligations of the sport coach and leaders.

Past instructors: Andy Driska, PhD; Jennifer Roth, PhD

KIN 853 | Athletic Administration and Governance

Fall semester

Please note this is a revised course that will resume in Fall 2022. It will be offered in this format under the label of KIN 850 Special Topics in Fall of 2021.

3 credits

Course topics: Governance structures and organization processes of professional, collegiate, scholastic, and amateur sport. Managerial and administrative governance activities. Structure and function of sport organizations. Policy issues and ethical questions.

Instructors: Jeff MacCharles, PhD (2021)

KIN 854 | Legal Aspects of Sport

Spring semester

3 credits

Course topics: General legal concepts, federal and state legislation, legal liabilities, duty of care for sport coaches and administrators. Legal issues in amateur sport, safety of sport participants and spectators, injury prevention and management.

Past instructors: Alex Breske, Compliance Coordinator for MSU Athletic Department (2019-present); Rick Atkinson, J.D., Assistant Director of Athletics for MSU (2007-2018)

KIN 855 | Psychosocial Bases of Coaching Athletes

Fall semester

3 credits

Course topics: Athlete motivation, motivational climates, and the social psychology of coaching and leadership. Instruction and reinforcement. Communication skills and leadership behaviors. Athlete mental health. Mental skills that enhance an athlete’s performance, including goal setting, self-talk, imagery, stress and arousal management, and attention management. Projects in motivational interviewing and imagery training.

Past instructors: Andy Driska, PhD (2014-present); Dan Gould, PhD (2013); Martha Ewing (2003-2012)

KIN 856 | Physical Bases of Coaching Athletes

Summer semester

3 credits

Course topics: Principles of anatomy, biomechanics, and physiology for coaching amateur athletes in various sports. Relationships between the biological bases of coaching and physical conditioning, and performance enhancement.

Past instructors: Tony Moreno, PhD (Eastern Michigan University) (2017-present); Scott Riewald, PhD (US Olympic and Paralympic Committee) (2011-2016)

KIN 857 | Promoting Positive Youth Development through Sport

Fall semester

3 credits

Course topics: Positive youth development through sport research. Models for fostering positive youth development through sport. Life skills through sport programs. Characteristics of effective youth coaches. Coaches as natural mentors. Youth sport coaching skills. The importance of program evaluation. Coaching coaches. Contemporary Issues.

Past instructors: Jennifer Roth, PhD (2018-present); Dan Gould, PhD (2007-2017)

KIN 865 | Stages of Athlete Development

Spring semester

3 credits

Course topics: Athletic development in childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood; Long-term athlete development model; Physical literacy; Impact of biological maturation on performance; Interpretation of developmental data; Impact of growth on performance; Applications in coaching and program management.

Past instructors: Jennifer Roth, PhD (2019, 2021); Robert Gibbs, PhD (2020); Andy Driska, PhD (2017-2018)

KIN 868 | Skill Development in Athletes

Spring semester

3 credits

Course topics: Motor learning principles applied to sport coaching. Constraints-led approaches to coaching. Individual, environmental, and task constraints. Methods of skill instruction. Use of video to review, reflect upon, and improve coaching practices.

Past instructors: Andy Driska, PhD (2016-2021)

KIN 872 | Coaching Science: Applied Research

Fall semester

3 credits

Please note this course is required in the first semester for all students in the MS degree program. This course will be re-titled The Science of Sport Coaching, Leadership, and Administration effective Fall 2022.

Course topics: Science of sport coaching, leadership, and administration. Professional and reflective learning strategies. Coaching and leadership philosophy. Scientific literacy, evidence-based practices, research translation, and applied inquiry. Research ethics training.

Past instructors: Andy Driska, PhD (2016-2021); Jennifer Roth, PhD (2019-2021)

KIN 880 | Sport Coaching and Leadership Practicum

Fall semester, Spring semester

3 credits

Course topics: Supervised practical experiences in specific sport or leadership programs. Video review and peer review of field experiences. Structured reflection on implementation and effectiveness. Planning and evaluation. Action plans.

Past instructors: Andy Driska, PhD (2017-2020); Jennifer Roth, PhD (2019-2021); Mary-Anne Reid, M.Ed. (2017-2020)

KIN 893 | Internship (Sport Administration)

Arranged with advisor

3 credits

Course topics: Supervised internship experience in a sport administration position. The student and advisor work together to arrange for the internship experience, which is completed towards the end of the student’s academic program plan. Enrollment in the course requires advisor and department approval with a student-initiated internship form.

Instructor: Jeff MacCharles, PhD

KIN 896 | Integrative Capstone in Sport Coaching and Leadership

Fall semester, Spring semester, Summer semester

2 credits

Students enroll in this course in their final semester of the MS degree program. The student should work with their advisor before the final semester to determine their plan for the capstone, either a novel project or a portfolio. Department approval, granted by the student’s advisor, is required to enroll in this course. Students may propose a capstone project before enrolling in this course on permission of the advisor.

Course topics: This is an independent capstone experience in which the student creates a product: either a novel product (such as a study, a set of learning materials, a manuscript for publication) or a portfolio that synthesizes and integrates their learning experiences relative to the program competencies. The student forms a committee (the advisor plus one other member) and completes a proposal meeting that consists of an oral examination and a presentation of their capstone product. After revising the product according the committee’s guidance, the student completes a defense meeting. After a successful defense meeting, the degree can be conferred.

Past instructors: Andy Driska, PhD (2017-2021); Jennifer Roth, PhD (2019-2021); Jeff MacCharles (2021)

(Elective) KIN 815 | Essentials of Strength and Conditioning

Spring semester

3 credits

Please note this course is not part of the core curriculum for the MS degree program, but may be arranged through discussion with the student’s advisor.

Course topics: Methods and techniques associated with design of strength and conditioning programs to enhance performance in sport and fitness.

Past instructors: Mike Vorkapich, MS, Master Strength and Conditioning Coach (CSCCa)

(Elective) KIN 890 | Independent Study

Any semester as arranged with and approved by a faculty member

3 credits

Please note this course is not typically offered. In rare circumstances where the student can propose a topic and find a faculty mentor for the independent study, this course may be used for elective credit in the student’s program plan. This arrangement should be discussed with the MS degree program coordinator in addition to the student’s advisor; it also requires a student-initiated application form. An independent study may be appropriate for a student with a unique topical interest and might consist of conducting an extensive literature review on that topic.

Course topics: Complete an independent study as planned and arranged with the supervision of a faculty member in the Department of Kinesiology.