The NSU master's in sports performance and leadership is a unique degree that prepares you for coaching and coaching-related occupations.
About The Program
This graduate program combines exercise science and sport management coursework to provide comprehensive knowledge and experiences for graduates to be successful.
Our faculty are dedicated to helping students succeed in and out of the classroom. Students in this program are also often concurrently graduate assistants in NSU’s athletics programs. The unique experiences help many go on to work as high school or collegiate coaches.
Students must pass written and oral examinations before graduating.
Our program provides the breadth and depth of knowledge necessary to successfully:
- Work with intercollegiate or professional sports teams in coaching or sports management roles
- Lead athletic programs in educational or private settings
- Preparing you to further your education within the areas of exercise science or allied health professions
A capstone experience consisting of an internship or research project is required for program completion. Our faculty work with you to identify internship or research opportunities that match your career and professional interests.
Our Faculty
Specialty
Exercise physiology with research laboratory techniques training in biochemistry, molecular biology, and skeletal muscle physiology.
Courses Taught
Program Design for Strength and Conditioning
Applied Sport Physiology
Clinical Exercise Physiology (New Course Development/Offered 24)
Neuromuscular Exercise Physiology (New Course Development/Offered 25)
Awards
Graduate Student Research Award, Third Place, Southeast Chapter of the American College of
Sports Medicine, 28th Annual Meeting, Charlotte, NC, 2000
Outstanding Graduate Student Award in Exercise Science, Georgia State University, 1999
Outstanding Graduate Student Award in Exercise Science, Georgia State University, 1998
Research Interests
My primary research passion centers on fostering collegial and professional relationships with primary care…

At the University of South Carolina, Dr. Shortt studied physical literacy, K-12 sport and physical activity (PA) policy, and child/adolescent PA behaviors in and out of educational settings. The publication of Dr. Shortt’s dissertation, "Conceptualizing Physical Literacy for Assessment of High School Students in the United States," can be found at University of South Carolina Scholar Commons.
Dr. Shortt is Northern's SPL graduate coordinator, chair of the Sports Sciences Department, and faculty athletic representative. She is a member of the International Physical Literacy Association and serves as a country lead.
Dr. Shortt is dedicated to enhancing undergraduate and graduate research and providing advanced hands-on learning opportunities at Northern.