Master of Strength and Conditioning

Overview

If you’ve always wanted to work with athletes – or you’re a current practitioner who’d like to enhance your skills – La Trobe’s Master of Strength and Conditioning offers a unique opportunity to excel in this high-demand field as a qualified strength and conditioning coach. Enhance your career as you … For more content click the Read more button below. This course was developed in collaboration with the Australian Strength and Conditioning Association (ASCA), so you’ll learn the latest best practice. Our academic staff have a wealth of recent industry experience, and many have held positions with professional sporting teams, and state or national institutions. They have worked closely with development athletes through to Olympic medallists. Immerse yourself in La Trobe’s state-of-the-art sport and exercise facilities in Melbourne, including our Strength and Conditioning, Biomechanics, Physiology and Performance Analysis Labs. Located in La Trobe Sports Park, they boast the latest technology and research facilities. La Trobe Sports Park is also the new home to Rugby Victoria, Football Federation Victoria and Australia’s women’s national soccer team, the Matildas. You’ll benefit from both in-person and online learning. This flexible course includes four separate week-long blocks of intensive face-to-face classes and experiences in the first year , two of which are timed to coincide with the Australian Open and the AFL Grand Final. If you live interstate, it’s a fantastic time to visit Melbourne – one of the world’s top sporting cities – and meet likeminded professionals while you strengthen your skills and experience. Take advantage of La Trobe’s connections to Melbourne’s top sporting organisations and work directly with athletes from professional clubs and our extensive partner network in your second semester. You’ll also complete an applied industry project or research thesis as part of your studies, which will open up a pathway to further research and study in this exciting field. You’ll graduate confident, experienced and ready to take your coaching career to the next level – both here in Australia and sporting organisations around the world. You’ll learn:How to assess and develop strength, power, speed, agility and endurance qualitiesLearn how to design and implement training plans to improve the physical characteristics of athletes in preparation for competition.High-performance managementLearn how to work in high-performance environments and explore the principles underpinning an athlete’s success. You’ll learn how to design and deliver training plans across a range of sports and performance levels.CoachingLearn how to develop meaningful relationships with the athletes you work with and understand how to work with other stakeholders who can help improve their performance.Research methodsPlan and execute research projects that focus on strength and conditioning practice.

Enhance your career as you learn the latest skills and knowledge on strength, speed and endurance. You’ll study with expert academics and industry leaders as you learn how to work with elite, professional and amateur athletes – and help enhance their performance. You’ll investigate and work with diverse athlete populations, including para-athletes, able-bodied athletes, and athletes of different ages and cultural and gender identities.

This course was developed in collaboration with the Australian Strength and Conditioning Association (ASCA), so you’ll learn the latest best practice. Our academic staff have a wealth of recent industry experience, and many have held positions with professional sporting teams, and state or national institutions. They have worked closely with development athletes through to Olympic medallists.

Immerse yourself in La Trobe’s state-of-the-art sport and exercise facilities in Melbourne, including our Strength and Conditioning, Biomechanics, Physiology and Performance Analysis Labs. Located in La Trobe Sports Park, they boast the latest technology and research facilities. La Trobe Sports Park is also the new home to Rugby Victoria, Football Federation Victoria and Australia’s women’s national soccer team, the Matildas.

You’ll benefit from both in-person and online learning. This flexible course includes four separate week-long blocks of intensive face-to-face classes and experiences in the first year , two of which are timed to coincide with the Australian Open and the AFL Grand Final. If you live interstate, it’s a fantastic time to visit Melbourne – one of the world’s top sporting cities – and meet likeminded professionals while you strengthen your skills and experience.

Take advantage of La Trobe’s connections to Melbourne’s top sporting organisations and work directly with athletes from professional clubs and our extensive partner network in your second semester. You’ll also complete an applied industry project or research thesis as part of your studies, which will open up a pathway to further research and study in this exciting field.

You’ll graduate confident, experienced and ready to take your coaching career to the next level – both here in Australia and sporting organisations around the world.

You’ll learn:

How to assess and develop strength, power, speed, agility and endurance qualities
- Learn how to design and implement training plans to improve the physical characteristics of athletes in preparation for competition.
High-performance management
- Learn how to work in high-performance environments and explore the principles underpinning an athlete’s success. You’ll learn how to design and deliver training plans across a range of sports and performance levels.
Coaching
- Learn how to develop meaningful relationships with the athletes you work with and understand how to work with other stakeholders who can help improve their performance.
Research methods
- Plan and execute research projects that focus on strength and conditioning practice.

Portfolio

Office of the Provost

School

Course coordinator

Lachlan James

Location(s)

Melbourne (Bundoora)

CRICOS code

113592J

Course instance contact

Lachlan James

Course duration (full time)

1.5 years

Course duration (part time)

3 years

Study level

Postgraduate

AQF level

Level 9 - Masters Degree

Available only as an exit award

Study options

Domestic

International onshore

Completion requirements

To qualify for the award of Master of Strength and Conditioning, students must complete 180 credit points consisting of: 180 core credit-points

Course structure
180 credit points

Level one120 credit points

Core120 credit points

Level two60 credit points

Course intended learning outcomes

On successful completion you will be able to:

Evaluate and apply professional knowledge and skills autonomously or in a team, in a range of strength and conditioning settings, to a high standard.

Critically appraise evidence to make informed decisions and enhance human physical performance.

Critically reflect on professional practice to identify required continuing professional development.

Communicate and collaborate professionally with a diverse range of stakeholders using a range of communication strategies.

Plan and execute research projects that inform strength and conditioning practice.

Course features

Work based learning (placement) requirements

Compulsory placements (Work Based Learning)
During this course, you will participate in one or more supervised Work Based Learning (WBL) placements designed to allow you to practice newly acquired skills, behaviours and knowledge while integrating theory with practice. The placements will immerse you in professional work culture, enabling you to develop and further enhance your skills. WBL provides you with the opportunity to gain valuable industry experience at one or more of our local, interstate or international industry partners or agencies. WBL placements will generally be arranged by the Office of the Provost Placements and WBL Team at La Trobe University. The number of hours undertaken can vary considerably, depending on the requirements of the course. Students may incur additional costs and it may be necessary to travel or relocate to complete a specific placement. Please refer to the individual subject entries for more information.

Work integrated learning opportunities
A course that integrates theory with the practice of work.

Industry informed curriculum, Industry-informed projects

Career outcomes

After graduation, you could work with professional athletes across Australia and around the globe.

As a strength and conditioning coach, you’ll be equipped to support both elite and amateur athletes as they strive for peak performance. You could work with professional sports teams; performance training organisations; sport schools, academies and institutes; specialist and private schools; private practice; and other multi-disciplinary workplaces.

Professional recognition

The Master of Strength and Conditioning is accredited by the Australian Strength and Conditioning Association (ASCA). Graduates of the Master of Strength and Conditioning are eligible to obtain ASCA Level 2 Accreditation. Professional membership may have additional or ongoing requirements beyond the completion of the degree. Please contact the relevant professional body for details.

Internal course relationships

Nested

Graduate Diploma in Strength and Conditioning

Additional costs

WWCC

Police record check

First Aid and/or CPR

Immunisations - Course specific

Where a clinical placement will be undertaken in a health care setting, you may be required to provide immunisation/vaccination and health screening records. This is to help protect you from contracting vaccine-preventable diseases and/or from transmitting infection to clients. It is also required to ensure that State and Territory legislative requirements and contractual obligations to health care facilities are met. Prior to commencing a placement, students are required to meet all of the requirements of the degree in relation to immunisation and testing for blood borne viruses. Students must visit a medical practitioner who will complete and sign the Immunisation and Health Record form. Further information will be provided post enrolment.

Handbook