Whether you're an Exercise Science major heading toward a coaching career or a student from any major who wants real credentialed coaching experience, GCU's 19-credit Coaching Certificate gets you there — with a hands-on internship built right in.
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You won't just study coaching — you'll coach. The certificate moves from foundational exercise science and coaching theory into administrative and psychological dimensions of athletics, then puts you in a real coaching internship before you finish.
The certificate is open to Exercise Science majors deepening their coaching expertise and to students from any discipline who want documented coaching experience — education majors headed toward athletics, business majors eyeing sport management, or anyone pursuing youth and community coaching roles.
Because the certificate shares its full course sequence with GCU's Coaching minor and concentration, you're getting an established, faculty-vetted curriculum — not a shortened version built just for the certificate.
Coaching at any level — youth sports, high school, college, or club — takes more than knowledge of a game. GCU’s Coaching Certificate builds the foundation real coaches need: exercise science fundamentals, First Aid/CPR certification, coaching theory, the administrative realities of running a sports program, and an understanding of the psychological and social dynamics athletes bring onto the field.
The program is structured so students apply what they learn immediately. After building a theoretical foundation, students complete a Coaching Internship — supervised, credit-bearing, real-world coaching experience that gives graduates something a classroom alone can’t: a track record.
The 19 required credits can be completed alongside a major in Exercise Science, Wellness & Sports, or taken independently by a non-major who wants coaching expertise without committing to a full minor.
The 19 credits required in this minor/concentration/certificate may be taken along with the major required courses to complete a major in exercise science, wellness, and sports. These courses may also be taken by a non-major who wishes to gain expertise in coaching athletes. Completion of all credits in the track will enable a non-major to earn the minor in Coaching.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| ES111 | Found Ex Science & Wellness | 3.0 |
| ES160 | First Aid & CPR | 1.0 |
| ES211 | Theory of Coaching | 3.0 |
| ES320 | Gender in Sports | 3.0 |
| or IH310 | Integrative Women’s Health | |
| ES360 | Administrative Aspects of Sport | 3.0 |
| ES392 | Coaching Internship | 3.0 |
| ES310 | Sport & Exercise Psychology | 3.0 |
| Total Credits | 19.0 | |
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