This is a critical question. It is one that needs some sort of perspective. For context, I have two Bachelor’s Degrees (Mathematics and Movement Science) and two Masters Degrees (Exercise Science – Strength and Conditioning and Exercise Science – Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention). When I say things in this blog post, such as a Masters Degree is not a good investment, it’s coming from a place of high value on continuing education compared to the return on investment. 

I think we should question the notion of masters degrees for S&C coaching being a prerequisite. It’s a simple math equation. Masters degrees are anywhere from 40-100k, and most full time S&C jobs start off in the 30-40k range. To make matters worse, there will probably be a necessary amount of time allocated to unpaid experience prior to that initial 30-40k job. Which would further time allocated towards not making money while still paying back the amount you owe for the education. 

If we were to say it was simply bad math, that would be one thing, but it’s more than that. It’s attempting to demonstrate control over something that we have no control over with our career. It’s hard to get inroads with certain networks or time the hiring cycle with a higher profile team. You cannot readily control being hired, but you can always invest more into your education. 

But that creates a paradox. Masters degrees are a strategy to increase your value, and therefore your compensation. In S&C masters degrees are a means to continue positive momentum while you are waiting for your opportunity. You will not get a raise or be paid higher with a masters degree. You will essentially make the pool smaller for candidate credentials. Which makes another paradox – masters degrees become a requirement to get a job, but candidates will not be paid more because of it. 

When I started as an S&C coach, masters degrees were a way to increase the  credibility of our industry. The idea being that if we just had a more solid foundation as a science, we could increase our profession’s presence within athletic departments. In large part we have done so, but this was not the product of having more coaches with masters degrees. It was the product of forging relationships and working incredibly hard. 

The question should be: what do I do if I don’t get a masters degree? It is rather simple, but it comes down to how good you are. If you are actually good at coaching, this will work like a charm. You need to make your network so big that every job that opens means you are the first person mentioned. It will involve getting experience with multiple staff. The trick is timing your window and being positioned to leave no doubt on you being ‘the guy’. 

Every S&C Staff will take on volunteers. Your job is to find out how to get a good reference. Most will be a semester, but if you are savvy you can know exactly how long you will be needed for. That will be the timeline where you will actually be needed. Summer training is traditionally June-July, Winter is January-February, and Fall is non existent for Football. Why pay rent for an extra month when you do not have to? As someone that has had several interns, cutting interns loose when they are no longer needed is a godsend. It’s not the worst thing in the world to move on when you are not needed any longer. It’s just simply a matter of asking. 

While you are there, bust your ass. Be the first to arrive and last to leave. With everything you are asked to do, do a great job. If they have a library of books or educational materials, read everything. If another coach asks you to help with their team, jump at it. If a coach asks you to go to a home game/match with them, go! My point is to make yourself indispensable. But the trick is to set a timeline for yourself – understand up front that this is transactional. Combine that with cutting back on time vested. You can leave a more lasting impression by avoiding staying longer than you should. 

You are there to lighten the load for the staff. You are not there to be taken advantage of. Really, you’re there to establish your network and one day get a job. As your internship comes to an end, if you did it right you will get a series of questions about what you are doing next, and possibly the question of would you be interested in working here one day. When that moment comes, take it as a compliment but don’t let it go to your head. How you respond to that determines how you will be perceived. 

The point of a masters degree is to get a job or increase your potential value. We lose sight of that. The most linear path to getting a job is making your network understand how valuable you are. The bigger the network, the better your odds. If at a certain point you want to pursue getting a masters degree after you get a job, it may not hurt to ask your employer if the school could cover that. Better, if you were to get a masters degree would you be compensated more? If the answer is no, why bother? 

Filling time with something that costs a multiple years salary is not smart, irony intended. Masters degrees are not prerequisites for a job, and it is sure as hell not your responsibility to elevate a field that does not reward that mindset. Your job is to get a job. Masters degrees are not as strongly associated with getting a job as it is currently portrayed.