The term "tactical athlete" (TA) can refer to firefighters, police officers, emergency medical personnel, and military service members. Turn your passion for health and physical fitness into a rewarding career helping TAs improve their fitness, injury resilience, and occupational work capacity.
The Tactical Athlete Strength, Conditioning, and Injury Prevention certificate comprises 18 credits offered in an online/on-campus blended format. The mission of the program is to provide graduates with the foundational knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to improve the health and fitness of tactical populations, who face unique and demanding physical requirements.
Throughout the program, students will utilize a science-based approach in areas including exercise science, sports medicine, athletic training, exercise physiology, human performance, and strength and conditioning.
- Provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to address the specific strength and performance challenges faced by tactical athletes
- Give you the training you need to be competitive in the emerging—and growing—market surrounding tactical athlete testing, fitness, and injury prevention
- Help you work to improve the health of those who protect our communities
- Obtain knowledge in exercise science practices specific to emergency responders
- Identify injury risk factors
- Perform movement and fitness assessments
- Develop strength and conditioning programming to meet occupational needs of emergency responders
- Create corrective and preventative exercise programs to reduce injuries
Required Courses
Total Credits: 18
- 18 credits
- New cohort begins each June
- Instructors with expertise working with emergency responder populations
Fall Semester (classes starting in August) |
Spring Semester (classes starting in January) |
Summer Semester (classes starting in May, June, or July) |
Applications not accepted for this term |
Applications not accepted for this term |
Priority*: February 1
Space Available: May 15 |
For more information and to apply, visit the admissions website.
* Priority deadline ensures consideration for the intended semester as well as financial aid options for students. Programs will continue to review applications until at capacity. Some programs do not review applications past the priority deadline.
All application materials must be submitted through George Mason’s online graduate application. In addition to meeting general university admissions requirements, applicants will need to provide the requirements below.
To be considered for graduate studies, the following items are evaluated during the admission review process:
- Graduate application and fee
- 750- to 1,000-word written statement of your goals and interest in the program
- Current resume
- Two letters of recommendation: Applicants should follow the instructions included in the online application to submit the recommendation forms directly to their recommenders. Mason does not accept paper recommendations. Recommendations should be professional or academic in nature.
- Transcripts from all previous institutions attended in the United States. Please refer to the Office of Graduate Admissions information page for specific requirements regarding uploading unofficial transcripts.
- Applicants with transcripts from institutions outside of the United States could have additional requirements. Please refer to the How To Apply page for specific requirements about submitting international transcripts, evaluations, and English language proficiency.
Admission to graduate programs at George Mason University is competitive. Applicants are evaluated on the strength of their academic backgrounds, results of standardized exams (if required by the program), work experience, and any additional evidence of potential success in the program. Faculty admissions review is a holistic review of requirements as well as the applicant’s potential academic and professional success upon completion of the program.
At a minimum all admitted students must have:
- An earned baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution of higher education, or international equivalent, verified from official transcripts. Expectation of an earned baccalaureate prior to the first day of classes for the term for which the student is applying will also meet this requirement. See the graduate admissions policy for more information.
- A minimum 3.00 GPA on a 4.00 scale in baccalaureate study. Students with less than a 3.0 GPA are encouraged to apply, addressing previous academic challenges and highlighting evidence for future success in their goal statement.
- International students should reference Admission of International Students for additional requirements.
TUITION CLASSIFICATION |
COST PER CREDIT |
Virginia Resident |
$748.50 (includes MSF*) |
Non-Virginia Resident |
$948.50 (includes MSF*; discounted from $1,679.50) |
VA Resident and PK-12 VA Educator enrolled in a CEHD graduate program** |
$635.50 (includes MSF*) |
CEHD Course Fee |
$25 - $84 |
Total Cost for Virginia Residents per Credit |
$773.50 - $832.50 |
Total Cost for Non-Virginia Residents per Credit |
$979.50 - $1,038.50 |
Total cost for VA Resident and PK-12 VA Educator enrolled in a CEHD graduate program* |
$660.50 - $719.50 |
Graduate New Student Fee (non-refundable, one-time fee) |
$60 |
Please Note: Refer to the Students Accounts Office website for more information on tuition and fees. Internship courses will incur a higher course fee to fund on-site assistance involving intensive clinical training/supervision.
*Mandatory Student Fee (MSF): $159.50
**VA state residents who are eligible must apply for the 15% PreK-16 VA Educators Discount in order to take advantage of the lower tuition. Eligible students receive 15% off the total tuition and mandatory student fee.
For information on loans and scholarships, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid. For information regarding grants, tuition waivers, and other merit aid, please inquire with your graduate department. Also, many school districts offer tuition reimbursement options. Speak to your employer for more information.
Tactical Athlete Strength, Conditioning, and Injury Prevention Graduate Certificate Academic Advisor: Joel Martin
Forms
Current students should visit MyMason for important forms and documents.