Why Northwestern?
Why Northwestern?
Why Northwestern?
Turn your passion for sports into purposeful coaching leadership. At Northwestern, you’ll prepare to serve students and your community by earning your Coaching Endorsement through a program grounded in leadership, mentorship, and practical application. Our for-credit Coaching Endorsement is designed for current educators—or those preparing to enter the classroom—who want to add a coaching endorsement to their teaching license. The program meets all State of Iowa requirements and leads to an Iowa Endorsement #101 (K-12). This endorsement can be seamlessly added to your existing or future license, equipping you to lead with confidence both on and off the field.
Not teaching in the state of Iowa? We will check with your state’s department of education to determine if this endorsement can be substituted for a certification in your state.
Don’t have a teaching license?
Then our Coaching Authorization program is for you. This program is a non-credit option intended for those who are not licensed teachers. This program certifies you to coach in the state of Iowa.
Application Requirements
Application Requirements
Application Requirements
No GRE required. No application fee.
Application materials reviewed on a rolling basis. They will be evaluated as they are received.
No GRE required. No application fee.
Application materials reviewed on a rolling basis. They will be evaluated as they are received.
No GRE required. No application fee.
Application materials reviewed on a rolling basis. They will be evaluated as they are received.
Official transcripts showing a degree from an accredited institution.
- Official transcripts are needed from your bachelor’s degree institution.
- No undergraduate transcripts are required of NWC alumni.
Send official transcripts to [email protected] or
Northwestern College
Graduate & Professional Studies
101 7th St SW Orange City, IA 51041
Degrees from colleges accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education [ABHE] or affiliated with the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges & Universities [TRACS] will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Applicants with a GPA under 3.0 may be eligible for conditional admission on a case-by-case basis.
Documentation of valid teaching license.
A digital or scanned copy from your state’s Department of Education website is sufficient.
Program Specifics
Application Requirements
Application Requirements
7 credit program
7 credit program
7 credit program
Please note: Classes are online, but include some out-of-class, hands-on experience in the athletic taping unit. You will need to find a taping mentor in your area (another coach or an athletic trainer) to evaluate your taping in person.
Ready to learn more?
Ready to learn more?
Ready to learn more?
Frequently asked Coaching Endorsement questions:
Frequently asked Coaching Endorsement and Authorization questions:
Frequently asked Coaching Endorsement and Authorization questions:
Both the authorization and endorsement qualify you to be an assistant or head coach for any sport. Because an endorsement is added to a teaching license, the endorsement is designed for licensed teachers and must be taken for college credit. The content for the authorization and endorsement is similar, but additional coursework is assigned to those taking the endorsement to earn college credit. No college credit is required to earn a coaching authorization, and therefore Northwestern is able to offer it at a lower cost.
You will learn about anatomy and physiology as it relates to student-athletes, care and prevention of athletic injuries, and theories of coaching.
Like traditional onsite classes, you’ll read, watch demonstrations (pre-recorded) interact in online class discussions, practice skills, and work on assignments to help you learn. Discussions take place in forums that operate like instant messenger or email. Hands-on practice takes place during the taping unit.
The courses are 100% online. However, the athletic taping unit does require some out-of class, hands-on experience. You will need to find a taping mentor in your area (another coach or an athletic trainer) to evaluate your taping in person.
Books need to be purchased separately from the Northwestern online bookstore or another source. The textbook information will be available when you register for the course.
You will also need to purchase athletic tape for the taping unit, which can be found at your local drug store or supercenter for a minimum cost.
Yes, you may cancel your registration any time before the first day of the class. On the first day we finalize contracts for our faculty based on the number of students registered, so if you choose to cancel after the first day, no refund will be given.
Life happens. We understand that! You may certainly drop the program if you are unable to complete it. Because we hire faculty for this program based on the number of students registered, we cannot refund your registration if you decide to step out of the program.
No, you are not able to change from authorization to endorsement after the course begins. If you change your mind after you have started or finished the authorization and wish to take the courses for credit, you must re-enroll in a future term.
After successfully completing the coaching endorsement course:
- Request your Northwestern transcript through Parchment
Order transcripts - Add the endorsement to your Iowa teaching license through the BOEE website
Your coaching endorsement is added to a valid teaching license.
Faculty + staff
Brilliant scholars. Committed Christians. Invested in you. That’s Northwestern’s faculty.
