Strength + Conditioning

You love to push yourself to peak athletic performance, and you have a knack for motivating others to do the same. As a strength + conditioning major at Northwestern, you'll learn to help athletes reach their full potential. And through our Christ-centered approach, you'll discover how faith informs both performance and purpose. You'll not only train bodies but also inspire others to recognize the God who created them.

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

Why NWC?

In addition to exercise science courses, you'll study specific techniques, methods, and strategies of strength and conditioning while gaining real-world experience developing and executing athlete training programs. Whether your goal is to coach, obtain the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certification, or pursue graduate study in related fields, you'll graduate ready to make a difference.

Northwestern's kinesiology faculty bring professional experience in coaching, teaching and client care. Working alongside professors, you'll participate in research and athlete performance training projects. You'll also receive academic support through free tutoring, including a professional science tutor and more than 70 student science tutors. Related study opportunities include minors in entrepeneurship, health, leadership studies, psychology and Spanish, as well as a coaching endorsement.

CONTACT

Kyle Ochsner '09Program Director

CONNECT WITH US

100%GRAD ASSISTANT PLACEMENT100% of NWC strength + conditioning students who pursue a graduate assistant coaching role are hired.

450HOURSSpend up to 450 hours learning in the weight room, including a year of developing and implementing training programs.

ELITEINTERNSHIPSFollow in the footsteps of alumni who have interned at Cressey Sports Performance, UFC Performance Institute and major universities.

BIG 10LEADERSHIPNorthwestern alumni are directing men's basketball athletic performance at the University of Iowa and Penn State.

Outcomes

Northwestern's strength + conditioning program can open doors to careers in performance coaching, athletic training, physical therapy, sports analytics, occupational therapy and more. The average salary of a strength + conditioning coach is more than $64,000, and jobs in the profession are expected to grow as much as 20% by 2031.

Join our standout alumni at:

Resolute Performance

Fayetteville, AR

Penn State University

University Park

University of North Carolina

Chapel Hill

U.S. Space Force

Colorado Springs, CO

#RaidersStandOut

ALUMNI

**Andrew** Deeply impressed by the positive experiences of his older sister at Northwestern—especially her academic success and the many lasting friendships she made—Andrew decided to follow in her footsteps.

FACULTY

**Kyle** Professor Ochsner directs the strength + conditioning major while also overseeing the strength + conditioning programs for many of Northwestern’s athletic teams.

Experience

Department mission

Compass Center for Career & Calling

Internships

Facilities

NWC Performance Clinic

Sports + fitness

Off-campus study

Northwestern's kinesiology department prepares students to follow Christ and pursue God's redeeming work in the world through vocational callings in health, fitness, exercise and sport by promoting discipline-specific knowledge, skills and perspectives within a Christ-centered and biblically based worldview.