Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) offers an online Master of Science in Exercise Science and Health Promotion through its Global Online program, with sport psychology among the program’s career focus areas. PennWest is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, with its California campus located in California, PA.
California University of Pennsylvania was founded in 1852 and became part of Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) in 2022, following a merger with Clarion University and Edinboro University. PennWest is part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) and operates three campuses — California, Clarion, and Edinboro — as well as its Global Online program. Students exploring psychology doctoral programs in Pennsylvania will find PennWest among the state’s PASSHE-affiliated options.
Accreditation Details
PennWest holds regional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), which authorizes the university to confer undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees. This accreditation is a continuation of the legacy California University of Pennsylvania, which was first accredited by MSCHE in 1951. Program-level accreditations include the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) recognizes PennWest as its first academic partner for exercise science and health promotion programs.
Application Requirements
All applicants must submit a completed online application, official transcripts or GED documentation, and verified standardized test scores (SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, or TOEFL, depending on degree level). Application fees vary by program level and applicant status — current fee amounts are available on the PennWest admissions page.
Graduate applicants should review requirements for their specific program, which may include letters of recommendation, written essays, and documentation of prerequisite coursework. International applicants must provide all transcripts as English-certified translations verifying U.S. course equivalency.
Tuition and Financial Aid
For the 2025–2026 academic year, undergraduate per-credit tuition at the California campus is $333 for Pennsylvania residents and $500 for non-residents. Graduate per-credit tuition is $534 for in-state students and $801 for out-of-state students. The Global Online program uses the same in-state graduate rate of $534 per credit for Pennsylvania residents; out-of-state online graduate students pay $545 per credit.
Students can apply for a range of financial aid, including Federal Pell Grants, Federal Work-Study, Pennsylvania State Grants, and PennWest institutional scholarships. Federal student loans — including Stafford, PLUS Parent, and PLUS Graduate loans — are also available to eligible applicants.
Psychology Programs at Pennsylvania Western University
MS in Exercise Science and Health Promotion
PennWest offers a fully online Master of Science in Exercise Science and Health Promotion through its Global Online program. The program runs for 39–45 credits, depending on the track, and is designed for working professionals in the health, fitness, and performance fields. Sport psychology is among the career paths the program prepares graduates for, alongside performance coaching, wellness management, rehabilitation, and health promotion. Students who want to pursue sport psychology doctoral programs may use this MS as a stepping stone toward licensure-track graduate work.
Coursework covers exercise science and wellness; anatomy and human movement; endurance training; nutrition and peak performance; exercise physiology; physical assessments; exercise programming; wellness in industrial and clinical settings; and professional leadership development. The program does not currently offer named concentrations — students shape their focus through elective coursework and professional goals.
PennWest is the first academic partner of the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), which informs the exercise science curriculum through industry standards and strategic programming. Graduates are positioned for roles in sport performance, health promotion, and related wellness fields.
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