Villanova Engineering Launches Master of Science in Sports and Performance Engineering
麻豆村鈥檚 College of Engineering is expanding its graduate offerings in Fall 2026 with the launch of a new Master of Science in Sports and Performance Engineering (MSSPE). One of the first degrees of its kind of the country, the forward-looking MSSPE program is designed to address challenges in human performance through innovative, human-centered engineering.
The program builds on the success of the College鈥檚 Sports and Performance Engineering Initiative, established in 2022 to advance interdisciplinary research focused on improving performance both on and off the field. While athletics and sports technology are a natural focus, the initiative鈥攁nd now the graduate program鈥攅mbraces a much broader vision: leveraging engineering and technology to help all people live healthier, more capable and more fulfilling lives.
鈥淰illanova鈥檚 new MS program fills a critical gap in education in the field of sports and performance engineering,鈥� says Ani Ural, PhD, director of the MSSPE program and a professor of Mechanical Engineering. 鈥淰illanova is uniquely positioned to house this program as it brings together cutting-edge engineering with a strong athletics culture. This program offers students an unparalleled opportunity to learn from Villanova鈥檚 expert faculty, tackle real-world challenges and lead innovations that help people achieve peak performance.鈥�
Faculty and student projects supported through the initiative have addressed challenges faced not only by athletes, but also by individuals with autism, Alzheimer鈥檚 disease, and other neurological or muscular conditions. Through applications ranging from wearable biosensors and biomechanics to analytics, materials and human-centered design, the work seeks to enhance human performance across diverse settings鈥攆rom the playing field to the classroom to the boardroom and beyond.
Sports and performance engineering is a rapidly emerging field, driven by the growth of the global sports industry and the expanding use of advanced technologies to prevent injury, optimize performance and design next-generation equipment and systems. Despite growing demand for engineers with this expertise, Villanova will be among only a small number of U.S. institutions offering a dedicated graduate degree in sports and performance engineering鈥攁nd one of the few grounded squarely within an engineering college.
With a strong Division I athletics tradition, proximity to major professional sports organizations and nationally recognized engineering programs, Villanova is exceptionally well-suited to lead in this space. The new degree provides a formal academic home for sports and performance engineering within the College, fostering collaboration among faculty, students and industry partners.
The 30-credit MSSPE program is designed for both full-time students and working professionals and offers thesis and nonthesis options. Courses are delivered in a flexible, hybrid format that can be completed fully online. Core coursework includes Sports and Performance Engineering, Quantitative Physiology, and Sports Analytics for Engineers, complemented by electives in areas such as machine learning, biomechanics, wearable sensing, materials engineering and control systems. Students culminate their studies through a capstone design project or research thesis focused on real-world performance challenges.
The program is also available through a five-year combined BS/MS pathway, enabling qualified Villanova Engineering undergraduates to earn both degrees on an accelerated timeline.
鈥淐onsistent with Villanova鈥檚 mission, Sports and Performance Engineering advances research that improves the human condition for all individuals, strengthening our commitment to using engineering for the betterment of society,鈥� says Michele Marcolongo, PhD, PE, the Drosdick Endowed Dean of the College of Engineering.
For more information, visit engineering.villanova.edu.