Campus News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Dec. 11, 2024

Rockford, Illinois- Rockford University is thrilled to announce the addition of two new master’s degree programs in the Kinesiology department: Master of Science in Exercise Physiology (MSEP) and Master of Arts in Sport Management and Leadership (MASL). 

The MSEP degree is designed for individuals interested in advancing careers in personal health and wellness training, health promotion, and physical rehabilitation. Students who earn a Master of Science in Exercise Physiology degree will have numerous career opportunities, including roles as exercise physiologists, cardiac rehabilitation specialists, clinical research assistants, and physical therapy aides.

The MASL degree is designed for individuals passionate about the sport management industry. Graduates will be equipped for careers such as athletic coaches, athlete development specialists, athletic directors, business development coordinators, and more.

“These two (degree programs), sports management and leadership and exercise physiology, are really geared towards the scholars (RU students) that are thinking about what’s next,” said Dr. Cathy Headley, Associate Professor of the Kinesiology Department, who helped create both programs. “Students continuing their education here creates a legacy and commitment to Rockford University.”

Both programs will launch in Fall 2025 and feature courses that will be 8 weeks in duration and delivered asynchronously online.

Dr. Headley adds that she believes these graduate programs will provide a unique opportunity for Rockford University to invite potential students from outside of the area. 

Learn more about each of the new master’s degrees by going to rockford.edu/admission/graduate/master-of-exercise-physiology and rockford.edu/admission/graduate/master-of-sport-management-and-leadership.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Rockford University Marketing and Communications

communications@rockford.edu 

About Rockford University
Rockford University, formerly Rockford College, is a four-year, co-educational institution founded in 1847 offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in traditional liberal arts and professional fields. The undergraduate program offers approximately 80 majors, minors, and concentrations, including three 100% online majors through the RU Online program. Five master’s degrees are offered through the graduate program, including Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Master of Education (M.Ed.), Master of Arts in Sport Management & Leadership (MASM), and Masters of Science in Exercise Physiology (MSEP). 

Rockford University is home to one of only 11 Phi Beta Kappa (PBK) chapters in Illinois, the most prestigious honor society in the United States. Rockford University is proud to hold the prestigious Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement, an elective classification that highlights our dedication to meaningful and impactful partnerships within our local and regional communities. Named by The Princeton Review as a Best Midwestern College and a U.S. News & World Report Best Midwest Regional University, Rockford University currently serves approximately 1,200 full- and part-time students.

By Kayla Eddy, Social Media & Web Coordinator 

In the Fall 2023 semester, the Regents Esports Overwatch team won the conference championships, prevailing over Camden County College. In addition to their conference win, they finished the season undefeated (8-0).

In response to this exciting win, Tanner Elliott, Esports Director, said, “The Regents Esports team fought hard this semester with all three teams qualifying for playoffs. Each player put countless hours of time and dedication into their season and it showed, coming out on top over schools like Illinois State, John Brown University, North Dakota State, Nebraska University, and many others. The Regents Rainbow Six Siege team finished in the top 16 in the Midwest after playing in the MidwestR6 league, the Regents Valorant team placed third overall in their conference (East 7), and the season ended with a conference title win as the Regents Overwatch team finished a flawless season (8-0) and took home the East 10 Conference title. I could not be more proud of the players; watching each of them grow into champions has been the highlight of my semester.”

Conference wins were not the only big things happening in the Esports department. Early in the Spring 2024 semester, Regents Esports teamed up with Elgin High School Esports to release Game Changer: An Esports Story. In the social media video, students from Elgin and RU answered the question: “Why Esports?”

Aside from a place to share their passion for video games, the Esports teams at RU and Elgin said that Esports helps students learn about teamwork and digital literacy, allows them to push boundaries, and helps them build strong communities and friendships. 

The team has also announced the availability of Esports scholarships for both players and fans. Scholarships are available in two areas: Varsity Competition and Support. Competition scholarships are for students who would like to play Overwatch, Valorant, Rainbow 6 Siege, and Rocket League competitively. Support scholarships are for students who would like to assist with social media, production, shout-casting, and graphic design. 

So, what’s next for Regents Esports? 

“Rockford University Esports is on the way to becoming a premier destination for college students with aspirations to be a Collegiate Esports Player,” said Tanner Elliot. “We are developing a program that we can be proud of, where athletes can be excited and motivated to compete, and where athletes can thrive academically and in competition. We are hoping to continue to grow our program, bring in new players, and show Rockford off.”

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This article is part of the 2023-2024 issue of Catalyst.