Kentucky State University has received approval from the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to launch a new master of science degree program in sports analytics. The program will be the first master’s degree under the HBCU’s exercise science discipline.
A fully online, accelerated program, the master’s degree in sports analytics will prepare students to turn complex information into actionable insights in athletics and other data-driven fields. The curriculum emphasizes applied decision-making using analytics tools that are standard across the U.S. sports industry, including machine learning, predictive modeling, and visualization. Students will also receive training in performance analysis, business management, and commercialization.
“This new program is built to balance academic foundations with practical application,” said the program’s developer, Patrese A. Nesbitt, assistant professor of exercise science. “Students will learn to turn complex information into clear insights that support better decisions — whether they’re working in athletics, education, or another sector where data is shaping strategy and outcomes.”
Dr. Nesbitt holds a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina, a master’s degree in health promotion and exercise science from California University of Pennsylvania, and a doctor of public health degree from Walden University.
