From wearable tech that tracks an athlete's heartbeat to cleats designed for speed and acceleration, the world of sports is powered by engineering. Behind every innovation meant to help a player, is a team of experts who understand not just how athletes move but how to optimize their performance through data and design. Now, the University of Miami is training the next generation of those innovators with a new Master of Science in Sports Engineering.
The new program, a collaboration between the College of Engineering and the Department of Kinesiology and Sport Sciences in the School of Education and Human Development, is an interdisciplinary program integrating mechanical engineering, biomechanics, materials science, and human physiology to prepare graduates for careers in the booming sports tech industry or for further academic research in the field.
"We developed this program to meet the growing demand for professionals at the intersection of engineering and sports," said Francesco Travascio, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering. "It combines a solid foundation in engineering with knowledge in kinesiology and sports medicine, giving students a unique interdisciplinary perspective to tackle real-world challenges in human performance."
Joining Travascio in leading the program is Moataz Eltoukhy, associate professor in kinesiology and sport sciences, whose expertise in biomechanics and human performance adds a vital dimension to the curriculum.
"Biomechanics plays a critical role in advancing sports engineering by allowing us to understand and quantify how the body moves under real-world conditions," said Eltoukhy. "Through hands-on experience with state-of-the-art motion capture techniques, including emerging artificial intelligence-based markerless systems, our students learn to merge scientific precision with innovative design to improve athletic performance and injury prevention."
While students will dive deep into product design, kinesiology coursework provides critical context about how technology interacts with the body, whether it's measuring muscle function, capturing real-time movement data, or preventing injury.
Research opportunities will be available in both Travascio's and Eltoukhy's labs, with a third rotation taking place at the University's Institute of Sports Medicine with Dr. Thomas Best. A physician-scientist with a clinical focus on sports injuries, injury prevention and the treatment of osteoarthritis, Best brings a medical perspective that complements the program's engineering and kinesiology components.
The curriculum includes a South Florida advantage that combines proximity to professional sports franchises, elite sports medicine providers and a growing startup ecosystem focused on health and technology. Surrounded by year-round athletic activity and industry innovation, students can apply their research and engineering skills in real-world settings, from professional training facilities to emerging sports technology companies.
