The University of Miami has announced a new Master of Science in Sports Engineering, developed through a partnership between the College of Engineering and the Department of Kinesiology and Sport Sciences within the School of Education and Human Development. The program aims to prepare students for careers in sports technology or further academic research by combining mechanical engineering, biomechanics, materials science, and human physiology.
“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.”
Moataz Eltoukhy, associate professor in kinesiology and sport sciences, will co-lead the program. Eltoukhy emphasized the importance of biomechanics: “Biomechanics plays a critical role in advancing sports engineering by allowing us to understand and quantify how the body moves under real-world conditions,” he said. “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.”
Students enrolled in the program will engage deeply with product design while also studying how technology interacts with human physiology. Coursework will cover topics such as muscle function measurement, movement data capture, and injury prevention.
Research opportunities are available across multiple labs led by Travascio and Eltoukhy. Additionally, students can participate in rotations at the University’s Institute of Sports Medicine under Dr. Thomas Best. Dr. Best is known for his work on sports injuries, injury prevention strategies, and osteoarthritis treatment.
The curriculum leverages South Florida’s proximity to professional sports teams, leading sports medicine providers, and an expanding startup community focused on health technology. This location allows students practical exposure to industry innovation through placements at training facilities or technology companies.
