Students may earn their degrees by taking all courses on campus or studying for two summers on campus and completing a mentorship or thesis in their local community. Students can also take the entire master's degree through distance learning, which requires being on campus only for the comprehensive examinations and graduation. This allows working professionals, including the military, to earn a master's degree while remaining on the job. Academy surveys show that a teacher receives a substantial increment for receiving a master's degree, depending upon the individual school districts. The Academy offers a Doctor of Sport Management degree.
Some students come to campus and stay until they complete their course work.
The program has been designed so students can come to campus for three summers to take required courses and take their other courses via individualized study. Students are able to tailor the direction of their study by addressing course papers and dissertations to topics or issues of interest within the field of management, such as medicine, fitness or coaching. The Academy has a comprehensive continuing education program which offers certification and diploma programs throughout the United States and various parts of the world. Certification courses serve a variety of needs. Many states or school districts require teachers to earn additional credits on a regular basis.