A Degree in Exercise and Sport Psychology

What is exercise and sport psychology? Exercise and sport psychologists are interested in the bidirectional relationships between physical activity and psychological well-being. They ask questions such as, "How does anxiety influence a basketball player’s accuracy at the free-throw line?" and "What is the relationship between physical fitness and children’s self-esteem?" Exercise and sport psychology, like other branches of psychology, includes teaching, research, and application. What careers are available in exercise and sport psychology? Some career possibilities include:

  • Coaching professional athletes
  • Coaching a general student population
  • Coaching mentally or physically disabled students
  • Counseling athletes
  • Counseling compulsive exercisers and people with eating disorders
  • Conducting research at a university
  • Teaching sport psychology at a college

What training is needed for a career in exercise and sport psychology? Exercise and sport psychologists receive their training through departments of psychology or sport sciences (e.g., physical education or kinesiology). Program content varies widely, so it is important to carefully select a program that supports one’s career goals. For example, a person who plans to professionally coach athletes will require different training than a person who wants to teach or conduct research at a university. Few training programs adequately integrate psychology and sport science. Therefore, regardless of which general program type a student selects (psychology or sport sciences), it is likely they will need to supplement their education in order to become certified. For instance, the U.S. Olympic Committee Sport Psychology Registry and the Association for Applied Sport Psychology recommend that psychology students take supplemental courses in exercise physiology and other aspects of sport sciences, and that sport science students take courses in counseling and other aspects of psychology. How much training is needed? Since few full-time positions in sport psychology are available, those who have only earned a master’s degree will be disadvantaged in their job search. Doctoral degrees are required for academic sport sciences, academic psychology, and clinical/counseling sport psychology. A master’s degree is sufficient for academic athletic counseling, coaching, and health promotion. Which schools offer training in exercise and sport psychology? Prospective students should consider graduate programs listed in the American Psychological Association’s Graduate Study in Psychology and those that are published by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). AASP charges for online access to their Directory of Graduate Programs in Applied Sport Psychology, but the publication may also be obtained from a library or guidance counselor. For your convenience, a sampling of programs is also provided below. Although most training programs are on campus, some training can also be completed online.

  • The University of Wisconsin at Madison boasts a strong program in kinesiology. M.S. and Ph.D. degrees are available with the following specializations: Biomechanics, Exercise Physiology, Exercise Psychology, Motor Control & Behavior, Occupational Therapy, Physical Activity Epidemiology, Physical Activity Pedagogy, and Therapeutic Science.
  • Ball State University‘s School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science offers master’s degrees with the following specializations: Adult Fitness/Cardiac Rehabilitation; Biomechanics; Exercise Physiology and Sport Performance; Adapted Physical Education; Coaching; Sports Administration; Sport Management; Sport and Exercise Psychology; and Teacher Education. Ball State offers a coaching program online.
  • Boston University awards the Ed.M. in Counseling with a specialization in Sport Psychology.
  • The Graduate School of Professional and Applied Psychology at Rutgers offers a concentration in sports psychology through its Psy.D. programs in clinical, organizational, and school psychology.

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