Online Sports Psychology Degree Programs

A sports psychology degree is a specialize degree in psychology that deals with is the study of mental and psychological and mental factors which affect, and are affected by participation and performance in exercise, sport, and physical activity.

A sports psychology degree draws from various disciplines that include sports science, psychology, and physical fitness. Sport psychology focuses on the activities in the brain psychology and kinesiology that seeks to understand psychological an mental factors that affect performance in sports, physical activity, and exercise. The field applies these to then enhance team and individual performance, and outcome. The discipline deals with increasing performance through managing emotions and minimizing psychological effects of poor performance and injury. The goal is to a) to understand how psychological factors affect physical performance and also to understand how participation in sports and exercise affects one’s psychological development, health, and well-being. Some skills that are learned in sport psychology are awareness, control, concentration, confidence, goal setting, visualization, self-talk, and using rituals.

Sport Psychology and Related Degree Programs

University of the Rockies

• Master of Arts in Psychology - Sports and Performance Psychology

Capella University - Online

• Master of Science (MS) in Sports Psychology

• Master of Science in Exercise Science and Health Promotion - Sport Psychology
• Post-Master Certificate in Sport Psychology

Grand Canyon University

• BS in Sports Management

Liberty University

• MS in Sport Mngt Admin-Non Thesis
• MS in Sport Mngt Admin-Thesis

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

• Master of Arts in Psychology - Sports and Exercise Psychology

Locate Sports Psychology Degree Programs in your area

Search for Sports Psychology Programs Online

Forensic Psychology Education and Training

Entry-level positions for licensed sports psychologists generally require applicants to hold a master's or doctorate degree in sports psychology or related area. Sports psychology graduate students complete required coursework in clinical psychology, exercise science, and kinesiology and clinical psychology. In addition they may be required to participate in an internship program, which is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA).

Students also take sports psychology courses in psychosocial aspects of sports and exercise, injury management and rehabilitation, research methods and physiology. Doctorate degree programs in sports psychology combine advanced coursework in research methodology and psychology as well completion of a dissertation. Sports psychology courses may include:

• Experimental psychology
• Neurobiology
• Anatomy and psychology
• Psychometrics
• Motor behavior
• Health psychology
• Motivational coaching
• Kinesiology
• Sports management and administration

Further, beyond completing your sports psychology degree requirements, continuing education and training is offered through various professional organizations like the APA and the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. This is done once state licensing or certification as a psychologist is obtained. Sports psychology consists of theoretical and practical relationships between sociology, psychology, and sport science. Sports psychology degree programs typically require foundational coursework in psychology.

Sports Psychology Careers

Clinical sports psychologists counsel athletes on issues that include performance issues, anxiety, behavior modification, and mental responses to physical injuries. They instruct sports teams and individual athletes on various methods of mental conditioning, including relaxation techniques, visualization, and concentration. Most sports psychologists work on-site with sports teams together with their sports managers, coaches and trainers. Other sports psychologists work independently providing consulting services.

Sports psychologists:

• Teach at colleges and universities
• Assist trainer and coach with specific athlete or team
• Work with teams to overcome challenges, teach teamwork and collaboration, and establish mentally
• healthy training environment
• Develop, implement, and evaluate programs designed to enhance athletes abilities
• Provide one-on-one counseling with specific athletes to overcome challenges and increase mental concentration

Estimated Income and Projected Career Growth

With a sports psychology degree, the annual salaries range from $41,850 to $71,800, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those sports psychologists who work take faculty earn an annual salary of $55,000. Employment of psychologists is expected to grow 12% percent from 2008 to 2018, which is about as fast as the average for all other occupations.