Master's in Kinesiology - Applied Sport Psychology

Applied sport psychology employs a combination of evidence-based performance enhancement techniques, sport science, and counseling skills to help athletes maximize their potential and obtain optimal enjoyment from their sport and performance experiences.

Graduate students in Applied Sport Psychology typically come from Kinesiology or Psychology undergraduate programs and come to UNCG to learn how to enhance human development and functioning by acquiring cutting edge knowledge in the area of sport psychology. If you enjoy helping athletes and performers achieve their full sporting and exercise potential, solving complex problems and working as part of a team, this field might be an ideal match for you.

For over a century, the Department of Kinesiology has been a cornerstone department of the University. Beginning as the Department of Physiology and Physical Culture in the Women’s College in 1892, the department took the progressive view that women should be physically active to improve their health and wellness. As the department evolved and grew with the university, our name changed, but our mission to promote education in and instruction of physical health remains at our core.

Program Distinctions of Our Sports Psychology Master’s Program

• Our focus on interdisciplinary education and hands-on clinical experience, combined with our diverse, dynamic offerings, ensures you are well-prepared for post-graduate life in the field of sports psychology.
• The master’s degree curriculum was designed specifically to help you meet the coursework and field experience requirements for certification as a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC), the gold standard designation for sport psychology practice, developed by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). It is the only program in North Carolina that offers this unique curriculum, making it a standout among sports psychology master’s programs.
• When you enroll, you will join a cohort of students who take classes together throughout the program. This cohort model emphasizes collaboration, communication, connection, and camaraderie, enriching your experience in our sports psychology master’s program.
• You will have the opportunity to take classes and learn from faculty with a broad range of expertise in the field of sport and exercise psychology, as well as from faculty in other departments across campus, such as counseling, psychology, and social work. In addition, we invite local, national, and international professionals into the classroom to share their expertise and experiences with you.

The applied sport psychology Student Experience

• Our sports psychology master’s program attracts a diverse group of 20 students from all over the country. As part of the program, students are required to complete 400 hours of mentored experience in a variety of sports and performance settings during their second year. Of these, 200 hours must involve providing direct, face-to-face services to athletes, performers, and those involved in their training, such as coaches and parents.
• Faculty in our sports psychology master’s program have ongoing collaborations with other subdisciplines in Kinesiology (e.g., Exercise Physiology, Applied Research, Neuromechanics) and with other departments (e.g., Human Development, Family Studies, Psychology), Institutes (Institute to Promote Athlete Health and Wellness), and Centers (Center for Women’s Health and Wellness) across campus.
• You will progress through the degree based on an individual plan of study designed to meet the CMPC course requirements, which is developed in consultation with your advisor. If you are interested, more information can be found in the Graduate Bulletin.

After Graduating with your master’s degree in applied sport psychology

Our sports psychology master’s program curriculum is designed to prepare you to pursue (a) careers in coaching, teaching, sports medicine, athletic training, health and fitness, or performance enhancement consulting, (b) doctoral degrees in sport psychology, clinical or counseling psychology, social work, and/or (c) certification in sport psychology consulting as a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology.

Apply to the master of science in kinesiology, applied sport psychology Program

• Process and Requirements