Sport Psychology
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- Designed for students of all backgrounds
- Gain knowledge to sit for Certified Mental Performance Consultant® (CMPC) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP).
- Apply your skills in diverse settings.
Program Details
- Next Start Date
- August 18
- Est. Program Length
- 1-2 years
- Course Length
- 8 or 16 weeks
- Cost per Credit
- $388.80*
- Credit Hours
- 45
- Credits Accepted
- 9
*Price reflects tuition for Oklahoma residents. Non-resident tuition is $734.80 per credit hour. There is a non-resident tuition waiver available if certain requirements are met. Speak to an enrollment counselor for more information. An additional semester fee of $89 will apply for all students and possible charges for course related fees. Fees and tuition subject to change.
Request InfoFoster Health, Resilience and Performance with an Online Master’s in Sport Psychology
The sport psychology degree from East Central University Online is designed for students of all backgrounds, whether you’re an athlete, athletic staff member, coach, counselor, sports administrator or teacher. No matter your experience, you can develop expertise in sport psychology and gain the educational credential to apply to be a Certified Mental Performance Consultant® (CMPC) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP).
You’ll take online courses that are available when and where it’s convenient for you, which allows you to maintain your employment and take breaks if needed. When you complete the online sport psychology master’s degree, you’ll have the tools to move into leadership positions that directly affect athletes’ and organizations’ performance.
Topics of Study
Our sport psychology degree offers a curriculum designed to prepare you for diverse careers in (and on) the field. Key topics include:
- Applied sport psychology
- Cognitive behavioral theories
- Psychology of coaching
- Sports in American society
- Team dynamics
Additionally, you will be required to complete a supervised internship experience to practice real-world skills and receive professional guidance from an experienced mentor.
Learning Outcomes
The objectives of the online sport psychology degree are to:
- Prepare students to conduct psychological assessments to evaluate mental strengths and areas for improvement.
- Prepare students to develop customized mental conditioning programs to enhance performance.
- Develop skills for collaborating with coaches, trainers and other professionals to create a comprehensive support system for athletes and performers.
- Create an understanding and ability to complete research that explores the psychological factors that impact performance and mental well-being.
- Prepare students to work with individual and team athletes and performers on mental skills training, goal setting and motivation using various evidence-based techniques.
- Create an awareness of the psychology and counseling aspects of sport psychology.
Courses & Requirements
The online M.S. in Sport Psychology includes 45 credit hours, 21 of which are the psychological foundations core. The remaining 24 credit hours are the sport psychology major courses. You’ll also complete an in-person internship, where you can apply your skills and build readiness for future mentoring experiences.
- EDPSY 5163
- EDPSY 5433
- PSYCH 5373
- PSYCH 5143
- PSYCH 5183
- PSYCH 5473
- PSYCH 5443
Cognitive Behavioral Theories and Methods of Counseling and Psychotherapy
3 Credits
Exploration and examination of theories and techniques utilized when functioning as a counselor or therapist within a cognitive and/or behavioral conceptual framework. Personality and behavior change is considered within the framework of a cognitive and/or behavioral perspective. Included are theories and techniques such as rational-emotive therapy, Beck’s cognitive therapy, cognitive-behavior modification, social learning theory and milieu therapy, and various approaches based upon operant and classical conditioning.
Affective Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy
3 Credits
Exploration and examination of theories and techniques utilized when functioning as a counselor or therapist within an affective conceptual framework. Personality and behavior change is considered within the framework at an affective perspective. Included are theories and techniques such as client-centered therapy, Gestalt therapy, existential therapy, psycho-analytic therapy and reality therapy. Required Previous: EDPSY-5163
Psychological Assessment
3 Credits
Introductory survey of the physiological correlates of behavior. Among the topics discussed will be how physiology and biochemistry might interact with the environment to produce changes in learning, motivation, emotions, perceptions and other behaviors. Required Previous: PSYCH-1113
Statistics and Design in Applied Psychology
3 Credits
Major emphasis will be placed on students learning the application of statistics when reading, analyzing and designing research in applied psychology. Required Previous: EDPSY-5353
Advanced Abnormal Psychology
3 Credits
Intensive study of behaviors likely to come to the attention of counselors and psychotherapists with emphasis on classification, etiology and intervention. Required Previous: PSYCH-5113 or EDPSY-5163 or departmental approval
Advanced Psychology of Childhood and Adolescence
3 Credits
Survey of literature from various fields to aid the student in under-standing characteristics of childhood and adolescent growth and development. Emphasis is upon the development of skills in observing and interpreting the behavior of children and adolescents.
Multicultural Consultation & Intervention
3 Credits
This course focuses on mental health, behavioral and other models of consultation as applied in home, school and community settings. Special emphasis is placed on multicultural issues and the cultural bases of behavior as an integral aspect of the consultation process. Students will learn efficient methods of data collection and how to incorporate and apply them effectively in decision-making throughout the consultation process. Required Previous: PSYCH-5183
- PSYCH 5043
- PSYCH 5083
- PSYCH 5173
- PSYCH 5203
- PSYCH 5463
- PSYCH 5523
Advanced Sport Psychology
3 Credits
This course involves the application and synthesis of the best evidence-based practices in sport psychology that have been shown to result in optimal performance, health and satisfaction. This course is not an approved elective for counseling psychology (0860) students.
Applied Sport Psychology
3 Credits
The course is designed to provide students with the ability to assess and prescribe anaerobic and aerobic exercise programs as well as cognitive behavioral strategies for sports performance enhancement. This course is not an approved elective for counseling psychology (0860) students. Required Previous: EDPSY-5163
Professional Orientation and Ethics in Clinical Psychology
3 Credits
Professional and ethical issues in clinical psychology are considered in light of general standards, evaluation, assessment, intervention, advertising and other public statements, therapy, privacy and confidentiality, teaching, training supervision, research, publishing, forensic activities and resolving issues that individuals encounter in providing clinical services to clients and the principles that are incorporated in properly thinking through how to conduct oneself when such situations happen.
Applied Biomechanics
3 Credits
This course focuses on physiological scientific study of human movement, analysis of fundamental movements and the mechanical principles that apply to human motion and teaching movement skills. Emphasis is on the cognitive behavioral aspects of how skilled movement is gained, regulated and adapted. This course is not an approved elective for counseling psychology (0860) students. Required previous: PSYCH-5063
Psychology of Coaching and Team Dynamics
3 Credits
This course will provide an examination of the science and practice of the psychology of coaching and team dynamics. Students are presented with the psychological foundation for coaching, including the basic tenets of the psychology of the individual as well as group behavior. Topics will include motivation, stress, communication, group cohesion/dynamics, leadership, reinforcement, conflict resolution, and feedback as they relate to performance in a team and individual setting.
Sports in American Society
3 Credits
This course examines the influence of the social psychology on sport, the influence on sport culture and how sport affects the social world we live in. Social psychology emphasis will be placed on how sport interacts with gender, race/ethnicity, culture, socioeconomic class, media relations, violence, deviance and sexuality.
- PSYCH 5563
- PSYCH 5453
Internship I in Sport Psychology
3 Credits
The student will spend at least 400 clock hours in a supervised experience in sport psychology. At least 100 hours of the internship must be spent in direct contact with clients and at least 40 hours in direct supervision with a qualified mentor.
Internship II in Sport Psychology
3 Credits
The student will spend at least 200 hours on a supervised experience in sport psychology. The 200-hour supervised internship experience may consist of direct client contact, research design and data collection activities involving the application of sport psychology, support activities (e.g. community engagement or volunteering of services) and mentorship experiences (e.g. field observations, application & observation of learned skills under supervision, etc.). This internship is the second of a 2-semester experience which earns 3 credit hours a semester.
Admission Requirements
To be accepted into ECU Online’s master’s degree in sport psychology, you must meet the following criteria:
- Have a 3.0 GPA or higher, although lower GPAs may be considered for conditional admittance.
How to Apply
To apply to the master’s in sport psychology program, you must submit the following materials:
- Free online application
- Transcripts of all completed work (baccalaureate and graduate) from an accredited institution
- Resumé
- Three references
- A personal statement. Explain your career goals, how an ECU Online degree will help you accomplish those goals, your interest in the field and any actions you have taken to pursue this interest. You must also describe any skills, attributes or experiences you possess that would aid in your future profession.
Have a question about this program or the admission process? Get connected to one of our knowledgeable enrollment counselors.
Costs & Fees
| Curriculum Component | Requirements | Cost | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | 45 credit hours | $388.80* | $17,496.00 |
| Total with transfer credits (up to 9) | $13,996.80 | ||
*Price reflects tuition for Oklahoma residents. Non-resident tuition is $734.80 per credit hour. There is a non-resident tuition waiver available if certain requirements are met. Speak to an enrollment counselor for more information. An additional semester fee of $89 will apply for all students and possible charges for course related fees. Fees and tuition subject to change.
Financial Aid
At ECU Online, we strive to ensure your education is as affordable as possible. Learn more about your options for financing your education by visiting our Financial Aid page.
View Financial AidMilitary Benefits
East Central University is a proud military-friendly school. Discover how your status as a U.S. military veteran or active-duty service member can help you earn your degree by visiting our Military & Veterans page.
View Military BenefitsNative American Students
Eligible Native American students can find financial aid programs, heritage scholarships, grants, and academic support services to help ensure their success at ECU.
View our Native American Students pageAre You the First in Your Family to Go to College?
At ECU, we recognize that “going first” can be difficult. We provide the extra financial support, scholarships, resources, services, and skills you need to succeed.
View our First-Generation College Students pageTransfer Students
If you’ve taken college-level courses elsewhere, you could save time and money earning your degree by transferring credits to ECU and may qualify for scholarships.
View our Transfer Students pageLeverage Sport Psychology in Diverse Careers
Sport psychologists work in many areas, including professional and collegiate sports teams, health clinics and private practices, academic institutions, government agencies and military organizations. No matter which setting you’re in, skills from your sport psychology master’s degree can boost your impact and lead to greater salary potential.
Obtaining advanced doctoral level degrees following the M.S. in Sport Psychology can lead to even higher-paying roles such as clinical sport psychologists, sport psychiatrists and sport psychology professors.
Sport Psychologists
Sport psychologists work in a wide variety of positions from individual practice to athletic departments to healthcare facilities. They address behavioral health, crisis management, high-pressure situations, performance anxiety and more. They often create programs that encourage mental health.
Average annual salary: $80,162
Athletic Director (College/University)
Athletic directors oversee athletic departments. They frequently handle finances, fundraising, staffing, training, event coordination and more. Athletic directors are also liaisons with their colleagues and professional organizations. Psychological skills enhance their ability to perform their duties compassionately and ethically.
Average annual salary: $78,641
Sports Instructor
Sports instructors can work for professional athletes, after-school programs, community teams, school groups and more, and they help clients participate in sports, improve their wellness and measure their achievements. Leadership and program management skills are correlated to pay that is above average.
Average annual salary: $75,256
Sources
- Payscale. “Average Sports Psychologist Salary.” May 10, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2025, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Sports_Psychologist/Salary.
- Payscale. “Average Athletic Director (College/University) Salary.” May 24, 2023. Retrieved March 13, 2025, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Athletic_Director_(College%2FUniversity)/Salary.
- Payscale. “Average Sports Instructor Hourly Pay.” August 17, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2025, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Sports_Instructor/Hourly_Rate.