Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology (MS)

Summary

The Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology MS is designed to develop a theoretical base in the discipline of sport, exercise, and performance psychology and better prepare students, coaches, and consultants to apply such knowledge to performance enhancement issues associated with competitive athletics, military, exercise settings, and other performance areas. Students work directly with local college, high school, and recreational athletes through The Center for Sport and Performance Psychology, and can work towards certification at the same time. The courses in our program count towards the CMPC (Certified Mental Performance Consultant) as does students’ work with athletes, exercisers and performers. 

Catalog Year

2022-2023

Degree

Master of Science

Major Credits

36

Total Credits

36

Locations

Mankato

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Program Requirements

Common Core

Provides the developing helping professional with an introduction to basic helping skills: attending, listening, responding to content and affect, probing, and providing feedback. The course is experiential in nature and includes small group interaction, videotaping, and role playing simulations.

Prerequisites: none

Introduction to the concepts of descriptive and inferential statistics, applied and theoretical research, and validity and reliability methods used in the disciplines of physical education, human performance, and exercise science.

Prerequisites: none

This course provides students with an introduction to career paths in sport and exercise psychology. Students will also begin to earn hours for a certification in applied sport psychology as part of the course requirements.

Prerequisites: none

Psychological parameters that affect performance in athletic and exercise settings. Emphasis on theoretical and scholarly literature associated with exercise and sport psychology. Practical application of psychological principles in sport and exercise dimensions will also be addressed.

Prerequisites: none

This is an advanced graduate seminar focused on applying knowledge towards the practice of sport and exercise psychology. This class focuses specifically on how to implement sport and exercise psychology principles as consultants, coaches, teachers, and/or other professionals.

Prerequisites: none

This course examines the theory and research of the psychology of exercise and behavior change, as well as how to integrate these theories into practice. Students will have opportunities to integrate learning into their personal lives.

Prerequisites: none

Examines the institution of sport from a sociological perspective. The intent of the course is to identify and discuss ways in which societal values affect the character of spot and vise versa, and better understand the positive and negative consequences of the way sport if organized in our society.

Prerequisites: none

This course provides understanding and application of the psychology of sport and injury. Topics include psychological concerns, psycho-social antecedents of injury, psychological skills to implement with patients who are injured as a result of participation in athletics and physical activity.

Prerequisites: none

Research/Methods Course(s)

Introductory course to the research processes involved in the fields of physical education, exercise science, and human performance. Coverage of various types of research designs and writing of the research paper is a major intent of this course.

Prerequisites: none

Restricted Electives

Certification Option - Choose 5 Credit(s). HP 682 will be repeated in two semesters to earn the 5 credits for the option.

This is an advanced graduate seminar that will involve the oversight of practicum activities in sport, exercise and performance psychology. Cases will be presented by each graduate student to stimulate direct and indirect supervision. Ethical, multicultural and legal issues associated with applied work will be discussed.Grading Method

Prerequisites: none

This is an advanced graduate seminar focused on cultural sport psychology and how to work with diverse populations in the field. This class will explore multicultural counseling theories and competencies as well as additional topics including oppression, discrimination, biases, prejudices, white privilege and acculturation to assist sport psychology professionals in being cultural competent.

Prerequisites: none

Non-Certification Option - A total of 5-7 credits is required for the option.

Core Course

To introduce interested students, professionals, and coaching licensure candidates to the psychological literature and latest techniques associated with coaching in an athletic setting.

Prerequisites: none

Electives - Select elective courses to reach 36 total credits. An additional elective course beyond those listed below may be taken with approval of advisor.

Hereditary and environmental factors of typical and atypical motor development across the lifespan.

Prerequisites: none

This course is designed to increase the student's awareness and understanding of abnormal psychology. Students will become familiar with clinical descriptions, course of onset, and treatment regimens specific to various disorders.

Prerequisites: none

Overview of multivariate statistical analyses including: multiple regression, ANCOVA, MANOVA, discriminate function analysis, and factor analysis.

Prerequisites: none

Participant observation, focused interviews, and qualitative analysis; students actively participate in a field research project.

Prerequisites: none

Capstone Course

Choose 3 Credit(s). Students should choose one capstone project option in consultation with their advisor.

Course requires completion of alternate plan paper.

Prerequisites: none

Course requires completion of a manuscript submitted for publication to a peer-reviewed journal. Prerequisite: graduate student/professor consent

Prerequisites: none

Supervised field experience related to the student's academic specialization associated with the disciplines of human performance. Disciplines include the following: College Teaching, Sport Management, Public School Teaching, D/APE, Intramural-Recreational Sports Management, Elementary Physical Education, Exercise Physiology, and Sport Psychology.

Prerequisites: none

Course requires completion of thesis paper.

Prerequisites: none