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Sport Psychology Minor

The Sport Psychology Minor will introduce students to the discipline of sport psychology through relevant coursework in the Exercise Science and Psychology Departments. This breadth of content will allow students to develop knowledge of both the physical and mental aspects of sports performance.

What Will I Learn?

Coursework from the Sport Psychology Minor can also be used towards requirements to become a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. While becoming a CMPC does require a graduate degree, undergraduate courses can count towards three of the eight required knowledge areas.

Admission Requirements
The Sport Psychology Minor is open to any Undergraduate student. Interested students must meet the following criteria to be admitted into the minor:

  • GPA of 2.00 or above
  • Completion of PSYC 101 (or HONR 151) with a D or higher


Career Opportunities

Demand for sport psychology services has grown in the last decade due to an increased desire for understanding how competitors can optimize their mindset to improve performance and an increased interest in how mental health issues interact with performance. This minor is ideal for anyone interested in becoming a sport psychology consultant who can work with athletes, coaches, and parents on the above issues, but other sports professionals could benefit from this knowledge too. More specifically, the minor supports students interested in careers such as:

  • Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC)
  • Counseling Psychologist (focused on athletes)
  • Sport Team Coach
  • Athletic Trainer
  • Strength & Conditioning Coach
  • Sport Management
  • Sports Journalist

Coursework

The Sport Psychology Minor is 18 credits, with 1 required course plus 5 elective courses from 3 categories.

The one required course is:

  • EXER 325: Sport Psychology (Prerequisites: PSYC 101 & 30 credits)

Students must take two of the following Sport Science courses:

  • EXER 220: Fundamentals of Coaching
  • EXER 244: Movement Science & Skill Analysis
  • EXER 336: Motor Behavior (Prerequisites: EXER 244 & 30 credits)
  • EXER 352: Psychology of Physical Activity (Prerequisites: PSYC 101 & 60 credits)
  • EXER 452: Psychology of Injury & Rehabilitation (Prerequisites: PSYC 101 & 90 credits)

Students must take one of the following Psychopathology courses:

  • PSYC 330: Adult Psychopathology (Prerequisite: PSYC 101)
  • PSYC 355: Child & Adolescent Psychopathology (Prerequisite: PSYC 101)

Students must also take two of the following Psychological Foundations courses:

  • PSYC 240: Psychology of Personality (Prerequisite: PSYC 101)
  • PSYC 250: Psychology of Life Span Development (Prerequisite: PSYC 101)
  • PSYC 270: Social Psychology (Prerequisite: PSYC 101)
  • PSYC 320: Behavioral Neuroscience (Prerequisite: PSYC 101)
  • PSYC 323: Sensation & Perception (Prerequisite: PSYC 101)
  • PSYC 325: Cognitive Psychology (Prerequisite: PSYC 101)

Related Majors

Any student interested in learning more about the mental side of performance can complete the Sport Psychology minor. However, students from the following majors could benefit more, depending on their future career plans, including:


Double Minor in Sport Psychology and Coaching, Exercise Science, or Psychology

Students interested in minoring in Sport Psychology and either Coaching, Exercise Science, or Psychology may do so at a reduced credit count. Two courses will double-count between the Sport Psychology and Exercise Science or Psychology Minors, while three courses will double-count between the Sport Psychology and Coaching Minors. This allows students to complete two minors for 27 or 30 credits instead of 36 credits.