Although it’s assumed that sports psychologists deal exclusively with professional athletes, they work with athletes of all ages and abilities. Sports psychology is a broad field with numerous clinical and scientific applications. Sports psychologists utilize psychological concepts to help athletes improve athletic performance and remove psychological barriers which are inhibiting performance.
Sports psychologists frequently specialize in any of the following fields:
- Applied sports psychology – Sports psychologists in this field teach athletes how to improve athletic performance and reach goals.
- Clinical sports psychology – Sports psychologists offering clinical services use psychotherapy to assist clients with mental health problems, such as depression, resulting from stress or other factors.
- Academic sports psychologists – These specialists conduct research and teach college students.
There are few job opportunities available to sports psychologists without graduate degrees. However, internships are often attainable with bachelor’s degrees. Job opportunities in this field are available to sports psychologists with graduate degrees in sports or clinical psychology and relevant work experience.
Below is a list of 40 colleges and universities offering accredited degree programs in sports psychology.
| Argosy University – Phoenix, AZ |
Programs offered include: Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology – Sport-Exercise Psychology |
| Azusa Pacific University – Azusa, CA |
Programs offered include: Major in Psychology – Sports Psychology |
| Dominican University of California – San Rafael, CA |
Programs offered include: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology – Health and Sports Psychology |
| John F Kennedy University – Pleasant Hill, CA |
Programs offered include: Master of Arts in Sport Psychology & PsyD in Clinical |
| National University – La Jolla, CA |
Programs offered include: Bachelor of Arts in Sport Psychology |
| Adams State College – Alamosa, CO |
Programs offered include: Bachelor of Arts in Sport Psychology |
| University of Denver – Denver, CO |
Programs offered include: Certificate in Sport and Performance Psychology |
| University of the Rockies – Colorado Springs, CO |
Programs offered include: Doctor of Psychology – Sports and Performance Psychology |
| Barry University – Miami, FL |
Programs offered include: Master of Movement Science – Sport and Exercise Psychology |
| Florida State University – Tallahassee, FL |
Programs offered include: Master of Science in Educational Psychology – Sport Psychology |
| Adler School of Professional Psychology – Chicago, IL |
Programs offered include: Master of Arts in Counseling – Sport & Health Psychology |
| Aurora University – Aurora, IL |
Programs offered include: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology – Sports |
| Illinois State University – Normal, IL |
Programs offered include: Major in Sports Psychology |
| McKendree University – Lebanon, IL |
Programs offered include: Major in Sports Psychology |
| Northwestern University – Evanston, IL |
Programs offered include: Major In Psychology – Sports |
| Marian University Indianapolis – Indianapolis, IN |
Programs offered include: B.A./B.S. in Psychology – Sport Psychology |
| University of Northern Iowa – Cedar Falls, IA |
Programs offered include: Bachelor of Arts in Movement and Exercise Science – Sport Psychology |
| Springfield College – Springfield, MA |
Programs offered include: Master of Science in Sport and Exercise Psychology |
| Westfield State University – Westfield, MA |
Programs offered include: Bachelor of Science in Movement Science – Sports Medicine |
| Minnesota State University-Mankato – Mankato, MN |
Programs offered include: Master of Arts in Sport and Exercise Psychology |
| Culver-Stockton College – Canton, MO |
Programs offered include: Bachelor of Science in Sports Psychology |
| Southwest Baptist University – Bolivar, MO |
Programs offered include: Bachelor of Science in Psychology – Sports Performance Enhancement |
| Rutgers University – New Brunswick – New Brunswick, NJ |
Programs offered include: Doctor of Psychology in Sport Psychology |
| Seton Hall University – South Orange, NJ |
Programs offered include: Master of Arts in Psychological Studies – Sports Exercise Psychology |
| Bluffton University – Bluffton, OH |
Programs offered include: Major in Psychology – Sport Psychology |
| Arcadia University – Glenside, PA |
Programs offered include: Bachelor of Arts in Sports Psychology |
| California University of Pennsylvania – California, PA |
Programs offered include: Certificate in Sports Counseling |
| Chatham University – Pittsburgh, PA |
Programs offered include: Master of Arts in Psychology – Sport and Exercise Concentration |
| Robert Morris University – Moon Township, PA |
Programs offered include: Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology – Sports Psychology |
| University of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh, PA |
Programs offered include: Master of Science in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences – Sports Medicine |
| University of South Carolina-Beaufort – Bluffton, SC |
Programs offered include: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology – Sports Concentration |
| Southern Adventist University – Collegedale, TN |
Programs offered include: Bachelor of Science in Sports Studies – Psychology |
| Lubbock Christian University – Lubbock, TX |
Programs offered include: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology – Sport and Exercise Psychology |
| Texas Tech University – Lubbock, TX |
Programs offered include: Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Psychology – Sport Psychology |
| Western Washington University – Bellingham, WA |
Programs offered include: Master of Science in Sport Psychology |
| West Virginia University – Morgantown, WV |
Programs offered include: B.S. in Sport and Exercise Psychology |
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