Graduate Degree Programs in Sport Psychology


DEGREE OFFERED

Three graduate degree options are available for students to study Sport Psychology:

Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, with a subspecialty in Sport Psychology

The Ph.D. program in counseling psychology at MU is APA approved and is consistently ranked among the top five programs nationally. Sport psychology is a subspecialty in counseling psychology, offered through the Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology. Counseling psychology students, with a strong interest in sport psychology, graduate with a degree in counseling psychology with support work in sport psychology. The doctorate in counseling psychology with a subspecialty in sport psychology is designed to qualify the recipient to become a licensed counseling psychologist as well as an AASP-Certified Consultant.  
Dr. Rick McGuire started the graduate programs in Sport Psychology at MU in the late 1980’s in the Department of Health and Exercise Science.  The program was relocated to the Counseling Psychology program in the late 1990’s, and has flourished within this framework.  From 1983 to 2010, Dr. McGuire was also Missouri’s Head Track and Field Coach, and served as the director of the Sport Psychology service delivery program for USA Track and Field, a program considered to be amongst the finest of its kind anywhere in the world today.  He has now retired from his coaching role to become the Director of Sport Psychology for the University’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.  Dr. McGuire is both an AASP Certified Consultant and a long time member of the USOC Sport Psychology Registry. 
With its unique collaborative relationship with the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics’ “Comprehensive Integrated Sport Psychology Service Delivery Program”, doctoral and masters graduates receive a very strong preparation and field experience in Applied Sport Psychology!  Four recent graduates have been recognized by AASP, being presented with the prestigious “Outstanding Student Practitioner Award”.  These include Dr. Steve Portenga, Dr. Mark Aoyagi, Dr. Renee Mapes, and Jennifer Shannon, the 2010 recipient.
Along with support from all members of the outstanding Counseling Psychology faculty, other professors sharing specific interest and instruction in Sport Psychology include Dr. Joe Johnston and Dr. Matthew Martens.

M.Ed. in Career and Sport Psychology

This degree program provides a strong, fortified (54 credit hours) Masters Degree that blends the two fields of Sport Psychology and Career Counseling.  Students who choose this specialty area have an interest in working with the careers of individuals in the world of sports (sport coaches, strength and conditioning coaches, athletic trainers, athletic academic counselors, Life Skills coordinators, athletic administrators, career coaches, life coaches, and the like). The curriculum is based on a scientist-practitioner model of training as well as a holistic view of how sport, career choice, and personal adjustment provide one with both an engaging and rewarding career and personal life. There is a strong emphasis on learning thru experience, where the experiences derived in and with athletic teams and with a college career center.

M.Ed. in Health Education and Promotion, with emphasis in Sport Psychology

Students may also pursue graduate study with an emphasis in Sport Psychology through the Health Education program, led by Dr. Alex Waigandt. Students can combine 9-15 hours of elective courses in Sport Psychology, Positive Psychology, Career Coaching or related fields (i.e. Addictive Behaviors and Interventions, Human Sexuality, Human Learning, Motivation, Nutritional Counseling, etc.) to design their degree program to best support their career interests and intentions.

Program Objectives

 To achieve our mission, we identify six program objectives:

  • Demonstrating competence in working in both an athletic and an academic setting.
  • Working successfully with athletic coaches and their teams, providing appropriate and supportive services.
  • Create and apply appropriate interventions to help strengthen individual performances and work environments.
  • Apply appropriate career theory in a meaningful manner to those you serve and those you will influence.
  • Apply knowledge and awareness of diversity issues as you help one make appropriate career and life choices.
  • Understand the uniqueness of particular work environments and how they can affect an individual’s performance.

Curriculum

The program planner which guides the curriculum for the degree can be found here.

Accreditation, Certification and Licensing

Recognized certifications include the AASP Certified Consultant and the United States Olympic Committee's  USOC Sport Psychology Registry.  There are currently no licensures beyond the normal state licensure requirements.

                 
Admission Requirements

Admission typically requires a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA from an accredited undergraduate institution, a completed Departmental application form, at least three letters of recommendation, and official reports of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The preferred combined Verbal and Qualitative score is 1000 or higher. A most important admittance requirement is a demonstrated interest in sport performance and the career pursuits of athletes.

Key Faculty in the Program

The Career and Sport Psychology faculty include all those involved in our Counseling Psychology program as well as two of those faculty members who represent the program to applicants:Dr. Rick McGuire, and Dr. Joseph Johnston.
Dr. McGuire teaches courses in Sport Psychology and oversees students involvements in the Intercollegiate Athletics Department’s “Comprehensive Integrated Sport Psychology Program”, while Dr. Johnston teaches courses in career development and Positive Psychology and oversees students involvements in the Career Center.

Professional Associations

Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP)
American Psychological Association (APA, Division 47- Sport and Exercise Psychology)
North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA)
American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
American Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD)

Professional Journals

Journal of Applied Sport Psychology
The Sport Psychologist
Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology
Journal of Sport Behavior
Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

Career Opportunities

With the unique collaborative relationship between the Counseling Psychology academic program and the Intercollegiate Athletics programs, students are able to gain a strong applied sport psychology and career and life counseling experiences with athletes and sport leaders. This experience will prepare them well for a wide array of professional roles in professional, educational and community sports programs.