Applied Sport and Performance Psychology (MA)
The Master of Arts in Applied Sport and Performance Psychology (ASPP) is uniquely designed to educate and train students to become ethical, professional and culturally competent practitioners who work with performers in a variety of domains. From sporting arenas and businesses to performing arts and first responders, students will learn to integrate established theories with evidence-informed techniques to enhance the mental performance of individuals and teams. Students will gain supervised practical experience working with performers to help enhance their personal growth and their ability to excel in pressure situations. The program’s focus is on applied experiences through various opportunities, including the university’s athletic department or via sites local to the students.
Students in the ASPP MA program may elect to take the Mental Performance Consultant (MPC) track or the Coaching track. Students will be guided by their Academic Advisor on both tracks and make a determination as to which they are pursuing in advising meetings in their first semester. Both tracks are 53 academic credits/units in total.The MPC track is designed for students who wish to pursue certification via the Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) credential via the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). MPC track students are given the opportunity to complete hours and coursework needed to be eligible to apply for certification as CMPCs post-graduation. Coaching track students will complete one Applied Performance Placement (ASPP 5231, 3 units), and then will take elective courses to replace the second and third placements (ASPP 5232 (3 units) and 5233 (3 units). Elective units may be within ASPP or another graduate program; a list of electives will be provided each semester.
The Coaching track is an option for students who would like the opportunity to finish the Master’s degree without completion of all of the supervised applied field hours (via the applied performance placements). Coaching track students may use the degree towards elevating their status as athletic coaches rather than being practitioners of mental performance as a CMPC. The Coaching track students will take the Final Comprehensive Written Examination (ASPP 5298) but not the Final Comprehensive Oral Examination (ASPP 5299).
The department cannot guarantee the student will achieve the CMPC credential as that is the purview of the Certification Council of AASP. Upon graduation, MPC track MA students may be eligible to sit for the CMPC exam, which is administered by AASP.
Program Learning Outcomes
By the end of the program, a student should be able to:
- Ethics and Professionalism - Apply the professional and ethical standards guiding Sport and Performance Psychology
- Theory and Research - Synthesize theoretical principles and evidence-based research to inform applied practice
- Case Conceptualization - Formulate theoretically grounded and evidence-based case conceptualizations for work with individuals and groups
- Mental Skills Training - Design, implement and assess a comprehensive mental skills training plan that can adapt to meet client needs over time
- Emotional Intelligence - Reflect upon and manage one’s own emotions to effectively support clients. Facilitate client awareness and management of emotions to support performance and well-being
- Cultural Intelligence - Recognize and adapt to the diverse sociocultural contexts in which both the student and client live and perform
Applied Performance Placements
The Applied Sport and Performance Psychology program offers students the opportunity to work hands-on with individuals and teams in sport and performance settings. These settings include club sports, high schools, collegiate teams and performance domains outside of sport (e.g., dance, business, music, fire departments). Placement participation is a core feature of the ASPP program. All placements are supervised, in both individual and group supervision, by faculty members who are Certified Mental Performance Consultants (CMPC) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. After passing required prerequisite courses, students will complete their first placement (Intensive Placement; PI) on campus here at Dominican. The second and third placements are at a site of the student's choosing (with the guidance and approval of the ASPP department, based on their geographical needs and career goals. All students must be approved to take part in the placement program by the department, and applications will be vetted internally to ensure fit. Both PII and PIII are a minimum of a 16-week commitment.
Required courses
| ASPP 5200 | Introduction to Sport and Performance Psychology | 3.00 units |
| ASPP 5202 | Advanced Sport and Performance Psychology | 2.00 units |
| ASPP 5203 | Counseling Skills in Sport and Performance Psychology | 3.00 units |
| ASPP 5204 | Applied Mental Skills Training | 3.00 units |
| ASPP 5205 | Advanced Mental Skills Training | 3.00 units |
| ASPP 5206 | Psychopathology | 3.00 units |
| ASPP 5207 | Professional Ethics and Standards in Sport and Performance Psychology | 3.00 units |
| ASPP 5208 | Assessment in Sport and Performance Psychology | 2.00 units |
| ASPP 5209 | Research Methods in Sport and Performance Psychology | 3.00 units |
| ASPP 5210 | Diversity in Sport and Performance Psychology | 3.00 units |
| ASPP 5213 | Group Dynamics | 1.00 unit |
| ASPP 5215 | The Business of Consulting | 1.00 unit |
| ASPP 5219 | Psychology of Human Development | 3.00 units |
| ASPP 5221 | Applied Performance Project I | 1.00 unit |
| ASPP 5222 | Applied Performance Project II | 1.00 unit |
| ASPP 5223 | Applied Performance Project III | 1.00 unit |
| ASPP 5224 | Applied Performance Project IV | 1.00 unit |
| ASPP 5229 | Introduction to Applied Performance Placements | 1.00 unit |
| ASPP 5231 | Applied Performance Placement I: Intensive Placement Camps | 3.00 units |
| ASPP 5232 | Applied Performance Placement II | 3.00 units |
| ASPP 5233 | Applied Performance Placement III | 3.00 units |
| ASPP 5241 | Performance Masterclass | 0.00 units |
| ASPP 5251 | Professional Writing Workshop | 0.50 units |
| ASPP 5252 | Team Building | 0.50 units |
| ASPP 5253 | Speak Like a Champ Workshop | 0.50 units |
| ASPP 5254 | Psychology of Injury and Rehabilitation | 0.50 units |
| ASPP 5290 | Exit Meeting | 0.00 units |
| ASPP 5298 | Final Comprehensive Written Examination | 0.00 units |
| ASPP 5299 | Final Comprehensive Oral Examination | 0.00 units |
| Total Credit Hours: | 49 |
Electives
Select a minimum of 4 units from the list below:
| ASPP 5301 | Applying Mindfulness in Sport and Performance Psychology | 1.00 unit |
| ASPP 5302 | Introduction to Executive Coaching | 1.00 unit |
| ASPP 5303 | Mental Performance in eSports | 1.00 unit |
| ASPP 5304 | Mental Performance in Military Populations | 1.00 unit |
| ASPP 5305 | Mental Performance in Athletic Coaching | 1.00 unit |
| ASPP 5306 | Mental Skills Training: Consulting Through a Season | 1.00 unit |
| ASPP 5307 | Neurocognitive Technology Applications in Sport and Performance Psychology | 1.00 unit |
| ASPP 5308 | Optimal Performance Recovery | 1.00 unit |
| ASPP 5309 | Motor Learning and Control | 3.00 units |
| ASPP 5310 | Performance Psychology in the Perf Arts | 1.00 unit |
| Total Credit Hours: | 4 |
Total Credit Hours: 53
MA students are required to register for and attend all Performance Masterclasses (ASPP 5241) while in the program.
**The Coaching track students will take the Final Comprehensive Written Examination (ASPP 5298) but not the Final Comprehensive Oral Examination (ASPP 5299).
***Motor Learning and Control (ASPP 5309) is required for those on the MPC Track
Program Fees:
ASPP 5241: $100 each semester
ASPP 5231, ASPP 5232, ASPP 5233, ASPP 5238, ASPP 5239: $300 each semester
ASPP 5299: $350 each semester
ASPP 5238, ASPP 5239, ASPP 5240, 5248, ASPP 5249, ASPP 5250: $300 each semester (placement extensions)