February 24, 2026
Two Advanced Degrees, One Seamless Learning Path
The Ed.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology with M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (EdD-SPP-CMHC) program is designed for professionals with a passion for both clinical counseling and sport and performance consulting. This integrated option packages two distinct degree programs into one convenient online learning path with a single application and admissions process.
Graduates of this program can work in both traditional clinical settings and high-performance environments in which mental health, identity, and performance intersect, such as athletics, the performing arts, health care, and military or tactical settings.
M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
The M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling portion of the program prepares you to assess, diagnose, and treat a wide range of mental health concerns through trauma- and social justice-informed approaches that acknowledge the many systemic, cultural, and contextual factors influencing mental wellness.
UWS’ M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling curriculum fulfills the educational requirements to sit for the National Counseling Examination (NCE) and the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), which are required for licensure in most states.
Standardized Patient Program
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling online program participates in our robust Standardized Patient Program, in which you can practice face-to-face clinical reasoning and communication skills with trained actors in a controlled, supportive, and supervised virtual setting.
Ed.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology
The Ed.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology prepares you to become a leader who supports peak performance across sport, the performing arts, and high-pressure professional environments. Our online Sport and Performance Psychology doctoral degree is perfect for mental health practitioners, educators, coaches, health care providers, and business leaders hoping to move beyond their current role without needing to pause careers.
Certified Mental Performance Consultant® Credential
The educational requirements needed to earn the Certified Mental Performance Consultant® credential may be fulfilled by this integrated pathway. The CMPC credential demonstrates a commitment to rigorous professional standards in education, training, and ethical practice. While not required for all careers in this field, earning this credential strengthens professional credibility and opens doors to more rewarding career opportunities.
Ethical & Professional Role Distinction
Ethics are crucial to the online sport psychology with CMHC program curriculum. While you can work in either clinical counseling or performance-focused roles as a graduate, these services are ethically distinct and should not be provided to the same client.
Our program trains you to understand the specifics of each individual role, navigate their boundaries, and avoid ethical violations.
Take Your Training Further
Rehabilitation Counseling Concentration
Specialize your training with an optional counseling concentration in Rehabilitation Counseling. The Rehabilitation Counseling Concentration teaches you to apply specialized theories and policies to your assessment and treatment planning, helping you serve a wider range of athletes and performers struggling with disabilities and injuries.
Aligned with the requirements from the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification, this concentration qualifies and prepares you to sit for the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) exam.
Sport and Performance Psychology Consulting Concentration
The Sport and Performance Psychology Consulting (SPPC) Concentration helps you get a head start on completing the supervised mentorship hours required to sit for the Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC®) certification exam.
Designed for students pursuing a career in applied sport and performance psychology, the SPPC Concentration is focused on developing your professional competence in implementing ethical and evidence-based interventions with athletes and performance populations. All sport and performance psychology mentorship faculty at UWS are listed on the CMPC® Registry of Approved Mentors, making the mentorship hours you will gain during this concentration eligible for the CMPC® certification.
Which SPP Program Is Right for You?
| EdD-SPP-CMHC | Ed.D. in Sport & Performance Psychology | |
|---|---|---|
| Prepare for professional counseling licensure | ✓ | |
| Focus exclusively on performance consulting (not clinical counseling) | ✓ | |
| Earn a master’s and doctorate in one integrated pathway | ✓ |
Ed.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology with Clinical Mental Health Counseling Video
Discover how University of Western States combines the fields of sport and performance psychology and clinical mental health counseling into one integrated Ed.D. program.
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Curriculum
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Core Curriculum
The M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is conferred upon completion of 90 degree-associated credits.
- Counseling Methods and Practices
- Ethics and Professional Identity
- Psychopathology and Appraisal
- Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling
- Personality and Counseling Theories
- Group Counseling
- Tests and Assessments
- Human Growth and Development
- Pre-Practicum
- Career Counseling
- Multicultural Counseling and Advocacy
- Clinical Counseling Practicum
- Psychopharmacology
- Approved Elective 1
- Approved Elective 2
- Research Methods and Program Evaluation
- Addiction Counseling
- Sport Psychology
- Clinical Internship
- Capstone-CMHC
Ed.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology Core Curriculum
- Applied Sport Psychology
- Psychological Preparation and Mental Skills Training
- Sport and Performance Psychology Interventions
- Applied Motor Learning or Biomechanics or Exercise Physiology
- Psychology of Performing Arts or Performance Psychology in High-Risk Occupations
- Scholarly Writing Methods and Practices
- Applied Statistics for the Social Sciences
- Dissertation
Electives (16 credits)
Elective coursework allows you to tailor your doctoral experience based on professional goals or the concentration pathways listed below. Visit our Academic Catalog to review a full list of elective courses.
Curriculum Note: Some courses have prerequisites and must be taken in sequence. Full course descriptions, prerequisite details, and registration requirements are available in the Academic Catalog, along with the complete list of required and elective courses for each concentration.
How has the MS-CMHC program at UWS shaped your approach to counseling?
“Success with clients has come in moments when I blend my experience of being a human with my knowledge of counseling. That blending—or creating a space where clients can be seen as they are—is what I learned at UWS.”
Brad Pankey, M.S.
Graduate, M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Admissions Requirements
University of Western States admits new students into the EdD-SPP-CMHC program in fall (October) and spring (April) academic quarters. You should carefully review the program’s selection criteria to ensure you are making the best possible presentation of your qualifications.
Each applicant is evaluated holistically, accounting for personal, academic and professional experiences.
Professional standards require faculty to evaluate student fitness for the counseling profession throughout the program. In addition to the general entry requirements for the College of Graduate Studies, you must also meet the specific entry requirements below for the EdD-SPP-CMHC program:
- Complete standard admissions application
- Write and submit a personal essay addressing a provided prompt
- Submit all official transcripts showing conferred bachelor’s and/or master’s degree(s)
- Minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA in completed bachelor’s or a cumulative 3.0 GPA in a master’s program
- Two letters of recommendation, at least one of which must be academic in nature
- Current resume or curriculum vitae
- Complete a successful interview (video conference, phone, or face to face) with the director or designee (interview will only be scheduled after applicant has submitted a completed university application meeting the minimum requirements including fee payment)
- Application fee of $50
- Successful completion of a comprehensive criminal history background check (required at admission)
Applicants to the EdD-SPPS-CMHC program must be either a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Due to student visa restrictions, international applicants are not eligible for admission at this time.
You may not be simultaneously enrolled in a program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a program in Sport and Performance Psychology (EdD-SPP-CMHC program is one comprehensive program, so it does not fall under this restriction). You may also not be enrolled in two Sport and Performance Psychology programs simultaneously.
Accreditation & Licensure
Accreditation
The M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at University of Western States is accredited by the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) for the period of March 2025 through March 2033.
The Ed.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology; M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, including the Sport and Performance Psychology Consulting Concentration, is an applicant for accreditation with the Graduate Program Accreditation Committee (GPAC) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). Achieving applicant status is not an indication that GPAC will grant initial accreditation. If granted initial accreditation, the effective date will be the date of the site visit upon which the successful accreditation decision was based.
For further information, please visit the AASP website at appliedsportpsych.org, contact via email at [email protected], call 317-205-9225 or write to 8365 Keystone Crossing, Suite 107, Indianapolis, IN 46240.
Licensure & Certification
This program prepares students to sit for the National Counselor Exam (NCE) and the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Exam (NCHMCE). Passing the NCE or NCHMCE, or both, may be required for Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) depending on the state you intend to practice. It is your responsibility to review, understand, and comply with all state licensure requirements.
As state licensing boards do not review programmatic content prior to application for licensure, UWS makes no representations or guarantee that completion of UWS coursework or programs will permit an individual to obtain state licensure. Learn more about licensure by state on our professional licensure disclosure page.
CMHC Enrollment, Retention, Graduation, & Outcome Data
| Academic Year of Entry | 2020-2021 | 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 |
| Number of Applications* | NA | 125 | 53 | 44 | 57 |
| Number Accepted* | NA | 40 | 31 | 34 | 45 |
| % | NA | 32% | 58.5% | 77.3% | 78.9% |
| Number Matriculated* | 35 | 29 | 19 | 32 | 31 |
| % | NA | 72.5% | 61.3% | 94.1% | 68.9% |
| Retained into 2nd year* | 24 | 20 | 16 | 28 | NA |
| % | 68.6% | 69% | 84.2% | 87.5% | NA |
| Graduated in three years* | 19 | 12 | 2 | NA | NA |
| % | 54.3% | 41.4% | 10.5% | NA | NA |
| Total Graduated* | 22 | 14 | 3 | NA | NA |
| % | 62.9% | 48.3% | 15.8% | NA | NA |
| Still in Progress* | 0 | 0 | 10 | 28 | 29 |
| % | 0% | 0% | 52.6% | 87.5% | 93.5% |
| Admissions Information | |||||
| Mean undergrad GPA* | 3.25 | 3.42 | 3.33 | 3.46 | 3.18 |
| Program Outcomes | |||||
| Obtained state licensure* | 2 | 10 | 3 | NA | NA |
| % | 9.1% | 71.4% | 100% | NA | NA |
| Enrolled in doctoral program | 3 | 3 | NA | NA | NA |
| % | 13.3% | 21.4% | NA | NA | NA |
| Transferred to another UWS program | 5 | 5 | 2 | NA | NA |
| % | 14.3% | 17.2% | 10.5% | NA | NA |
*Note: 2021-22 applications received data is based on a previous strategy for counting applications that over-inflated the rate of actual completed applications. Data from FY23 forward is accurate and reliable.
SPP Annual Outcomes Report
The SPP Annual Outcomes Report provides an overview of student outcomes and achievement across the sport and performance psychology programs. The report highlights key indicators of student progress, including graduation rates and CMPC exam performance.
UWS Whole Health
At University of Western States, whole-person health means caring for the whole person, not just their condition. This approach recognizes how physical, mental, emotional, social, and environmental factors influence a person’s ability to participate fully in daily life.
In the Ed.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology; M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, whole-person health guides how you learn to support athletes, performers, and clients across various settings. You’ll explore how stress, identity, relationships, recovery, motivation, confidence, and mental skills influence performance and well-being while also developing the clinical insight to recognize when deeper counseling support is needed.
Financing Your Future
University of Western States remains committed to keeping higher education affordable and accessible. Our Financial Aid Department is ready to offer guidance and support in determining suitable financial assistance tailored to your needs, including potential scholarship opportunities, grants, and more.
Catalog
Please refer to our Academic Catalog for more information on the Ed.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology; M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pursue counseling licensure from this sports psychology program?
Yes, because this Ed.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology program is a combined program with the M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, graduates can pursue licensure as a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC®) or a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).
Is the Ed.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology with the M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program offered online?
Yes. This program is offered 100% online with in-person supervised clinical field training, which takes place at approved training sites near you.
What’s the difference between the Ed.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology and the Ed.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology with the M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling programs?
The Ed.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology with the M.S. in CMHC integrates a counseling curriculum alongside the sport and performance psychology program. This extends the program length by two years but opens the door to licensure eligibility and broader career opportunities upon graduation.
A Compassionate, Performance-Focused Career
The Ed.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology; M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program prepares you to move into professional counseling and advanced leadership-level roles across sport, performance, and high-impact professional environments. Whether you’re counseling elite athletes, advising organizations, or leading performance programs, this dual-degree program equips you to expand both the scope and influence of your work.
This integrated program prepares graduates for careers that span both clinical counseling and applied performance consulting, allowing you to tailor your work based on setting, population, and professional goals.
Career opportunities include:
This integrated program prepares graduates for careers that span both clinical counseling and applied performance consulting, allowing you to tailor your work based on setting, population, and professional goals.
Career opportunities include:
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)*
- Certified Mental Performance Consultant® (CMPC®)
- Sport and performance psychology consultant
- Rehabilitation counselor
- Educator
- Athletic director
- Researcher
- Sport program administrator
"My passion is working with individuals and teams in their search for peak performance in any area of life."
Sarah Castillo, Ph.D.
Director, Sport and Performance Psychology
