July 13, 2026
Learn to Lead in Sport and the Performing Arts
The Ed.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology (EdD-SPP) program prepares you to become a leader who supports peak performance across sport, the performing arts, and high-pressure professional environments.
Offered completely online, the EdD-SPP program is perfect for sport science professionals, mental health practitioners, educators, coaches, health care providers, and business leaders hoping to enhance, advance, or move beyond their current role without needing to pause their career.
Two focused concentrations—Positive Leadership and Administration Concentration and Sport and Performance Psychology Consulting Concentration—offer even more advanced training options to help you meet your personal and professional goals.
Graduates of the EdD-SPP program pursue applied roles that do not require psychology licensure, making the degree accessible to practitioners from a wide range of professional backgrounds.
Those who earn the Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) credential are recognized by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology as meeting the highest standards of professional practice in mental performance consulting, including completing a combination of educational and work requirements, passing a certification exam, and committing to ongoing professional development.
Standardized Patient Program
The EdD-SPP program participates in our robust Standardized Patient Program, in which you can practice face-to-face mental performance interventions and communication skills with trained actors in a controlled, supportive, and supervised setting.
Positive Leadership and Administration Concentration
In the Positive Leadership and Administration (PLA) Concentration, students learn to apply the principles of positive psychology to challenges in competitive sports and workplaces, enabling individuals, teams, and organizations to thrive.
Designed for those who supervise, manage, or develop others, the PLA Concentration will help you and your team succeed through a gained understanding of human motivation and behavior, and how to apply that understanding to achieve extraordinary results in long-term motivation, team and business functional effectiveness, effective work processes, organizational design that leads to optimal performance, and beyond.
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 administered by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology.
Designed for students pursuing a career in applied sport and performance psychology, the SPPC Concentration is focused on developing 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 earned during this concentration eligible for the CMPC certification.
Certified Mental Performance Consultant® (CMPC) Credential
Our sport and performance psychology core curriculum fulfills the educational requirements needed to earn the Certified Mental Performance Consultant® credential.
The CMPC credential demonstrates your commitment to adhering to rigorous professional standards in education, training, and ethical practice. While not required for all careers in this field, earning the CMPC certification l can strengthen professional credibility and open doors to more rewarding career opportunities.
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Curriculum
- Ethics and Professional Identity
- Sport Psychology
- Counseling Methods and Practices
- Psychopathology and Appraisal
- Applied Sport Psychology
- Scholarly Writing Methods and Practices
- Psychological Preparation and Mental Skills Training
- Multicultural Counseling and Advocacy
- Group, Team and Organizational Dynamics
- Applied Motor Learning or Biomechanics or Exercise Physiology
- Psychology of Performing Arts or Performance Psychology in High-Risk Occupations
- Sport and Performance Psychology Interventions
- Applied Statistics for the Social Sciences
- Dissertation (Requires program director permission)
- Electives
- Foundations of Positive Leadership
- Applied Leadership in Sport and Performance Coaching
- Applied Leadership in Administrative Settings
- Applied Interventions for Peak Performance Cultures
- Culminating Experience in Positive Leadership
- SPP Pre-Mentorship
- Mentorship
- Ethical Use of Telehealth Platforms
- Assistive Technology Supporting Mental Health Treatment
- Eating Disorder Treatment
- Business Basics for Clinicians and Consultants
- Career Counseling
- Addiction Counseling
- Psychopharmacology
- Foundations of Positive Leadership
- Applied Leadership in Sport and Performance Coaching
- Applied Leadership in Administrative Settings
- Applied Interventions for Peak Performance Cultures
- Biomechanics
- Exercise Physiology
- Sports Nutrition
- Evidence-Based Concussion Management and Care
- Psychophysiology and Biofeedback
- Sport in Society
- Youth Athlete Development and Performance
- Applied Motor Learning
- Psychology of Athletic Injury and Rehabilitation
- Athletic Nutrition Planning and Supplements
- Directed Study in Sport and Performance Psychology Enrollment (Requires program director permission)
- Field Problems in Sport and Performance Psychology Enrollment (Requires program director permission)
- Psychology of Performing Arts
- Performance Psychology in High-Risk Occupations
Ed.D.-SPP Dissertation
All EdD-SPP students complete a doctoral dissertation that investigates a real-world performance, leadership, or applied psychology question relevant to their professional goals. Working closely with a faculty dissertation committee, students design and conduct original research, analyze data, and defend their findings.
Enrollment in the dissertation courses requires program director approval.
Curriculum Note: Some courses have prerequisites and must be taken in sequence. Full course descriptions, prerequisite details, and registration requirements are available in the UWS catalog.
Admissions Requirements
University of Western States admits new students into the EdD-SPP program in fall (October) and spring (April) academic terms. The application includes a list of materials that must be submitted for official consideration of an applicant’s file. You should carefully review the program’s selection criteria to ensure you are making the best possible presentation of your qualifications.
In addition to the general entry requirements for the College of Graduate Studies, students must also meet specific entry requirements listed below for the EdD-SPP program.
- Official transcripts showing a master’s degree from an accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent)
- Minimum cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0
- Write and submit a personal essay addressing a provided prompt
- Two letters of recommendation, at least one of which must be academic in nature
- Current resume or curriculum vitae
- Application fee of $50
- Applicants are required to successfully complete a personal interview with the director or a program faculty member
- Admitted students must have successfully passed a graduate level research methods course
- Successful completion of a comprehensive criminal history background check (required at admission)
You may not be simultaneously enrolled in a program in clinical mental health counseling and a program in sport and performance psychology (the Ed.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology: Clinical Mental Health Counseling is one comprehensive program, so it does not fall under this restriction), or two SPP programs.
Accreditation
The Ed.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology: 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, contact via email at [email protected], call 317-205-9225 or write to 8365 Keystone Crossing, Suite 107, Indianapolis, IN 46240.
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.
Tuition & Fees
Visit our Tuition and Fees page to learn more.
Textbooks
Visit our Textbooks by Program page to download your program’s booklist, explore options for acquiring textbooks (including library access), review FAQs, and connect with Student Success for additional help.
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.
UWS Whole-Person 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 program, this whole-person health approach is expressed through an integrated focus on performance, well-being, leadership, and human potential. Students learn to consider the full context of an individual or organization—their motivations, stresses, relationships, culture, and environment—when designing strategies to support sustainable excellence in sports, the performing arts, and high-performance professional settings.
Catalog
Please refer to our Academic Catalog for more information on the Ed.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology program.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ed.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology?
The Ed.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology (EdD-SPP) is an online doctoral degree that blends research-oriented doctoral study with applied performance psychology practice. The program is designed for coaches, educators, mental health practitioners, and business leaders who want to advance into leadership-level roles in sport, the performing arts, and high-performance professional environments.
Is the Ed.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology offered online?
Yes. The Ed.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology at UWS is offered completely online, making it accessible to working professionals. There are no required on-campus residencies for the standard EdD-SPP program.
What are the two concentrations in the EdD-SPP program?
The EdD-SPP offers two optional concentrations. The Sport and Performance Psychology Consulting (SPPC) Concentration is designed for students pursuing applied sport psychology careers and helps them complete supervised mentorship hours that are eligible for the CMPC certification.
The Positive Leadership and Administration (PLA) Concentration applies positive psychology principles to leadership challenges in competitive sport and workplace settings.
What is the CMPC credential, and does the EdD-SPP program prepare students for it?
The Certified Mental Performance Consultant® (CMPC) is the primary professional credential for applied sport psychology practitioners, administered by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology.
The UWS EdD-SPP core curriculum addresses all eight knowledge competency areas (K1–K8) required for CMPC candidacy. Students who choose the SPPC Concentration can also complete supervised mentorship hours with UWS faculty, all of whom are listed on the CMPC Registry of Approved Mentors.
What doctoral degrees in sport and performance psychology does UWS offer?
UWS offers two sport and performance psychology doctoral degrees: the Ed.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology (EdD-SPP), and the Ed.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology with a M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (EdD-SPP-CMHC).
The CMHC program is designed for students who also want to pursue counseling licensure and includes a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling conferred after the first 90 credits.
What careers can I pursue with an Ed.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology?
Graduates of the EdD-SPP program may pursue roles such as:
- Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC)
- Athletic director
- Head coach
- Sport program administrator
- Positive leadership consultant
- University educator
What can I do with a doctorate in sport and performance psychology?
The Ed.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology prepares graduates for leadership and consulting roles that do not require psychology licensure.
Common career paths include mental performance consulting under the Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) credential, positive leadership administration in sport and organizational settings, athletic direction and sport program administration, coaching at the head coach level, university-level teaching and faculty positions, and applied research roles.
The EdD-SPP is a professional practice doctorate designed for practitioners who want to advance their impact in sport, the performing arts, high-performance business environments, or the military rather than pursue a traditional research career.
What is the sport psychology career outlook?
Demand for mental performance professionals is growing across professional athletics, collegiate sports programs, military performance units, the performing arts, and corporate leadership settings.
Employment of clinical and counseling psychologists, which includes some sport psychology practitioners who hold licensure, is projected to grow 11% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the national average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) credential administered by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology is increasingly recognized as the standard professional credential for applied performance consulting outside of licensed clinical settings.
What is the difference between an Ed.D. and a Ph.D. in sport psychology?
A Ph.D. in sport psychology is a research doctorate designed for careers in academic research, graduate-level teaching, and the generation of new scientific knowledge. It typically requires a dissertation based on original empirical research and is the standard pathway for those seeking tenure-track faculty positions at research universities.
An Ed.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology is a professional practice doctorate designed for practitioners who want to apply psychology and performance science in applied consulting, coaching, leadership, and educational settings.
The UWS EdD-SPP does not require a clinical licensure component and does not qualify graduates to practice as licensed psychologists in most states. It is designed for coaches, educators, mental health practitioners, and business leaders who want to advance in applied performance roles.
Those seeking to practice as licensed psychologists typically pursue a Ph.D. or Psy.D. in psychology.
How much do sport psychologists make?
Salaries in sport and performance psychology vary significantly by career path, credentials, and work setting. Graduates who pursue university faculty positions enter a field where postsecondary teachers earn a median of $83,980 per year as of May 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Those in private mental performance consulting practice earn compensation that varies based on client base, industry, and credential level.
Practitioners who go on to earn state psychology licensure through additional doctoral-level training can access the psychologist salary range, where the BLS reports a median of $94,310 per year across all psychologist categories as of May 2024.
Where EdD-SPP Graduates Work?
EdD-SPP graduates work across a wide range of performance environments. Common settings include professional and collegiate athletics organizations, university athletic departments, performing arts programs, military and tactical performance units, corporate leadership training programs, and private mental performance consulting practices.
The AASP Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) credential, which the EdD-SPP curriculum is designed to support, is recognized for practice with athletes, coaches, non-sport performers (including dancers and musicians), business professionals, and tactical populations (including military personnel, firefighters, and law enforcement).
A Performance-Focused Career Path
The Ed.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology degree prepares you to move into advanced, leadership-level roles across sport, performance, and high-impact professional environments. The sport and performance psychology career outlook is growing, with demand increasing across professional sport organizations, universities, the military, and corporate performance settings. Whether you’re supporting elite athletes, advising organizations, or leading performance programs, this doctorate equips you to expand both the scope and influence of your work.
With the proper qualifications, you may be eligible for the following roles:
- Certified Mental Performance Consultant® (CMPC)
- Positive leadership administrator
- Head coach
- Educator
- Athletic director
- Sport program administrator
The program’s 86-credit curriculum, comprising 13 core courses, five electives, and a culminating dissertation, addresses all eight knowledge competency areas (K1–K8) required for the CMPC credential.
Graduates who pursue university-level teaching positions enter a field where postsecondary teachers earn a median of $83,980 per year as of May 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“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
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- 1Program length reflects the institution’s expected time to completion for a student progressing at a standard pace. Actual completion time may vary based on enrollment status, transfer credit, course availability, academic progression, dissertation or clinical requirements, leaves of absence, and other individual circumstances. Extended time to completion may impact financial aid eligibility, loan borrowing availability, and total program cost. Students are encouraged to consult with Admissions, Advising, and Financial Aid regarding individual academic and financial planning.