February 24, 2026
A Flexible Exploration of Applied Sport Psychology
The Applied Sport Psychology (ASP) Graduate Certificate program helps strengthen your professional toolkit with performance-focused skills you can apply in coaching, athletic training, and other performance related roles, without committing to a full master’s degree. This certificate program offers you a flexible way to explore sport and performance psychology, whether you’re just entering the field, enhancing your existing career skills, or preparing to continue to a master’s or doctoral program.
Complete CMPC® Courses
Our Applied Sport Psychology Graduate Certificate program is designed to help you complete coursework that meets the Certified Mental Performance Consultant® (CMPC) coursework requirements established by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology and Canadian Sport Psychology Association.
By becoming a CMPC, you will add specialized training in sport and performance psychology to your professional profile. This preparation can help you stand out to teams, organizations, and clients while expanding opportunities in coaching, athletic training, leadership, and performance consulting.
Transition to a Degree Program
Ready for the next step in your career? Up to 24 credits from this certificate program can be applied toward the M.S. in Sport and Performance Psychology or Ed.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology degree programs.
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Curriculum
Core Courses
- Ethics and Professional Identity
- Sport Psychology or approved elective
- Applied Sport Psychology or approved elective
- Psychological Preparation and Mental Skills Training or approved elective
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.
- Eating Disorder Treatment
- Business Basics for Clinicians and Consultants
- Personality and Counseling Theories
- Human Growth and Development
- Research Methods and Program Evaluation
- Group Counseling
- Career Counseling
- Addiction Counseling
- Psychopathology and Appraisal
- Multicultural Counseling and Advocacy
- Counseling Methods and Practices
- Psychopharmacology
- Ethical Use of Telehealth Platforms
- Sport in Society
- Youth Athlete Development and Performance
- Psychology of Performing Arts
- Assistive Technology Supporting Mental Health Treatment
- Foundations of Positive Leadership
- Biomechanics
- Exercise Physiology
- Evidence-Based Concussion Management and Care
- Applied Motor Learning
- Psychology of Athletic Injury and Rehabilitation
- Performance Psychology in High-Risk Occupations
Admissions Requirements
University of Western States admits new students into the certificate programs in fall (October), winter (January), spring (April), and summer (July) quarters. You should carefully review the program’s selection criteria to ensure that you are making the best possible presentation of your qualifications.
In addition to the general entry requirements for the College of Graduate Studies, you must also meet specific entry requirements listed below for the Applied Sport Psychology Graduate Certificate program:
- Official transcripts showing successful completion of a bachelor’s degree with a minimum cumulative 2.75 undergraduate GPA
- Current resume or curriculum vitae
- Application fee of $50
- 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. You may also not be enrolled in two sport and performance psychology programs simultaneously.
Tuition & Fees
Visit our Tuition and Fees page to learn more.
UWS Whole Health
At University of Western States, whole health means caring for the whole person, not just the 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 Applied Sport Psychology Graduate Certificate program, this philosophy comes to life through coursework that explores motivation, focus, confidence, resilience, and wellbeing. You’ll learn how factors such as stress, identity, recovery, team dynamics, and mental skills influence performance, and how to help athletes and performers navigate these challenges with a person-centered, ethical approach.
Catalog
Please refer to our Academic Catalog for more information on the Graduate Certificate in Sport Performance Psychology program.
Career Pathways
The Applied Sport Psychology Graduate Certificate is designed to enhance your current career and expand how you support performance, well-being, and resilience in the settings where you already work.
Graduates commonly apply their training in roles such as:
- Strength and conditioning coach
- Athletic trainer or sports medicine team member
- Athletic department administrator or educator
- Wellness, fitness, or performance specialist
- Performing arts or high-performance support roles
- Clinician seeking to add sport and performance psychology expertise*
"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
