February 24, 2026
Support Peak Performance Across Sport and Professional Settings
The Master of Science in Sport and Performance Psychology (MS-SPP) program prepares you to help individuals and teams perform to the best of their ability via a strong foundation in theory and applied sport psychology opportunities.
Offered completely online in an asynchronous format, the MS-SPP program is perfect for working professionals or career changers who need the flexibility to earn their degree while still seeing to life’s other responsibilities.
Certified Mental Performance Consultant® (CMPC) Credential
The online M.S. in Sport and Performance Psychology core curriculum is designed to fulfill the educational requirements needed to sit for the Certified Mental Performance Consultant® (CMPC) certification exam administered by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP).
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 Certified Mental Performance Consultant credential can strengthen your professional credibility and open doors to rewarding opportunities supporting elite athletes and performers in professional, collegiate, and other high-pressure environments.
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Curriculum
Core 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.
- Ethics and Professional Identity
- Sport Psychology
- Human Growth and Development
- Personality and Counseling Theories
- Research Methods and Program Evaluation
- Applied Sport Psychology
- Psychopathology and Appraisal
- Sport in Society
- Psychological Preparation and Mental Skills Training
- Multicultural Counseling and Advocacy
- Capstone-SPP (Capstone requires prior or concurrent completion of all core coursework)
Elective Courses
*Requires program director permission.
- Eating Disorder Treatment
- Business Basics for Clinicians and Consultants
- Psychopharmacology
- Ethical Use of Telehealth Platforms
- Applied Motor Learning
- Psychology of Athletic Injury and Rehabilitation
- Athletic Nutrition Planning and Supplements
- Assistive Technology Supporting Mental Health Treatment
- Foundations of Positive Leadership
- Applied Leadership in Sport and Performance Coaching
- Biomechanics
- Psychology of Performing Arts
- Directed Study in Sport and Performance Psychology*
- Exercise Physiology
- Sports Nutrition
- Evidence-Based Concussion Management and Care
- Youth Athlete Development and Performance
- Performance Psychology in High-Risk Occupations
- Field Problems in Sport and Performance Psychology*
Positive Coaching Concentration
- Foundations of Positive Leadership
- Applied Leadership in Sport and Performance Coaching
- Applied Interventions for Peak Performance Cultures
- Culminating Experience in Positive Leadership
Applied Practice Concentration
- Sport and Performance Psychology Interventions
- Introduction to Mentorship
- Mentorship
Which Concentration Is Right for Me?
Choose the Positive Coaching Concentration to strengthen your effectiveness as an athletic or business coach, administrator, or in a leadership role in your chosen field.
Choose the Applied Practice Concentration if earning your master's degree and the CMPC credential are your primary goals.
Choose no concentration (elective pathway) if you want maximum flexibility. If you do not select a concentration, you will complete an additional 16 credits of elective coursework, allowing for deeper exploration of areas aligned with your academic or professional interests.
Positive Coaching Concentration
The Positive Coaching Concentration integrates principles of positive psychology with sport and performance psychology to strengthen leadership, communication, and motivation across professional settings. This concentration is designed for students who want to apply performance psychology concepts to professional settings beyond sports and athletics.
Ideal for business coaches, administrators, and supervisors or managers, the Positive Coaching Concentration equips you with the skills to enhance team dynamics, foster positive engagement, and support a more sustainable performance from your team or organization.
Applied Practice Concentration
Mentorship and preparing you for professional practice are essential to the Applied Practice Concentration. Designed for students who plan to pursue CMPC certification, you will complete a minimum of 100 direct client contact hours during the supervised mentorship portions of this concentration. All faculty members supporting this concentration at UWS are listed on the AASP Registry of Approved Mentors for the CMPC.
Important Mentorship Note:
All components of the SPP Mentorship program, including client consultations, individual mentorship meetings, group mentorship meetings, and recorded client sessions, must be conducted entirely in English, regardless of geographic location or preferred language. Students with approved accommodations must contact the mentorship coordinator prior to beginning the Applied Practice Concentration to discuss implementation within the mentorship program.
Important Mentorship Note:
All components of the SPP Mentorship program, including client consultations, individual mentorship meetings, group mentorship meetings, and recorded client sessions, must be conducted entirely in English, regardless of geographic location or preferred language. Students with approved accommodations must contact the mentorship coordinator prior to beginning the Applied Practice Concentration to discuss implementation within the mentorship program.
Admissions Requirements
University of Western States admits students to the M.S. in Sport and Performance Psychology program in the fall (October) and spring (April) academic quarters. You should carefully review the program’s selection criteria to ensure your application reflects your academic preparation, professional interests, and readiness for graduate-level study.
In addition to meeting the general admission requirements for the College of Graduate Studies, you must meet the following program-specific entry requirements:
- Official transcripts showing successful completion of a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 2.75 undergraduate GPA
- A written personal essay responding to a provided prompt
- Participation in a required group meet-and-greet session with the MS-SPP director or a program faculty member
- Two letters of recommendation, at least one of which must be academic in nature
- A 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 more than one sport and performance psychology program at the same time.
Accreditation & Licensure
Accreditation
The M.S. in Sport and Performance Psychology Applied Practice Concentration is an applicant for accreditation through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) Graduate Program Accreditation Committee (GPAC).
Achieving applicant status does not guarantee accreditation. If accreditation is granted, the effective date will be the date of the program’s successful site visit.
For more information, please visit the AASP website at https://appliedsportpsych.org/, email [email protected], call 317-205-9225, or write to 8365 Keystone Crossing, Suite 107, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46240.
Licensure
The MS-SPP curriculum is designed to fulfill the educational coursework requirements needed to pursue the Certified Mental Performance Consultant® (CMPC) credential through AASP. Certification as a CMPC requires additional supervised mentorship hours, which are not included in the core master’s curriculum and may be completed through the Applied Practice Concentration.
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.
UWS Whole Health
At University of Western States, whole health means caring for the whole person, not just the symptoms. This approach recognizes how physical, mental, emotional, and environmental factors shape overall well-being.
In the M.S. in Sport and Performance Psychology program, this philosophy is reflected through an integrated focus on performance psychology, counseling principles, motivation, communication, and ethical practice. You’ll learn to apply evidence-based strategies that support resilience, growth, and sustainable performance across sport, professional, and organizational settings.
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 M.S. in Sport and Performance Psychology program.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is sport and performance psychology?
Sport and performance psychology is the study of how mental and emotional factors can affect performance in high-pressure environments such as sports or business. People who pursue this field typically help people perform at their best while maintaining mental wellness in stressful situations.
What do sport and performance psychology graduates do at work?
A sport and performance psychologist's possible job responsibilities may involve a wide range of day-to-day duties. They typically teach mental skills and goal-setting techniques, how to maintain focus and concentration during high-pressure situations, help clients through stressful and anxious moments such as injuries, and more. Specific duties vary as a sport and performance psychologist can work with clients in different fields, such as athletes, actors, service members, dancers, business leaders, and more.
What can I do with a sport and performance psychology master's degree?
With an M.S. in Sport and Performance Psychology, you can pursue a wide variety of careers. You can work with athletes, performers, or business leaders, to help them mentally cope with the pressure that may arise in their lives without sacrificing their performance. Overall, an M.S. in Sport and Performance psychology can open many doors. The career you choose depends on what type of work you would like to do, such as choosing a coaching career vs. a clinical career.
Are concentrations required for the M.S. in Sport and Performance Psychology degree?
No, you do not have to choose a concentration when pursuing your M.S. in Sport and Performance Psychology. If you decide not to select a concentration, you will complete an additional four courses (16 credits) of elective coursework of your choice, which can provide flexibility in your studies.
Is the M.S. in Sport and Performance Psychology offered online?
Yes, this sport performance psychology program is offered 100% online. This learning format allows working adults to pursue their degree while still seeing to life's other responsibilities.
Sport and Performance Psychology Career Pathways
The MS-SPP program prepares you for a wide range of performance-focused roles across sport, education, wellness, and professional fields. Your career path will depend on your background, interests, and whether you pursue the Certified Mental Performance Consultant® (CMPC) credential.
UWS graduates have worked with collegiate, Olympic, and professional sport organizations and beyond.
You may pursue roles such as:
- Certified Mental Performance Consultant® (CMPC)
- Positive Leadership Administrator
- Coach (athletic, performance, or skills-based coaching roles)
- Athletic Director
- 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
