The sports medicine master’s program is an interdisciplinary program designed to provide the student with a comprehensive educational experience in sports injury care and performance enhancement of athletes. Emphasis is placed on providing an academic background and practical knowledge in the development of an integrated approach to the conditioning and treatment of athletes.

University of Western States offers broad opportunities for hands-on experiences working with athletes in a number of sports at variety of venues. Pursuing this degree opens up opportunities in this diverse and growing branch of medicine and enhances a provider’s marketability to athletic populations. A Masters of Science in Sports Medicine degree builds a strong foundation and prepares the highly qualified individual for careers in research, teaching, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, sport injury management, health promotion, corporate fitness and community based health and wellness programs.

The human nutrition and functional medicine (HNFM) department at University of Western States (UWS) houses the following programs:

• Master of Science in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine (MS-HNFM)
• Doctor of Clinical Nutrition (DCN)
• Graduate Certificate in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine

These programs are offered as a collaborative endeavor between UWS and the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), the organization that founded and developed many functional medicine concepts in use today.

University of Western States is the only institution where you can obtain an accredited Master of Science degree in human nutrition and functional medicine. The Doctor of Clinical Nutrition program maintains this central focus on functional medicine for optimal clinical results.

Our programs are 100% online, aside from one required on-campus weekend for DCN, and eligible for financial aid.

Functional medicine is a science-based, patient-centered and systems-oriented approach to helping people achieve and maintain excellent health. This is accomplished primarily through natural methods, with diet and nutrition as a central focus. It is a forefront model for health care practice that seeks to address the causes of disease and dysfunction rather than suppressing symptoms.

The sport and performance psychology (SPP) online program focuses on teaching the process of setting and attaining high-level achievements, creating and leading a highly-effective team, and positive motivation and effective communication skills. The curriculum is designed to help students become Certified Mental Performance Consultants (CMPC) through the Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP).

UWS offers a master’s degree with an optional concentration in positive coaching, a doctoral degree with concentrations in positive leadership and administration, and individual studies, and graduate certificate options.

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Master of Science (MS)

Using positive and applied sport psychology, the master’s program is designed to help students develop the foundational skills to enhance performance and maximize human potential. The degree consists of eight core courses and multiple elective options. Our curriculum is designed specifically to help students complete the specialized coursework requirements to become a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP).

MS-SPP FAST FACTS

• 100% online
• 5-6 quarters (1.5 years)
• Entry Term: Spring and Fall
• 54 quarter credits (36 semester)

Positive Coaching Concentration
This concentration focuses on strategic leadership and coaching used to enhance both physical and mental performance. It reaches beyond coaching on the sidelines and includes how to perform optimally as the coach and leader. Topics covered in this concentration will build on sports performance-based knowledge and focuses on the importance of positive coaching, leadership and communication to help your team, business or organization reach full potential.

Doctor of Education (EdD)

UWS also offers a doctorate degree program (EdD) in sport and performance psychology. The EdD program incorporates elements of a research-oriented PhD (doctor of philosophy) and a Psy-D (psychology doctorate) and is designed to enhance students’ prior training and experience in applied sport psychology, coaching, leadership and wellness disciplines.

Individual Studies
This option is designed to help students complete all of the AASP coursework requirements and for those who are interested in multiple areas including coaching, positive leadership, athletic administration, wellness, counseling and sports nutrition. This is also a good option for students who already have a master’s degree in counseling and want to tailor their specializations to their career goals.

Positive Leadership and Administration Concentration
Positive psychology is the scientific study of the strengths that enable individuals and communities to thrive. The field is founded on the belief that people want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives, to cultivate what is best within themselves and to enhance their experiences of love, work and play. Positive leadership applies the principles of positive psychology to the challenges in competitive sport environments and in the workplace. This concentration is intended to help leaders and their teams or organizations succeed through a gained understanding of human motivations and behaviors, and how to apply that understanding to achieve extraordinary results.

EdD-SPP FAST FACTS

• Online blended
• 8-12 quarters (2-3 years)
• Entry Term: Spring and Fall
• 86 quarter credits (57.3 semester)

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialization
The Doctorate of Education in Sport and Performance Psychology, Clinical Mental Health Counseling specialization (EdD-SPP, CMHC) is uniquely designed for students who are simultaneously seeking counseling licensure and advanced sport and performance psychology training to open the door to a wide array of career options. This integrated EdD degree in sport and performance psychology includes a master’s degree in CMHC conferred after the first 90 credits, prior to starting the doctoral portion of the degree, so that students can begin working as a professional counselor while completing their doctorate.

EdD-SPP, CMHC FAST FACTS

• Mostly online coursework with meaningful contact with instructors and peers
• 16 quarters (4-5 years) – flexible pacing for working professionals
• Entry Term: Spring and Fall
• 148 quarter credits (98.7 semester credits)

Applied Sport Psychology Graduate Certificate

University of Western States offers an applied sport psychology (ASP) graduate certificate for those interested in completing specialized graduate level coursework. The program is 100% online and can be completed in under a year. The ASP certificate program is designed to help students complete courses that have been identified as meeting AASP’s Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC^®) coursework requirements, enhance professional development in their current career, and/or explore their interest in the profession of sport and performance psychology.

The Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MS-CMHC) program at UWS is designed for students who want to diagnose and treat those with mental health disorders as licensed counselors. As careers progress, students can become clinical supervisors and mental and behavioral health program administrators.

MS-CMHC FAST FACTS

• 100% online coursework with meaningful contact with instructors and peers
• 8-12 quarters (2-3 years) – flexible pacing for working professionals
• Entry Term: Spring and Fall
• 90 quarter credits (60 semester credits)

UWS also offers a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Sport and Performance Psychology, with a Clinical Mental Health Counseling specialization. This program is an ideal option for candidates who may be interested in earning their clinical mental health counseling master’s and an EdD in sport and performance psychology in one streamlined program.

EdD-SPP, CMHC FAST FACTS

• Mostly online coursework with meaningful contact with instructors and peers
• 16 quarters (4-5 years) – flexible pacing for working professionals
• Entry Term: Spring and Fall
• 148 quarter credits (98.7 semester credits)

UNIQUE FEATURES OF THESE PROGRAMS

• Standardized patient component which provides unique and personalized learning for clinical mental health counseling students. Faculty design specific case studies, which create opportunities for students to apply their knowledge in simulated “real-world” scenarios with specially trained actors.
• Instructors that are active in the field.
• Dual-degree doctoral option.