The master’s degree program is designed to enhance a current career (i.e., strength coaching, athletic training, executive coaching) with additional sport psychology knowledge. You’ll be able to select elective courses that fit your specific career goals. Regardless of the concentration or no concentration, the credit total of the program remains the same.

If you plan to continue on to a doctoral program in sport and performance psychology, no concentration is needed. You will be able to maximize your elective options while still completing the coursework requirements for the Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC®) certification. You will also complete the mentorship hours as part of your future doctoral program.

Applied Practice Concentration

Choose the Applied Practice Concentration if earning the CMPC® credential and your master’s degree are your primary goals.

Mentorship and preparing you for professional practice are essential to this concentration. You will complete a minimum of 100 direct client contact hours during your mentorship experiences at UWS, giving you a significant head start on finishing the CMPC® requirements.

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.

Positive Coaching Concentration

Choose the Positive Coaching Concentration to strengthen your effectiveness as an athletic or business coach, administrator, manager, or other leadership role in your chosen field.

This concentration includes coursework on designing and implementing interventions within larger groups, organizations, and teams, areas usually reserved for doctoral study.

No Concentration (Elective Pathway)

Choose this option if you want maximum flexibility or plan to pursue doctoral study.

If you do not select a concentration, you will complete an additional four credits of elective coursework, allowing for deeper exploration of areas aligned with your academic or professional interests.

Concentrations are noted on transcripts and diplomas, providing added clarity for doctoral admissions advisers and future employers.

The M.S.-SPP degree is conferred upon an individual who has fulfilled the following requirements:

• Maintenance of enrollment eligibility through satisfactory academic performance, professional development and behavior.
• Successful completion, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, of all required coursework.
• Successful completion of minimum graduation requirements as officially communicated to students through the university catalog, student publications, and other official documents of the university.
• Freedom from all indebtedness and other obligations to the university.

Graduates of the M.S.-SPP program will be able to be able to:

1. Evaluate the predominant theories and emergent trends within the discipline of sport and performance psychology
2. Distinguish between various ethical codes within the mental health counseling and performance consulting professions, and articulate the rationale for disparities among them.
3. Demonstrate, through discussion, presentation, and in writing, the development of a professional consulting philosophy integrating the disciplines of psychology, sport science, and counseling.
4. Create performance enhancement interventions incorporating a variety of research-supported techniques to improve performance and overall wellness.
5. Develop culturally responsive consulting strategies based upon the relationships, issues, and trends within a multicultural society.
6. Utilize allied theories and concepts to develop an integrated approach to sport and performance consulting. (applied practice concentration)
7. Synthesize the current research and theory within positive psychology to develop coaching and leadership interventions both within and outside of sport. (positive coaching concentration)

The University of Western States prepares you to make an impact in a variety of high-demand sports psychology careers. Below, you will find possible career options and salaries associated with the M.S. in Sport and Performance Psychology. Graduates of this sports psychology program can pursue careers as a Clinical Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC), professor, coach, athletic director, and more.

Data is pulled by a third-party tool called Lightcast, which includes data from sources including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau, online job postings, and other government databases. The information below represents a regional and national career outlook related to this degree program*. The University of Western States is dedicated to assisting you in achieving your career goals.

*Many degree programs are intended to fulfill licensure requirements in specific states. The data shown here may not represent the state where you currently reside. For more information on how the sport and performance psychology graduate program is applicable to the requirements of your state, please speak with your admissions counselor.

The Master of Science in Sport and Performance Psychology (M.S.-SPP) offers advanced training for leaders in psychology, coaching, education, health care, business and administration. Using positive psychology and the applied sport psychology scientist-practitioner model of training, the program is designed to help students develop the necessary skills to take their performance to the next level. The curriculum will support students in preparing for the Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC®) exam by providing coursework opportunities in the K1-K8 standards of the Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). The master’s degree is comprised of 58 quarter credits (approximately 39 semester credits).

The UWS catalog houses the curriculum, course descriptions, curriculum sequence and other helpful information about the program. View the current catalog.

Program Planners

Find your M.S.-SPP planner here.