Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology
Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology Program Overview
The Bachelor of Science degree in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology provides students, athletes, and those preparing for careers as coaches and sports practitioners with the knowledge of psychological theory and skills to enhance human behavior in the sport and exercise settings and the performing arts. The major differs from existing sport-related bachelor’s degree programs due to its focus on psychological processes related to sports performance, as opposed to existing programs that focus on pedagogical, physiological, or business aspects of sports performance.
The Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology major explore social-psychological concepts such as motivation, self-confidence, anxiety, or burnout, and how these concepts interact with the sports environment to influence athletes (e.g., losing focus under pressure or having self-doubts during a game) and performance. The program prepares students with essential knowledge of psychological aspects of sports performance and ethical practice to work in wide-ranging sport-related fields or to further their education in their chosen careers via graduate programs and mental performance certification by the Association of Applied Sport Psychology.
Graduation Requirements:
- Minimum and Overall GPA: 2.000
- Students considering admission into a sport psychology graduate program should attain a higher GPA, as admission to those programs are competitive.
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Explain the role of the individual and the environment in sports and exercise behavior.
- Demonstrate understanding of the foundation of motivation in sports sciences, learning, and personal life.
- Define and illustrate the concepts, tools, and application of mental skills and performance enhancement.
- Design and evaluate an applied research study from inception to conclusions.
- Define the standards for competence, domestic and global diversity, and ethical principles (i.e., AASP and APA) and their role in sports psychology professional practice.
Program Structure
- 120 minimum credits
- 53 credits hours of major requirements, 39 credits of additional requirements and core courses, and 28 general electives (total credit hours depend on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credits).
Why should I get a degree in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology?
The Bachelor of Science degree in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology provides students, athletes, and those preparing for careers as coaches and sports practitioners with the knowledge of psychological theory and skills to enhance human behavior in the sport and exercise settings and the performing arts. It explores social-psychological concepts such as motivation, self-confidence, anxiety, or burnout, and how these concepts interact with the sports environment to influence athletes (e.g., losing focus under pressure or having self-doubts during a game) and performance.
How is this degree different from any other sport-related bachelor’s degree?
The online Bachelor of Science degree in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology differs from existing sport-related bachelor’s degree programs due to its focus on psychological processes related to sports performance, as opposed to existing programs that focus on pedagogical, physiological, or business aspects of sports performance.
What will I learn in this program?
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Explain the role of the individual and the environment in sports and exercise behavior.
- Demonstrate understanding of the foundation of motivation in sports sciences, learning, and personal life.
- Define and illustrate the concepts, tools, and application of mental skills and performance enhancement.
- Design and evaluate an applied research study from inception to conclusions.
- Define the standards for competence, domestic and global diversity, and ethical principles (i.e., AASP and APA) and their role in sports psychology professional practice.
What can I do with a degree in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology?
The program prepares students with essential knowledge of psychological aspects of sports performance and ethical practice to work in wide-ranging sport-related fields or to further their education in their chosen careers via graduate programs and mental performance certification by the Association of Applied Sport Psychology.
Examples of possible careers include:
· Sports Performance Psychologist
· Strength and Performance Conditioning Coach
· Sports Performance Coach
· Mental Health Counselor/Athletics Embedded
· Sports Nutritionist
· Sports Medicine Fellow
· Performance Enhancement Specialists (PESs)
Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology Admissions Requirements
The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents, and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.
First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum, and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.
First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull, and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. Check with a regional campus admissions office to determine application requirements, as they may differ among campuses.
International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score, minimum 48 PTE score or minimum 100 DET score; or by completing the ESL level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students..
Transfer Students: For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.
Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.
Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog.
Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the Coursework tab.
Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology Courses
Courses for the online BS in Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology frame a range of topics including, but not limited to: Principles and Application of Sport Psychology, High-Performance Athletes, Ethics in Sport, Exercise Psychology, Social Psychology of Sport, Sport in Global Perspective.
Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology Tuition and Fees
Ohio Residents
| Per Credit Hour | Per 3-Credit Course | Approximate Tuition Cost |
| $575.70 | $1,727.10 | $50,700 full-time1 |
Non-Ohio Residents
| Per Credit Hour | Per 3-Credit Course | Approximate Tuition Cost |
| $585.70 | $1,757.10 | $50,800-$50,900 full-time2 |
1The flat-rate semester fee of $6,336.70 applies to full-time Ohio resident undergraduate students taking between 12-18 credit hours per semester. This program is calculated at 8 semesters.
For part-time semesters: The $575.70 per-credit-hour tuition rate applies to part-time Ohio resident undergraduate students taking fewer than 12 credit hours per semester.
2The flat-rate semester fee of $6,336.70 applies to full-time non-Ohio resident undergraduate students enrolled in a fully online degree program and taking between 12-18 credit hours, PLUS a surcharge of $10 per credit hour of actual credits taken (between 12-18 or $120-$180). This program is calculated at 8 semesters.
For part-time semesters: The $585.70 per-credit-hour tuition rate applies to part-time non-Ohio resident undergraduate students enrolled in a fully online degree program and taking fewer than 12 credit hours per semester, PLUS a surcharge of $10 per credit hour.
An additional Distance Learning fee for all students enrolled in a distance learning course is $15 per credit hour. Program tuition and costs are estimated and subject to change.
Total program cost based on Tuition Guarantee Program for a full-time student taking 12-18 credit hours for 8 semesters. Actual tuition costs may vary based on a student’s chosen academic plan. For a complete listing of tuition rates for approved online programs please contact the One Stop for Student Services at 330-672-6000, or via our website Contact Us link.
The total program costs are estimates and are not final or binding. Program costs are based on standard fees, but fees may vary based on the actual classes taken. Kent State University disclaims any liability arising from the use of or reliance upon these program cost estimates by any person. Program costs are subject to change without notice.
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