Overview
Florida is a respectable location to learn about and possibly even engage in the field of sports psychology which refers to the application of psychology to an athlete’s personality in an effort to enhance both their on- and off-field athletic performance. It prepares the athlete for competitive settings so that they can give their all by utilizing aspects of the human mind, behavior, and mental processes. Sports psychology programs lead to bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
Bachelor’s degree programs include general education and fundamental psychology courses, as well as core courses focused on sports psychology. In this type of program, you may complete a research project, fieldwork, and/or an internship. Graduates can work as coaches, sports marketers, or sports treatment assistants, or they can continue their education.
At the graduate level, on the other hand, your courses will be focused on sports psychology topics, and they may include research and fieldwork in addition to thorough exams and thesis requirements. If you have a graduate degree, you can work in some of the same fields as people with bachelor’s degrees, but you can also work in professional sports consultancy, sports counseling, or university education teaching. Some counseling positions may require a license or certification.
Continue reading for more information on the degree options available at these Florida accredited universities.
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Featured Sports Psychology Degree Programs
- 100% Online Courses
- Affordable Tuition
- Large Alumni Network
Grand Canyon University Online
M.S. in Psychology: Health Psychology
Explore the intersection of biological, social and psychological factors, and their effects on health, wellness and illness.
- Regionally Accredited
- Affordable Tuition
- Online Program
University of West Alabama
M.S. Experimental Psychology: Health & Sports Psychology
Prepare for clinical applications in health and sports psychology while developing skills needed for careers in these fields.
- Affordable Tuition
- Flexible Online Courses
- HLC Accredited
Grand Canyon University Online
B.S. in Performance and Sports Psychology
Earn you B.S. in Psychology with an Emphasis in Performance and Sports Psychology with Grand Canyon University Online.
- Complete in 1-Year
- 100% Online Program
- Affordable Degree
Aurora University
M.S. in Exercise Science
With courses focused in Sports Psychology you can gain the skills you need for success in health and sports careers.
What Will I Learn in A Sports Psychology Program?
Degree Timelines
A bachelor’s degree usually takes four years of full-time study, whereas a master’s degree usually takes two years. The majority of PhD programs in sport psychology require four to seven years of full-time study to complete. Some programs require additional specialization and research after receiving a PhD in clinical psychology.
Curriculum and Example Courses
No matter what level of program you enroll in, you will most likely have similar core courses. The following is a list of the required core courses in sports psychology, followed by descriptions of four sports psychology courses.
- Performance enhancement
- Coaching
- Anatomy and physiology
- Sports counseling
- Sports psychology culture
- Motor learning
- Sport biomechanics
- Health psychology
Psychology of Injury
This course analyzes how psychological factors affect injuries and how injuries affect mental processes. Depending on the program, this course may also cover some basic psychological counseling techniques related to the treatment of injured patients.
Psychology of Physical Activity and Sports
In this introductory course, you will learn how psychological theory and research can be applied to our understanding of sports and physical activity. You might learn more about how the mind and outside factors that influence sports interact. Topics such as competition, motivation, and group dynamics are all required.
Psychological Perspectives on Performance
In this course, you will learn how psychological traits such as aggression can affect a person’s physical performance. You study methods to improve performance by comprehending and considering psychological factors.
Social Psychology in Sports
This course explores the roles of group psychology and sports performance. You can study how social and cultural factors influence physical activity participation.
What Are The Standard Entrance Requirements to Enroll?
Bachelor’s degrees in sports psychology are rare. Those that do exist are usually related to the specialization of a psychology degree. Applications for these undergraduate programs commonly have fewer requirements. Graduate admissions committees, on the other hand, frequently seek references and expertise in athletics, coaching, psychology research, or other related fields, as well as a minimum GPA of 3.0 and higher-than-average GRE scores.
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Featured Sports Psychology Degree Programs
- 100% Online Courses
- Affordable Tuition
- Large Alumni Network
Grand Canyon University Online
M.S. in Psychology: Health Psychology
Explore the intersection of biological, social and psychological factors, and their effects on health, wellness and illness.
- Regionally Accredited
- Affordable Tuition
- Online Program
University of West Alabama
M.S. Experimental Psychology: Health & Sports Psychology
Prepare for clinical applications in health and sports psychology while developing skills needed for careers in these fields.
- Affordable Tuition
- Flexible Online Courses
- HLC Accredited
Grand Canyon University Online
B.S. in Performance and Sports Psychology
Earn you B.S. in Psychology with an Emphasis in Performance and Sports Psychology with Grand Canyon University Online.
- Complete in 1-Year
- 100% Online Program
- Affordable Degree
Aurora University
M.S. in Exercise Science
With courses focused in Sports Psychology you can gain the skills you need for success in health and sports careers.
Florida Bachelor degrees in Sports Psychology
The right undergraduate program for Sports Psychology lays down the foundational knowledge necessary for students to thrive in the field and the classroom upon graduation. Here are your options for Bachelor’s Degrees in Sports Psychology in Florida.
Florida State University
Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology
The Bachelor Degree in Psychology from Florida State University prepares students for the field of psychology by providing a broad background in many areas of the field and allowing them to specialize in an area of his/her choice later on. The core coursework for this program includes Research Methods in Psychology with Lab, Brain and Behavior, Social Psychology, and Applied Statistics. On top of their in-class coursework, students may also participate in formal programs that offer educational opportunities and real-world application via the Honors Program, the Psychology summer program, and within FSU’s research laboratories. To graduate with a B.A. degree, students must complete nine additional hours in history and humanities on top of a foreign language requirement.
Accreditation:
University of Florida
Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology
The Bachelor Degree in Psychology from Florida State University prepares students for the field of psychology by providing a broad background in many areas of the field and allowing them to specialize in an area of his/her choice later on. The core coursework for this program includes Research Methods in Psychology with Lab, Brain and Behavior, Social Psychology, and Applied Statistics. On top of their in-class coursework, students may also participate in formal programs that offer educational opportunities and real-world application via the Honors Program, the Psychology summer program, and within FSU’s research laboratories. To graduate with a B.A. degree, students must complete nine additional hours in history and humanities on top of a foreign language requirement.
Accreditation:
Online Bachelors Degree in Sports Psychology in Florida
Faulkner University
Bachelor of Science in Sports Psychology
The Bachelor of Science in Sports Psychology from Faulkner University focuses on leaving students with the skills and knowledge to offer mental and emotional support to all athletes regardless of their age and level of competition. Core coursework of this program include the Psychology of Leadership and Motivation, Behavioral Statistics, Research Methods in Psychology, and Sports Psychology. A large advantage of the online format at Faulkner University is that this makes it easy and affordable for students to enter the program regardless of their hectic schedules. To be admitted into this program, students must be high school graduates with a regular or advanced diploma and have an ACT or SAT score handy should they be graduated high school within the last five years. This program marks an important foundational step to becoming a fully licensed and certified sports psychologist, which requires a doctoral degree.
Accreditation:
University of Florida: Online
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
The University of Florida’s Bachelor’s in Psychology with a major in Psychology prepares students for various careers in education, personnel management, and health care and counseling. A decisive advantage for this specific program is UF’s ranking as the 4th best Online Bachelor’s Program in Psychology for 2023. Students are encouraged to study and expand their knowledge of the biological bases of behavior and mental processes, developmental chances, and sociocultural approaches and influences. The online psychology degree requires psychology, statistics, mathematics, and biology coursework. Lessons are spread through these four core areas within each discipline as well as their electives.
Accreditation:
Florida Masters Degree in Sports Psychology
Here are some Master’s Degrees to consider if you want to expand your knowledge in Sports Psychology.
Barry University
Master of Science in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology
This program focuses on comprehending and analyzing the psychological mechanisms and consequences of human movement in the contexts of sport, physical education, and exercise. The program provides numerous opportunities for research and applied practice, both on and off campus with Barry’s DII Athletics department and with other local sport, exercise, and performance organizations. With an applied track, thesis track, dual track, and even SEPP/MBA dual degree offering, the program can be tailored to a student’s professional goals. Courses in Performance Enhancement of Psychology, Service Delivery, and Professional Practice are all part of the 36-credit applied track. The thesis track, on the other hand, is 36 credit hours long and includes courses in Advanced Statistics and/or Qualitative Methodology, Thesis Proposal, and Thesis Defense. Lastly, if you want to pursue both applied and research options, you can choose the “dual” track, which requires you to complete the credits for both. Admission requires a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA or higher, a resume, two letters of recommendation, a GRE score, and a statement of purpose.
Accreditation
Florida State University
M.S. in Education Psychology, Sport Psychology Major
This 37-credit hours long program in Educational Psychology with a major in Sport Psychology is intended for graduate students who want to study sport psychology and help clients develop and use mental, life, and self-regulation skills to improve performance, involvement, enjoyment, and/or personal development in sport or other domains (e.g., military, performing arts). Master’s students can conduct practical work with athletes while being supervised and may eventually qualify for CMPC. You must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, or a comparable degree from an international institution, with a minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average (GPA) in all coursework attempted while registered as an upper-division undergraduate student working towards a bachelor’s degree, to apply to this program.
Accreditation
Florida Doctoral Programs in Sports Psychology
Florida also offers doctoral programs for those looking to earn a doctoral degree and gain work experience to help them pass board exams on the way to becoming a licensed professional.
Florida State University
Ph.D. in Sport Psychology
The doctoral degree program is intended to train and prepare scientist practitioner-oriented doctoral level students with the goal of producing professionals competent in sport psychology research and practice. Doctoral students can conduct practical work with athletes while being supervised and may eventually qualify for CMPC. Doctoral students are expected to master program content at a level that will allow them to become university professors, researchers, or consultants to sports teams and individual athletes after graduation. The program emphasizes both the theoretical and professional training required to work in the field of sport psychology. Furthermore, the program prepares students to address researchable problems that have immediate implications for current and future sport teams and athletes. Applicants for the PhD program must have a graduate degree from a regionally accredited US institution or a comparable degree from an international institution, with a minimum grade point average of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale). Students admitted to the doctoral program are expected to have completed a master’s thesis prior to enrollment or, if they do not have a master’s thesis, will be required to complete a research project during their first year in the doctoral program.
Accreditation
Career & Salary Opportunities in Sports Psychology in Florida
There are several reasons why Florida is an excellent place to start a career in sports and health and wellness. As the third most populous state in the country, jobs in many fields abound, but the outlook for these industries is especially promising. With such a high concentration of athletes at all levels (amateur, collegiate, and professional), there is a significant need throughout the state for fitness experts and professionals such as sport psychologists. Not to mention there are major sports teams in Miami, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, and Orlando, providing job seekers with numerous options for where to live and work.
Careers in sports psychology include the following:
Sports Psychology Professor
You could work as a sports psychology professor at a college or university if you have a doctorate (or, in some cases, a master’s degree). A sports psychologist can teach fundamentals to undergraduates, collaborate with graduate students in more advanced classes, and conduct original research using university resources.
Sports Psychologist
Sports psychologists can specialize in a variety of areas, including applied sports psychology and clinical sports psychology. Applied sports psychologists use mental training techniques to help athletes improve their performance, whereas clinical sports psychologists provide therapy and counseling to athletes who have mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. The minimum educational requirement for licensure in this field is typically a doctoral degree.
Exercise Physiologist
Exercise physiologists guide people who have been ill or injured through the recovery process by creating personalized exercise programs. Individuals with a master’s degree in applied physiology and kinesiology with a specialization in exercise and performance psychology could use their knowledge of biomechanics and exercise science, as well as motivational techniques, in this role. Exercise physiologists are often self-employed and can work in a variety of healthcare settings.
University Sports Coach
With a master’s degree in sports psychology, you could use your knowledge of motivational and performance improvement techniques to become a college or university athletic coach. Coaches assess their athletes’ strengths and collaborate with colleagues to improve athletes’ physical conditioning and overall performance. Coaches frequently work irregular hours and travel to games and meetings.
Other possible careers in this field include:
- Health program coordinator
- Private practice clinical sport psychologist
- Sport psychologist for a club, college, Olympic, or professional team
- Sport rehabilitation specialist