Spotlight: Argosy University Online: Master of Arts in Sport-Exercise Psychology

Argosy University Online:

• Is a leader in graduate-level education
• Supports one of the largest graduate student communities in the nation
• Offers flexible online programs with interactive learning
• Provides attentive, personalized service

“I think students can expect individualized attention, a great curriculum that will prepare them for their profession or advancements they wish to make in their careers, and an overall very solid foundation from the Colleges of Education, Business, and Psychology.”- Dr. Andrew Niesiobedzki, Lead Residency Faculty

If you have the desire to help athletes improve their mental game, consider Argosy University Online's Master of Arts (MA) in Sport-Exercise Psychology. If you're an athletic trainer, coach, physical therapist, aspiring psychologist, or performance enhancement consultant, you can learn ethical performance enhancement techniques to help your team or clients take their game to the next level.

This two-year, online degree makes studying both convenient and practical. The curriculum has been designed to give students a strong foundation in applied sports psychology and is based on educational recommendations set forth by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). Students are given the opportunity to study:

• Theoretical foundations of applied sport psychology
• Normal and abnormal psychological functioning
• Physiological, motor, and psychosocial aspects of sports behavior
• Team building and helping relationships
• Developing individual and group skills
• Research and evaluation procedures

Sport-Exercise Psychology Coursework

Our accelerated, online courses are 3 semester credit hours each and last around 7 1/2 weeks. Class sizes are kept small so that our qualified instructors can offer you individualized attention. Students may take some of the following courses as part of their MA in Sport-Exercise Psychology curriculum:

• Athletic Counseling
• Cognitive Behavioral Theory and Therapy
• Motor Learning and Development
• Psychopathology
• Team Dynamics and Group Behavior

Argosy University Online's Applied Sport Psychology Practicum

This 48-credit program includes a 6-credit supervised applied sport psychology practicum that allows students to begin their work under supervision with athletes or performers. Students are able to gain practical field skills through observation and assessment at their choice of practicum sites, which include high school and college athletic departments, professional and youth sports organizations, and private sport psychology consulting practices. Argosy University Online makes every attempt to match you with a practicum that is consistent with your professional goals.

Employment Outlook for Sport-Exercise Psychologists

During the last twenty years, the field of applied sport and exercise psychology has received much attention from the media and from athletes, coaches, and parents. With the growing concern about illegal performance enhancing substances, both amateur and professional athletes are looking for healthy ways to increase their performance. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates 15 percent growth from 2006 to 2016 for all psychologists. Though the BLS does not list sports psychologists separately, it estimates the average annual earnings for all "other" psychologists as $83,610. The top 10 percent of these psychologists earn $128,630.

Within this growing field, graduates of the MA in Sport-Exercise Psychology program may seek employment in a variety of settings depending on their personal and professional goals. Sports psychologists can be found in athletic departments, private practice, exercise/health, coaching, and education.

Each state has its own laws with regard to licensing or certifying psychologists, and some states administer a standardized test. If you choose to work as a licensed psychologist in an independent practice or are interested in teaching or conducting research, our master's degree is ideal preparation for a doctorate degree.

Argosy University Online Wants You to Succeed

At Argosy University Online, we believe that our faculty and staff are here to help you succeed. Each student is assigned an Assistant Director of Admissions, a Student Financial Planner, an Academic Advisor, and a Mentor Professor. This team helps guide you from the time you apply until the time you graduate and ensures that you never feel out of touch.