The programmatic components of the sport psychology concentration include the following:
1. Two core doctoral-level courses:
18:826:618 Sport Psychology: Theory, Research, Practice (3)
This course encompasses the delineation, description, and discussion of current status and future directions of sport psychology in a range of conceptual, theoretical, and practical areas. Examples of these areas include: history and traditions in sport psychology; relevant sport psychological processes such as motivation, mindfulness, self-regulation, self-efficacy, and teamwork; personality issues; psychophysiology and kinesiology as applied to sport; and sport psychology as professional practice, among others.
18:826:617 Assessment and Intervention in Sport Psychology (3)
This course focuses on application of a systematic approach for assessment, intervention, and consultation with individual athletes, teams, coaches, administrators, and sport organizations. Particular attention is given to the development of a professional practice in sport psychology.
2.
Independent study options in the sport psychology concentration vary and are available to all participants for graduate credit and based on the educational needs and career interests of each individual. Examples of independent study projects include: the use of motivational interviewing for the personal development and performance enhancement of athletes, the needs of high school coaches in sport psychology, and personal pressures experienced by parents of young athletes.
3.
Dissertation options may include any relevant topic. In this
regard, three Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) dissertations have been successfully defended in areas of sport psychology. Some examples of topical areas covered in sport psychology dissertations have included: two case studies of the design, implementation, and evaluation of a high school sport psychology program; implementation of a consultation framework with a collegiate tennis team; education of a college soccer team in mental skills; assessment of levels of stress and anxiety reported by sport coaches; and psychological explanations for why black collegiate athletes persevere and succeed in sports.
4.
Practica and related supervised field experiences
Within the sport psychology concentration, a premium is placed on assisting and supervising participants so they can acquire and refine knowledge, skills, and abilities as sport psychology practitioners.
In this regard, there are a range of options for practica and supervised field experiences. These include: a) individual practice projects set with students, based on their specific experience bases; b) opportunities for practice within the
Division of Intercollegiate Athletics, Department of Sports Medicine; c) opportunities with high school and college athletic departments; and d) other, based on student ideas and possible settings.
5. Sport Psychology Institute
This new and developing unit is part of the sport psychology concentration and is associated with the Center for Applied Psychology. The Sport Psychology Institute
is devoted to the generation of information about sport psychology practice
and the provision of educational information to athletes,
psychologists, coaches, and others.
For more detailed information
about the sport psychology concentration, visit its website at gsappweb.rutgers.edu/programs/concentrations/sport%20psychology.php.
