Undergraduate Prerequisite – Introduction to Psychology
Students who have not completed the prerequisites prior to admission are required to do so during the first year of graduate study.
Ways to Learn
Program Length
- 2 Years Full-Time
- 3 Years Part-Time
- 77 Units
This Program is Now Available at NU
The MA in Sport Psychology program has been relocated to JFK School of Psychology at NU. To learn more, visit the new program page.
Overview
Sport psychology employs a combination of evidence-based performance enhancement techniques, sport science, and counseling skills to help clients maximize their potential by honing their mental approach to high-leverage situations. In the MA in Sport Psychology program, you’ll learn from faculty who are pioneers in the field and push the boundaries in an ongoing effort to improve sport psychology through both research and practice. This program is offered on campus and online in a structured format with weekly deadlines across each quarter-long course.
Program Highlights
- Experienced faculty of pioneers in the field
- Dual degree PsyD/MA Sport Psychology option
- Extensive fieldwork and a focus on experiential learning
- AASP exam prep included in the price of tuition
PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon graduation, students will be able to demonstrate competence in these areas:
Application/intervention. The students will be able to describe, explain, synthesize, and apply performance enhancement techniques with individual performers and teams.
Theory. The students will be able to describe, explain, synthesize, and apply theoretical perspectives from Sport Psychology and related fields.
Assessment. The students will be able to describe, explain, synthesize, and apply various assessment tools in a continuous and evolving process to create effective action plans. Students will be able to screen clinical issues.
Counseling skills. The students will be able to identify, describe and explain how to use counseling skills to develop a working relationship with the client. Students will be able to identify, describe, explain, and apply how the self impacts the client-consultant relationship.
Diversity. The students will be able to identify sources of bias within themselves, integrate concepts and adapt their skills to work with a diverse range of populations.
Ethics and professionalism. The students will be able to identify, explain, synthesize, and critically analyze ethical principles in a professional and culturally appropriate manner. Students will be able to utilize decision making principles and explain choices made relating to ethical situations.
Research. The students will be able to summarize, critique, and conduct research in the field of Sport Psychology. Students will assess and apply both established and current research findings to their scope.
Program Relocation Information
The Masters in Sport Psychology program will continue without substantive changes in its academic or fieldwork curriculum. The same is true of the MA/PsyD dual degree program. The principal change is evidenced in the operational aspects of the program (financial aid, registration, advising will be managed under the auspices of National University. This will be a positive change given that NUS has a much more robust operational infrastructure. The Dual Degree with the PsyD program will also remain in place. The fieldwork team continues to work with students on creating internship projects that will reflect a simulated internship, along with individual and group supervision.
Students who are graduating by December 31, 2020 will receive a John F. Kennedy University degree. Students finishing after this date may have an option of receiving either a JFKU degree or an NU degree; these details are still under consideration. All JFKU students also have the option of transferring to another university if they choose not to continue with the JFK School of Psychology at National University. Students may transfer directly by contacting another university individually, or they may transfer through an articulation agreement established between JFKU and the articulating university. The primary advantage of the transfer through the articulation agreement is that students will know exactly what courses will transfer over to the receiving local institutions.
JFKU’s WASC accreditation, which is in good standing, provides protections for students; and National University is similarly a WASC-accredited institution. WSCUC has approved the administrative relocation to National University. All students who remain within the National University System and choose to transfer to National University will receive a 20% discount off of NU’s current tuition rates if they remain continuously enrolled and in good academic standing.

MA Sport Psychology/ PsyD dual degree Option
For individuals interested in sport psychology and in working in a clinical setting and/or using clinical psychology skills in working with clients, John F. Kennedy University is pleased to offer an innovative program that enables individuals to work toward earning an MA in Sport Psychology and a PsyD degree concurrently. This program provides a unique opportunity to train to work with both clinical clients and athletes and prepare to apply the skills and knowledge developed from both the fields of sport and clinical psychology.