What is the best route to take to become a sports psychologist starting as an undergrad?

-- Jocelyn Gipson (coachj@juno.com), November 14, 1997

Answers

You can either get your degree in Kinesiology (generally referred to as exercise sciences) or psychology. In either case, I encourage you to take courses cross-discipline (that is, if you are a psychology major, take some electives in Kinesiology). My own view is that you will have more options available to yourself if you have an undergrad degree in psychology as opposed to Kinesiology. The reason for this is that if you decide to pursue graduate training in psychology you may be looked upon more favorably if you have the psychology degree (in fact, some programs may not even consider you if you do not have a psych degree or substantial psychology coursework). I also would suggest that you review the career brochure that is available on this website. It discusses different career "tracks" that students can take and includes information on future career opportunities as well as the training needed. Good luck.

-- Trent A. Petrie, Ph.D. (Petriet@unt.edu), November 16, 1997.

I was wondering if you could tell me what schools have graduate programs in sports psychology. I am presently attending Indiana University and majoring in psychology and also in athletic training (sub-caregory of kinesiology). I would like to start thinking of graduate school and was curious in finding a good gradutate program. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely, Erinn Fuller

-- Erinn Fuller (efuller@indiana.edu), May 03, 1999.

Well this is not a response, but a question. This past May I graduated from Tougaloo College with a B.A. in Psychology. I sat out a year to get things in order. That is I did not want to go to grad school not knowing what it is I would like to do or become. I really feel that sports psych is for me. If someone could e-mail me a list of schools that has the program I would be very grateful.

-- Jeremy Wayne Chico Hodge (Jeremy.Hodge1@mailexcite.com), January 04, 2000.

This also is not an answer but a similar question. Where can I get a Masters or Doctoral degree - whatever it takes - to obtain a career in sports psychology? Thank you Donna Brady

-- Donna Brady (dbrady@centralweb.net), February 19, 2000.

I am a student about to attend Springfield College in Springfield massachucettes. I know they have some programs with Sports psych because that is what I want to do. Springfield is known for its sports centered programs!

-- Libbey Beinert (beinert@vermontacademy.org), April 14, 2000.