New York offers many sport psychology programs designed for different interests and career goals. Whether you are looking for a master’s degree, a focused certification, or an interdisciplinary minor, reviewing these programs can help you make a well-informed decision.
Give yourself enough time to review your options, think about your career goals, and choose a program that fits your professional path. By selecting the right option, you can build on your abilities and move forward in the field of sport psychology with confidence.
Best Sports Psychology Programs in New York
We have reviewed popular schools that currently offer sports psychology programs in New York. These selections are based on factors many students consider important. To find out how we select colleges and universities, please click here.
Ithaca College
Master of Science in Exercise and Sport Sciences
Ithaca College’s Master of Science in Exercise and Sport Sciences offers you the chance to build your professional interests, develop essential knowledge, and improve your skills through direct practice. You can choose a thesis path if you want to prepare for postgraduate study, or you can follow a non-thesis path if you want to move toward your professional career.
You begin by choosing a concentration in either mental performance or human performance. After that, you can refine your interests through courses, practical learning, and research projects that match your goals. You may also decide whether to complete the degree with a thesis, which is well suited for students planning to earn a PhD, or with a non-thesis option.
Human Performance Concentration
The Master of Science in Exercise and Sport Sciences with a concentration in Human Performance gives you a multidisciplinary way to study exercise and sport science. The program includes base courses in biomechanics, exercise physiology, motor behavior, and sport psychology. These classes are combined with learning experiences that help you build the ability to work with data and use evidence to guide decisions and practice.
Course work in strength and conditioning and special populations helps you grow your applied knowledge across different groups, including college athletes and people with disabilities. The human performance concentration is meant to prepare you as a well-rounded exercise and sport scientist with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for applied work in areas such as strength and conditioning, exercise prescription, and clinical research, or for advanced study. This concentration can be completed with a thesis or without a thesis.
Mental Performance Concentration
The Master of Science in Exercise and Sport Sciences with a concentration in Mental Performance centers on the mental side of sport and exercise. The concentration is built with flexibility and broad study in mind, serving different career directions. It is suited for students preparing for careers in athletic training, strength and conditioning, fitness, wellness, and health care, as well as for students preparing for doctoral study and careers connected to mental performance.
Students in this concentration complete a shared set of courses in mental performance, helping, skills, and ethics. Along with electives and restricted elective groupings offered through two tracks, you can shape your own course path. The two tracks are: 1) leadership, motivation, and team building, and 2) diversity and advanced communication. Students may also complete optional internships with professionals and organizations while building base knowledge and skills.
The course plan also helps students prepare for certification as a mental performance professional. The mental performance concentration can be completed with a thesis or without a thesis.
Hands-On Learning and Research Opportunities
In small classes with committed classmates, you can gain direct experience through practical opportunities working with athletes, teams, and individuals. You can also receive guidance from faculty while completing research on topics that matter to you. The department includes four lab spaces and the Wellness Clinic at Ithaca College. These spaces, together with partnerships involving labs and clinics connected to other departments, make it possible for you to take part in projects and opportunities across areas related to sport, health, and wellness.
The master’s program in exercise and sport sciences combines academic study with direct practice to prepare you to support the health and wellness of clients, athletes, and teams. You may do this through direct service or through research that leads to findings that affect lives across the country. IC’s labs, clinics, internships, and classrooms are designed to prepare you for success.
Thesis Option
The thesis option requires 30 credits, including a 6-credit thesis, which is an independent research project completed under the supervision of Exercise and Sport Science faculty. A thesis gives you the chance to work closely with a faculty member and build your knowledge in a specialized topic. Both theoretical and applied research are supported.
Completing a thesis is also an important early step for students planning advanced study in exercise and sport sciences, such as a Ph.D. program. The finished thesis must be approved by the thesis committee, the graduate program chair, and the dean of Health Sciences and Human Performance.
Non-Thesis Option
The non-thesis option requires 36 credits and ends with a written comprehensive examination. Students in this option must choose one of two tracks based on their career goals. This option is deigned with 12 credits of electives so that you can shape your studies and make use of internships and extra course work or experiences that prepare you for certifications and career goals.
The non-thesis option is designed to be finished in 16 months and is well suited for students who want to strengthen their applied experience in mental performance or prepare for a career as a mental performance consultant.
The knowledge you gain through the Master’s in Exercise and Sports Science at Ithaca College can be used in many professions, including certified mental performance consultant roles, strength and conditioning specialist positions, fitness and wellness specialist work, and exercise physiologist careers. As you move through the degree, you will place more attention on the courses and practical experiences that best prepare you for the professional direction you want.
Key admission requirements include:
- Bachelor’s Degree: You must hold a completed bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
- GPA: A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred.
- Prerequisites (Mental Performance Concentration): Applicants should have completed at least three courses in psychology, sport psychology, counseling, or sport sociology, and one course in statistics or tests and measurements.
- Application: Applications must be submitted through the Ithaca College Graduate Application portal.
- International Students: Applicants whose first language is not English must submit proof of English proficiency, such as the TOEFL exam.
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania
Online Master of Science in Sport and Performance Psychology
The online Master of Science in Sport and Performance Psychology at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania provides students with an education built on current best practices taken from research findings and applied work. The program gives strong attention to psychosocial factors that influence performance and to mental skills training. During the program, students take part in meaningful experiential and research-based learning activities in an inclusive and fair environment.
Students may start classes in the fall, spring, or summer terms. The program also includes course work that is available to cover all knowledge areas that the university expects would meet the course requirements for the Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) credential, based on past practice and approval.
Some of the courses in this program include:
- Mental Health in Sport and Performance Setting
- Foundations of Sport and Performance Psychology
- Sport and Performance Psychology across the Lifespan
- Sport Psychology for Performance Enhancement
- Psychology of Athletic Injury and Recovery
- Stress Management for the Physically Active
- Professional Ethics in Applied Sport Psychology
- Capstone in Sport and Performance Psychology
Whether your earlier study or work is in communications, psychology, or sports management, this M.S. in Sport and Performance Psychology can build on the skills you already have and help prepare you for a leadership role in the field.
The program gives students both full-time and part-time study options. Full-time graduate students complete nine credits in their first semester and second semester, and twelve credits in their last semester.
Part-time students may take three or six credits per semester, and this can change based on personal needs. Students may choose either full-time or part-time enrollment. Full-time students may complete the program in one year, while most part-time students finish in about two years.
After graduation, students will be able to:
- Review research to create a full understanding of the present knowledge base.
- Assess both quantitative and qualitative methods used in current research and judge findings in a careful way.
- Assess how major social institutions, such as gender, race, and social class, shape sport and exercise experiences, and use these factors in professional practice.
- Explain philosophical principles and assess ethical issues connected to sport and performance psychology, while stating a professional philosophy for work in sport and performance settings.
- Build a strong understanding of how several important psychological factors influence sport and exercise experiences.
- Assess lifespan development factors that influence the experiences of sport and exercise participants and show the ability to use these factors in professional work.
- Assess sport and exercise performance concerns and suggest proper mental skills training.
- Design a mental training program for individuals and groups based on a formal needs assessment and lifespan factors.
- Identify the psychological factors that increase the risk of injury or illness, explain ways to help prevent them, describe responses to injury or illness and proper coping steps, and review issues and theories related to transition, especially athletic retirement.
- Design a mental skills training plan for an injured athlete or an athlete going through transition.
- Analyze stress and the links among stress, health, and physical activity.
To complete the admission process, you must submit:
- Online application.
- Official college transcripts from every institution attended.
- A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Two letters of recommendation.
- Statement of professional goals.
Students who do not have a 3.0+ GPA may still apply for conditional admission if their undergraduate GPA is between 2.75 and 2.99. Students admitted under this status must earn and keep at least a 3.0 GPA during the program. If a student does not earn a B or better, that student may be placed on probation or removed from the program.
Arizona State University Online
Bachelor of Science in Counseling and Applied Psychological Science – Sport and Performance Counseling Concentration
The sport and performance counseling concentration in the online Bachelor of Science program in counseling and applied psychological science at Arizona State University Online gives you basic training in the psychology of performance and related counseling theories and skills. This concentration is designed for professionals in many different fields.
In this program, you learn to use psychological theory and counseling skills to support better mental health and improve performance. The concentration places attention on individuals such as athletes, first responders, military personnel, performing artists, and others whose work puts them under serious stress. These stressors may place them at greater risk for anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and other mental health concerns.
Students in this program are prepared to support licensed professionals in counseling and counseling psychology. The program also helps prepare students for graduate study in counseling psychology, sport psychology, counselor education, and other fields. Students who want to become licensed professionals, teachers, or professors will need more education.
This concentration gives you useful background for understanding human behavior and reaching peak performance in areas such as sport, exercise, and competition. You will build practical skills that can help improve performance and well-being in yourself and in others, whether you are an athlete, coach, parent, or someone interested in the connection between psychology and sport.
The courses in this concentration address topics that range from the ways sport and physical activity affect psychological development and mental well-being to the use of psychological science to improve performance. You will also study the mental and emotional sides of sport performance, including motivation, confidence, anxiety, and focus.
At the end of the program, you must complete a required internship in a sport or mental health setting. This part of the program gives you direct practice applying what you learn in class and helps prepare you for the next stage of your career.
In your course work, you will study many psychology topics through the view of sport and counseling performance, including:
- Anxiety and stress management.
- Counseling theories and techniques.
- Foundations in sport psychology.
- Human development across the lifespan.
- Motivation and confidence in athletes.
- Multicultural research, theory, and practice.
- Performance enhancement.
- Psychological factors of injury and rehabilitation.
- Team dynamics.
The knowledge you gain in this sport and performance counseling concentration can be used in sport and in many other fields. Areas such as the military, health and wellness, K-12 coaching, performance arts, and emergency services all need mental preparation and resilience for success.
Graduates can help licensed mental health counselors and psychologists provide services that focus on mental health and strong performance. This type of work may be found in many settings, including community centers, businesses, schools, independent consulting, social service agencies, and sports. Work opportunities are also available in behavioral health care settings such as community agencies, hospitals, and rehabilitation centers.
A sport and performance counseling concentration can also improve your career options in the sport industry, including K-12 coaching, personal training, and wellness coaching. In addition, you can use your interpersonal, leadership, research, and communication skills in roles across almost every industry.
To be admitted to ASU, you must have a high school diploma or its equivalent and must have completed at least 14 of the following courses:
- Four years of math.
- Four years of English (non-ESL/ELL courses).
- Three years of lab sciences (one year each from biology, chemistry, earth science, integrated sciences, or physics).
- Two years of social sciences (including one year of American history).
- Two years of the same second language.
- One year of fine arts or career and technical education.
Applicants must also meet at least one of the following standards:
- Top 25% in your high school graduating class.
- 3.00 GPA in competency courses (4.00 = A).
Rutgers University
Sport and Performance Psychology Certificate
Rutgers University offers advanced training in sport and performance psychology, and this training can be completed as part of a student’s course of study during undergraduate or graduate education. The Sport and Performance Psychology Certificate is designed with several main goals.
First, the certificate is intended to teach and train participants in the important body of knowledge related to sport and performance psychology.
Second, the certificate is meant to make sure participants learn how to work in sport and performance psychology. This is done by giving instruction and supervised experiences in the creation of projects, dissertations, and other learning activities.
These experiences help students gain specific knowledge, skills, and abilities in assessment, intervention, consultation, evaluation, professional business planning, organizational analysis, and other related areas.
Third, the certificate is intended to support the creation of new information about the use of psychology in sport and performance. This is especially important in support of development and performance improvement for athletes, coaches, parents, administrators, organizations, the performing arts, and other performance-based activities.
The certificate also gives individuals an opportunity to apply as a candidate for CMPC credential.
Admission is open to students from different academic fields. Although graduate students receive priority, undergraduate students may also apply. Priority is also given to students who already hold a graduate degree in Psychology or a related field. Examples of related fields include Clinical or Counseling Psychology, School Psychology, Organizational Psychology, Kinesiology, Exercise Science, Athletic Training, Education, Leadership, and Sport Management.
Applicants must submit the following materials:
- All transcripts
- Personal statement
- One letter of recommendation
The certificate requires 15 credits.
What Degree is the Best for Sports Psychology Careers in New York?
Most roles in this field require you to earn a master’s degree or a doctoral degree in clinical, counseling, or sport psychology. In many cases, this level of education alone is not enough. You are also expected to complete added course work in kinesiology, physiology, sports medicine, business, and marketing.
Along with formal academic study, direct training and real experience in using psychology in sports and exercise settings are required. This practical preparation is an essential part of getting ready for work in the field.
What Can I Do With a Bachelor’s in Sports Psychology Degree?
A bachelor’s degree in sports psychology prepares graduates for entry-level roles focusing on mental skills training, coaching, and performance enhancement, with common careers including athletic coaching, personal training, performance enhancement specialists, athletic program coordinators, and community mental health assistants.
Common career options with a bachelor’s degree in sports psychology include:
- Athletic Coach/Assistant Coach
- Performance Enhancement Specialist
- Personal Trainer
- Athletic Trainer/Trainer Assistant
- Sports Administrator/Program Coordinator
- Mental Health Technician/Assistant
- Mental Performance Consultant (Entry Level):
- Corporate Wellness Coach
How Much Do Sports Psychologists Make in New York?
As of March, 2026, the average annual pay for a sport psychologist in New York is around $124,000 per year. Top earning sport psychologist in New York make well above $180,000 per year.
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