Selecting the best sport psychology program is an important part of your career path. Pennsylvania offers you many program choices that can match different needs and career plans. By looking at the programs covered in this article, you can choose a program that fits your goals and gives you the knowledge and skills needed to do well in the field of sport psychology.
Choosing a sport psychology program is a major career decision. This guide can help you feel more prepared to select a program that meets your specific needs and supports your career goals in sport psychology.
Best Sports Psychology Programs in Pennsylvania
We have reviewed popular schools that currently offer sports psychology programs in Pennsylvania. These selections are based on factors many students consider important. To find out how we select colleges and universities, please click here.
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 gives students an education based on current best practices drawn from empirical research and applied work. The program places strong attention on psychosocial factors that affect performance and on mental skills training. Throughout the program, students take part in strong experiential and research-based learning activities in an inclusive and equitable setting.
Students can begin coursework in the fall, spring, or summer terms. The program also offers coursework that is available to meet all knowledge areas that the school expects would satisfy the Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) credential course requirements based on past practice and approval.
Some of the courses that you will take 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 background is in communications, psychology, or sports management, this M.S. in Sport and Performance Psychology can strengthen the skills you already have and prepare you for a leadership role in the field.
The program offers both full-time and part-time study options. Full-time graduate students take nine credits in their first and second semesters and twelve credits in their last semester.
Part-time students may take three or six credits per semester, and this may vary based on individual needs. Students may choose either full-time or part-time study. Full-time students may finish in one year, while most part-time students complete the program in about two years.
After graduation, students will be able to:
- Examine and combine research to build a full understanding of the current knowledge base.
- Evaluate both quantitative and qualitative methods used in current research and judge findings accordingly.
- Evaluate how key social institutions, such as gender, race, and social class, affect sport and exercise experiences, and apply these factors in professional work.
- Interpret philosophical principles and evaluate ethical issues related 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 affect sport and exercise experiences.
- Evaluate lifespan developmental factors that affect sport and exercise participants’ experiences and show the ability to apply these factors in professional work.
- Evaluate sport and exercise performance concerns and suggest suitable mental skills training.
- Build a mental training program for individuals and groups based on a formal needs assessment and lifespan factors.
- Identify the psychological factors that raise the risk of injury or illness, explain how to help prevent them, describe responses to injury or illness and suitable coping steps, and examine issues and theories related to transition, especially athletic retirement.
- Design mental skills training plan for an injured athlete or an athlete in transition.
- Analyze stress and the connections among stress, health, and physical activity.
To complete the admissions process, students must submit:
- Online application.
- Official college transcripts from all institutions 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 falls between 2.75 and 2.99. Students admitted conditionally must earn and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA throughout the program. Failure to earn a B or better may lead to probation or removal from the program.
Robert Morris University Psychology
B.S. with a Sport Psychology Concentration
Robert Morris University offers a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a Sport Psychology concentration. This campus-based program provides a focused undergraduate path into the field. The curriculum places strong attention on the development of mental performance skills.
The program includes coursework in areas such as sport coaching psychology and athlete mental health. Students also complete a 120-hour practicum, which gives them hands-on experience in addressing performance concerns such as anxiety and recovery from injury.
The sport psychology concentration centers on the mental side of sport and exercise. It applies psychological principles to improve athletic and exercise performance. Students study how psychological factors influence sport performance and how participation in sport and exercise affects physical health and psychological well-being.
The program gives strong attention to building mental skills that improve performance. It also prepares students to support athletes who face mental health concerns such as performance anxiety, injury, depression, eating disorders, and substance abuse.
All psychology majors complete their psychology practicum during one of the final three semesters of the program. This practicum requires 120 hours of experience at an internship site connected to the student’s career interests. Each student works with a faculty mentor who oversees the experience. This gives students the opportunity to build professional relationships in the community and to learn whether they want to pursue a career in that type of setting.
Robert Morris University works with organizations and agencies across the region, including health systems, sports organizations, mental health centers, non-profit groups, school systems, public service departments, corporations, and private practices.
The program requires ACT or SAT scores for admission. Graduates are prepared for careers in sports performance, athlete counseling, and wellness coaching. Their preparation is supported by real-world professional partnerships and research opportunities, including a psychology thesis.
Moravian University
Master of Science in Sport Psychology
Moravian University’s new Master of Science in Sport Psychology combines evidence-based mental health methods with modern strategies for sport performance improvement. The program is designed to give students a strong base for supporting athletes, performers, and other high-achieving individuals in different settings.
The program uses a hybrid format, with online asynchronous learning and in-person study. Students may choose either a 60-credit option or a 36-credit option. The 60-credit program usually takes 2 years of full-time study or 3 to 3.5 years of part-time study. The 36-credit program usually takes 1.5 to 2 years full time or 3 years part time. Tuition is $45,000 for the 60-credit program and $27,000 for the 36-credit program, with a rate of $750 per credit.
60-Credit Program with LPC and CMPC Eligibility
The 60-credit program is designed to meet the academic requirements for state licensure as a professional counselor (LPC). It also meets coursework eligibility requirements for certification through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP).
This program prepares students for Pennsylvania state licensure. Graduates also receive a Tele-Health Micro-credential when they finish the program. Students who complete this option are prepared for roles in private practice, college and professional sports, rehabilitation centers, and other settings where mental health and performance come together. Some possible career outcomes include:
- Certified Mental Performance Consultant
- Sport Team Consultant
- Sports Research Specialist
Through challenging coursework, supervised practica, and direct learning experiences, students build practical skills in both clinical counseling and applied sport psychology. Core courses include psychopathology, assessment, treatment planning, mental skills training, and performance improvement methods.
This option is designed for students who want to make a meaningful difference in mental health and athletics. It prepares you to become a licensed professional counselor, which can lead to many career paths. After licensure, you may also apply for certification through the American Board of Sport Psychology, which can strengthen your standing in the field.
36-Credit Program with CMPC Exam Eligibility
Moravian University’s 36-credit Master of Science in Sport Psychology gives students the knowledge, skills, and hands-on experience needed to make a strong effect in the area of mental performance. The program is housed in the School of Behavioral and Community Health. It combines current psychological theory with practical, evidence-based methods to help athletes, performers, and high-functioning individuals reach their full potential.
Through strong coursework, supervised practica, and direct learning experiences, students study important topics such as:
- Mental skills training
- Performance improvement and psychological assessment
- Applied sport psychology methods
Whether you plan to work with college athletes, professional teams, performing artists, or rehabilitation clients, this program prepares you to lead with confidence and make a difference in settings where performance matters. Graduates of the 36-credit program will be eligible for CMPC examination.
All applicants must begin by completing Moravian’s free online application. Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. The GRE is not required for admission to this program. Along with the application, students must complete the following:
- Essay: In a 2-4 page autobiographical essay, discuss two personal or professional experiences working with individuals or groups in a service-related setting, such as coaching, athletic leadership, mentoring, tutoring, or another service role. Explain what you learned, what personal growth came from those experiences, how they will help you as you pursue a master’s degree in sport psychology, what led you to this degree, and what your goals are after graduation.
- Interview
- Official transcript(s)
- Resume
PennWest University
Sport Psychology Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Overview
The 15-credit Sport Psychology, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate at PennWest provides students evidence-based instruction on how to plan and develop different projects related to wellness, counseling, and sport psychology. Students study the effects of injury, rehabilitation, and recovery. They also examine performance improvement and intervention methods and learn how to include referrals in their professional practice.
Students in this certificate program are expected to:
- Show strong ability in using and applying advanced sport psychology and exercise science methods and techniques, including integrated counseling and other sport psychology methods.
- Plan and develop different sport psychology, wellness counseling, and exercise science program design projects, including program parts, purpose, creative design, and supporting research related to sport psychology.
- Clearly explain a range of current topics and issues in sport psychology, with attention to federal, state, and organizational policy, current exercise science and sport psychology trends, leadership opportunities in shaping policy, and research-based efforts that are new to sport psychology and exercise science.
The program includes the following courses:
Industrial, Clinical and Corporate Wellness
This course helps students build knowledge and awareness of major issues in workplace health promotion and clinical care. The course focuses on planning, managing, and evaluating wellness and fitness programs in clinical, industrial, and corporate settings. Students also study the cost of unhealthy lifestyle choices for both individuals and employers, along with how those choices connect to the workplace. Topics include the Wellness Revolution, the Industrial Athlete Model, benchmark programs, and outcome assessment strategies.
Psychological Perspectives in Sport Performance Improvement
This course introduces students to different performance improvement techniques often used in sports. Examples of these methods are presented during the course. Students learn how to apply the main parts of performance improvement and intervention to a specific sport or rehabilitation situation. Students also have the chance to create their own intervention manuals based on research and course material.
Business and Entrepreneurship in the Fitness Industry
This course offers a broad discussion of the practical parts of starting and operating a business in performance improvement and fitness. The course focuses on launching new ventures and on business and management practices for people who already run a business and want to improve operations. Topics include management theory, financial management, personnel management, record keeping, risk management, and technology issues.
Psychological Aspects of Sport Injury and Rehabilitation
This course introduces students to different topics related to the psychological side of sport injury. The course focuses on the start, experience, and treatment of athletic injuries from a biopsychosocial point of view. Course material is based on empirical data, psychophysiology foundations, and the role of psychological factors and interventions that affect rehabilitation and recovery.
Special Topics in Sport Psychology
This course covers a wide range of professional issues related to sport psychology. It addresses different organizations connected to the field, including Division 47 of the American Psychological Association and the Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology. Ethical concerns in sport psychology are also discussed.
National University
Online Bachelor of Arts in Sport Psychology
National University’s online Bachelor of Arts in Sport Psychology offers you a solid start in the current and expanding area of psychology as it relates to sports and human performance. In this program, you examine the causes and factors that influence people to join physical activity. You also study the way emotions and mental condition can influence athletic results. After completing this degree, you may seek work in coaching or continue into master’s or doctoral education.
To complete the Bachelor of Arts in Sport Psychology, you must finish at least 180 quarter units. Out of this total, 45 units must be taken in residence at National University, 76.5 units must be completed at the upper-division level, and at least 70.5 units must come from the University General Education requirements. If you do not bring transfer credit, you may need extra general elective courses to meet the full number of units needed for graduation.
The program includes core psychology study along with courses centered on sport and performance. This course plan helps you learn how mental skills, behavior, and motivation influence both performance and involvement in physical activity.
After you successfully finish the program, you will be able to:
- Explain present patterns in psychological research in both individual and team settings in sport and exercise psychology.
- Study how psychological factors influence sport and exercise performance, along with methods used to improve performance and lower anxiety.
- Review the background of sport psychology and its place in current psychological theories and systems.
- Explain how diversity and multicultural factors influence group interaction and performance.
- Use psychological theory in coaching settings.
- Communicate well in speech and writing by using correct sport, exercise, and psychology terms.
- Explain legal and ethical matters in sport and exercise psychology and performance improvement.
- Discuss the physiological and motor concepts connected to performance in sport and physical activity.
With this degree, you may prepare for positions in coaching support, fitness and wellness programs, youth sports, recreation, or other fields linked to performance. Many students also choose this degree as a base for graduate study in psychology, counseling, or sport psychology.
National University works to make higher education more affordable and easier to access. Through NU scholarship options, eligible students may lower the cost of college, start classes earlier, and finish their programs in less time while staying focused on their goals.
How Long Does It Take To Complete a Sports Psychology Program in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, completing a sports psychology program usually takes one to two years for a master’s degree and four to seven years for a doctoral degree (PhD/PsyD).
What Degree is the Best for Sports Psychology Careers in Pennsylvania?
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.
How Much Do Sports Psychologists Make in Pennsylvania?
As of March, 2026, the average annual pay for a sport psychologist in Pennsylvania is $93,036 per year. Top earning sport psychologist in Pennsylvania make well above $180,000 per year.
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