Sport and Performance Psychology, M.S.

Program Overview

Translate high-level psychological theory into real-world success with the online M.S. in Sport and Performance Psychology from the College of Applied Human Sciences. This comprehensive program focuses on helping performers mitigate stress, leverage psychological strengths, and optimize overall well-being. Through integrated experiential learning, including peer-led communities of practice and a hands-on Applied Practice microcredential, you will work directly with athletes and performers under guided mentorship. You will graduate as a skilled, culturally competent consultant ready to help individuals and teams reach their full potential.

Unlock High-Performance Potential

Gain the specialized training and consulting skills you need to elevate achievement in any performance-oriented environment.

• CMPC®-Aligned*: Designed to meet all core coursework for the CMPC credential, with an optional microcredential offering CMPC mentored applied hours and an alternative online graduate certificate.
• Flexible Learning: The fully online asynchronous format features accelerated terms that empower you to complete your graduate studies on your own terms without putting your career on hold.
• Reputation-Driven Instruction: Learn alongside a network of national academic experts and seasoned practitioners, leveraging WVU’s elite status in a Power 4 athletic conference.
• Rich Course Design: Benefit from a dynamic online learning environment, featuring interactive and engaging online courses.

*Completion of these courses, degree, certificate, or microcredential do not confer CMPC certification. Certification decisions are made solely by the CMPC Certification Council and are contingent upon meeting all certification requirements, as determined by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology.

What You’ll Learn

The curriculum translates scientific research into actionable consulting strategies, equipping you with a robust toolkit of techniques to support athletes, teams, performers, and professionals.

• Performance Enhancement Techniques: Study basic and advanced performance enhancement strategies, motor behavior, and skill acquisition to help clients optimize their psychological consistency and development.
• Build Client Trust: Build the foundational empathy, active listening, and interpersonal skills required to manage basic group dynamics and establish trust-based client consultation.
• Navigate Ethics and Care: Review professional codes, legal issues, and psychopathology in performance populations to navigate ethical boundaries related to scope and collaborative care.
• Apply Research: Critically evaluate evidence-based research, human development trends, and individual differences to deliver effective consulting services across varied populations.

Graduate Certificate and Microcredential

The program also offers an optional online graduate certificate in the Psychology of Peak Performance that may be completed as a standalone credential or stacked toward the full master’s degree. In addition, a limited-capacity online microcredential will be available soon and will include built-in mentorship to support professional development toward the CMPC credential. Admission to and completion of the master’s program does not guarantee admission to the graduate certificate or microcredential, as each will have a separate, competitive application and selection process.

Featured Courses

Explore some of the options you can pursue to maximize your professional impact in sport and performance psychology:

Tuition, Fees, and Aid

Cost per credit hour is listed on each program page. Rates are reviewed annually and subject to change.

Tuition and fees are usually not the only educational expenses you may have while pursuing a degree. You may have other costs such as books, supplies, and living expenses. Please visit WVU’s Estimate Costs and Aid website for how to plan for other potential expenses.

Careers and Employment

The online Sport and Performance Psychology, M.S. and related graduate certificate and microcredential aim to prepare you for a wide range of professional roles that center on optimizing human performance, well-being, and personal development in sport, business, healthcare, and other high-performance settings.

What can I do with an online Sport and Performance Psychology, M.S. degree? Explore potential careers, employment environments, and academic pathways:

• Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC): Working with athletes, teams/groups, and performers across a wide range of contexts including sport, military, business, health, performing arts, and other tactical populations to enhance mental performance and well-being.
• Licensed Mental Health Therapist or Psychologist (Dual-Trained): Integrating clinical expertise (i.e., a separate graduate degree in counseling or psychology) with advanced training in sport and performance psychology to support athletes and performers with both mental health and performance enhancement needs, often in collaboration with athletic departments, clinical practices, or integrated care teams.
• Academic or Research Professional: Contributing to research and teaching in sport and performance psychology, normally after completing doctoral studies.

Beyond these direct professional pathways, the degree also serves as a complement for individuals already working in performance-based professions, including athletic coaching, sport management, athletic training, business leadership, healthcare, and more who seek to enhance their ability to cultivate high performance and well-being in both themselves and those they lead or serve.