The Master of Arts in Sport-Exercise Psychology (MA) program is designed to educate and train students to function as capable and ethical performance enhancement specialists. The two-year degree is intended to meet the needs of students seeking employment in a variety of settings, including private practice, athletic departments, coaching, exercise/health, and education, or those who will ultimately pursue their doctorate. Based on the educational requirements outlined by the Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology , the curriculum provides students with a foundation in applied sport psychology, an understanding of normal and abnormal psychological functioning, and a knowledge base in the physiological, motor, and psychosocial aspects of sport behavior. Graduates of the Master of Arts in Sport-Exercise Psychology program are eligible to apply for “provisional status” as a Certified Consultant, Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology .

Students who also wish to pursue a master’s degree in professional counseling may follow a curriculum plan that allows them to fulfill the requirements for the MA in Sport-Exercise Psychology in two years and the Master of Arts in Professional Counseling in one additional year of study. Application to the Professional Counseling program is made in the second year of enrollment in the Sport-Exercise Psychology program. Graduates of the Master of Arts in Professional Counseling program are eligible to apply for status as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Arizona and certification/licensure in most other states. Students interested in pursuing certification/licensure in states other than Arizona should contact the state credentialing board for more information.

Students who wish to pursue a doctoral degree in clinical psychology after completion of the Master of Arts program in Sport-Exercise Psychology may apply to the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) program. Students who are accepted into the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program may be eligible for transfer of some credits earned in the Master of Arts in Sport-Exercise Psychology program, to be determined on a case-by-case basis.