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Sport and Exercise PsychologyMajor

Combine your passion for sports with an evidence-based approach to psychology. You’ll learn about the theory and practice behind working with athletes, exercisers and performers from all backgrounds and domains.

By the numbers1

Only program of its kind in West Virginia

By the numbers50

Hours of community service required

Overview

What is Sport and Exercise Psychology at WVU like?

Description

If you would like to combine your love of sports and fitness with an interest in psychology or sociology, then you have found the perfect major.

Students interested in pursuing a career in sport and exercise psychology or in sport sociology should know that most jobs will require that they must first complete a graduate degree before entering the job market. The primary mission of the undergraduate major in sport behavior is to prepare you for graduate studies in sport and exercise psychology, sport sociology and/or counseling.

Our Sport and Exercise Psychology major is the only one of its kind in the state of West Virginia, and one of the few undergraduate programs in that nation that allow students to specialize in sport and exercise psychology or sport sociology.

The curriculum contains exciting and innovative courses, such as the Social Psychology of Sport, Performance Enhancement, Exercise Psychology, the Psychology of Injury, and the African American in Sport.

Through our major's club, students interact with graduate students in our highly acclaimed doctoral program, meet leading professionals in the field, help organize conferences and participate in other student-centered professional and social activities.

Sport and Exercise Psychology program highlights:

At a Glance

Next Steps

Interested in this major? Here are some suggested next steps:

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Fast Facts

What makes Sport and Exercise Psychology at WVU unique?

Research and Academic Opportunities

Research

  • You can get involved with faculty and graduate students on their research projects. Topics include studies with NCAA athletes on performance related issues, body image in athletes, development of mobile health applications and evaluation of health and wellness programs.
  • As a senior, you'll complete a capstone project in which you will critically analyze research literature and then present a concise analysis of your topic in oral and written forms. Faculty feedback on these projects prepares you for graduate school in health and human services, or for the workforce. Common project topics usually include exercise motivation and adherence, the psychology of injury rehabilitation, and youth sport development.

Academic Opportunities

  • You can take classes and serve as peer advisers, providing services such as academic advising, tutoring and career or graduate school preparation.
  • Two semesters of professional development courses will help you learn more about the profession of sport and exercise psychology, while also preparing to either apply to graduate school or find employment in the sport domain.

Early College Program

Get a head start (and save money) in our High School ACCESS program for high school students. Choose from online, on-campus or dual credit courses that fulfill requirements for general education or Sport and Exercise Psychology. Online courses to consider for this major include:

  • ACE 256: Principles and Problems of Coaching
  • ATTR 121: Sport Injury Control and Management
  • MATH 126: College Algebra
  • PET 175: Motor Development
  • PSYC 101: Introduction to Psychology
  • PSYC 241: Introduction to Human Development
  • PSYC 251: Introduction to Social Psychology
  • PSYC 281: Introduction to Abnormal Psychology
  • SEP 272: Psychological Perspectives of Sport
  • SOCA 101: Introduction to Sociology

Living-Learning Communities (LLCs)

Live, study and pursue outside-the-classroom learning in a residence hall community that shares your interests:

Transfer Articulation Agreements

In addition to guaranteed admission agreements WVU has transfer articulation agreements with:

Student Organizations

Connect with other students who share your academic interests as a member of:

View all of the student organizations you can join.

Professional Organizations

Network with professionals in your field as a student member of:

Careers

How does this degree prepare students for a career?

Immediately after graduation, 65 percent of our graduates attend graduate school. Many attend programs in sport psychology and counseling, but in the past several years others have attended programs for physical therapy, occupational therapy, social work, public health, public administration, exercise science, exercise physiology, human resources, chiropractic, business and law.

Graduate school placements include:

  • Master's program in sport and exercise psychology at Georgia Southern (This alum has gone on to work as a Master Resilience Trainer for the CSF2 program in the U.S. Army.)
  • Doctoral physical therapy program at the University of Pittsburgh
  • PhD program in counseling psychology at the University of Nevada Las Vegas
  • Master's program in public administration

Possible Careers

Wondering what you can do with a degree from WVU's Sport and Exercise Psychology major? Check out these ideas from WVU Career Services and the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). A median salary is the midpoint of what people typically earn—half of those surveyed earned above the median salary, and half earned below.

This page includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.

Employers

Graduates from this major have gone to work at:

Courses

What are the courses like in Sport and Exercise Psychology at WVU?

Plan of Study

Check out a program overview, learning goals, course descriptions and suggested plan of study for WVU's Sport and Exercise Psychology major.

View the Plan of Study
 

Popular Courses

SEP 271:
Sport in American Society

Sociocultural investigation of sport in American society.

SEP 272:
Psychological Perspectives of Sport

An examination of personality and behavioral factors as they affect participation in sport. Topics such as stress and sport, body image, aggression and the sport participant, and the licensure of sport psychologists highlight the course.

Capstone Projects

Before graduating, all undergraduates in this major complete an academic project (or "capstone") to demonstrate their research, communication and critical thinking skills. Projects in WVU's Sport and Exercise Psychology major have included:

Cost and Aid

How much does Sport and Exercise Psychology at WVU cost? And how can you save?

Tuition and Fees

Estimated rates for the 2021-22 academic year. Rates are subject to change. Anyone that is not a current West Virginia resident will be charged non-resident rates. That includes international students.

West Virginia Resident
Per Credit $411
Per Semester $4,932
Fall and Spring Semesters $9,864
Non-Resident
Per Credit $1,114
Per Semester $13,368
Fall and Spring Semesters $26,736
International
Per Credit $1,114
Per Semester $13,668
Fall and Spring Semesters $27,336
Scholarship Chart

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Net Price Calculator

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Ways to Save

Here are a few ways for you to save on the cost of attending WVU in addition to university scholarships.

Early College Program

Get a head start (and save money) in our High School ACCESS program for high school students. Choose from online, on-campus or dual credit courses that fulfill requirements for general education or Sport and Exercise Psychology. Online courses to consider for this major include:

  • ACE 256: Principles and Problems of Coaching
  • ATTR 121: Sport Injury Control and Management
  • MATH 126: College Algebra
  • PET 175: Motor Development
  • PSYC 101: Introduction to Psychology
  • PSYC 241: Introduction to Human Development
  • PSYC 251: Introduction to Social Psychology
  • PSYC 281: Introduction to Abnormal Psychology
  • SEP 272: Psychological Perspectives of Sport
  • SOCA 101: Introduction to Sociology

Learn About Our HS ACCESS Early College Program

Ohio Tuition Reciprocity

As the result of a special agreement, students from Ohio who are fully admitted to Sport and Exercise Psychology can enroll at WVU and pay in-state tuition rates. Students must be admitted to both the University and this major.

Learn More

Transfer Articulation Agreements

To simplify the transfer process, we have formal agreements with certain institutions. These agreements outline the courses you should take to prepare for transferring to WVU. In addition to guaranteed admission agreements Sport and Exercise Psychology has transfer articulation agreements with:

Review the full list of transfer articulation agreements to see if your institution is listed.

Learn How to Transfer Course Credits

Requirements

What are the requirements to apply for Sport and Exercise Psychology at WVU?

To be admitted to WVU's Sport and Exercise Psychology major, you must meet WVU's first-time freshman admission requirements for the 2022-23 academic year. Interested in transferring? Review the transfer admission requirements.

Related Majors and Minors

What other options does WVU have?

What minors could I consider?

Related Pathways

What majors share similar career interests with this major at WVU?

Next Steps

I like this major. What are the next steps?

Apply Now

Your first step to becoming a Mountaineer is applying for admission. Our online application makes the process as convenient as possible.

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Request Information

Want to know more about Sport and Exercise Psychology at WVU? Fill out the Request Information form to receive more information about the program and life at WVU.

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