If you would like to combine your love of sports and fitness with an interest in psychology, then you have found the perfect major. Students interested in pursuing a career in sport and exercise psychology know that most jobs will require that they must first complete a graduate degree before entering the job market. Thus, as a liberal arts program, the primary mission of the undergraduate major in sport and exercise psychology is to prepare students for graduate studies in sport and exercise psychology, counseling, public health, and many other disciplines.

What makes the undergraduate major in sport and exercise psychology unique? First, it is the only major of its kind in the state of West Virginia and one of the few undergraduate programs in the nation that allows students to specialize in sport and exercise psychology. Second, the curriculum contains a number of exciting and innovative courses, such as the Social Psychology of Sport, Performance Enhancement, Exercise Psychology, the Psychological Aspects of Sport Injury, Physical Activity promotion, and African Americans in Sport. Several of the courses in the curriculum can be used to meet requirements of the university’s liberal studies program. Third, through our major’s club, students will interact with graduate students in our highly acclaimed doctoral program, meet leading professionals in the field, attend student and professional conferences, and participate in other student-centered professional and social activities.

Major Learning Goals

The goal of the program is for students to graduate with the essential skills and knowledge necessary to prepare them for a career in the field of sport and exercise psychology and to help them gain admission into graduate school in a program of their choice. This is a graduate school preparatory program, with students attending graduate programs in sport and exercise psychology, exercise science, human services, and public health fields.

• Content Knowledge - Students will demonstrate knowledge and disciplinary concepts related to sport and exercise psychology.
• Reflection and Critical Thinking - Students will demonstrate reflection and critical thinking in order to refine professional knowledge and practice.
• Programming and Assessment - Students will demonstrate evidence-based knowledge and skills (and best practices) for assessing student needs and for designing, implementing and evaluating performance across domains.
• Professionalism and Ethics - Students will demonstrate professional behaviors, including commitment to excellence, valuing diversity and collaboration, service to others, techniques for lifelong learning, and will develop the knowledge and skills necessary to allow them to be successful with regard to applying to graduate school to help advance their careers.
• Technology - Students will be able to demonstrate the use of different forms of technology to assess skills and provide meaningful feedback.