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Psychology with Sports Performance Enhancement Major

Add a focus on sports performance to your psychology degree program

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An athlete's mental health is critically important and directly affects an athlete's performance. Understanding the mental health aspects of athletics has grown in importance and popularity.

Southwest Baptist University's unique degree in Psychology with Sports Performance Enhancement blends core classes from psychology and kinesiology to prepare you for a career in working with athletes at all levels.

While the focus is on performance enhancement, the program provides you with an overview of how to help athletes work on the mental side of their sport and compete at their best.

This program will also prepare you for graduate studies in areas such as sports psychology or counseling psychology. You can even add a minor in counseling to this degree program.

The bachelor's degree in psychology with sports performance enhancement also is excellent preparation for entering SBU's Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

The psychology with sports performance enhancement degree is offered through SBU's College of Arts and Sciences.

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The SBU Advantage

  • Develop interpersonal and servant leadership skills through SBU's people-focused approach to psychology and kinesiology.
  • Work with faculty members one-on-one to find practicum and internship opportunities that match your interests.
  • Learn from faculty with a wide range of relevant real-world experiences.
  • Receive personalized instruction and build quality relationships with faculty and classmates through small class sizes and individual academic advisement.

Faith Integration

You will be intentionally challenged to consider how your faith will influence your interactions with patients and clients. A Christian perspective of psychology and counseling permeates every course. You will engage in honest discussions with faculty and classmates about hard topics and consider multiple points of view, while approaching everything from the lens of a Christian worldview.

The subjects encountered within the Psychology with Sports Performance Enhancement program lend themselves to Biblical and Christian worldview topics. The major is focused on performance — both physical and psychological — and SBU's program emphasizes that our performance in all things is to be for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

SBU faculty are committed to producing graduates who will be servant leaders in their professional fields. You will be equipped to become the best professional you can be in order to be a witness for Christ in your chosen profession.

Careers

SBU's program in psychology with sports performance enhancement will equip you for a variety of career opportunities, including:

  • Athletic coaching at any level
  • Client care
  • Counselor
  • Group home work
  • Healthcare
  • Mental health worker
  • Recreation program director
  • Sports psychologist

Graduate Schools

Recent graduates from SBU have gone on to further study at programs such as:

  • Arizona State University (sports psychology)
  • University of Kansas (sports psychology)
  • University of West Florida (health, leisure, and exercise science)

Additionally, you will be equipped to pursue graduate degrees right here at SBU, including:

Kyleigh Vaught
"I was drawn to this program because I am a basketball player at SBU and plan to become a coach. I think it is important to understand the mental aspects of the game. I believe this degree sets me up to help grow and lead young athletes."
Kyleigh Vaught
current student

Clubs and Organizations

Behavioral Sciences Club

As a behavioral sciences student, you are encouraged to join SBU's Behavioral Sciences Club, which unites all students interested in and studying the behavioral sciences, including criminal justice, psychology, social work and sociology. Club members meet regularly to encourage each other and participate in various service projects.

Psi Chi

Join SBU's chapter of Psi Chi, a national honor society for students of psychology who excel in scholarship, display high standards of personal behavior, and seek to advance the science of psychology.

Full-Time Faculty

Bill Duvall

Dr. Bill DuVall, Associate Professor
Gina Whitehead

Gina Whitehead, Assistant Professor
TJ John

TJ John, Assistant Professor
Kevin Schriver

Dr. Kevin Schriver, Professor

Scholarships

As a student majoring in Psychology with Sports Performance Enhancement, you will have the opportunity to apply for several privately funded scholarships for psychology students, including:

  • Autry and Irene Brown Scholarship
  • Joe B. Shelton Scholarship
  • Parsons Scholarship
  • Rose E. Ray Scholarship
  • Sara McGaha Memorial Scholarship

Psychology with Sports Performance Program Four-Year Plan

Freshman

Fall Semester

ENG 1113 English Composition I 3
PSY 1013 General Psychology 3
BIB  1013 Old Testament History 3
CIS 1103 Computer & Information Management 3
MAT 1243 Algebraic Reasoning and Modeling 3
UNI 1111 University Seminar 1
Total hours 16

Spring Semester

ENG 2213 English Composition II 3
SOC 1003 Introduction to Sociology 3
BIB 1023 New Testament History 3
KIN 1162 Foundations of Physical Fitness/Wellness 2
HIS 2213/2223 U.S. History I or II 3
UNI 1121 Introduction to Critical Thinking 1
Total hours 15
 

Sophomore

Fall Semester

SPM 1113 Introduction to Sports Management 3
PSY 2063 Systems of Psychology  3
COM 1103 Fundamentals of Speech Communication 3
BIO 1004 Principles of Biology 4
POL 1113 American Government and Politics 3
Total hours 16

Spring Semester

SOC 2012 Human Diversity 2
PSY 3063 Human Growth and Development 3
ECO 2003 LIFE Economics 3
SPF 2012 Introduction to Spiritual Formation 2
PSY 3393 Introduction to Sports Psychology 3
FAR 10_3 Intro. to Art, Fine Arts, Music or Theatre 3
Total hours 16
 

Junior

Fall Semester

PSY 3033 Abnormal Psychology 3
PSY 4264 Physiological Psychology 3
BEH 3073 Social Psychology 3
BEH 2233 Introduction to Research 3
KIN 3093 Responding to Emergencies 3
  General Elective 3
Total hours 18

Winterfest

KIN 2133 Principles of Human Anatomy 3

Spring Semester

BEH 3243 Elementary Statistics 3
KIN 4013 Sports in American Society 3
PHS 1004 Introduction to Physical Science 4
KIN 3073 Physiology of Exercise 3
PSY 3313 Introduction to Counseling 3
Total hours 16
 

Senior

Fall Semester

KIN 4003 Kinesiology 3
  Kinesiology or Psychology Elective 3
PSY 4093 Behavioral Analysis 3
PSY 4373 Addictions 3
KIN 4023 Organization and Administration of Sport 3
Total hours 16

Spring Semester

PSY 4986 Internship (Elective) 6
KIN 3053 Measurement and Evaluation in Sports 3
  Kinesiology Elective 3
  General elective 3
Total hours 15

Download in PDF format:
Psychology with Sports Performance Plan (PDF)