The best master’s degrees in sports psychology

The department of kinesiology and health at Rutgers University delivers programs in exercise science and sport studies. The school accepts transfer credits with transfer students needing to meet the same admission requirements as non-transfers, including academic transcripts and standardized test scores.

At Rutgers, you can choose to earn a bachelor of science (B.S.) in:

• applied kinesiology
• exercise science
• exercise physiology
• sports management

All students start in the applied kinesiology program and can specialize an additional 3 topics if they choose. The exercise science degree includes 5 psychology modules. The program is taught in person at the New Brunswick campus.

The College of Health and Human Services at California State University delivers programs in kinesiology. If you have completed coursework at another institution but did not earn a bachelor’s degree, CSU accepts transfer students and will recognize your credits.

You can choose to earn a B.S. in kinesiology with the following options:

• psychology and leadership
• athletic training
• exercise science
• fitness
• physical education – teacher education

The psychology and leadership option is designed for those interested in a career as a sports psychologist. This program focuses on the psychological, physiological and biomechanical aspects of human movement. It is taught in person at the Long Beach campus.

At Ithaca College, you can choose a major and a minor to create your own sports psychology program. If you prefer to focus on the psychological side, you could opt for a bachelor of arts (B.A.) in psychology or a B.S. in applied psychology with a minor in sport and exercise psychology. Alternatively, you could choose a B.S. in exercise science with a sport and exercise psychology minor.

The programs are taught by the department of psychology at the school of humanities and sciences and the department of exercise and sports sciences at the school of health sciences and human performance. Ithaca College accepts transfer credits from accredited colleges where grade C or higher was obtained.

National University has more than 20 campus locations as well as an online learning option. The College of Letters and Sciences delivers a B.A. in sports psychology. The program is divided into 4-week long classes and there are multiple start dates.

The coursework is split into general education modules, core requirements and upper-division electives. NU has agreements with many community colleges and institutions to transfer credits.

The department of health and human performance collaborates with the department of psychology to deliver a minor in sports psychology. You can combine it with a wide range of majors, although you might be interested in a B.A. or B.S. in psychology or exercise and sports science.

The university accepts transfer students and admission requirements depend on the number of credits you want to transfer. A minimum 2.0 grade point average (GPA) is required, although other elements of applications are considered. The program is taught in person at the San Marcos campus.

At the Wiess School of Natural Sciences, you can find a B.A. in sports medicine and exercise physiology from the department of kinesiology. It includes several modules that focus on sports psychology, including psychological aspects of sport and exercise and psychological aspects of sports injury and rehabilitation.

The school accepts domestic and international transfers. You can transfer credits if you have completed more than 12 semester hours. The program is taught in person on the Houston campus.

Occidental College offers a major in kinesiology, which focuses on biomechanical factors and movement. The school operates by running a core program that provides general education modules. There is a sports and exercise psychology elective, as well as a mandatory psychology component.

Occidental College accepts transfer students, although courses need to be approved and must come from an accredited institution. The program is taught in person at the campus in Los Angeles.