Sport, exercise, and performance psychology (SEPP) is an interdisciplinary field that explores the relationship between various psychological factors and participation in sport and/or performance settings. SEPP is a quickly growing field, as evidenced by professional memberships, conference attendance, full-time positions, and publications. With an increase in the number of college athletic programs and professional teams acknowledging the importance of sport psychology, governing bodies (e.g., NCAA, NBA) are calling for individuals with graduate training in both mental health and performance enhancement. This need has led to a growing number of graduate programs (mostly master’s level), nationwide. Despite these positive trends, undergraduate training in SEPP is scarce, with only a handful of universities in the United States who offer formalized training (i.e., major and/or minor). As a result, students from other academic backgrounds are often under-prepared for graduate school in SEP and only enroll in foundational coursework once enrolled at the master’s level.
The certificate is targeted to undergraduate students at UK and provides the interdisciplinary course work that is representative of the field.
Overall, this certificate will cater to two major groups of students. First, undergraduate students across campus with a general interest in sport, exercise, and/or performance who are already committed to their major (e.g., student-athletes, psychology, sociology, fine arts, sport communication majors, social work majors, etc.). Second, undergraduate students with aspirations to pursue a graduate education in SEPP, by allowing them to explore the field in a formal and structured manner by enrolling in foundational coursework that is unavailable to many undergraduate students. Completing this certificate will not only make students more competitive for graduate admission, but better equip them for eventual success at the graduate level and beyond.
The certificate provides opportunities for students to pursue advanced course work within the sport psychology field-making them more competitive for graduate school admissions and the job market, while also allowing them to pursue interdisciplinary course work. More specifically, the certificate offers culturally responsive training in SEPP by requiring courses in social justice in sport, sport psychology, sociocultural issues in sport, counseling techniques, and guided electives outside of KHP.
This curriculum provides opportunities for all students to promote equity through critical self-reflection, foster diversity by learning about working with marginalized populations in sport, and the sociopolitical importance of sport (e.g., race, gender identity, income, internationalization).
The Undergraduate Certificate in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology requires 15 hours as follows:
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