Master of Arts in Applied Sport and Performance Psychology
Master of Arts in Applied Sport and Performance Psychology
Master of Arts in Applied Sport and Performance Psychology
Master's Degree | Hybrid
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Hands-on training combined with current theory
Help others excel
**While HNU has closed, the ASPP program will continue at Dominican University of California. If you are interested in joining the ASPP program at Dominican, please contact Dr. Alison Pope-Rhodius directly at alison.pope-rhodius@dominican.edu**
Help people to think, feel, and behave differently so that they can perform better and enjoy their work more. A Master of Arts in Applied Sport and Performance Psychology will train you to work with performers in a variety of domains: from sporting arenas and businesses to performing arts and health care. Learn to integrate established theories with evidence-based techniques to enhance the mental performance of individuals and teams. Gain practical experience working with performers to help their personal growth and their ability to excel in pressure situations. The program focuses on applied experiences through various opportunities, including the athletic department at HNU or at sites local to students.
Program Mission: To educate and train students to become ethical, professional, and culturally competent practitioners who work with performers in a variety of domains. Our program is grounded in the theory and research of sport and performance psychology and offers training for practitioners to apply this education in the field. The program is committed to supporting both the professional and personal growth of students to become practitioners and leaders of Sport and Performance Psychology who integrate the art and science of mental skills training.
Learn More
Please contact Director of Sport and Performance Psychology, Dr. Alison Pope-Rhodius, at
alison.pope-rhodius@dominican.edu or go directly to Dominican University's ASPP program page below.
ASPP Program at Dominican University
Career Outcomes
Opportunities to Practice
Complete hours and coursework needed to be eligible to apply for certification as Certified Mental Performance Consultants (CMPC) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP).
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Athletic environments
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eSports
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Business settings
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The military
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In the performing arts
Apply knowledge, skills, concepts and techniques in real-life settings
Applied Performance Placements
HNU's Applied Sport and Performance Psychology program offers students the opportunity to work hands-on with individuals in groups in sport and performance settings. These settings include club sports, high schools, performance organizations and HNU's athletic teams, among others.
Learn More
Student Experience
Program Highlights
• Choose from on-campus, online (with a 2-week residency on campus), or hybrid program options.
• Learn from highly skilled, internationally-recognized faculty.
• Learn online in a combination of real time classes and some coursework on your own schedule.
• Train in providing remote performance consulting.
• Shadow experienced practitioners working with performers.
• Work with performers under faculty supervision.
• Elective options may include courses in applying performance psychology with military, business, or the performing arts.
• Develop a portfolio project throughout the program.
• Attend masterclasses with renowned practitioners.
• Attend professional development workshops.
• Skill up on business practices for consultants.
Program Learning Outcomes
Ethics and Professionalism: Apply the professional and ethical standards guiding Sport and Performance Psychology
Theory and Research: Synthesize theoretical principles and evidence-based research to inform applied practice
Case Conceptualization: Formulate theoretically grounded and evidence-based case conceptualizations for work with individuals and groups
Mental Skills Training: Design and implement a comprehensive mental skills training plan to enhance performance with a variety of individuals and groups
Emotional Intelligence: Facilitate client awareness and management of emotions to support their performance and well-being
Cultural Intelligence: Recognize the broad and diverse sociocultural contexts in which both the student and client live
Contextual Intelligence: Adapt knowledge and skills to the client’s varied and evolving circumstances and environments
Alison Pope-Rhodius, PhD, CMPC
Director of Sport and Performance Psychology & Professor
About the program director
Dr. Alison Pope-Rhodius is internationally-known for her work with athletes, coaches, and performing artists. She specializes in understanding elite individual performance needs.
Read bio
World-class leadership in Sports & Performance
ASPP Advisory board
Inspiring leaders, practitioners and performers from various performance domains based in Europe and all across the US.
Meet the board
a program sneak preview
Sample courses
Here are just a few of the courses you may take.
Introduction to Applied Sport and Performance Psychology
This course covers the history of the field, as well as its main theoretical approaches and concepts. It enables students to begin thinking about the theory to practice links and developing their own working definition of what sport and performance psychology is.
Introduction to Mental Skills Training (MST)
This course introduces the skills, techniques, and concepts used in the field by practitioners. The focus for this course will be on understanding these elements whilst observing them in practice.
Applied Mental Skills Training (MST)
This course enables a deeper understanding of the skills, techniques, and concepts and involves using case studies and presentations to further understand the work; the students will practice the skills and techniques.
