Ph.D. in Sports Psychology: Courses, Requirements, and Careers

Sports psychology Ph.D. programs explore specialized areas of health psychology. They examine the impacts of athletic activity on human psychology and teach students clinical techniques for optimizing the psychological factors that can affect performance.

As an alternative to a research-oriented Ph.D., you can also seek a clinically focused doctor of psychology (Psy.D.) program in sports psychology.

Ph.D. pathways typically lead to career opportunities in research, academia, or client-facing professional practice. In addition to research requirements, curricula usually include extensive field training opportunities, including internships and practicums. However, some schools offer fully online programs that you can complete remotely.

Completion timelines vary, depending on credit requirements. However, you’ll usually need about four years to complete your sports psychology Ph.D. program.

The American Psychological Association (APA) recognizes sports psychology as a postdoctoral specialization developed after obtaining a psychologist’s license. As a supplement or alternative to licensure, some master’s and doctoral-level practitioners pursue certified mental performance consultant (CMPC) certification from the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP).

Graduates of sports psychology Ph.D. programs often pursue careers in academia or specialized psychological research organizations. They can also provide guidance for clients like athletes, sports teams, coaches, and athletic organizations.

To practice with the term “psychologist” in your job title, you must hold a valid state-issued license. You earn licensure by completing a qualifying Ph.D. or Psy.D. program, accumulating the necessary clinical training hours, and passing the required exams. Your state may require your doctoral degree to be formally accredited by the APA.

You don’t have to become licensed to work in sports psychology, but you won’t be able to market yourself as a “psychologist” if you follow a non-licensed career path. The CMPC credential offers an appealing alternative pathway that may interest you if you’d like to work directly with clients.

Learn more about becoming a sports psychologist and explore the potential career paths profiled in the table below:

Licensed psychologists provide clinical treatment services to individual clients and groups. They perform assessments, diagnose psychological conditions, and use advanced practice models to create treatment or management plans.

Average Annual Salary (May 2023): $117,750

Postsecondary sports psychology instructors design and lead courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. They supervise graduate students, participate in departmental administrative duties, and may also contribute to research programs.

Average Annual Salary (May 2023): $82,140

Psychology researchers use the scientific method to design, conduct, and evaluate the results of targeted studies into human behavior. As a sports psychology researcher, your work will focus on the mental aspects of sports, exercise, and physical activity.

Average Annual Salary (May 2023): $92,740

CMPCs follow a certified career path to become credentialed by the AASP. They work directly with athletes and athletic organizations, helping clients perform at their peak by improving mental resilience and overcoming psychological barriers.

Median Annual Salary (2020): $76,250

Sports psychology Ph.D. programs lead to terminal degrees. However, you can continue your education as a postdoctoral student or researcher. You may also work toward psychologist licensure by seeking supervised clinical training opportunities.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) data in the table below, graduate students at private institutions pay more than twice as much tuition per year as their peers at public colleges. However, many factors can affect the amount you will pay out of pocket, including:

Doctoral students may qualify for funding opportunities unavailable to master’s or bachelor’s students. These can include stipends, research grants, and teaching assistantships. Check with the school you plan to attend to see if such funding is available.

Schools set admission requirements on an individual basis, and they can vary considerably. However, you’ll usually need a master’s degree and a strong performance record throughout your postsecondary schooling for admission. Some programs consider applicants from diverse academic backgrounds, but a degree in a relevant field like psychology or kinesiology will likely strengthen your application.

Admissions departments also tend to view experience favorably. If you’ve been a high-level amateur or professional athlete or worked as a trainer, athletic instructor, or sports coach, highlight these accomplishments in your application.

In addition to your academic transcripts, you’ll likely also need to submit the following materials with your application:

If you need to submit test scores, schools will likely want to see results from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the GRE Subject Test for psychology.

Sports psychology Ph.D. programs vary in length, but most cover 60-75 semester credits or about 20-25 courses. If you study full time, you’ll likely need around four years to complete your coursework, practicums, internships, and dissertation.

Many programs support part-time enrollment, which may help your academic performance and make it easier to balance your studies with your other interests and commitments. However, you’ll also extend your graduation timeline.

Some schools limit the number of years you can take to complete the program, so pay attention to these policies if you plan to enroll as a part-time student.

If you plan to obtain a psychologist license, your state’s eligibility rules may require you to complete an APA-accredited doctoral degree. The APA maintains a regularly updated database of accredited programs.

Because the APA considers sports psychology a postdoctoral, post-licensure specialization, you may struggle to find Ph.D. programs specifically in sports psychology with APA accreditation. As a workaround, you can enroll in an APA-accredited clinical or counseling psychology doctorate and use your electives and research components to self-design a sports psychology concentration.

If you’d like to pursue CMPC credentials, you can find sports psychology Ph.D. programs that specifically prepare students to pursue this certification. However, the AASP does not formally accredit academic programs.

Classes you may find in your sports psychology Ph.D. program include:

Sports psychology is already a specialization, but some schools offer programs with even more precise concentrations. Examples include sports psychology Ph.D. programs in exercise and performance psychology, the psychosocial elements of sports and physical activities, or educational psychology with an emphasis on sports or athletics.

Performance psychology is not necessarily limited to sports and may also consider other demanding, high-pressure roles in the corporate world. You can, therefore, develop academic expertise in optimizing athletic and non-athletic performance.

Your program’s clinical training, practicum, and internship components depend on factors like accreditation and its underlying academic philosophy. If you enroll in an APA-accredited licensure-track program, it will include supervised clinical training components. Depending on your state’s licensure requirements, you must also complete 1,500-4,000 hours of postdoctoral clinical experience.

Many sports psychology Ph.D. programs are not accredited by the APA, but these programs still feature required or elective practicum, research, fieldwork, internship, or clinical training components.

Sports psychology Ph.D. programs often generate positive returns on investment, as they can lead to careers in academia, research, or professional practice. You can also increase your earning power by pursuing licensure, since a Ph.D. or Psy.D. degree is required to become a licensed psychologist.

However, you should conduct your own value assessment before enrolling in a program. Answer the following questions:

If available, it’s also a good idea to look at student outcome data before accepting an admission offer. If you cannot readily find this information, contact the school or its psychology department.