Program Information

Sport and Exercise Psychology is designed for students with a scholarly interest in the field and for those who wish to pursue a doctorate. The program focuses on a theoretical understanding of sport and exercise from philosophical, sociological, psychological, and physiological viewpoints. The synergy created in this unique program provides graduates with the tools and knowledge needed to help individuals in sport and exercise settings maximize their performance.

The graduate student pursuing the Master of Science degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology is required to complete courses in advanced exercise physiology, motor learning and control, sport sociology, sport psychometrics, sport and exercise psychology, and applied sport and exercise psychology. The theoretical aspects of Sport and Exercise Psychology include sport personology (personality, motivation, achievement, and attributions), anxiety/arousal, attentional focus, and social/cultural manifestations of sport (humanism, youth sport, cooperation/cohesion, aggression, and leadership). Students who receive a grade of C+ or lower in any of three courses will be dismissed from the program.

Students pursuing the non-thesis (M.Ed.) track will present a portfolio of work and will complete a comprehensive oral exam.  The oral examination focuses on a critical review of the student’s portfolio and includes any aspect of the student’s major field (and related fields) about which the examiners wish to raise questions. The examining committee consists of two faculty member in sport and exercise psychology plus one other faculty member appointed by the Department Chair or Program Coordinator. The graduate student must provide the third member with a copy of the portfolio at least one week before the scheduled date of the oral examination.

Undergraduate prerequisites:

Anatomy and Physiology I and II
Kinesiology/Biomechanics
Physiology of Exercise

The basic program requires a minimum of 36 credits of graduate coursework.

Degree Information

Contact Information

Dr. Jasmin Hutchinson
Department of Exercise Science and Sport Studies
Telephone: (413) 748-3601
E-Mail: jhutchinson@springfieldcollege.edu

A. Program Requirements (27 credits)

• AEXS 610 - Advanced Exercise Physiology Credits: 3
• AEXS 676 - Exercise Psychology Credits: 3
• AEXS 678 - Sport Psychology Credits: 3
• AEXS 679 - Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology Credits: 3
• AEXS 685 - Seminar in Psychometrics Credits: 3
• MOST 624 - Motor Learning and Control Credits: 3

• or

• PHED 635 - Motor Development and Analysis Credits: 3
• PHED 620 - Philosophy of Sport Credits: 3

• or

• PHED 658 - Sport in Society Credits: 3
• RSCH 610 - Foundations and Methods of Research Credits: 3
• RSCH 620 - Educational and Psychological Statistics I Credits: 3

B. Additional M.S. Track Research Requirements (6 credits)

• RSCH 612 - Proposal Design Credits: 2
• RSCH 635 - Thesis Credits: 4-12

• (must be taken for 4 credits to meet program requirements)

C. Selectives (to total a minimum of 36 credits)

M.S. track students must complete 3 credits and M.Ed. track students must complete 9 credits of selectives chosen from an approved list in consultation with program advisor.

D. Additional Information

• Students will declare their track (M.S. or M.Ed.) in Spring semester of the first year, in consultation with the program faculty.
• Students following the non-thesis (MEd) track will present a portfolio of work and will complete a comprehensive oral exam.
• The oral examination focuses on a critical review of the student’s portfolio and includes any aspect of the student’s major field (and related fields) about which the examiners wish to raise questions. The examining committee consists of two faculty member in sport and exercise psychology plus one other faculty member appointed by the Department Chair or Program Coordinator. The graduate student must provide the third member with a copy of the portfolio at least one week before the scheduled date of the oral examination.
• Following the catalog guidelines for comprehensive exams, students will not be permitted to register for and take the comprehensive examination unless their cumulative index is 3.000 or higher at the beginning of the semester in which the comprehensive examination occurs. All students who intend to take the Comprehensive Examination must notify their departmental office at least four weeks prior to the examination, indicating their area of concentration. A student who fails the comprehensive examination may request to take it a second time, subject to approval by the major advisor. Any student failing the master’s comprehensive examination twice will no longer be considered a degree student. These students may not select an alternate plan leading to the master’s degree.