Business Administration - John F. Kennedy University

College of
Professional Studies
College of Professional Studies
Clinical Sport Psychology Program:
of Psychology
Note: Students may not link a bachelor’s degree to a master’s degree
and then link the master’s degree to a doctoral degree.
As the field of psychology continues to diversify and expand the
range of specialties, it is important for educational institutions to
stay on the cutting edge of program development. John F. Kennedy
University has achieved this by linking the MA in Sport Psychology
program with the clinical doctoral program, the Psyd. Unlike a
research-based Phd, the Psyd program is designed to produce
practitioners, not researchers, while provid ing the same high level
of scholarly study. Both the MA in Sport Psychology and the Psyd
offer the highest level of available training in applied sport and
clinical psychology respectively. In the past, students could earn a
master’s degree in two years and a doctorate of Psychology in an
additional four years. This inno vative linked program allows
completion of both degrees within five years of full-time, intensive
study (part-time options are also available). Having both degrees
(plus a psychology license) will enable graduates to use the title
“Sport Psychologist,” allow them to apply for either master’s or
doctoral certification through the Association for Applied Sport
Psychology (AASP), and work with both clinical and athletic clients
by applying the skills and knowledge developed from both fields.
Eligibility to take the psychology licensing examination for the state
of California will also be earned.
The full-time student starts in the Sport Psychology program for
the first year and then moves into the Psyd program for the
following four years. Once in the Psyd program, the linked student
fulfills all the same curricular and training requirements asked of
all Psyd students. The MA component of the linked program
consists of 42 units in the Sport Psychology program and 35 units
in the Psyd program (completed during the first two years of the
Psyd program, i.e., years two and three of full-time study). Upon
successful completion of these 77 units and the Master’s Written
and Oral examinations, a Master’s degree will be conferred. Upon
successful completion of the fifth year of full-time study in the
linked program and all requirements for the Psyd, a Psyd degree
will also be awarded. For information on the practicum, intern ship
examinations, and advancement to candidacy, refer to the Psyd
section of this catalog.
admission requirements
Applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree from a regionally
accredited institution. Prospective students should apply to the MA
program and the Psyd program concurrently. In the event that a
student in good standing in the Sport Psychology program is not
accepted into the Psyd program, the student may continue the
master’s degree program. A student must be accepted into the Psyd
program before enrollment in a Psyd course is per mitted.
Ma degree in the Clinical Sport
Psychology Ma/Psyd linked Program
A student will be awarded an MA degree when he or she has
satisfactorily completed all first-, second-, and third-year courses
of the linked program (i.e., year one is completed in the Sport
Psychology program, years two and three are completed in the
Psyd program), is a student in good standing, and has passed the
MA written and oral examinations in the Sport Psychology
program and the comprehensive written examination of the Psyd
program.
Students who link the MA Sport Psychology and Psyd programs may
complete both degrees in five years of full-time study. Linked
students should complete the following courses in the prescribed
order.
Courses Units Prerequisite(s) Co-Requisite(s)
Undergraduate Prerequisites 1
Introduction to Psychology
Theories of Personality
diversity-related course
Statistics
PSP 5808 Introduction to Sport Psychology 1
First Year
PSP 5280 Fieldwork 2 8
PSP 5800A Sport Psychology A 3
PSP 5800B Sport Psychology B 2 2 PSP 5800A
PSP 5803A Ethics and Professionalism in Sport Psychology A 2
PSP 5804A Assessment Strategies A 1
PSP 5804B Assessment Strategies B 1
PSP 5810 Sport and Society 2
PSP 5811 Counseling Skills A 3
PSP 5815 Performance Enhancement A 3
PSP 5816 Performance Enhancement B 3 PSP 5815
PSP 5822 Psychology of Group Interpersonal Communication 3
PSP 5826 Psychological dimensions of youth Sport 2
PSP 5833 Kinesiology 4
PSP 5850 Electives 5
PSP 9090 Written Examination 0
PSP 9091 Master’s Oral Examination: Sport Psychology 2 0 (42 MA Sport Psy Units)
116 College of Professional Studies JOHn F. KEnnEdy UnIvErSITy