Course summary

Do you want to understand how thoughts, emotions and physiological responses can affect athletic performance? Immerse yourself in an exciting and ever-expanding topic of research and practice when you choose to study Sport Psychology. We will teach you key concepts and theories specific to sport psychology and give you a comprehensive grounding in the core elements of mainstream psychology. This approach will enable you to consider how key areas of psychology apply to all levels of sport, from grassroots football to Olympic competition as well as how we might increasingly come to understand the ‘human’ elements of sports participation. You'll begin your studies with an introduction to the core domains of psychology including social, cognitive and developmental psychology, as well as focusing on the development of professional and research-related skills required within psychology practice. You will also get an introduction to key topics and theories relating to working with individual athletes and apply this content to ‘real-world’ scenarios within the sport psychology specific module. As your studies progres, you will continue to develop your professional skills and breadth of psychological knowledge, focusing on the role of the sport psychologist, and the numerous duties and responsibilities that a sport psychologist might fulfil as part of their work. In your final year, you’ll apply the skills and knowledge you have developed by critically examining the organisational contexts and factors which might influence a sport psychologist’s applied practice. Focusing on topics and themes from both organisational and cultural sport psychology, you’ll reflect on the diverse and unique range of individuals and organisational contexts that typify applied sport psychology practice. Throughout your studies, you'll also get plenty of hands-on experience through the professional work placements and volunteering opportunities included within your degree. Professional work placements Student placements are generally in school-based sports roles and professional sports organisations. Recent placement employers have included Badminton England, Leeds Rhinos, Sevilla FC (Spain), Rotherham United, the RAF and a wide range of primary and secondary schools. Graduate opportunities Your degree will prepare you for careers across a range of sporting sectors, but you will also develop transferable employability skills which can be applied to a variety of non-sporting organisations and sectors. Recent graduates are working at organisations ranging from St Helens RFC and the NHS, to businesses and marketing companies.