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  Apr 14, 2026
 
2026-2027 UWS Academic Catalog 
  
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2026-2027 UWS Academic Catalog

Doctor of Education in Sport and Performance Psychology (EdD-SPP)

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The purpose of the doctor of education program in sport and performance psychology is to offer advanced training for individuals in psychology, education, coaching, business, healthcare, leadership and administrative careers. The EdD-SPP degree is a blend between a research-oriented and an applied doctoral program designed to allow students to meet their specific career goals and educational needs. Students may select one of the following degree track options: 1) individual studies or 2) positive leadership and administration (PLA). Each of the doctoral program options requires a minimum of 86 quarter-credits (credits may vary for completion of culminating experience). The curriculum has been designed specifically to allow students to complete coursework required to obtain certification as a Certified Mental Performance Consultant® (CMPC®) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). Students are advised to remain informed of current CMPC® standards and work directly with program faculty to assure compliance with both graduation and CMPC® requirements.

Mission Statement

The mission of the sport and performance psychology programs is to develop competent sport and performance psychology scientist-practitioners who affirm the uniqueness and value of all people. Graduates will be equipped to lead effectively, apply theoretical principles within their chosen profession, implement evidence-based interventions in a variety of performance domains, and improve the performance and mental well-being of individuals and groups.

Admission Requirements - EdD-SPP

UWS admits new students into the EdD-SPP program in fall (October) and spring (April) academic terms. The application includes a list of materials that must be submitted for official consideration of an applicant’s file. Applicants should carefully review the program’s selection criteria to ensure they are making the best possible presentation of their qualifications.

In addition to the general entry requirements for the College of Graduate Studies, students must also meet specific entry requirements listed below for the EdD-SPP program.

  • Official transcripts showing a master’s degree from an accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent).
  • Minimum cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0.
  • Write and submit a personal essay addressing a provided prompt.
  • Two letters of recommendation, at least one of which must be academic in nature.
  • Current resume or curriculum vitae.
  • Application fee.
  • Applicants are required to successfully complete a personal interview with the director or a program faculty member.
  • Pass a comprehensive criminal history background check (requirement at admission).
  • Admitted students must have successfully passed a graduate level research methods course.

Students may not be simultaneously enrolled in a program in clinical mental health counseling and a program in sport and performance psychology (the EdD SPP/CMHC program is one comprehensive program so does not fall under this restriction). Students may not be enrolled in two SPP programs simultaneously.

Graduation Requirements - EdD-SPP

The EdD-SPP degree is conferred upon an individual who has fulfilled the following requirements:

  • Maintenance of enrollment eligibility through satisfactory academic performance, professional development and behavior.
  • Successful completion of all required coursework, program requirements or approved equivalents with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
  • Successful defense of dissertation.
  • Successful completion of the mentorship TOPE for students in the Sport and Performance Psychology Consulting concentration.

Concentrations - EdD-SPP

Students can select between two optional concentrations designed to allow specialization in an area of interest. A student who wishes to change their concentration may contact their student success advisor at [email protected].

Positive Leadership and Administration (PLA) Concentration

The PLA concentration allows students to develop the foundation to expand their consulting roles into areas such as coaching education, corporate leadership, and/or administration within their chosen field. Combined with the 13 required courses, students selecting the PLA concentration can combine their knowledge of sport and performance psychology with the principles of positive psychology to make an immediate impact in their consulting.

Sport and Performance Psychology Consulting (SPPC) Concentration

The SPPC concentration curriculum has been designed specifically to allow students to complete mentorship hours in partial fulfillment of the requirements to obtain certification as a Certified Mental Performance Consultant® (CMPC®) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). Students are advised to remain informed of current CMPC® standards and work directly with program faculty to assure compliance with both graduation and CMPC® requirements. Please refer to the section for more information.

Program Learning Outcomes - EdD-SPP

Graduates of the EdD-SPP program will be able to:

  1. Evaluate the predominant theories and emergent trends within both the discipline and professional of sport and performance psychology.
  2. Determine appropriate professional conduct for a variety of situations based on the legal and ethical codes of clinical mental health counseling and sport and performance psychology.
  3. Implement an individual philosophy of performance excellence integrating the disciplines of psychology sport science, and counseling.
  4. Implement culturally responsive consulting strategies based upon the relationships, issues, and trends within a multicultural society.
  5. Extend the predominant theory, research, and application trends in sport and performance psychology through the completion of individual research.

Additional Program Learning Outcome for Positive Leadership and Administration Concentration

  • Design interventions informed by current research in positive psychology to enhance performance and improve overall wellness in a variety of leadership and administrative contexts.

Additional Program Learning Outcome for Sport and Performance Psychology Consulting Concentration

  • Implement ethical and evidence-based interventions in sport and performance contexts that will lead to improved performance and satisfaction.

Curriculum Sequence - EdD-SPP

All students in the EdD-SPP program will complete a minimum total of 86 quarter credits to graduate.

  • Core Course Credits: 50
  • Dissertation Credits: 16 minimum (32 maximum)
  • Elective Credits: 20

The EdD sport and performance psychology curriculum has been designed specifically to allow students to complete coursework required to obtain certification as a Certified Mental Performance Consultant® (CMPC®) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). Students are advised to remain informed of current CMPC® standards and work directly with program faculty to assure compliance with both graduation and CMPC® requirements.

EdD-SPP Electives

*The EdD in SPP requires students to take 20 quarter-credits of elective coursework within the doctoral program. Elective courses completed during a master’s program do not count toward the 20 quarter-credits of EdD elective.

EdD-SPP Dissertation

Program completion requires a minimum of 16 credits of dissertation, four quarters of continuous dissertation enrollment, and a maximum of 32 total dissertation credits are allowed. Students have four years to complete the dissertation requirements and must be continuously enrolled until the dissertation is complete with all final requirements met. Candidates work one-on-one with members of their dissertation committee to write and defend the proposal, submit the proposal to the Institutional Review Board, collect and analyze data, write the dissertation and prepare for the dissertation defense. Enrollment in the dissertation courses requires program director approval.

  • SPP 8131 - Dissertation (4 credits per term; minimum of 4 terms) Credits: 4 (16 total credits)

Curriculum Total: Minimum of 86

Positive Leadership and Administration (PLA) Concentration

Positive psychology is the scientific study of the strengths that enable individuals and communities to thrive. The field is founded on the belief that people want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives, to cultivate what is best within them. The PLA concentration applies the principles of positive psychology to the challenges in competitive sport environments and the workplace. This concentration is intended to help leaders and their teams or organizations succeed through enhanced understandings of human motivation and behaviors to achieve extraordinary results in:

  • Long-term motivation
  • Team and business functional effectiveness
  • Effective work processes
  • Organizational design and structure that leads to optimal performance

The PLA concentration requires students to complete 20 quarter-credits of specific coursework within the doctoral program.

Sport and Performance Psychology Consulting (SPPC) Concentration

The SPPC concentration requires completion of SPP 8523 SPP Pre-Mentorship as well as 16 credits of mentorship, four quarters of continuous mentorship enrollment. Students are required to attend virtual weekly class meetings at a designated time with the mentorship group. Each week students will complete readings and assignments which will be reviewed with classmates during virtual classroom and live video conference group and individual supervision sessions. Additionally, students will share consulting experiences and discuss case formulations with the small group. The UWS sport and performance psychology program director must pre-approve mentors for SPP mentorship experiences to count toward degree completion. Approval by the SPP program director must be received prior to beginning the mentorship experience. Only hours spent in the delivery of sport psychology services during the approved course section are eligible toward course completion. Therefore, students are encouraged to set up mentorship experiences early but should not start working with clients before completing the core SPP coursework and enrollment in SPP8141 Mentorship.

The SPPC concentration curriculum has been designed specifically to allow students to complete mentorship hours in partial fulfillment of the requirements to obtain certification as a Certified Mental Performance Consultant® (CMPC®) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). Students are advised to remain informed of current CMPC® standards and work directly with program faculty to assure compliance with both graduation and CMPC® requirements.

Note: All components of the SPP Mentorship program, including client consultations, individual mentorship meetings, group mentorship meetings, and recorded client sessions must be conducted entirely in English, regardless of students’ and clients’ geographic location or preferred language. A student with a disability that limits their ability to complete the program requirements in English may request a reasonable accommodation via the Office of Student Success. A student with an approved accommodation must contact the Mentorship Coordinator prior to beginning the SPPC concentration to discuss how the accommodation will be implemented within the mentorship program.

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