Sport & Exercise Psychology - Applied - Waterford

The overall aim of the course is to educate specialists in the field of Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology. Graduates will have the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to work in the area of enhancing sports performance, sports participation and best practice at a variety of age and performance levels.

Graduates will have the ability to further the psychological development of athletes, coaches, teachers and other specialists from a broad-based, sound theoretical and applied course. Applied sports psychology focuses on teaching skills to enhance athletic performance such as goal setting and imagery. If you enjoy helping athletes and people achieve their full sporting and exercise potential, solving complex problems and working as part of a team, this field might be an ideal match for you. The MSc has been designed to bridge the gap in the culture of Irish sport at all levels of development from introducing children to sport to elite performance. Until now there has been an absence of opportunities for athletes, coaches, Physical Education teachers, Sports Science Graduates, Sports Leaders, Sports Development Officers, Volunteers and Exercise Specialists to upgrade knowledge and develop applied skills in the area of Sport Psychology. A taught MSc offers graduates of sports science, recreation, physical education and psychology a pathway towards enhancing their professional development within the sports environment.

The aim of the MSc in Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology provides the graduates with the ability to:
• Consult with athletes and teams with a view to providing psychological skills training appropriate to the individual and commensurate with their level of participation.

• Consult with organizations, individuals and exercise professionals with regards to exercise psychology skills training and consultation.

• Organise and operate workshops for coaches, teachers and exercise specialist in aspects of sport and exercise psychology.

• Guide and advise clubs, schools, coaches, parents and athletes in the application of sport psychology theories and practices and assist NGBs in the area of planning and implementing policy relating to participation, performance and periodisation of the training from a psychological perspective.

• Provide an arena for sports people to engage in reflective assessment of their involvement in sports, exercise and future developments.

• Plan and conduct research in sport and exercise psychology.

How and where is the course delivered?
The course is delivered every Monday during SETU Waterford term time from 10.15 to 5.15. The programme is delivered through a blend of methods consisting of lectures, seminars, workshops, projects, e-learning and placement. The MSc is now delivered in our new SETU Waterford sports arena which has first class teaching and sports facilities (see witarena.ie/). Every semester there is one residential week which covers one module.

Year 1
Semester 1
Applied Sport Psychology
Contemporary Social Psychology
Team Building Strategies

Semester 2
Executive Business Coaching
Exercise Psychology
Sports Performance Psychology

Year 2
Semester 3
Mental Skills Training
Personal & Professional Portfolio Sport & Exercise Psychology

• A bachelors degree at honours level (Level 8) in the areas of sports science, recreation and sport or physical education OR A bachelors degree at honours level (Level 8) in psychology or a related discipline and a level of significant performance and/or coaching experience in sport accompanied by necessary qualifications OR Equivalent qualification, accreditation may be given to prior learning and previous sporting experience.

• SETU Waterford wishes to carefully evaluate applications from non-standard applicants. The number of places available on the course will be limited therefore an interview process may be required in the student selection procedure.

• Applicants whose first language is not English must submit evidence of competency in English, please see SETU Waterford's English Language Requirements for details.

APPLICATIONS CLOSING 30 Aug 24

18 months, blended.

The programme is delivered through a blend of methods consisting of lectures, seminars, workshops, projects, e-learning and placement. Students are expected to complete the full 90 credits over 3 semesters. Lectures will run every Monday from 9 to 5 in semester 1 and 2. Students must attend the residential weeks in each semester. Semester 3 also consists of 1 residential week and will be used to facilitate meetings with a personal portfolio supervisor. A student who accumulates 60 credits in Semester 1 and 2 and who does not wish to complete the MSc may, at the discretion of the Programme Board, be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Sport & Exercise Psychology.

NEXT INTAKE September 2024

Opportunities
This MSc is designed to provide opportunities for athletes, coaches, physical education teachers, sports science graduates, sports leaders, sports development officers, volunteers and exercise specialists to upgrade their knowledge and develop applied skills in the area of applied sport, performance and exercise psychology. There is a demand for training in this field for those whose ambition is to work in high performance sport settings. In Ireland and the UK, many of those trained in applied sport and exercise psychology have undertaken roles as performance directors, sport coaches and sport management. Thus employability is likely to be strong not just for those who wish to train as practitioners, but for those for whom a postgraduate qualification in this domain augments their other qualifications and professional experience. Completion of the MSc in Applied Sport & Exercise Psychology can provide the basis for further professional qualifications by both the Irish Institute of Sport and the British Association of Sport Sciences. Both these organisations require a MSc in the field of sport and exercise psychology for professional recognition.

In recent years developments in the coach education area have made it necessary for the development of psychological skills in young athletes and mental training to become a part of the delivery of coach education courses at all levels. Graduates of this programme will be expected to gain employment as sport psychology consultants working within coaching structures at a variety of levels. This MSc is designed to provide opportunities for athletes, coaches, physical education teachers, sports science graduates, sports leaders, sports development officers, volunteers and exercise specialists to upgrade their knowledge and develop applied skills in the area of sport, performance and exercise psychology.

Completion of the MSc in Applied Sport & Exercise Psychology can provide the basis for further professional qualifications by both the Irish Institute of Sport and the British Association of Sport Sciences. Both these organisations require a MSc in the field of sport and exercise psychology for professional recognition.