Psychology B.S. (Sport Psychology)

The sport psychology concentration focuses on the mental side of sport and exercise, applying principles of psychology to improve athletic and exercise performance. Students explore how psychological factors affect sport performance and how engaging in sport and exercise impacts a person’s physical health and psychological well-being. The focus is on developing mental skills that improve performance and on assisting athletes struggling with a variety of mental health issues, including performance anxiety, injury, depression, eating disorders, and substance abuse.

Students will have an opportunity to complete a psychology thesis and a 120-hour practicum.

Contact Information

Samantha Monda, Ph.D., NCC, CMPC
Department Head, Psychology and Health Sciences
Associate Professor, Psychology
monda@rmu.edu
412-397-6036

4-Year Course Plan

Freshman Year, Fall

• PSYC1010 General Psychology
• INFS1020 Fundamentals of Information Technology
• History/Political Science Core Course
• CSEN1010 Reading & Writing Strategies
• HUMA1010 Humanities Art & Music

Freshman Year, Spring

• ECON1010 Survey of Economics
• SOCI1010 Principles of Sociology
• MATH1050 Math Reasoning/Applications or higher
• CSEN1020 Argument & Research
• PSYC2800 Applied Psychology

Sophomore Year, Fall

• Science Core Course
• CSCM1030 Public Speaking & Persuasion
• PSYC2550 Human Growth & Development
• PSYC2450 Cognitive Psychology
• PSYC2700 Abnormal Psychology

Sophomore Year, Spring

• STAT2110 Statistics
• CSCM2040 Professional Communications in the Workplace
• PSYC2200 Physiological Psychology
• PSYC2600 Social Psychology
• PSYC2580 Personality Psychology

Junior Year, Fall

• PSYC3810 Industrial Psychology
• PSYC3250 Sensation & Perception
• PSYC3870 Psychology of Sport
• PSYC3755 Intro to Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• Literature Elective

Junior Year, Spring

• PSYC3100 Methods in Behavioral Research
• PSYC3880 Exercise and Health Psychology
• PSYC3770 Drugs and Behavior ** example concentration course
• Open Elective
• Open Elective

Senior Year, Fall

• PSYC3400 Psychology of Learning
• PSYC3320 Sport Coaching ** example concentration course
• Open Elective
• Open Elective
• Open Elective

Senior Year, Spring

• PSYC3750 Psychology of Adjustment
• PSYC3320 Sport Coaching ** example concentration course
• Open Elective
• Open Elective
• Open Elective

Practicum Information

RMU students are ready to step out into the real world. All psychology majors complete their psychology practicum during one of their last three semesters in the program. This involves completing 120 hours of experience at an internship site related to the student’s career interests. Paired with a faculty mentor to oversee the experience, students have the opportunity to build professional relationships in the community and see if they would like to pursue a career working in that particular setting. RMU partners with organizations and agencies throughout the region including health systems, sports organizations, mental health centers, non-profit organizations, school systems, public service departments, corporations, and private practices.