The Master of Science in Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology provides the student with an in depth and comprehensive course of study in applied sport and exercise psychology designed to help enhance the sports participation and performance of athletes and coaches. 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.
Course Delivery
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.
Delivery
Every Monday with one residential week per semester.
How and where is the course delivered?
The course is delivered every Monday during SETU in Waterford term time from 10.15am to 5.15pm. 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. Every semester there is one residential week which covers one module.
Year 1
Semester 1
Semester 2
Applied Sport Psychology
Executive Business Coaching
Contemporary Social Psychology
Exercise Psychology
Team Building Strategies
Sports Performance Psychology
Year 2
Semester 3
Semester 4
Mental Skills Training
Personal & Professional Portfolio Sport & Exercise Psychology
Entry Requirements
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 in 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
Fees
Programme fee details are available on the Postgraduate Fee Schedule.
How to Apply
Applications for this programme are made online by going to www.pac.ie
What are the career 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.
Student Testimonials
'After completing the Masters in Sport and Exercise Psychology in 2008 I secured employment with the Irish Rugby Union Players Association as a Player Services Advisor. I deliver Career and Personal Development Programmes to current Professional Players, Academy Players and Past Professional Players. I found the masters extremely beneficial for my current role and do not believe I would have achieved the role without it. In my everyday role there are numerous times when I use the education and principles from the course such as goal setting (for myself and the players), problem solving, conflict resolution, confidence building, distraction tools, compliance skills and motivation techniques. What's clever about this course is that there is a focus on both sports and exercise psychology allowing graduates pursue careers in a variety of pathways, not limiting them to sport. It also allows for the transfer of knowledge from the sporting world to everyday life and vice-versa, developing a holistic graduate/coach.'
-Maeve Smith, IRUPA Player Services Advisor
‘Coming from an undergraduate Psychology background before beginning the MSc in Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology, I really enjoyed the programme. I was intrigued by both the content and the insights from the lecturers on the programme. The staff are engaging and very generous with their time. They are also highly experienced in the area. I really enjoyed this holistic teaching to the whole programme and benefitted greatly from this personal approach.’
-Emmett Hughes
‘I have set up a sport psychology consultancy business (Inspiring Excellence) since completing my masters in Sport Psychology. I find the experience and education gained through my time on the course has given me the confidence and ability to work with elite athletes across a wide spectrum of sports’
-Shane O’Sullivan Waterford Hurler
‘Since I graduated from the MA in Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology, I have been involved in the coaching and sports psych input to the Waterford Senior Hurlers in 2011. In 2012 I was asked to get involved with the Clare Senior Hurlers, providing a similar range of services and again throughout their All Ireland winning campaign of 2013 I coached and provided Sport Psych services to the entire panel. In my role as Sport and Recreation Manager in Limerick Institute of Technology I have taught some of the Sports Psychology modules on the Sports Courses in LIT. I am currently teaching the Sport Psychology module for the inaugural Arsenal FC Gap programme to be run outside of London and is based in LIT.’
-Seoirse Bulfin, Sports and Recreation Manager, Limerick Institute of Technology
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.
Student Testimonials
I get asked all the time, “Why did you decide to study in Ireland?” For one, I have always had an obsession with Ireland’s green rolling hills, magnificent coastline, and the historic castles. Plus, I am still in awe of the different Irish accents that drastically change from county to county. I chose to study at SETU Waterford for the MSc in Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology program. As a coach, getting my masters in sport psychology has been a goal of mine for several years, and I really liked that the program would allow me the opportunity to apply the theories being taught. Knowledge is great, but you have to be able to transfer that knowledge into the performance setting, which this program definitely does. Without a doubt, I made a life-changing decision coming to Ireland and being a student here. The Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology programme has been a great investment in my future and will prepare me to help athletes and people improve their performance.
-Nicole Fougerousse, a graduate of the MSc in Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology at SETU Waterford, who found a home away from home here in SETU Waterford.
