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Sport & Fitness Psychology
Course Descriptions, Schedule & Costs
The Certificate Program
Are you involved in sports or fitness as a:
- Athlete
- Trainer
- Coach
- Fitness Instructor
- Health Professional
Do you want to:
- Develop optimal performance
- Create effective teams
- Enhance physical/mental well-being
If so, the Sport and Fitness Psychology Certificate Program is for you.
Take one course or the whole certificate to acquire tools to perform your job more effectively or expand your present job skill set. Parent and high school coaches will learn how to build cooperative teams. Fitness instructors can increase their employability. Athletes will advance their careers.
Best of all, you can do all of this anywhere, anytime via our online courses.
Program Description
The online Sport and Fitness Psychology Certificate Program addresses a growing demand for using psychological knowledge to enhance sports performance, teamwork, fitness, and well-being. Five online psychology courses comprise the Sport and Fitness Psychology Certificate Program. Coursework covers principles, research and applications which will expand and enhance participants' skill sets. Courses provide university credit of 3 units each at the 400-level which may be used for graduate-level credit subject to approval of department accepting the units. Students may enroll in individual courses or the certificate program.
Features
Courses in the certificate program are offered online so that participants can access materials, study and complete the assignments anywhere, anytime. The internship course affords an opportunity to practice acquired skills and knowledge in a community near home. A Certificate is provided upon successful completion of program requirements.
Who Should Attend
Coaches, athletes, trainers, fitness instructors, and health professionals and counselors will gain valuable skills from the courses in the Sport and Fitness Psychology Certificate Program.
Career Possibilities
The program is designed to increase knowledge of this developing field, to enhance employability of participants and to advance the careers of those currently employed in sport and fitness occupations.
Required Courses (15 units)
Courses
PSY 480 • Sport Psychology (3 Units)
PSY 481 • Applied Sport and Fitness Psychology (3 Units)
PSY 482 • Psychology of Coaching and Team-Building (3 Units)
PSY 483 • Contemporary Issues in Sports and Fitness (3 Units)
PSY 486 • Internship in Sport and Fitness Psychology (3 Units)
NOTE: For course descriptions, refer to the Psychology section of this catalog.
California State University Dominguez Hills provides the following information for its online and distance learning students in compliance with State Authorization information & Consumer Complaints federal Title IV regulation. Federal law [Section668.43(b)] requires all institutions must disclose to all students or prospective students the complaint agency in all states where students reside. If a student has a complaint or concern, information on how to contact a state agency and register a complaint, can be found at the following website: https://www.calstate.edu/AcadAff/state-regulatory-authorizations/.
Mark Cartiglia, Ph.D. | mcartiglia@fullerton.edu
Instructor, Department of Psychology, California State University, Fullerton.
Besides teaching at California State University, Fullerton, Dr. Cartiglia also teaches an online course at North Central University. His areas of interest include psychological testing and sport psychology.
Ruben Barajas, M.A. | ruben@scottnewmancenter.org
Executive Director, The Scott Newman Center, Torrance, California
Mr. Barajas has developed the programs at the Scott Newman Center, which provides a national community outreach/drug prevention program through a summer camp for adult women and their children. Since 1988 Ruben has competed in over 50 triathlons.
Frequently Asked Questions
How will the Sport Psychology certificate help me?
In this course you will learn how to develop athletes’ optimal performance, create effective teams, and enhance physical and mental well-being.
How will the Sport and Fitness Psychology Certificate help me?
High school and college coaches can use these courses for professional development. Athletes can advance their careers Fitness instructors and trainers can increase their employability. Youth coaches will learn how to build cooperative teams.
Do I have to take all of the courses in the certificate program or can I take just some of them?
Take one course or the whole certificate to acquire tools to perform your job more effectively or expand your present job skill set.
How many courses will be offered each trimester?
At least two courses in the certificate are offered each trimester. PSY 486 Internship offered at least two times a year.
How do I enroll in the courses?
You enroll through the California State University, Dominguez Hills' Extended and International Education unit by calling 310-243-3741.
Can I count the units toward a master’s degree?
Courses in this certificate are numbered at 400 or senior level which may count toward a graduate degree program. All of the courses are transferable and they all can be counted as sport & psychology courses. Transferrability is determined by the institution or program accepting the units. Check with your master’s degree advisor to see what elective course requirements they might fill.
What does a sport psychologist do?
Sport psychologists help athletes optimize their performance, help coaches create winning teams, help players set personal as well as performance goals and find ways to reach those goals. Sport psychologists may be employed by a university or a professional team on a full-time or consultant basis. To find out more about sport psychology go to http://www.appliedsportpsych.org/.
What do I need to do to become a sport psychologist?
Most sport psychologists have a doctoral degree, which takes about 4 years of study beyond the bachelor’s degree. You have to be licensed in the state in which you practice in order to call yourself a sport psychologist. However, even without the license, you can use some of the techniques that sport psychologists use when consulting with athletes and teams. You just cannot “treat” individual problems nor call yourself a psychologist.
If I live outside of the Los Angeles area how do I do an internship (PSY 486S)?
For students who live outside of the Los Angeles area, the instructor of PSY 486 will work with individual students to approve a suitable internship site in their area of residence. Examples of eligible experiences include working under supervision to provide training of athletes on performance-relevant issues or working as an intern with a coaching staff in an applied sport psychology setting.
Are there any prerequisites for PSY 486S, the Internship?
There are four prerequisite courses (PSY 480, PSY 481, PSY 482, PSY 483) that must be completed before registering for PSY 486S, Internship in Sport and Fitness Psychology. One of the four prerequisite courses sometimes can be taken concurrently with PSY 486S. Also, please notify the instructor of PSY 486S (mcartiglica@csudh.edu) one semester before intending to register for this course so she can approve an internship site and supervisor for you plus you will need this instructor’s consent before registering for PSY 486S.