Sport & Human Performance, (M.S.)

Program Mission

The Master of Science in Sport & Human Performance (MSHP) provides students with a comprehensive foundation in theories and methods of mental skills training. The MSHP program offers graduate training within sport and human performance coupled with Adler University’s emphasis on socially responsible practice. Mental performance consultants  will be able to work with individuals who wish to maximize their psychological well-being and sport performance. Graduates are employed within health promotion programs, high school and university athletic departments, amateur and professional sport programs, physical rehabilitation centers, community health and recreation agencies, retirement communities, and medical facilities.

Sport Psychology Certification

Successful completion of this program will prepare graduates to apply for the Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC; appliedsportpsych.org), which requires a 400-hour mentored experience.

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Sport & Human Performance includes:

• A comprehensive curriculum-including supervised field experiences-totaling 38 credit hours.
• The Social Justice Practicum, a social responsibility immersion experience created to develop an identity in students as social justice advocates and agents of social change (200 hours total).A sport and human performance field training experience required for graduation. In order to earn CMPC credentialing, students need to earn a total of 400 hours (which is not necessarily an outcome of the program).

Sport & Human Performance Learning Objectives

Sport & Human Performance: Demonstrate a capability to conduct evidence-based and ethical practice with: (a) the knowledge of the psychological constructs, theories, and related assessments of human performance; and (b) the capability to implement performance enhancement strategies and techniques.

Sport Science & Psychological Foundations: Demonstrate a capability to connect the symbiotic relationship between the physiological and psychological aspects of sport and human performance in order to develop a multidisciplinary approach to case conceptualization and intervention strategies for collaboration and/or consultation.

Helping Skills: Apply theories and skills to work with diverse client populations and be familiar with clinical issues and diagnoses with ethical and multicultural considerations, in order to determine when to refer.

Research and Evidence-Based Practice: Develop a proficiency in critically evaluating literature, research methods, and interpretation of research results and utilize evidence-based practice in sport and human performance consultation.

Mental Performance Consultation: Demonstrate the capability to conduct mental performance consultation, and accurately evaluate delivery methods and the effectiveness of psychological skills programming (e.g.,  conceptualization, assessment, planning, implementation) for individuals, teams, groups, leaders, and/or organizations.

Adlerian Foundations and Principles: Apply principles of Adlerian theory such as purposiveness of behavior, the indivisible self, goal-directed behavior, and the role of social interest in mental performance consulting with the goals to improve well-being of individuals, couples, groups, families, and a diverse society.

Social Justice/Social Responsibility: Reflect on personal values and assumptions (e.g., biases, privileges,  about the nature and causes of social problems (e.g.,  poverty, racism, abuse) and gain experience and skills to advocate for systemic change through engagement and leadership in multidisciplinary, diverse, community-based organizations.

Instructional Modality

This program is designed to be flexible and completed in  two years with exceptions for students with extenuating circumstances. Students seeking a part-time or expedited schedule must consult with the Program Director. MSHP courses are offered on campus, primarily during the weekdays and evenings.

Minimum Program Admission Requirements

Applicants to this program are required to have:

• A baccalaureate degree earned from a college or university regionally accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or an equiva­lent degree from an international college or university.
• A minimum grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for undergraduate and graduate coursework.
• Exceptions may be made for applicants who demonstrate improved academic performance or academic ability in other ways.

Approved applicants will be invited for a personal interview as the final step in the application process.

Graduation Requirements

1. Satisfactory completion of all required courses and seminars
2. Satisfactory completion of Social Justice Practicum I & II
3. Satisfactory completion of the MSHP Externship.
4. A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher and no more than two grades or six credit hours of C in courses other than practicum prerequisites.
5. Submission of completed Graduation Application and full payment of all outstanding tuition and fees.
6. Faculty approval for graduation and recommendation to the Board of Trustees for the conferral of the Master of Science in Sport & Human Performance

Professional Practice and Field Training

Social Justice Practicum (SJP)

The Social Justice Practicum (SJP) is a first-year, nonclinical and non-discipline-specific experiential practicum that occurs during the fall and spring terms. Students gain the knowledge, skills, and perspectives to utilize collective power and social justice strategies to build a more equitable society. The SJP is designed to help students learn how to work alongside the community as agents of social change and serves as the catalyst for students to realize and understand their own strengths and responsibility to contribute to social equity. The SJP unites our academic institution and larger communities, which is an anchor of student learning at Adler University. Upon completing the SJP, students gain, maintain, and strengthen connections to communities by developing critical problem solving skills necessary to be socially responsible practitioners. All students must complete the SJP before advancing on to any clinical or discipline-specific training, regardless of the program in which they are enrolled.

SJP requirements include: (1) completion of a minimum of 200 hours at an approved SJP site; (2) attendance at a monthly, campus-based Civic and Community Action workshop; and (3) a formal SJP presentation at the Annual Social Justice Symposium. Students must also receive a grade of “Pass” for the midterm and final evaluation to receive credit for completing the SJP. The SJP may not be waived and life credit is not admissible to meet this requirement.

Sport and Human Performance Externship

Students will complete an externship in a setting that allows them to focus on the delivery of mental performance services.The externship experience involves students providing performance-related consultingwhilehavingthementorshipof a mental performance consultant who is certified by theAssociation ofAppliedSport Psychology (AASP; certified credential is CMPC). An externship provides students the opportunity to work with performers in group, team, and individual settings. The Training Coordinator will assist students with the externship assignment process that is outlined in the MSHP Externship Handbook. A copy of this manual may be downloaded from the Adler Connect portal at connect.adler.edu or from the MSHP Training Coordinator or ProgramDirector.

AASP Credentialing Requirement

Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) credentialing requires 400 hours of mentored experience to be completed prior to applying for certification. To be considered for CMPC, students must complete the following:

1. Acquire a minimum of 400 total hours of mentored experience spent in preparation and delivery of mental performance services.

• Note that only 150 hours of the total 400 certification hours may be spent in “Support Activities”, while a minimum of 200 of the total 400 hours must be spent in “Direct Client Contact” with individuals and/or teams (see the MSHP Externship Handbook for a full breakdown and description of hours). .
• A minimum of 50 of the total 400 hours in mentorship from a certified (CMPC) mentor, with a minimum of 10 hours of live or video-recorded observation.