Sport and Exercise Psychology

Over the last few decades, interest in sport and exercise psychology has grown. More time and money is being spent on understanding what motivates people to exercise, play sport and live active lifestyles. Governing bodies and professional teams are hiring more sport psychologists than ever before, as increasing amounts of accountability is given to the mental aspects of physical performance.

Solent’s sport and exercise psychology degree, accredited by The British Psychological Society, is the ideal way to kickstart a career in this growing area. You will explore how people act and interact, and the thoughts and feelings that underlie their behaviour. You’ll develop an understanding of intervention techniques that can be applied in exercise and team settings. You’ll also gain an insight into the coach-athlete relationships.

The subject contributes to an understanding of the day-to-day problems faced by people all around the world. Psychologists use a wide variety of methodological techniques including experiments, questionnaires, observations, video analysis and interviews to investigate human behaviour and obtain reliable evidence. This evidence can then form the basis of potential interventions and recommendations.

Core areas of study include cognitive psychology, child development and social psychology. All of these can be applied within a sport and exercise context. We work closely with sport teams and health organisations in order to provide you with hands-on learning opportunities. The applied nature of the course ensures that you’ll develop the professional skills needed for work in the sports industry.

Work with academics who are both research and industry active – keeping you up-to-date with the latest developments in best practice.

What does this course lead to?
The scientific aspects of your psychology course - the application of a reasoned approach, problem solving and manipulation of data - provide useful tools for careers in healthcare, law enforcement, finance, IT and research.

Your knowledge of human behaviour and motivation, as well as your ability to critically analyse a problem, formulate a considered response and create a reasoned argument, will lend themselves well to careers in the creative industries, the legal sector, government administration and education.

To practise as a psychologist, further postgraduate training and supervision is required. Find out more on the British Psychological Society (BPS) website.

Who is this course for?
Our sport and exercise psychology programme is well-suited to students from a wide range of academic backgrounds.

You should have an inherent interest in human behaviour and a desire to apply this interest in sport, exercise and coaching contexts.

YEAR 1 - CORE MODULES
Thinking and Writing Psychologically
Beginning as a Researcher
Sport and Exercise Psychology
Developing as a Researcher
Health and Exercise Psychology
Skill Acquisition and Motor Learning

YEAR 2 - CORE MODULES
Behaviour and the Brain
Individual Differences and Social Psychology
Psychological Research Training
Psychological Research in Action
Assessment and Programme Design in Sport and Exercise Psychology
Sport and Exercise Psychophysiology

YEAR 3 - CORE MODULES
Advanced Counselling Theory and Practice
Conceptualising Psychopathology
Cognitive-Behavioural Theory and Practice
Applied Psychology Research Project

YEAR 3 - OPTIONS (please note that not all options are guaranteed to run each academic year)
Behaviour Change
Cyberpsychology
Animal Behaviour
Mindfulness-Based Practice and Approaches
Issues in Educational Psychology
Critical Psychology
Issues in Forensic

Unit assessments have been designed to improve key employability skills such as communication, interpersonal relations, organisation and team work. By working with real athletes and exercise populations, you will learn how to overcome the everyday challenges sport and exercise psychologist face in the workplace.