Sport Psychology
Dive into the mind of an athlete as you prepare to be a professional leader in exercise and sport psychology.
The Bachelor of Arts in Sport Psychology is the only one of its kind in Canada.
It is offered in partnership with the Department of Psychology, and is designed to introduce students to the field of Sport Psychology (both theoretical and applied), and to foster a multi-disciplinary understanding of the psychological factors that affect performance and how participation in sport and exercise affect psychological and physical factors. In addition to instruction and training of psychological skills for performance improvement and enhanced motivation, applied sport psychology may include work with athletes, coaches, and parents regarding injury, rehabilitation, communication, team building, and career transitions. Working with or acting as a coach, teacher, wellness consultant, or researcher in sport and physical activity, the experiences and knowledge provided through this program will lend themselves well to a professional workplace setting. The program is not intended as a terminal degree and allows for students to continue their studies at the graduate level in education or masters programs.
Of major note is the fact that the Sport Psychology program can be taken in conjunction with the Concurrent Education program to allow students to complete their BA degree after 4 years of study and their teaching certificate and Bachelor of Education at the end of their 5th year of studies.
Academic Advisor
Dr. Robert Schinke
Telephone: (705) 675-1151 ext. 1045
Email: rschinke@laurentian.ca
Office: B-235, B.F. Avery Physical Education Centre, Sudbury Campus
The objectives of the Sport Psychology program reflect a number of different disciplines and give the student a well-rounded education that allows for opportunities of preparing professional leaders in physical activity and sport. The objectives include practical experiences working with coaches and teachers in the field, psychological assessment protocols, stress management techniques, conflict resolution, motivation and group dynamics, goal setting, and cultural studies all in a multi-disciplinary approach. Internationally renowned sport and exercise psychology researchers and/or practitioners, small class sizes, and internship opportunities are all highlights of this program.
Students acquire a solid foundation by taking courses in the School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences and the Department of Psychology. This program is also offered in French with a few courses excepted. All students in the program must complete one internship in the community and have the option of completing a second internship if they wish. Students also have the opportunity to complete an undergraduate thesis or to take additional courses in order to complete a Minor in an area of interest in the Humanities, Social Sciences or Sciences.
The Sport Psychology program lends itself to developing leaders of the future, particularly in the area of sport and exercise psychology which are foundations of our society. Our need for physical activity, stress management techniques and applied information on the physical, personal, interpersonal and social relationships and cultural are critical to our well-being.
Ontario High School Applicants
Program Prerequisites:
- 1 grade 12 English U/M course; 5 other grade 12 U/M courses
- A minimum overall average of 75% in the 6 best grade 12 U/M courses
Additional information for applicants who have completed Advanced Placement courses.
Additional information for applicants who have completed the International Baccalaureate.
Click here to view information regarding General Admission Requirements.
Applicants from outside an Ontario High School
Canadian High School Applicants from outside Ontario
Canadian Applicants
If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you must complete your application through the Ontario Universities Application Center (OUAC).
For detailed instructions on the application process, see the How to Apply: Undergraduate Studies page.
Apply Now as a Domestic Applicant
International Applicants
If you’re an international applicant, you must fill out the International Application Form.
For detailed instructions on the application process, see the How to Apply: International Students page.
Apply Now as an International Applicant
The degree options listed below are for the upcoming academic year, not the current academic year. If you are a current student looking for which courses to take in order to complete your degree options from a previous academic year's curriculum, please consult with an academic advisor.
Sport Psychology (B.A.) (120 credits)
This program focuses on the ways in which mental training impacts performance by examining motivation, psychometrics, anatomy, ethics in sports, biomechanics, mental training strategies, stress management, etc.
This program is not intended as a terminal degree as further study may be required to pursue different career options.
All students entering a BA program as of September 2017 are required to take 6 credits each of linguistic awareness, scientific literacy and indigenous content as per the regulations.
Although the requirements have been slotted in first year in the description below, students may fulfill them at any time during their studies.
Eligible courses are available at the 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 levels and students should take them at the appropriate time in their studies.
Courses fulfilling these requirements may be taken as electives or as part of a minor, concentration, major or specialization.
Program of Study
First Year:
PHED 0199E Outdoor School I
PHED 1006E Exercise Science, Wellness and Health
PHED 1206E Perspectives of Physical Education and Sport
BIOL 2105E Human Anatomy and Physiology + lab
PSYC 1105E Introduction to Psychology *Minimum grade of C (60%) required
12 elective credits
Note: In order to advance to the second year of the program, students must provide a photocopy of a current Certificate in CPR (level C) and First Aid before February 28.
Second Year:
PHED 0299E Outdoor School II
PHED 2206E Motor Learning + lab
PHED 4216E Sports Psychology
STAT 2126E Introduction to Statistics *Minimum grade of C (60%) required
PSYC 2005E Developmental Psychology
PSYC 2127E Scientific Method and Analysis II
PSYC 2707E Motivation
PSYC 3806E Social Psychology I
6 elective credits
Third Year:
PHED 0399E Outdoor School III
PHED 3061E Exercise Psychology
PHED 3136E Research and Professional Ethics in Kinesiology
PHED 3406E Mental Training in Sport Psychology
PHED 4516E Stress Management
PSYC 3206E Fundamentals of Psychometrics
PSYC 3256E Design and Analysis I
PSYC 3306E Learning
PSYC 3807E Social Psychology II
(OR) PSYC 2706E Emotion
(OR) PSYC 2656E Physiological Psychology
6 elective credits
Fourth Year:
PHED 4107E Human Development and Physical Activity
PHED 4217E Sports in Society
PHED 4996E Sport Psychology Internship
PHED 4546E Mental Health and Wellness
One of the following combinations:
A. PSYC 4206E Adolescent and Adult Clinical Psychology
(AND) PSYC 4207E Clinical Child Psychology
B. PSYC 4206E Adolescent and Adult Clinical Psychology
(AND) 3cr upper-year PSYC elective
C. PSYC 4207E Clinical Child Psychology
(AND) 3cr upper-year PSYC elective
PSYC 4105E Honours Thesis
(OR) PHED 4805E Thesis in Kinesiology
(OR) 6 upper-year elective credits
6 elective credits
Academic Regulations
To be in good academic standing in the School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, the student must:
1) satisfy all conditions of admission;
2) not fail more than 3 credits in an academic year or in the previous 30 credits;
3) maintain a cumulative overall average of at least 4.0 on all courses taken.
A student who fails to attain good academic standing may be allowed to continue on probation for no more than one year (or 30 credits). If after one probationary period, the student does attain good academic standing, he or she may proceed in program. However, if after the probationary period, the student fails to attain good academic standing, he or she must withdraw from the School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, but may apply to transfer to another program at the university.
A student who fails over 6 credits in the 1st-year of program may not proceed to upper year PHED courses.
After one calendar year, a student who has been asked to withdraw from the program may petition the Senate Committee on Academic Regulations and Awards for readmission, but such measures should have the recommendation of the academic unit before being considered by the Senate Committee.
List of Faculty Members
Sessional Members:
- Randy Battochio
- Jean Benoît
- Lise Brown
- Michelle Brunette
- Carlo Castrechino
- Randy Cavallin
- James Coffey
- Coulombe Jasmine
- Carla Cox
- Tony Cox
- Caroline Dignard
- Nicole Dubuc-Charbonneau
- Gino Ferri
- Charles Fink
- Sarah Forbes
- Sheila Gagnon
- Robert Jack
- Thomas Lee Kingston
- Michelle Laurence
- Jeffrey McGarry
- Karen Rebeiro Grouhl
- Raymond Savignac
- Olivier Serress
- Natalie Tissot Van Patot
- Andelka Tuttle
- Diana Urajnik
- Melissa Wiman
Adjunct Professors:
- Ben Hejer, Ph. D.
- Hakim Hariti, Ph. D.
- Pascal Lefebvre, Ph. D.
- Nicole Dubuc-Charbonneau, Ph. D.
- Ann Pegoraro, Ph. D.
- to be completed
Faculty Members: