Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, PhD
This provides students with a comprehensive curriculum delivered by highly qualified faculty. The program combines academic rigor, applied consulting opportunities, and extensive research experiences. Graduates are equipped to become highly competent, well-rounded professionals in sport, exercise, and performance psychology.
Students conduct their own line of research, work with faculty to produce publishable manuscripts, and complete three research benchmarks in addition to their dissertation. Supervised experiences in sport, exercise, and performance settings, including Division I, II, and III athletic programs, are available for students.
This PhD program includes a concurrent master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. This allows students to sit for counseling licensure upon graduation. This combination of research and application in sport, exercise, and performance psychology, prepares students for careers as sport psychology consultants, researchers, and faculty members. A science track, which has a greater emphasis on research without the master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, is also available.
Many students work 20 hours a week during the semester as a graduate assistant, either teaching, providing service, or conducting research. In return for these contributions, graduate assistants receive a tuition waiver and stipend.
This program is delivered in-person and requires full-time residency in Morgantown for the majority of the 3-4 year program.
Your Degree Plan
The comprehensive curriculum represents the science-practice model widely used in sport, exercise, and performance psychology (SEPP).
Foundational Courses
Students complete 65-75 credit hours that cover foundational coursework, professional practice courses in teaching, and research. An individual plan of study is tailored to students’ needs and interests that meet requirements for the doctoral degree.
Dissertation
Throughout the program, students select a line of research that coincides with their area of interest. The SEPP doctoral degree program culminates with a dissertation, which is a data-driven research project. This requires an in-depth exploration of an important topic in SEPP. The dissertation will be completed as a single paper, submitted for peer review, and defended in a public setting. The dissertation committee must approve the dissertation to be fully accepted.
Earn a Dual Degree in Counseling
Once admitted into this program, students can opt to dual enroll in the master’s degree program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Courses for these two programs are completed simultaneously. Upon completion students are eligible to sit for licensure as a licensed professional counselor in most states.
Register now for a webinar
Learn more about the unique features of the program, core faculty, and their research interests, and the application process in these 60-minute virtual sessions.
Learn by Doing
Learning happens outside the classroom. Get involved.
Applied Experiences
Students will gain applied experience working with a range of performers, including student-athletes of Division I, II, and III athletic programs. As a result, students will accrue more than 400 hours of supervised service provision, allowing them to meet the requirements for AASP certification (CMPC). The dual enrollment in a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling allows individuals to sit for counseling licensure upon graduation.
Research
The program boasts seven faculty members trained in sport, exercise and performance psychology. These faculty members have different training backgrounds and research specialties (see faculty profiles) allowing them to supervise students with various research interests. Students will have the opportunity to collaborate with those faculty members and are expected to produce publishable manuscripts. In their research, students are encouraged to identify topics that align with their own interests and will help them reach their professional goals.
View all of the student organizations you can join.
Graduate Teaching Assistantships
- Basic Instruction Program (BIP)
Graduate Service Assistantships
- WVU Student Recreation Center
- WVU Athletics
Graduate Service/Teaching Assistantships
- University Advising Center
Careers and Outcomes
How does this degree prepare students for a career?
How we prepare you
Graduates leave the program with advanced skills in teaching, research, and practice. WVU boasts one of the largest SEPP alumni networks in the nation. Former students work in diverse settings around the world. Alumni take a genuine interest in current students and their future success.
Common careers:
- Research based faculty positions in sport sciences
- Teaching based faculty positions in sport sciences
- Private practice consulting
- Military consulting
- Public Health
Meet Your Community
The Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology family will inspire you.
Damien Clement
Professional Highlights
- Fellow, Association for Applied Sport Psychology, 2020-Present
- WVU Foundation Award for Outstanding Teaching, 2015
- Dorothy V. Harris Award, Association for Applied Sport Psychology, 2014
- Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award, WVU College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, 2013
- Acting Dean, WVU Honors College, August 2019–June 2020
Ashley Coker-Cranney
Professional Highlights
- Certified Mental Performance Consultant, Association for Applied Sport Psychology
- Licensed Professional Counselor, West Virginia Board of Examiners for Counseling
Peter Giacobbi Jr.
Professional Highlights
- Research focus on chronic disease risk reduction using digital and other delivery technologies
- Expert in the use of guided imagery in sport and exercise settings, overall well-being, and managing health behavior
- Current Google Scholar H-index of 37, Scopus H-index of 28
Dana Voelker
Professional Highlights
- Certified Mental Performance Consultant, Association for Applied Sport Psychology
- Steelcase Education Active Learning Center Grant, 2019
- WVU Foundation Award for Outstanding Teachers, 2018
- Association for Applied Sport Psychology Dorothy V. Harris Memorial Award, 2018
Sam Zizzi
Professional Highlights
- Twice recognized as Most Outstanding Teacher at WVU CPASS, and has mentored over 30 PhD students through degree completion
- Serves as the Dr. Pat Fehl Endowed Professor to focus efforts on the health and wellness of WV citizens
- Published one of the first books on self-awareness in sport, Being Mindful in Sport and Exercise Psychology (2017), with friend and colleague Mark Andersen
- Certified Mental Performance Consultant, Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP)
"The SEP faculty helped me develop holistically as a scholar and person, with high expectations and a strong desire to achieve. Dr. Jack Watson provided mentorship with autonomy and independence, and support through challenges. While at WVU, I was offered a strong classroom education, mentored practicum, research training, and teaching experience."
Lindsey Bloom
EdD, Sport and Exercise Psychology, 2005
"The education and training I was fortunate to receive in my doctoral sport and exercise psychology program was exceptional. Moreover, the mentorship provided to me by the faculty then, and even now, remains unmatched."
Amanda V.
PhD, Sport and Exercise Psychology, 2006
Requirements
To be eligible for admission into a graduate program at WVU an applicant must submit official, bachelor's degree transcripts from a regionally accredited institution and hold a GPA of at least 2.75. WVU operates decentralized admissions. Decentralized admissions allows each graduate program to set its own application requirements in addition to the University requirements.
Admission Requirements
Application Requirements
Applicants can seek admission to the doctoral program in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology with either a baccalaureate degree or master’s degree. To be considered for admission, applicants must upload the following documentation within the graduate application:
- Résumé or CV
- Transcripts from all previous institutions
- Official GRE scores
- Personal statement (1-2 written pages on professional background, goals, and reasons for pursuing doctoral degree at WVU, and rationale for potential faculty advisor)
- Two (2) Letters of recommendation
You will not be able to submit your application until the above documents are uploaded. Once the application is submitted and (unofficial/official) transcripts are received, your application will be reviewed for an admission decision. International applicants will not be reviewed with unofficial transcripts.
Prospective students should NOT apply to the dual master’s program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at this time. If accepted into the PhD program, admission fees will be waived.
Please contact the Office of Student Success at 304-293-4800 for more information about the application process.
Additional Application Considerations
Admission application form deadline: December 1. Admission is limited to fall start only.
Applicants are encouraged to submit their application with unofficial transcripts from all previously attended institutions. Submitting unofficial transcripts speeds up the application review process as most graduate programs make admission decisions using unofficial transcripts.
If you are offered acceptance, you are required to submit official transcripts from all previously attended institutions to be fully admitted into your intended graduate program. You will not be able to register for classes until the official transcripts are received. The preferred method to submit your official transcripts is through a secure online service, such as eScript, The National Clearing House or Parchment, to graduateadmissions@mail.wvu.edu.
Alternatively, if you are unable to submit an electronic version of your official transcript, the physical, sealed, untampered with documents can be mailed to:
WVU Graduate Admissions, PO Box 6510, Morgantown, WV 26501
OR
WVU Graduate Admissions, 1 Waterfront Place, 2nd Floor, Morgantown, WV 26505
- Applications that are incomplete or are submitted after the deadline may be reviewed if openings remain.
- International applicants must also submit required materials for international applicants.
Review process
Following the application deadline, program faculty will evaluate applicant credentials based on the materials submitted. After that initial review, a limited number of applicants will be invited to personal online and/or on-campus interviews with the program faculty and current students prior to a final admission decision.
Program Contact
If you have any questions about this graduate program, please contact Sam Zizzi at sam.zizzi@mail.wvu.edu.
Informational Webinar
Learn more about the unique features of the program, core faculty, and their research interests, and the application process in these 60-minute virtual sessions. Register now.
Application Deadlines
Each graduate program sets their own terms for admission and application deadlines. Applicants can only apply for admission for the terms displayed below. Any questions regarding the application deadline should be directed to the graduate program representative.
- Fall: August 1
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