ESHE 350: Sport and Exercise Psychology (GE)
Prerequisite: PSYC 121
Credit Hours: (3)
Provides students with an overview of concepts and principles essential to understanding
behavior in sport, exercise, and activity settings. Emphasis is given to the applied
aspects of performance enhancement, mental skills, exercise behavior, motivation,
social factors, and psychology of injury. Applications are made to athlete, participants,
exercise leaders, sport coaches, and others in activity settings.
Note(s): General Education and Cultural or Behavioral Analysis designated course.Detailed Description of Content of Course
Designed to develop an understanding of the psychological factors underlying successful
participation in sport and exercise. Students are exposed to four major content areas:
1) performance enhancement for coaches and athletes; 2) psychology of exercise behavior;
3) psychology of athletic injuries; and 4) social factors. Content areas are explored
relative to understanding the characteristics of the individual participants from
diverse populations, the impact of group processes, and the importance of psychological
growth and development. Students will be exposed to key principles as well as underlying
theoretical frameworks of psychological factors. Applications are made to real-life
environments as well as to the study of sport psychology.
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
Teaching methods will include one or more of the following:
• lecture
• guest speakers
• problem-based learning
• case studies
Goals and Objectives of the Course
By the end of the course, students shall be able to:
• Investigate the field of sport and exercise psychology.
• Describe the effects that personality, motivation, and stress has on sport and exercise
participants.
• Describe the impact of competition, cooperation, feedback, reinforcement, and motivation
on sport and exercise.
• Analyze the nature of group processes including: group dynamics, team cohesion,
leadership, and communication.
• Apply performance enhancement strategies in sport and exercise psychology, including:
psychological skills training, arousal regulation, visual imagery, self-confidence,
goal setting, and concentration.
• Evaluate the behavioral aspects of exercise.
• Explain the psychological impacts of athletic injuries
• Elaborate on the key issues in facilitating psychological growth and development,
including: youth sport participation, aggression, character/moral development, and
gender issues.
Assessment Measures
Assessment measures may include one or more of the following:
• Exams
• Group assignments
• Projects
• Presentations
Other Course Information
None
Review and Approval
Revised 2012
September 2002 New Course Jon Poole
May, 2011
March 01, 2021