Curriculum

Sport and Health Psychology Curriculum

The Master of Arts in Counseling, Specialization in Sport and Health Psychology is a 67 credit hour program that includes coursework and a training practicum. Successful completion of this program includes the courses listed below. Course descriptions can be found in the Adler School Catalog.

• PCO-210: Professional Development Seminar (0 credits)*
• PCO-211: Community Service Seminar I (1 credit)*
• PCO-213: Community Service Practicum I (1 credit)*
• PCO-212: Community Service Seminar II (1 credit)*
• PCO-214: Community Service Practicum II (1 credit)*
• PCO-337: Group Psychotherapy (3 credits)
• PCO-402: Introduction to Adlerian Psychology and Psychopathology (3 credits)*
• PCO-438: Introduction to Addictive Disorders (3 credits)
• PCO-472: Basic Skills for Psychotherapy (3 credits)*
• PCO-497: Research Methods (3 credits)
• MSP-501: Introduction to Sport & Health Psychology (3 credits)
• MSP-502: Exercise Physiology (3 credits)
• PCO-505: Professional Development, Issues, and Ethics (3 credits)*
• MSP-509: Critical Evaluation of Contemporary Issues in Sports and Health (3 credits)
• MSP-510: Cognitive and Affective Bases of Behavior in Sport and Health (3 credits)
• MSP-512: M.A. Practicum Seminar I (2 credits)
• MSP-513: M.A. Practicum Seminar II (2 credits)
• MSP-516: M.A. Practicum I (1 credit)
• MSP-517: M.A. Practicum II (1 credit)
• PCO-520: Theories of Psychotherapy (3 credits)*
• MSP-541: Human Performance Enhancement Using Cognitive-Behavior Approaches in Sport and Health Psychology (3 credits)
• MSP-542: Assessment of Individual Differences in Sport and Health (3 credits)
• PCO-569: Lifestyle and Career Development (3 credits)
• PCO-623: Life Span Development (3 credits)*
• PCO-647: Biopsychosocial Bases of Health and Dysfunction (3 credits)*
• MAF-662: Overview of Marriage and Family Therapy Models (3 credits)
• MAC-679: Counseling Multicultural and Marginalized Communities (3 credits)
• MSP-636: Biological Bases of Behavior in Sport & Health (3 credits)
• MSP-995: Master’s Clinical Qualifying Examination (0 credits)

Total credit hours: 67

* = Required before beginning counseling practicum

Practicum

An integral part of all master's programs at the Adler School is supervised field placements. Ongoing involvement in clinical activities at professional training sites, including Adler Community Health Services, provides an opportunity to apply and further develop the knowledge, skills, values, and competencies gained in coursework.

In your first year, the Community Service Practicum focuses on developing skills for community-based interventions, advocacy, social justice, and systemic interventions that benefit human welfare and well-being. You’ll spend eight to ten hours per week over the course of six months at an approved site while concurrently enrolled in required coursework. A minimum of 200 clock hours of practicums is required.

In your second year, the practicum focuses on developing competencies required for entry-level practice upon graduation. Expect to spend at least two days per week over the course of at least nine months at an approved site while concurrently enrolled in two semesters of practicum seminars. You must complete a minimum of 700 clock hours of Clinical Practicums; 200 of those hours must be direct clinical service, and at least one-third of those hours should be with older adults or their families.

At least one of the following courses must be taken concurrently with Community Service Practicum I & II:

• Community Psychology and Mental Health (350)
• Professional Development, Issues and Ethics (505)
• Introduction to Adlerian Psychology and Psychopathology (402)
• Social Psychology and Individual Differences (641)

The Director of Clinical Training and Community Service will work with you to identify and approve clinical experiences. Because the focus is on integrating master's-level education with master's-level clinical training, the Adler School does not grant transfer credit for practicum credits earned elsewhere. Please refer to the Practicum Handbook for detailed information.