Master of Science in Sport + Human Performance
Chicago
The Adler University Master of Science in Sport and Human Performance trains students to enhance performance and overall well-being through mental skills training and practice, blending academic study with applied expertise.
- 38 credits
- 2-year program, full-time study
- AASP-certification preparation
- Part-time opportunities
- Mentorship from Certified Mental Performance Consultants (CMPCs)
- Dual-degree option
Admission Deadlines
| Term | Priority | Final |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | 12/1/2025 | 2/15/2026 |
Program overview
Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to unite in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. – Nelson Mandala
Adler University’s sport and human performance master’s program goes beyond traditional mental performance by integrating culture, community, and well-being with mental skills training.
Focused on both performance excellence and overall well-being, the program integrates specialized coursework, applied training, and expert mentorship.
Students work directly with athletes to build mental skills like confidence, self-awareness, and focus, gaining mentored experience that supports eligibility for certification with the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP).
Why choose the sport and human performance program at Adler?
- Career readiness: Graduates pursue roles with youth academies, collegiate and professional teams, private practice, and community organizations.
- AASP-aligned curriculum: Coursework and field experiences structured to support eligibility for the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) certification.
- CMPC mentorship: Learn directly from practicing Certified Mental Performance Consultants (CMPCs).
- Extensive field training: 8-15 months of mentored externship placements in Chicago-area sport and performance settings.
Expand Your Credentials
Adler University provides students with options to customize their education through dual degrees, certificates, and program emphases.
Dual-degree programs are available for those studying in Chicago, making it possible to pursue two fields of study at the same time — combining complementary skill sets, expanding professional networks, and opening new career opportunities.
Challenge limits and redefine performance with a dual degree that unites mental performance and clinical counseling.
Adler University’s Master of Science (M.S.) in Sport and Human Performance combined with the Master of Arts (M.A.) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) prepares graduates to support clients across the mental health spectrum — from those navigating chronic mental illness to athletes striving for peak performance, while also leveraging sport as a platform for broader change. The program integrates clinical mental health training with advanced mental skills training, equipping students to drive impact across health care, sport, and community settings.
Careers That Power sport + human performance
Graduates of the sport and human performance master’s program build careers that bridge mental performance, health, and human potential.
Mental Performance Consultant
Work with athletes, performing artists, business leaders, first responders, military members, and others working in high-pressure environments to optimize and enhance performance. Graduates of the Sport and Human Performance program design holistic mental skills programs, taking into consideration intrapersonal and interpersonal skills and relationships and the systems in which they function.
PERFORMANCE COACH
Guide individuals and teams in applying performance psychology strategies that enhance consistency, motivation, and achievement. Performance Coaches collaborate across athletics, the arts, and corporate settings to unlock potential and sustain excellence in both training and competition.
Wellness + Resilience Specialist
Develop and implement programs in schools, athletic departments, and organizations that address stress management, recovery, and holistic well-being. Wellness and Resilience Specialists design workshops, provide guidance on healthy performance practices, and build supportive environments that foster growth and achievement
Admissions requirements
Eligibility
Applicants to the MSSHP program must meet the following requirements:
- A baccalaureate degree earned from a regionally accredited college or university or an equivalent degree from an international college or university.
- A recommended GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for undergraduate and graduate coursework. Exceptions may be made for applicants who demonstrate outstanding academic performance or academic ability in other ways.
Application Requirements
Applicants are required to submit the following items to be considered for admission:
- Completed application submitted via the online portal.
- Application Fee.
- Statement of Intent.
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae.
- Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate schools attended (U.S and Canada)
- Unofficial transcripts may be accepted for any schools in which a degree was not received.
- International transcripts must be evaluated by a transcript evaluation service.
- Two letters of recommendation
- These should be from someone who can specifically speak to your academic and professional abilities
Approved applicants will be invited to complete an interview with faculty.
Statement of Intent
Applicants are required to provide a statement of intent answering the following questions. They should be 2-3 pages, double-spaced.
- Why are you interested in your chosen field and program?
- Why is Adler University’s program a good fit for you?
- Respond to Adler University’s mission statement as it relates to being a leader in your industry.
- What are your career goals and interests?
How to Apply + Submit Transcripts
- Visit Adler University’s online application portal, create an account, and submit your application, fee, Statement of Intent, resume/CV, and references’ details.
- Have official transcripts sent directly from each issuing institution or approved service to the Office of Admissions prior to the application deadline. Do not upload official copies to the portal.
Adler University – Office of Admissions
17 N. Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL 60602
Official electronic transcripts should be sent to admissions@adler.edu.
Where Learning Meets Performance
From writing with her toes to breaking down how athletes adapt under pressure, Adler student Destiny Franklin shows how hands-on learning transforms challenges into breakthroughs. Her journey in the Motor Learning and Skill Acquisition course reflects the heart of Adler’s Sport and Human Performance program.
Curriculum | Internships | practicums
The Master of Science in Sport and Human Performance is a 38-credit program with focused study in mental performance. Completion of the program includes the courses below, along with additional requirements outlined in the Adler University catalog.
CORE COURSES
Introduction to Sport and Human Performance
This foundational course is designed to help students understand the origins and functions of the related fields of sport and human performance. It will include a historical analysis of the creation of sport psychology, tracing its roots to exercise science and cognitive-behavioral theory. Professional organizations focused on both areas will be discussed (e.g., Association for Applied Sport Psychology [AASP], U. S. Olympic Committee Sport Psychology & Mental Training Registry, American Psychological Association Division 47-Sport, Exercise & Performance Psychology).
Motor Learning and Skill Acquisition
This course will provide a topical explanation and provide students the opportunity to apply principles of human movement behavior to acquisition and performance of skills, discussion of current research and methodology.
Biopsychosocial Aspects of Human Behavior
The course objectives are to make the student aware of pertinent gross and microscopic human neuroanatomy, to build a foundational understanding of neurophysiology and the biology of the nerve, and to become familiar with a variety of behavioral issues as they relate to neurophysiology. Areas of emphasis will include attention, memory, knowledge, language, reasoning, problem solving, the cognitive bases of affect and consciousness, human learning, and theories of motivation.
Contemporary Issues in Cultural Sport Psychology
This course examines the historical, social, and cultural factors influencing sport and physical activity. Pertinent cultural issues, theories, and research applications will be considered in the scholarly pursuit of knowledge and understanding of the sociological influences on sport, exercise, and physical activity.
Advanced Techniques in Sport and Human Performance
Advanced Techniques is a course designed to provide opportunities for students to develop psychological interventions for performance enhancement. Students will engage in the scientist-practitioner model and begin to acquire and implement psychological skills training for athletes and performing populations such as goal-setting, visualization, positive and productive self-talk, confidence, and arousal management for optimal human performance development.
Counseling Skills
This course teaches basic relationship and counseling skills using role-plays and other experiential activities. The course covers basic counseling skills (e.g., attending, active listening, building rapport), intake interviewing, and self-reflection/self-assessment procedures.
Diagnosis Maladaptive Behavior
This course provides an overview of the major disorders in the current edition of the DSM. A range of mental disorders from adjustment disorders to serious psychopathologies will be discussed.
Counseling Multicultural Communities
This course is designed to provide a basic foundation of knowledge, awareness, and skills needed for providing more effective counseling services in a multicultural society.
Group Counseling
This course introduces students to theory and principles of group dynamics as well as developmental stages of groups. In addition, group members’ roles and behaviors and therapeutic factors of group work will be discussed.
Research and Program Evaluation
This course is a master’s-level introduction to research methods and program evaluation as it pertains to the field of professional counseling. Major research designs including both quantitative and qualitative methods will be explored.
FIELD TRAINING + SEMINARS
Designed to contribute to a student’s knowledge, skills, and values in scholarship and its importance to the practice of Science in Sport and Human Performance.
Sport and Human Performance Externship and Seminar I
Externship field placement includes delivery of mental performance services under the mentorship of a mental performance consultant who is certified by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. The field experience is paired with a seminar during which students receive feedback from a CMPC and may also include a peer consultation model to develop skills related to mental skills training and their professional development as practitioners.
Sport and Human Performance Externship and Seminar II
Externship field placement includes delivery of mental skills training services under the mentorship of a mental performance consultant who is certified by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. The field experience is paired with a seminar during which students receive feedback from the CMPC and may also include a peer consultation model to develop skills related to mental skills training and their professional development as practitioners.
Sport and Human Performance Externship and Seminar III
Externship field placement includes delivery of mental skills training services under the mentorship of a mental performance consultant who is certified by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. The field experience is paired with a seminar during which students receive feedback from the CMPC and may also include a peer consultation model to develop skills related to mental skills training and their professional development as practitioners.
Continuation in Sport Externship
Should students be able to acquire all 400 hours during their externship series, they need to register for MSHP 687: Continuation in Sport Externship in every and any semester for which they are still enrolled as a student at Adler University if they will continue working with athletes/coaches/performers as they are unable to apply for the CMPCO credential until their degree has been conferred.
Sport and Human Performance Externship and Seminar IV
Students may register for MSHP 689: Sport and Human Performance Externship and Seminar IV in every and any semester for which they are still enrolled as a student at Adler University. This course is for those students who have completed their externship series (MSHP 681, MSHP 683, and MSHP 685) and are still accumulating hours toward certification as a mental performance consultant.
SOCIAL JUSTICE PRACTICUM
Your opportunity to create lasting change on local and global systems, almost from day 1.
The Social Justice Practicum (SJP) at Adler University is a first-year non-clinical, community-based experience that reflects Alfred Adler’s concept of social interest. The practicum places students with mission-driven organizations where they complete a minimum of 200 approved hours across two semesters, typically 8–10 hours per week. Alongside their placements, students participate in required workshops. Each practicum is evaluated through midterm and final supervisor reviews, student self-assessments, and feedback on the site and project, with grades of High Pass, Pass, Remediation, or Fail. The experience culminates in a campus-wide presentation of outcomes, assessed by multiple evaluators, offering students both applied training and the opportunity to contribute to meaningful community change.
“Adler’s sport and human performance master’s program is the trifecta of training in performance, well-being, and social responsibility.”
– Teresa Fletcher, Ph.D.
Program Director
Faculty
Meet the faculty leading Adler’s Master of Science in Sport + Human Performance program in Chicago.
Financing your degree
Use our tuition calculator to help you start to plan your budget. Financial aid from the government, scholarships, or part-time employment can help you more easily afford your degree.
The latest from our
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To help young athletes perform their best, Adler alum strengthens their mental health
Felix Yu has spent the past seven years with the Chicago Fire Football Club and the Chicago Fire Academy in various roles. Today, he serves as a dedicated mental performance coach.
Cultural competency in sports: Course challenges students to discuss today’s most significant topics
The objective: to help students — many of whom are future performance consultants — become more culturally competent and better understand how systemic issues may affect an athlete or performer.
From theory to practice: Sport and human performance course shows how people gain, improve skills
Motor learning and skill acquisition, in layman’s terms, explores and breaks down how people gain new skills and improve performance — from riding a bike and kicking a soccer ball to walking down a busy sidewalk.
Still wondering?
Do you want to know more about Adler University before applying? Learn more about the University, explore programs, view admissions requirements, and review available scholarships.