In Florida State University’s Sport Psychology graduate programs, you will receive a solid understanding of theory and research as it relates to sport psychology.
Specifically, you will gain an understanding of the science of the psychology of athlete performance and welfare. You will also have opportunities to join research teams, build research skills, and, in our Sport Psychology Laboratory, learn to use technologies that support research projects in the field of sport psychology. Learn more about our Sport Psychology Laboratory here.
The rigorous training provided in the science of sport psychology enables our graduates to confidently enter employment in higher education and the sport and performance industries. Our former students work in universities all over the world and help support mental performance in a wide range of settings including college and professional sports and the military.
While the focus of our graduate programs is on the science of sport psychology, we also offer optional opportunities to apply this understanding by working with athletes to help them learn to use mental skills that enhance their performance and welfare. We have established links allowing hands-on experiences with clubs and teams operating at the recreational, youth, high school, college, and semi-professional levels in the local area. Mentorship is provided to students who are involved in applied work and seeking Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) status through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP).
Master’s students typically obtain 40-100 hours of direct contact hours with athletes over two years; 200 are required for CMPC certification. Students will also receive 30-40 hours of mentorship countable towards CMPC; 50 are required for CMPC certification. PhD students can expect to obtain more hours. Note that CMPC is a certification, not a license, meaning students are not able to use the title “sport psychologist” upon graduation.
Admission to graduate study is a two-fold evaluation process. The Office of Admissions determines eligibility for admission to the University, and the academic department, program, or college determines admissibility to the degree program. University graduate admissions requirements are found at https://gradschool.fsu.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions. Academic programs have additional requirements.
Florida State University requires a course-by-course credential evaluation for all applicants that have degrees from a non-U.S. institution. International and domestic applicants with degrees earned from international institutions must submit their official transcripts through a NACES approved evaluator for transcripts from a non-U.S. institution. SpanTran has created a custom application for Florida State University that will make sure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. See the “Transcript Requirement” section on The Graduate School website, https://gradschool.fsu.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions, for detailed information on University transcript requirements for graduate admission.
In order to meet minimum program admission requirements, an applicant must have:
- For application to the master’s degree program: A bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA – An earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, or a comparable degree from an international institution, with a minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average (GPA) in all coursework attempted while registered as an upper-division undergraduate student working towards a bachelor’s degree.
- For application to the doctoral degree program: A graduate degree with at least a 3.5 GPA – Applicants for the PhD program must have an earned graduate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, or a comparable degree from an international institution, with a minimum 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average (GPA). Students admitted to the doctoral program are expected to have completed a master’s thesis prior to enrollment or will be required to complete a research project during their first year in the doctoral program if they do not have a master’s thesis.
- GRE test scores* – Official test results are required from the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The Educational Testing Service (ETS) does not retain scores longer than five years. If your test scores are older than five years, you may have to retake the test to have official scores sent directly to FSU from the testing agency. If you have the official report that was mailed to your home address for older scores, then FSU will accept that report. FSU Institution Code: 5219.
- Target scores: Verbal – 50th percentile, Quantitative – 50th percentile, Analytical – 3.5
- *NOTE: The GRE requirements for master’s programs have been waived through Fall 2026.
- Language proficiency test (international students only) – FSU accepts scores from TOEFL (minimum 80), IELTS (minimum 6.5), MELAB (minimum 77), Cambridge C1 Advanced Level (minimum 180), Michigan Language Assessment (minimum 55), and Duolingo (minimum 120)
- Transcripts – Applicants must submit an official transcript from each college and/or university attended. Transcripts should be sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions electronically at graduateadmissions@fsu.edu or via mail in a sealed envelope:
Florida State University
Office of Graduate Admissions
314 Westcott Building
P.O. Box 3061410
Tallahassee, FL 32306-1410
- Letters of recommendation (3 required) – Letters of recommendation should be written by persons who are in a position to comment on the likelihood of your success within the department. You are encouraged to submit at least 2 letters written by faculty.
- Personal Statement (1 required) – The personal statement should describe your purpose for pursuing a sport psychology degree at Florida State University, qualifications, and long-term career goals and should be no more than 3 pages in length.
- Resume/Curriculum Vitae (1 required)
Application Deadline for Ph.D.: December 1st (Fall admission only). You have until midnight on the day of the deadline to submit your application and application fee. All required materials must be received by the deadline date.
Application Deadline for Master’s: January 15th (Fall admission only). You have until midnight on the day of the deadline to submit your application and application fee. All required materials must be received by the deadline date.
Sport psychology professionals may find themselves working with athletes at different levels such as youth, interscholastic, intercollegiate, amateur, and professional to enhance their performance and resolve sport-related problems. Graduates of our program have secured jobs in academia, university athletic departments, professional sport organizations, private practice, sport academies, and the military.
Click here to learn more about our Sport Psychology faculty!
Program contact: Dr. Brian Foster
Admissions contact: Aubrey Linn
Click here to find answers to frequently asked questions about our Sport Psychology program.
