Athletic Counseling

About This Program
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	Admissions Contact Alie Baranauskas Recruitment and Admissions Coordinator School of Social Work and Behavioral Sciences abaranauskas@springfieldcollege.edu (413) 748-3060
	Program Contact Christine Selby Director of Athletic Counseling Program cselby@springfield.edu (413) 748-3696
	Looking for post-graduate programs? Explore our Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) in Athletic Counseling
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The MEd/MS in Psychology: Athletic Counseling at Springfield College combines training in both applied and research areas of sport counseling, as shown through our sample two-year plan of study. The goal of the program is to prepare students to provide support services to athletes in relation to sport performance, personal development, and mental health.

Through applied fieldwork opportunities, you will prepare for professional work with athletes at various levels and for doctoral programs in clinical, counseling, or sport psychology. You'll also hone your skills through the athletic counseling Research Team, comprised of students, faculty, and other interested individuals, which discusses all aspects of the research process

Athletic counseling graduates complete the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) academic and applied requirements to become Certified Mental Performance Consultants (CMPC). With an additional year of study, students are able to complete the academic requirements necessary to become licensed mental health counselors in Massachusetts.

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Student Testimonial

Georgia Miller '22

The Athletic Counseling program at Springfield College stands out from the rest due to its hands-on experience with the athletes and teams that are on campus and in the community. This program provides support for so many athletes and helps set the standard for all schools to implement mental performance services.

Should I study athletic counseling or sport and exercise psychology?

Trying to figure out which graduate program is the right fit for you? We're happy to help explain the differences.

check it out

Admissions Requirements

Complete the application form. No application fee.

Start your application process by completing the online application form. Be sure to complete your application by submitting all the required materials outlined in this section.

Graduate Admissions Essay

Once your application form is processed you will receive an email with your application portal login credentials. Once you login to your application portal you'll be able to upload your essay.

In two to three double-spaced pages, please describe significant life experiences that have contributed to your interest in your field, your understanding of this field, your occupational objectives, and why you have chosen Springfield College.

Resume

Please include any college activities, out-of-school leadership experiences, work history, and community involvement to support your interest in or qualifications for graduate study. Once your application form is processed you will receive an email with your application portal login credentials. Once you login to your application portal you'll be able to upload your resume.

Letters of Recommendation

This program requires two letters of recommendation. Recommenders will receive an email when you submit your application and will be able to upload your letter to your application.

Official Transcripts from All Institutions Previously/Currently Attended

An official transcript from each college/university you have attended is required.
Transcripts must be in English. If the transcript is not in English you will be required to submit a professional credential evaluation completed by any member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. In some cases, including if you plan to request coursework be transferred, a course-by-course translation is required. For this we recommend the World Education Services or Josef Silny & Associates, Inc.
In order to be considered official, transcripts must be received directly from the original source, by email to graduate@springfield.edu, or mailed to the college address:
Springfield College
Office of Graduate Admissions
263 Alden Street
Springfield, MA 01109

International Applicants

All international applicants from non-English speaking countries are required, in addition to the items listed above, to submit:

Proof of English language proficiency by way of the TOEFL or IELTS. Other tests may be accepted on a case-by-case basis. Please refer to our language requirements for more information on acceptable tests, minimum scores, exemptions, and conditional acceptance. If your undergraduate degree was earned in the United States and you successfully completed college-level English, we will consider English language proficiency met.
Please note: Transcripts must be in English. If the transcript is not in English you will be required to submit a professional credential evaluation completed by any member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). For this we recommend SpanTran, with its customized portal for Springfield College applicants. World Education Services or Josef Silny & Associates, Inc. are also recommended for your credential evaluations.

The staff in the Office of International Admissions can assist you with questions you may have about enrolling at Springfield College as an international student by emailing intladmissions@springfieldcollege.edu.

To submit materials:

After submitting your online application form you will receive user login credentials to access your student application portal. From that portal, you will be able to upload your graduate admissions essay and your resume. Recommenders will receive an email when you submit your application and will be able to upload your letter to your application. In order to be considered official, transcripts must be received directly from the original source, by email to graduate@springfield.edu, or mailed to the college address:

Springfield College
Office of Graduate Admissions
263 Alden Street
Springfield, MA 01109

Curriculum

Program Information

Recent trends in the world of sport have highlighted the need for individuals who are sensitive to unique academic, social, and athletic challenges that athletes face at all levels. The Athletic Counseling program is designed to meet this need by offering students an interdisciplinary preparation in counseling, psychology, and the sport sciences that will enable them to offer specialized support services to athletes in a variety of settings.

Building on a foundation of general counseling competencies, students in the program are offered intensive study and research opportunities in the area of life span developmental factors that affect athletes. Classroom, laboratory, and fieldwork placements provide students with opportunities to gain both theoretical knowledge and practical experience in providing support services to this unique population.

The basic program, leading to either a M.S. or a M.Ed. degree, is forty-eight credits. Students seeking further specialization in career development, life skills enhancement, sport psychology or counseling/ clinical areas may elect to take additional coursework. Students planning full time study must begin their program in September.

The supervised fieldwork/internship component of the program provides students with opportunities to work with athletes in a variety of settings. Sites range from competitive youth sports to Division I university programs, and give the students significant experience in preparation for professional careers. Participation in the Research Team is an option for the students to gain a better understanding of the research process. Students and faculty meet weekly to discuss recent student and faculty research.

Degree Information

The candidate will be eligible for either a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree or a Master of Science (M.S.) degree with a major in Psychology and a concentration in Athletic Counseling depending upon the selection made in consultation with the advisor.

Contact Information

Dr. Judy VanRaalte
Telephone: (413) 748-3388
E-Mail: Jvanraal@springfieldcollege.edu

I. Core requirement (3 credits)

RSCH 610 - Foundations and Methods of Research Credits: 3

II. Program Requirements (31 credits)

COUN 613 - Professional Orientation and Ethical Practice in Counseling Credits: 3
COUN 614 - Counseling Diverse Populations Credits: 3
COUN 622 - Counseling Theories Credits: 3
COUN 629 - Counseling Skill Development Credits: 3
COUN 634 - Human Development Across the Lifespan Credits: 3
AEXS 677 - Stress Management Credits: 3
or
PSYC 545 - Imagery, Hypnosis, and Self-Hypnosis Credits: 3
or
PSYC 630 - Adventure Therapy: Facilitating Life Skills through Experiential Learning Credits: 3
PSYC 654 - Issues and Techniques in Athletic Counseling Credits: 3
PSYC 657 - Professional Studies in Athletic Counseling Credits: 3
PSYC 672 - Laboratory in Counseling Athletes Credits: 3
PSYC 674 - Counseling for Enhanced Performance Credits: 3
PSYC 686 - Fieldwork/Internship and Seminar Credits: 1-16
(must be taken for at least 7 credits to meet program requirements)

III. Research requirements

A. M.Ed. requirements

The M.Ed. degree program requires successful completion of all graduate work and successful completion of a program-specific comprehensive examination.

The research requirement under this plan consists of research completed within a specific course.

B. M.S. requirements (Thesis required)

The M.S. degree program requires successful completion of all graduate work required by the student’s specific program, and a master’s research thesis which culminates in an oral defense.