
Our master's program is designed to offer
students a well-rounded educational experience in the field of sport and
exercise psychology, within a collaborative, mastery-oriented learning
atmosphere. We focus on preparing students to be competitive applicants
for doctoral programs by offering them research and applied opportunities of
interest, using a scientist-practitioner approach.
We also have partnerships with
the Counseling Psychology and Psychological Sciences departments, which allows
students to apply to minor in clinical mental health or rehabilitation
counseling, or double major in rehabilitation counseling, clinical mental
health counseling, or social or clinical psychology.
In addition to the curriculum requirements, we encourage students to be involved in research projects in order to gain experience with manuscript submissions, conference presentations, and grant writing, along with service work to be active citizens of the University, profession, and community. We strongly encourage membership in at least one national organization related to the field as well as attendance at a related state, regional, or national conference. Our program offers the opportunity for students to work towards certification as a mental performance consultant through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology.
What It’s Like to Pursue an MA/MS in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Ball State
Ball State University's Sport and Exercise Psychology Masters Program was ranked #8 for Sport Psychology Masters programs by BestValueShools.org.
Ball State University's Sport and Exercise Psychology Masters Program was ranked #3 for Sports Psychology Degrees by BestValueSchools.org
At Ball State, students have
the opportunity to work with a wide variety of clients including, but not
limited to, NCAA Division I student-athletes, club sport teams, youth athletes,
military students, exercisers, injured athletes, and performing art students.
Many Ball State teams regularly choose to have a student in the Sport and Exercise
Psychology program work with their team, and students are also encouraged to
pursue working with individual clients. Students take the main practicum course
in their second semester and have the opportunity each semester to continue
working with clients if they choose. Students doing applied work are mentored by Dr. Blom or Dr. Lebeau and can count their applied hours toward the Mental Performance Consultant Certification delivered by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology.
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This program works closely with the counseling and clinical psychology departments at Ball State to offer options for a dual master’s degree, double major, or a minor:
- dual master’s degree – Students can pursue two master’s degrees by including our program in clinical mental health counseling or rehabilitation counseling.
- double major – Students can pursue two majors in cognitive and social processes or clinical psychology.
- minor – Many of our students concurrently complete a minor in counseling, allowing them to learn more about the interpersonal skills needed to consult.
With extensive academic and professional experience, our faculty members are leaders in the field of sport and exercise psychology. These accessible, collaborative educators will support your academic pursuits and advise you along your career path.

Dr. Lindsey Blom is a Professor of Sport and Exercise Psychology, the Faculty Athletics Representative, the Sport & Exercise Psychology Graduate Program Coordinator, and the President-Elect for the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). She joined the Ball State faculty in 2008 and is certified mental performance consultant (CMPC) and an AASP Fellow.

Dr. Jean-Charles Lebeau is an
Assistant Professor of Sport and Exercise Psychology in the School of
Kinesiology. Dr. Lebeau is originally from France where he graduated with a
Bachelor of Science in Sport and a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology.
After working as a certified psychologist and teaching psychology to coaches
and athletes, he decided to move to the USA to complete his PhD in Sport and
Exercise Psychology at Florida State University. His dissertation was
investigating the effects of acute exercise on driving and executive functions
in older adults. His research interests revolve around the relationship between
exercise and cognitions, and more generally exercise motivation. He has also a
general interest in perceptual-cognitive skills and expertise in sport. Dr.
Lebeau has received over $100,000 in external grants to implement and test
exercise interventions in the community. He also published articles in top-tier
journals in the field, including Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology,
Psychology of Sport and Exercise, Journal of Experimental Psychology, and
International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology.
Dr. Lebeau is a Certified Mental Performance
Consultant (CMPC) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. He
has worked with athletes and coaches since 2010 at the youth, high school, and
collegiate levels. As an athlete, he has raced motocross for 20 years in
Europe, and he has been a circus performer during his time at Florida State
University. He likes to integrate his athletic background with his consulting
training in his work with athletes and performers.
Read Their Bios
Third Year Graduate Students
Second Year Graduate Students
First Year Graduate Students
The Sport and Exercise Psychology lab is a multipurpose space for students to utilize during the course of their graduate work. The Lab serves as a functional area used for mental skills presentations with athletic teams, student and faculty research, class projects, group meetings, and as a collaborative place of study. The Lab is equipped with a variety of tools for assessing and improving athletes’ and exercisers’ performance, such as biofeedback, mindfulness training tools, and virtual reality equipment. The Lab also consists of many innovative apparatus used in research, such as a recumbent bike, elliptical, iPads, video recording, exergaming, and various research-related software.
Our program offers ample research opportunities. Students assist professors, assist each other, do their own work, and complete a thesis/research project. Students can get experience in qualitative and quantitative methodology, as well as lab and applied research.
We also support students to attend professional conferences and help them obtain opportunities to present research and write grant proposals. Recent students have presented at the European Congress of Sport and Exercise Psychology (FEBSAC), Association for Applied Sport Psychology national conference (AASP), American Psychological Association (APA), Midwest Sport and Exercise Psychology Symposium (MSEPS), the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) meeting, and the U.S. Center for Coaching Excellence summit (USCCE). Recent student work has been published in the Journal of Sport for Development, the Journal of Sport Behavior, The Physical Educator, The Sport Psychologist, International Journal of Exercise Science, and Psychological Reports.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students completing the Sport and Exercise Psychology graduate program will synthesize literature, formulate a research project, and conduct a research study.
- Students completing the Sport and Exercise Psychology graduate program will participate in professional development activities in the field of sport and exercise psychology.
- Students completing the Sport and Exercise Psychology graduate program present research findings.
- Students completing the Sport and Exercise Psychology graduate program will demonstrate basic consultation skills, including active listening, rapport building, motivational interviewing, and taking case notes.
- Students completing the Sport and Exercise Psychology graduate program will demonstrate the ability to design, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of psycho-social mental skills interventions and techniques.
Master of Arts
Masters of Arts in Sport and Exercise Psychology
Students completing the Sport and Exercise Psychology degree must complete a minimum of 33 credits of graduate courses. In order to earn a master of arts degree, these courses must include 3 credits of a research project (RES 697) or creative project (CRPR 698).
CORE COURSES
18 Credits
- SEPS 605: Psychology of Injury Rehabilitation
- SEPS 609: Sport Psychology
- SEPS 611: Practicum in Sport and Exercise Psychology
- SEPS 644: Psycho-Social Processes of Sport and Physical Activity
- SEPS 660: Psychology of Exercise and Health
- SEPS 690: Sport Sociology
RESEARCH REQUIREMENTS
9 Credits
Research Paper/Creative Project Option (MA)
- EXSC 611: Research Methods (Thesis)
- EDPS 641: Introduction to Statistical Methods OR
- EDPS 642: Analysis of Variance
- RES 697: Research Paper OR
- CRPR 698: Creative Project
DIRECTED ELECTIVES
3-6 Credits
- ACE 604: Physical Preparation and Conditioning
- ACE 612: Growth and Development for Coaches
- ACE 675: Teaching and Motivation for Coaches
- ANTH 559: Ethnographic Methods
- CPSY 621: Theories and Techniques of Counseling
- CPSY 688: Process and Techniques of Group Counseling
- EDPS 603: Psychology of Human Development
- EDPS 640: Methodology of Educational and Psychological Research
- EDPS 646: Tests and Measurements
- EDPS 742: Multivariate Statistics and Data Mining
- EXSC 603: Exercise Physiology 1
- EXSC 634: Mechanical Analysis of Movement
- KINE 620: Kinesiology Special Topics
- PSYS 613: Developmental Psychology
- PSYS 615: Learning and Motivation
- PSYS 616: Perception and Cognition
- PSYS 623: Theories of Personality
- PSYS 632: Science of Psychopathology
- SEPS 600: Internship in Sport and Exercise Psychology
For a complete list of all the courses you will take and their descriptions, please see our Graduate Catalog.
View Catalog
Master of Science
Masters of Science in Sport and Exercise Psychology
Students completing the Sport and Exercise Psychology degree must complete a minimum of 33 credits of graduate courses. In order to earn a master of science degree, these courses must include 6 credits of a thesis project (THES 698). Students electing THES 698 must make a final oral defense.
CORE COURSES
18 Credits
- SEPS 605: Psychology of Injury Rehabilitation
- SEPS 609: Sport Psychology
- SEPS 611: Practicum in Sport and Exercise Psychology
- SEPS 644: Psycho-Social Processes of Sport and Physical Activity
- SEPS 660: Psychology of Exercise and Health
- SEPS 690: Sport Sociology
RESEARCH REQUIREMENTS
12 Credits
Thesis Option (MS)
- EXSC 611: Research Methods (Thesis)
- EDPS 641: Introduction to Statistical Methods OR
- EDPS 642: Analysis of Variance
- THES 698: Thesis
DIRECTED ELECTIVES
3-6 Credits
- ACE 604: Physical Preparation and Conditioning
- ACE 612: Growth and Development for Coaches
- ACE 675: Teaching and Motivation for Coaches
- ANTH 559: Ethnographic Methods
- CPSY 621: Theories and Techniques of Counseling
- CPSY 688: Process and Techniques of Group Counseling
- EDPS 603: Psychology of Human Development
- EDPS 640: Methodology of Educational and Psychological Research
- EDPS 646: Tests and Measurements
- EDPS 742: Multivariate Statistics and Data Mining
- EXSC 603: Exercise Physiology 1
- EXSC 634: Mechanical Analysis of Movement
- KINE 620: Kinesiology Special Topics
- PSYS 613: Developmental Psychology
- PSYS 615: Learning and Motivation
- PSYS 616: Perception and Cognition
- PSYS 623: Theories of Personality
- PSYS 632: Science of Psychopathology
- SEPS 600: Internship in Sport and Exercise Psychology
For a complete list of all the courses you will take and their descriptions, please see our Graduate Catalog.
View Catalog
What Can You Do with a Master’s Degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology?
Students work in a variety of different jobs depending on their career interest.
Many have gone on to:
- work in the military using performance psychology (which is the highest employer of master-level SEP practitioners)
- physical therapy
- athletic academic advising
- wellness
- athletic training
- coaching
Others have also gone into work in nonprofit, fitness, and counseling settings.
Paying for Your Education
Ready to Apply?
Are you interested in pursuing this degree? Then you will need to meet our admissions criteria and apply.
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More Information
If you would like to learn more about this program or about Ball State Graduate School in general, please complete our online form to request more information. Or, if you’d like to speak with someone in our department directly by phone or email, please contact us.