PSY 257 - Sport and Performance Psychology

This course offers a comprehensive exploration of sport and performance psychology, covering topics such as motivation, personality, group dynamics, and leadership across sport, exercise, and other high-pressure domains. Students will analyze how personal, social, biological, and systemic factors interact with environmental influences, and explore how theories of behavior, cognition, action, perception, and emotion are used to explain findings in sports science and its subdisciplines (e.g., athlete psychology, human performance & physiology, group and team dynamics). Learning outcomes emphasize scientific inquiry, critical thinking, and research skills essential for understanding human behavior through a social scientific lens.

Assessments include low stakes, weekly activities that address topical content, longer-term projects such as application of mental skills training, case study reports, or observational research, combined with summative or reflective activities such as ethical reasoning or career exploration applied to the field. Throughout the semester, students will build a final portfolio that showcases their learning and application of course concepts across diverse performance settings. By completing assignments, students will earn experience points (XP) to level up a course avatar through a gamified grading system that links activities to learning outcomes. Learning outcomes emphasize scientific inquiry, critical thinking, and research skills essential for understanding human behavior through a social scientific lens.

Satisfies Psychology major requirement.
Satisfies Social-Scientific Thought requirement.