Jobs with a Master's in Sports Psychology

<h3 id="section---GraduateTeachingAssistant">Graduate Teaching Assistant</h3> <p>A graduate teaching assistant teaches students at colleges and universities. A masters degree in sports psychology covers the general psychology curriculum, making someone with this degree eligible to teach entry-level courses at some schools. Teaching assistants can play an important role in helping students learn the necessary material during workshops and labs where academics with PhDs might be in short supply to teach. </p> <h3 id="section---PostsecondaryTeacherInPsychology">Postsecondary Teacher in Psychology</h3> <p>Becoming a full-time academic is another route for sports psychologists. A master's in sports psychology teaches you research skills, which make you an attractive candidate for PhD positions. If you complete a PhD, you may be eligible for academic jobs like postdoctoral researcher or assistant professor. However, at some community colleges, having a master's degree is sufficient to begin your career as an academic, teaching postsecondary students. </p> <h3 id="section---SocialScienceResearchAssistant">Social Science Research Assistant</h3> <p>A research assistant in sports psychology works in a laboratory, carrying out controlled research on factors like performance. They typically work under the supervision of a senior academic, similar to what a PhD student would do. The difference is that a research assistant at a master's level is often not responsible for the design of the research project, but rather with the practical aspects like recruiting participants for studies, collecting data, and writing papers for academic journals. Some of these jobs may also be available to candidates with a bachelor's degree, but a master's could help, especially if your grades improved at the master's level. </p> <h3 id="section---Coach">Coach</h3> <p>Many sports psychologists are employed by university or national sports teams to help improve the performance of their players due to the important role that factors like motivation and mindset may play. At the master's level, sports psychology students study performance enhancement and athlete development, to mention just a couple of the topics covered in a typical program. As such, they should be qualified to help athletes reach their peak performance. </p> <h3 id="section---Psychologist">Psychologist</h3> <p>Coping with the demands of working for a fast-paced company is not unlike the stress that players face on a sports team. Sports psychologists can work with players and with employees of companies as performance coaches. Although a PhD is often required for psychologists, a master's in sports psychology is sometimes sufficient for those working with schools, businesses, and organizations. </p> <h3 id="section---PerformanceEnhancementSpecialist">Performance Enhancement Specialist</h3> <p>Performance enhancement specialists can work as consultants for large organizations like the US Military. Their role is crucial in helping soldiers and their families cope with the emotional demands of deployment, relocation, battle, injuries, and bereavement. In this age of growing knowledge around the lasting effects of trauma, performance enhancement specialists can have a profound impact on helping soldiers recover from serious issues like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Psychology students at the master's level are expected to familiarize themselves with current literature in the field, which could include research on PTSD. </p> <h3 id="section---FitnessTrainerInstructor">Fitness Trainer / Instructor</h3> <p>What sets a good personal trainer apart from the rest? It may be a combination of knowledge about how the body works and the ability to develop a good rapport with clients and hold them accountable for their fitness goals. A sports psychology master's program often teaches the basics of sport and exercise plus interpersonal skills, which can help motivate clients to train more effectively. Advancement to management positions often requires a master's degree. </p> <h3 id="section---HumanResourcesManager">Human Resources Manager</h3> <p>Human resources is often concerned with maximizing the performance of a company, so it's no surprise that many individuals with a background in sports psychology transition to a career in HR. A common belief in human resources management is that workers who are happy are more productive. As such, psychology knowledge like individual differences helps managers understand workers' needs and motivations, leading to better company performance. Many of these positions require a master's degree. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th> Job Title </th><th> Median Salary (2018) </th><th> Job Growth Rate (2018-2028)</th></tr> <tr><td> Graduate Teaching Assistant </td><td> $33,700 </td><td> 6%</td></tr> <tr><td> Postsecondary Teacher, Psychology </td><td> $76,710 </td><td> 12%</td></tr> <tr><td> Social Science Research Assistant </td><td> $46,640 </td><td> 9%</td></tr> <tr><td> Coach </td><td> $33,780 (Coaches and Scouts) </td><td> 11% (Coaches and Scouts)</td></tr> <tr><td> Psychologist </td><td> $79,010 </td><td> 14%</td></tr> <tr><td> Performance Enhancement Specialist </td><td> $97,260 (Industrial-Organizational Psychologists) </td><td> 13% (Industrial-Organizational Psychologists)</td></tr> <tr><td> Fitness Trainer / Instructor </td><td> $39,820 (Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors) </td><td> 13% (Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors)</td></tr> <tr><td> Human Resources Manager </td><td> $113,300 </td><td> 7%</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)</i> </p> <p>A master's degree in sports psychology can give you the analytical skills to be an effective researcher, teacher, and team leader. With the ability to motivate others to reach their peak performance, your talents will be highly sought after in many fields, not just the playing field.</p>