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Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
A Concentration In
Sport Psychology
An emphasis within the B.S. in Exercise Physiology — pair the science of the body with the psychology of performance.
Body + Mind
Exercise science paired with sport psychology
Performance Psychology
Motivation, coaching, and the mental game
Six Focused Courses
18 credits on the psychology of performance
Peak performance is physical and mental. This concentration adds the psychology of sport to ACU’s rigorous exercise-science core, so you understand athletes as whole people — bodies that train and minds that have to stay focused, motivated, and resilient under pressure.
On top of the exercise physiology major, you’ll add eighteen credits in the mind of performance: General Psychology, Introduction to Sport Psychology, Principles of Coaching, Psychology of Learning and Motivation, Health Psychology, and Principles of Counseling. The result is a rare combination — you’ll know how the body adapts to training and how the mind drives (or derails) performance. It’s ideal preparation for coaching, performance support, and graduate study, all framed by a Biblical Worldview that values the whole person.
Ground It in Psychology
Build a foundation in general psychology before specializing.
Understand the Athlete's Mind
Study the psychology of performance, focus, and competition.
Coach Effectively
Learn the principles of coaching athletes well.
Motivate and Teach
Understand how people learn and what truly drives motivation.
Connect Health and Mind
Study health psychology to see performance as a whole-person reality.
Support the Whole Person
Learn counseling principles for walking with athletes through pressure and setbacks.
This concentration sits where body and mind meet — and a Biblical Worldview takes the whole person seriously.
Whole Persons, Not Just Athletes
An athlete is a person, not a performance machine. Combining exercise science with psychology, framed by the conviction that each person bears God's image, keeps the focus on the whole human being.
Helps you care for athletes' minds and bodies together.
Identity Beyond Results
Athletes can stake their whole worth on results. The conviction that a person's value isn't earned through performance offers steadier ground than the next win or loss.
Grounds your support of athletes in a stable sense of worth.
Character Through Competition
Sport forms perseverance, humility, and how people handle winning and losing. A Biblical Worldview treats that formation as part of what makes athletics worthwhile.
Equips you to coach the person, not just the performance.
The body-plus-mind combination opens careers in coaching and performance — and a path to graduate study in sport psychology.
Coaching & Athletic Development
Coach and develop athletes with insight into both training and the mental game.
Performance & Mental Skills Support
Help athletes and teams build focus, motivation, and resilience.
Health, Fitness & Wellness
Work in fitness, wellness, and athletic-performance settings.
Graduate Study in Sport Psychology
Continue into a master's in sport psychology, counseling, or kinesiology (applied practice typically requires graduate work).
This concentration is uniquely positioned — it sits inside a serious exercise-science degree, not a psychology degree.
Body and Mind Together
Built on a rigorous exercise-science core, this track adds the psychology of performance for a true whole-person view.
Coaching-Focused
Principles of coaching plus sport psychology and motivation prepare you to develop athletes well.
Counseling Foundation
Principles of counseling helps you support athletes through pressure and adversity.
Whole-Person Care
Learn to value athletes as people, framed by a Biblical Worldview of body and identity.
Already drawn to the Exercise Physiology degree? Adding the Sport Psychology concentration is simple.
Apply to ACU
Submit your application for admission to Arizona Christian University.
Start Your ApplicationChoose Sport Psychology as Your Concentration
Tell your advisor you want the Sport Psychology track, and they'll map the psychology courses into your plan.
Start With General Psychology
Begin with General Psychology, the prerequisite for Introduction to Sport Psychology, then move through the concentration.
The Sport Psychology concentration pairs exercise science with the psychology of performance to prepare you for coaching and performance careers. Apply or reach out today.
