Exercise, Sport and Health Education 350

ESHE 350: Sport and Exercise Psychology (GE)

Prerequisite: PSYC 121

Credit Hours: (3)

Provides students with an overview of concepts and principles essential to understanding behavior in sport, exercise, and activity settings. Emphasis is given to the applied aspects of performance enhancement, mental skills, exercise behavior, motivation, social factors, and psychology of injury. Applications are made to athlete, participants, exercise leaders, sport coaches, and others in activity settings.

Note(s): General Education and Cultural or Behavioral Analysis designated course.Detailed Description of Content of Course



Designed to develop an understanding of the psychological factors underlying successful participation in sport and exercise. Students are exposed to four major content areas: 1) performance enhancement for coaches and athletes; 2) psychology of exercise behavior; 3) psychology of athletic injuries; and 4) social factors. Content areas are explored relative to understanding the characteristics of the individual participants from diverse populations, the impact of group processes, and the importance of psychological growth and development. Students will be exposed to key principles as well as underlying theoretical frameworks of psychological factors. Applications are made to real-life environments as well as to the study of sport psychology.
 

Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

Teaching methods will include one or more of the following:
• lecture
• guest speakers
• problem-based learning
• case studies
 

Goals and Objectives of the Course

By the end of the course, students shall be able to:

• Investigate the field of sport and exercise psychology.
• Describe the effects that personality, motivation, and stress has on sport and exercise participants.
• Describe the impact of competition, cooperation, feedback, reinforcement, and motivation on sport and exercise.
• Analyze the nature of group processes including: group dynamics, team cohesion, leadership, and communication.
• Apply performance enhancement strategies in sport and exercise psychology, including: psychological skills training, arousal regulation, visual imagery, self-confidence, goal setting, and concentration.
• Evaluate the behavioral aspects of exercise.
• Explain the psychological impacts of athletic injuries
• Elaborate on the key issues in facilitating psychological growth and development, including: youth sport participation, aggression, character/moral development, and gender issues.
 

Assessment Measures

Assessment measures may include one or more of the following:

• Exams
• Group assignments
• Projects
• Presentations
 

Other Course Information

None
 

Review and Approval

Revised 2012

September 2002 New Course Jon Poole

May, 2011

March 01, 2021