Sport Psychology - Current Conditions and Trends

Transcription

1 Annex II, Page 1 of 6 To: Faculty Senate Executive Committee From: Professor Keith Garbutt, Chair, Senate Curriculum Committee Date: January 10, 2004 Re: Four Requests from Physical Education The Senate Curriculum Committee approved the following four requests from Physical Education. 1 - Prefix SS (Sport Studies) be changed to Sport and Exercise Psychology (SEP). and Sport Management Courses (SS) be changed to Sport Management (SM). 2 - Change undergraduate Major from Sport Behavior to Sport and Exercise Psychology 3 - Change Doctoral Major Code from Sport Psychology to Sport and Exercise Psychology.

2 Change of Program Name & Course Prefix Annex II, Page 2 of 6 The faculty of the Sport Psychology program, located in the School of Physical Education, would like to change the name of their undergraduate and graduate programs to Sport and Exercise Psychology. This request has been approved by the School of Physical Education Curriculum Committee and Graduate Council. Please find attached the approved curricular change forms from each of these committees and the rationale for the change supplied by the faculty of Sport Psychology. The faculty of the Sport Psychology program would also like to change the prefix of their courses from Sport Studies (SS) to Sport and Exercise Psychology (SEP). The SS prefix has been used for both Sport Psychology and Sport Management courses. The SS prefix has always been confusing since it has never accurately represented the programs to which it has been applied. There is no sport studies program. Therefore, we also request that the Sport Management Courses be changed from SS to Sport Management (SM). We are requesting this prefix change for both the undergraduate and graduate courses. This memorandum signifies the approval of the Dean of the School of Physical Education for the program name change of Sport Psychology to Sport and Exercise Psychology and the changes in course prefixes from SS to SEP for Sport and Exercise Psychology and SM for Sport Management. cc: Cheryl Torsney, Associate Provost cc: Andrew Ostrow, Program Coordinator, Sport Psychology

3 October 14, 2003 Annex II, Page 3 of 6 TO: Dr. Vince Stilger, Chair School of Physical Education Curriculum Committee FROM: Dr. Andrew C. Ostrow Professor and Program Coordinator RE: Change in Name of Undergraduate Major The purpose of this letter is to request that the name of the undergraduate major in the School of Physical Education titled Sport Behavior be changed to Sport and Exercise Psychology. The rationale for proposing this name change is as follows: 1. The proposed name change of the major to Sport and Exercise Psychology is consistent with national and international disciplinary and professional trends Students in the Sport Behavior major at West Virginia University complete course work in sport psychology (e.g., sport performance enhancement; social psychology of sport), and in exercise psychology (e.g., exercise psychology). The titles of the two most prominent professional organizations in the field are congruent with the proposed name change: Exercise and Sport Psychology (Division 47 of the American Psychological Association) and the Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology. The most prominent national research journal in the field is titled the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, and the most prominent international research journal is labeled the International Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology. The most widely adopted undergraduate textbook in the field (and used extensively at West Virginia University) is titled Foundations of Sport & Exercise Psychology (Human Kinetics Publishers, 2003). Thus, there is consensus among academicians that the title Sport and Exercise Psychology more aptly describes the field of study and practice. 2. The current name of the major Sport Behavior is outdated and inappropriate. More than two decades ago, when the major was first established at West Virginia University, the name Sport Behavior was assigned because it was viewed as consistent with the strong behavioral focus of the Department of Psychology. Further, behavioral research in sport psychology was gaining more recognition for its emphasis on real-life application to sport settings. However, recent advances in cognitive psychology and in clinical psychology have had a significant impact on applied research in sport and exercise psychology. Further, there has been an emerging body of research in exercise psychology that addresses issues such as exercise motivation and adherence, and the psychological factors influencing injury rehabilitation. Thus, the request to change the name of the major from sport behavior to sport and exercise psychology more closely aligns the program with a national movement to redefine the discipline as sport and exercise psychology.

4 Annex II, Page 4 of 6 3. The renaming of the program to Sport and Exercise Psychology will augment the program s ability to attract external funding. National epidemiological data have provided strong warning signs that Americans are increasingly becoming more sedentary and obese. There have been significant external funding opportunities for researchers interested in examining the underlying motivational processes to ensure greater participation in and adherence to exercise. Further, given our aging society, there are increasing external funding opportunities for researchers seeking to understanding the role that exercise plays in reducing depression and enhancing the quality of life of older adults. There has also been an increase in the funding of research that focuses on the use of sport as a vehicle for social change. For example, one faculty member in the program is pursuing funded research to examine the role of an anger management training program with the realm of sport in reducing aggressive behavior among at-risk children. The requested name change is reflective of a program that is highly committed to pursuing external funding and conducting quality research in sport and exercise psychology. Thank you for your consideration of this matter.

5 Annex II, Page 5 of 6 Change in Name of Doctoral Major Code The purpose of this letter is to request that the name of the doctoral program (code 6855) in the School of Physical Education titled Sport Psychology be changed to Sport and Exercise Psychology. The rationale for proposing this name change is as follows: The discipline of exercise psychology has emerged as a vital component of graduate training for students pursuing a career in sport and exercise psychology. Students in the sport psychology doctoral program at West Virginia University complete extensive course work in sport psychology (e.g., counseling college student-athletes; sport performance enhancement), and their supervised training experiences include rotations with college and high school teams. In addition, however, the doctoral program also requires that students complete course work in exercise psychology (e.g., psychology of sport injury; exercise psychology), and supervised training experiences in the WVU Disease Prevention Program. It is also anticipated that students will shortly have an opportunity to work with injured athletes at Health Works. Thus, the name Sport and Exercise Psychology more adequately depicts the program s joint emphasis on training in sport psychology and in exercise psychology. Over the last decade, exercise psychology has received national attention as an emerging academic discipline. More than a decade ago, the premiere research journal in sport psychology, the Journal of Sport Psychology, was renamed by its publisher as the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology. Recently, the International Journal of Sport Psychology was renamed the International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. These changes in research journal titles reflect an increasing trend for submitted manuscripts to address topics such as exercise motivation and adherence, psychological concomitants of injury, and body image anxiety. Subsequently, the American Psychological Association established a new division (Division 47) titled Exercise and Sport Psychology. There has also been an increase in graduate course offerings in exercise psychology nationwide and an increase in graduate textbooks published in this area. Thus, the request to change the name of the doctoral program from Sport Psychology to Sport and Exercise Psychology more closely aligns the program with the national movement to redefine the discipline as sport and exercise psychology. The renaming of the program to Sport and Exercise Psychology will augment the program s ability to attract external funding. National epidemiological data have provided strong warning signs that Americans are increasingly becoming more sedentary and obese. There have been significant external funding opportunities for researchers interested in examining the underlying motivational processes to ensure greater participation in and adherence to exercise. Further, given our aging society, there are increasing external funding opportunities for researchers seeking to understanding the role that exercise plays in reducing depression and enhancing the quality of life of older adults. The

6 Annex II, Page 6 of 6 requested name change will be reflective of a program that is highly committed to pursuing external funding and conducting quality research in these areas. Thank you for your consideration of this matter.