Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Psych Aspect of Sprt Perf Cond (Online)

KIN 6070-70I

Course: KIN 6070-70I
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PEHP
CRN: 31390

Course Description

This course addresses the latest advances in exercise and sport psychology including motivation, concentration, overcoming mental fatigue, and stress management for athletes. (Fall, or as needed)

Required Texts

Readings (e.g., articles, chapters for textbooks, online, canvas pages) as assigned by the instructor. Readings can be found in each module on Canvas.
The faculty involved in the online SUU Master of Science in Sport Conditioning and Performance have agreed to use the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) as the official style manual. Papers that you write for this course, as well as others, will need to follow APA style. If you have not already, you must purchase the APA publication manual for this course.
American Psychological Association (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychology Association (7th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Learning Outcomes

As a result of successfully completing this course, the student will be able to:
  • Identify and explain major psychological frameworks used in sports.
  • Understand the application of sports psychology theories.
  • Identify appropriate intervention strategies for performance enhancement.
  • Comprehend and understand why psychology is important in all sport settings.

Course Requirements

Weekly Discussion Boards (25% total): Each week, students will contribute one initial post (minimum 300 words) responding to a prompt based on the module's content and at least two substantive replies (minimum 150 words each) to classmates' posts. The goal is to foster a collaborative learning environment and engage critically with the material.

Case Study Analyses (30% total; 15% each): You will complete two case study analyses. Each analysis will require you to apply theoretical frameworks from the course to a real-world or hypothetical scenario, identify key psychological challenges, and propose evidence-based intervention strategies.

Mental Performance Plan (45% total): This is the culminating project for the course, completed in two parts.
  • Part 1: Proposal (10%): Due in Week 8, you will identify a hypothetical athlete or team, conduct a needs assessment, and propose a framework for their mental performance plan.
  • Part 2: Final Plan (35%): Due in Week 14, this comprehensive document will detail a full mental skills training program for your chosen athlete/team, integrating theories and interventions discussed throughout the semester.

Course Outline

  • Pre-Module: Introduction to KIN 6070 
  • Module 1: Introduction to Sport Psychology
  • Module 2: High Performance
  • Module 3: Mental Health of High-Performance Athletes
  • Module 4: Psychology of Injury and Rehabilitation
  • Module 5: Mental Toughness 
  • Module 6: Motivation
  • Module 7: Managing Stress and Arousal Regulation
  • Mid-Course Check-in & Project Work
  • Module 8: Confidence
  • Module 9: Attention, Concentration and Focus
  • Module 10: Imagery 
  • Module 11: Awareness & Mindfulness
  • Finishing the Course

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Late Work: Each and every assignment will have a strict deadline for completion. Failure to complete assignments on time will result in forfeiture of some or all of the assignment’s points.

Attendance Policy

Participation refers to the ways you are engaged in the learning process and includes almost everything you do for a class. It could be said that all learning requires the active engagement or involvement of the student, as "optimum class management and effectiveness depends on students being actively engaged, supportive of each other, and civil in their exchanges." It is expected, therefore, you have truly completed the assigned readings, shared what you learned from them, and demonstrated understanding and application of the concepts in discussions and the final exam.

Acceptable and Unacceptable Use of AI

The use of generative AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT, Dall-e, etc.) is permitted in this course for the following activities:
  • Brainstorming and refining your ideas;
  • Fine tuning your research questions;
  • Finding information on your topic;
  • Drafting an outline to organize your thoughts; and
  • Checking grammar and style.

The use of generative AI tools is not permitted in this course for the following activities:
  • Impersonating you in classroom contexts, such as by using the tool to compose discussion board prompts assigned to you or content that you put into a Zoom chat.
  • Completing group work that your group has assigned to you, unless it is mutually agreed upon that you may utilize the tool.
  • Writing a draft of a writing assignment.
  • Writing entire sentences, paragraphs or papers to complete class assignments.

You are responsible for the information you submit based on an AI query (for instance, that it does not violate intellectual property laws, or contain misinformation or unethical content). Your use of AI tools must be properly documented and cited in order to stay within university policies on academic honesty.  For example, please use APA guidelines for citing AI-generated text (See these resources for APA guidance). Any assignment that is found to have used generative AI tools in unauthorized ways will receive a zero on the assignment. When in doubt about permitted usage, please ask for clarification.

APA Citation and Referencing

During the semester you will be required to provide references from your individual research, as well as cite and reference your canvas page. It is expected that you will use APA guidelines for citation and reference.  The following webpage is a great resource for how to cite and reference using APA guidelines: https://apastyle.apa.org/

DISCLAIMER STATEMENT

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.