Specialization in
Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity

 The field of work for the Specialization in Sports Psychology is highly strategic and constantly expanding, in response to the growing awareness of the importance of psychological support for athletes' performance and well-being. Graduates of this program are qualified to join technical teams at federations, leagues, sports clubs, training schools, universities, and high-performance centers, contributing from a scientific perspective to the emotional, motivational, and behavioral strengthening of athletes in different disciplines and competition levels.

Their training allows them to intervene in key processes such as psychological preparation for competition, support in pressure situations and decision-making, recovery from injuries, retirement from sports, doping prevention, and the development of mental skills. They can also participate in mental health promotion programs in sports contexts, work as advisors to coaches and technical staff, and lead individual and group assessment and intervention processes.

In addition, they are qualified to offer independent consulting services or join applied research teams in sports psychology, contributing to the design of evidence-based strategies for the comprehensive development of athletes. Their role is essential in building healthy, inclusive, and sustainable sports environments, where performance is enhanced through psychological balance, teamwork, and respect for the human dimension of sport.

All applicants must submit the following documentation, duly scanned from the original and sent to the promoter to be hosted on the respective platform:

• Bachelor's degree or its equivalent.
  
• Bachelor's degree credits or grades or their equivalent.
  
• If you are a foreigner, the aforementioned documents must be apostilled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your respective country. In the event that the country does not have a consulate, it must be processed before the official authorities that validate it.
  
• Identity document (passport in case of foreigners residing in Panama).
  
• A current passport-size photo.
  
• Fill out the admission form in electronic format with the promoter.
  

Note 1: Panamanian students graduating from abroad must present their documents properly certified and apostilled. If translation is required, it must be done by an authorized translator.
Note 2: Students enrolled in the virtual program whose nationality is not Panamanian must present a copy of their personal identification document from their country of origin. If they are a foreign student, these documents must be provided with an apostille seal or diplomatic legalization, and translated into Spanish by an authorized public translator.

The permanence in the University will depend on the student's motivation, capacity and vision to obtain the chosen degree.

Given the profile of the University's Neocyberhumanist curricular educational model, the student must:

• Study in teams and individually.
  
• Develop research skills based on discovery learning.
  
• Deepen in the disciplinary knowledge that is of interest to them.
  
• Respect and comply with the regulations established by the statutes that regulate the relationship between the University and the students.
  
• Take a certification exam of a second language recognized by UNESCO, in accordance with internal regulations.
  
• Be up to date with their monthly payments.
  
• Attend at least 80% of the meetings in the blended modality.
  
• For studies under the virtual modality, attendance is regulated by constant interaction in all activities planned on the platform, including synchronous and asynchronous meetings, as well as the development of the student's autonomous work.
  
• In case of prolonged absence, a justified justification must be presented.
  
• All students of the Specialization programs must have basic computer skills.
  
• Maintain a minimum cumulative index of 2 on a scale of 1 to 3.
  
  

Pass each subject with a minimum grade of 81 on a scale of 1 to 100, which is equivalent to literal B.

To obtain the title of Specialist the following is required:

• Complete and pass all subjects in the curriculum with a minimum grade of 81 points, equivalent to a B.
  
• Maintain a cumulative academic index of not less than two (2.00) on a scale of three (3.00).
  
• Take a certification exam for a second language recognized by UNESCO, including English, in accordance with internal regulations.
  
• Pass the degree option corresponding to a work, which is made up of the knowledge and practices developed in the intervention seminars provided in the study plan.
  
• Be in good standing with the institution:
  
  
  • financial
    
  • Academic
    
  • Library
    
    

Note:
In the case of foreign students, in addition to the requirements outlined above, they must comply with the local regulations of the country of origin where they wish to validate their degree.

The Sports and Physical Activity Psychology specialist will be able to work alongside children, youth, and adults at different stages of the comprehensive system, from training in sports schools to highly competitive athletes in various disciplines. They are part of multidisciplinary teams that seek to improve athletes' performance. They apply tests, assessments, and measurement instruments to recognize psychological characteristics in order to establish interventions and mental training mechanisms. They impact the context in which practitioners operate, thus providing a comprehensive view of the phenomenon under study, exploring internal and external factors that influence performance.

The graduate of the program has the following profiles:

KNOW

• Understand the context in which they operate, in order to provide strategies, guidance, and interventions that improve the sports or physical activity performance of an individual, group, or the agents involved in their practice.
  
• Recognize the stakeholders involved in sports and physical activity to foster interdisciplinary work.
  
• Reflect on the significance of physical activity and sports for psychological, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
  
  

DO

• Apply psychological and psychophysiological instruments that allow you to diagnose.
  
• Implement structured programs tailored to the needs of groups, enabling their management and empowering specialists based on their expertise.
  
• Develop strategies to improve the health of people who practice or are involved in sports and physical activity.
  
  

BE

• Reflect on the values of Olympism: friendship, respect, and excellence, taking into account the needs of each population or individual immersed in society, allowing for better relationships and comprehensive development.
  
• Demonstrate knowledge and empowerment regarding their knowledge, actions, and being.
  
• Strengthen critical thinking skills that enable you to prioritize strategic decisions in the context in which you operate.
  
  

LIVE

• Work with other stakeholders involved in sports and physical activity to ensure the best decisions are made for the benefit of practitioners and athletes.
  
• Sharing knowledge and skills with others, thereby enabling a positive impact on the work you do.
  
• Develop assertive communication skills that allow you to create synergies with different interdisciplinary agents.
  
  

UNDERTAKE

• To develop business ideas that, within the context of sports and physical activity, generate employment for individual and collective benefit, taking into account the needs of the context.
  
• Apply your knowledge by providing solutions or perspectives regarding the field and specific needs.
  
• Design projects related to disciplinary knowledge, responding to contextualized needs and mobilizing different concepts, theories, processes, procedures, attitudes, and values.