Andy Moran launches new sport psychology degree at ATU Mayo and Galway

All-Ireland-winning Mayo manager Andy Moran has launched ATU's new BSc (Hons) in Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology, the first undergraduate programme of its kind to be delivered jointly across the university's Mayo and Galway campuses. The three-year Level 8 course is designed 'for students interested in understanding how psychology influences performance, participation, motivation and well-being' and will 'combine academic study with practical application, preparing graduates for careers across sport, health, exercise, coaching, performance analysis and athlete support environments'. As part of the course, students will develop a foundation in psychology before learning how it can be applied across sport, exercise and performance environments. They will explore areas such as motivation, mental health and well-being, behaviour change and decision-making and learn how psychological skills can help people perform and participate in a range of settings. The course will be delivered at ATU's Mayo campus in Castlebar for the first year, with students progressing to ATU's Galway City Dublin Road campus in the second and third years. The conversation around performance in sport has changed dramatically in recent years Andy Moran Mayo senior football team manager 'The conversation around performance in sport has changed dramatically in recent years,' Moran said at the launch of ATU's BSc (Hons) in Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology. Moran studied Business and Recreation at Sligo IT – now known as ATU Sligo – and won a Sigerson Cup with the college before earning an MSc in Marketing and Entrepreneurship from the University of Ulster in Jordanstown. The Ballaghaderreen native worked with the Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation and is now the owner of The Movement gyms in Castlebar and Claremorris 'Physical preparation remains important, but we now recognise that mindset, resilience, confidence, motivation, and well-being are equally critical to success,' he said. Members of ATU's programme team seated from left to right: Dr Justin Kerr, VP for ATU's Mayo campus and Head of School of Nursing and Healthcare at ATU, Dr Rachel Sheehan, Sport Psychologist of Mayo All-Ireland winning team, Dr Joanne Gallagher, Dean of Faculty of Science and Health at ATU, Andy Moran, All-Ireland winning Mayo Manager and Dr Lisa Ryan, Head of School of Health, Sport Science and Nutrition at ATU. Standing: Damien Costello, Head of Department of Sport, Exercise & Nutrition and Dr Christina Larkin, Head of Department Nursing, Health Science & Integrated Care at ATU. © ATU 'This programme gives students an opportunity to study one of the most exciting and rapidly developing areas in sport while preparing for careers that can have a genuine impact on athletes, teams and communities.' Dr Lisa Ryan, Head of School of Health, Sport Science and Nutrition, said the new degree reflects emerging opportunities within both the sports industry and wider society. 'As awareness of mental well-being, performance psychology and behavioural science continues to grow, there is increasing demand for graduates who understand how psychological principles can be applied to help people perform, participate and thrive,' she said. 'This programme offers students a unique opportunity to study a rapidly evolving discipline while benefiting from the strengths of multiple ATU campuses and our commitment to applied, career-focused education.' Dr Justin Kerr, Vice-President for ATU's Mayo campus, said the new degree built on the success of the Psychology degree which had been introduced in recent years and 'further enhances the Mayo campus CAO offering, providing students with an exciting opportunity to explore the increasingly important role that psychology plays in sport, exercise, performance and well-being.' Damien Costello, Head of Department of Sport, Exercise & Nutrition, said the programme's focus on the intersection between psychology, human performance and exercise science made it 'particularly unique'. 'It is a programme that reflects the future direction of sport and performance education,' he added. Applications for the programme and other CAO courses will open on November 5 via www.cao.ie.