What Can I Do with a Sports Medicine Degree?
Graduates of sports medicine degree programs can pursue careers in medicine, psychology or coaching. Read on to learn about some potential job options, including their job duties, education requirements and economic outlooks.
Overview of Degree Programs
Sports medicine degrees are offered as programs that may be titled 'sports science', 'sports medicine and athletic training' or 'sports medicine'. What you can do with your degree will depend on the type of field you in which you would like to enter.
Important Facts About A Sports Medicine Degree
| Common Courses | Anatomy, nutrition, health and wellness; physiology, statistics, coaching technology; sports psychology, sports coaching methodology, treatment procedures |
| Degrees | Associate, bachelor's and master's degrees; Doctor of Philosophy or Doctor of Psychology |
| On-the-job Training | Internships, clinical rotations, field studies |
| Work Environment | Extensive travel may be required; hospital or clinic settings; private practice |
Sports Medicine Physician
To work as a sports medicine physician, you must complete four years of medical school, a medical residency and then a fellowship in sports medicine.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn't provide information on sports medicine physician career prospects; however, it reported that physician and surgeon employment will rise at a slower than average rate of 3% over the decade spanning 2021 through 2031. In May 2021, their mean annual wage was reported to be $267,180.
Sports Psychologist
According to the BLS, programs to enter this field take about five years to complete. The American Psychological Association (APA) states that to work as a psychologist, you'll need hands-on clinical postdoctoral training in the form of a fellowship. The APA explains that sports psychologists help athletes of all ages cope with athletic performance anxiety, recover mentally from injuries or enjoy participating in sports.
The BLS groups sports psychologists in its category for all other psychologists. It expects these professionals to experience a 6% employment increase over the 2021-2031 decade, which about as fast as the average for all occupations. Having some work experience can improve your job prospects. The BLS reported, in May 2021, that many types of psychologists, including sports psychologists, earned a median wage of $102,900.
College Coach
As a college coach, you oversee practices, develop game strategies and manage rosters. Coaches usually need playing experience in the sport they wish to coach, and some college coaches need certification.
According to the BLS, coach and scout employment growth will be at a much faster than average rate of 20% over the 2021-2031 decade; however, college coaches can expect a lot of competition for jobs, especially those with high pay. In May 2021, coaches and scouts working for colleges, universities and professional schools were paid an average wage of $64,040 according to the BLS.