Sports Medicine Degrees & Courses

<p>Sports medicine refers to healthcare and similar services in the field of exercise, sports and physical recreational activities. Sports medicine is closely related to kinesiology as well as to exercise physiology. In this field, you'll use scientific and medical knowledge to help others by identifying, assisting, rehabilitating and preventing injuries. </p> <h3 id="section---DegreesInSportsMedicinePrerequisitesFieldsAndConcentrations">Degrees in Sports Medicine: Prerequisites, Fields, and Concentrations</h3> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td>Prerequisites </td><td> High school diploma or GED equivalent</td></tr> <tr><td>Degree Fields </td><td> Sports medicine, sports &amp; health sciences</td></tr> <tr><td>Concentrations </td><td> Athletic training, fitness &amp; wellness professional studies, exercise science, coaching studies</td></tr> <tr><td>Online Availability </td><td> Yes</td></tr> </table><h2 id="section---TypesOfSportsMedicineDegrees">Types of Sports Medicine Degrees</h2> <p>When you <a href="https://learn.org/articles/What_are_the_Basics_of_a_Sports_Medicine_Degree.html">study sports medicine</a>, you'll find all related degree programs include a combination of fitness and anatomical science. These sports medicine classes prepare you for careers in athletic training, teaching, massage therapy and medicine. You'll receive extensive hands on experience through a mixture of laboratory assignments and field practice. Sports medicine degree requirements and the courses you'll take vary depending on the level you pursue. </p> <h3 id="section---SportsMedicineAssociateSDegree">Sports Medicine Associate's Degree</h3> <p>Associate's degree programs in sports medicine can be found at many community colleges. You can expect to take courses such as first aid, sports nutrition, strength conditioning, lifetime fitness and sports injury management. If you're interested in a shorter, more condensed program, certificate programs are also available. </p> <h3 id="section---SportsMedicineBachelorSDegree">Sports Medicine Bachelor's Degree</h3> <p>A bachelor's degree gives you the foundation for your career in sports medicine or to pursue further educational goals. Some of the classes you can expect to take include biology, human anatomy, human physiology, nutrition, exercise physiology and neuroscience. </p> <h3 id="section---SportsMedicineMasterSDegree">Sports Medicine Master's Degree</h3> <p>At the graduate level, sports medicine programs focus on advanced topics such as biostatistics, clinical biomechanics and muscle physiology. These programs often require a thesis to be completed at the end of the 2-year program. Classes include human movement, advanced exercise physiology, musculoskeletal injuries and advanced conditioning. </p> <h2 id="section---TypesOfOccupations">Types of Occupations</h2> <h3 id="section---EntryLevelCareers">Entry-Level Careers</h3> <p>For careers in this field, the experience and sports medicine major requirements will differ depending on the role. There are a variety of opportunities available to you. For example, an associate's degree allows you to work in entry-level and aide positions, such as a fitness worker or physical therapist aide. As a <b>fitness worker</b>, you'll work in individual or group settings to provide exercise instructions. As a <b>physical therapy aide</b>, you'd help patients with their rehabilitative exercises. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), physical therapist aides earned an average salary of $28,500 in 2018, and the rate of job growth in this field should be well above average at 29% from 2016 to 2026. </p> <p>If you possess a bachelor's degree in sports medicine, you may pursue careers such as an <a href="http://learn.org/articles/What_Classes_Should_I_Take_to_Become_an_Athletic_Trainer.html">athletic trainer</a>. Employment opportunities in this profession are expected to expand by 23% between 2016 and 2026, based on data from the BLS. Athletic trainers assist athletes by helping them prevent serious injuries and developing exercise regimens for them. If you're working as part of a collegiate or high school athletic program, you'll travel with your sports teams to sporting events and help athletes prepare for games, and you'll likely be the first person to respond to a sports injury suffered during play. Figures from the BLS show the average salary for athletic trainers in 2018 was $49,280. </p> <h3 id="section---CareersForAdvancedDegrees">Careers for Advanced Degrees</h3> <p>With a master's degree in sports medicine, you could become a <b>physical therapist</b>. You would oversee and help others overcome injuries and disabilities in health care and rehabilitative settings. You may also teach at universities and colleges. The BLS predicts demand for physical therapists will increase by 28% over the 2016-2026 decade, and individuals in this field were paid an average salary of $88,880 in 2018.</p>