Online Sports Medicine Degrees
Online sports medicine programs equip students with the skills required to evaluate and treat sports and exercise injuries. These programs may suit students who have an interest in sports and healthcare, and a desire to work one on one with patients. Sports medicine degrees are available at the associate, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels. Select schools may also offer a certificate option.
Graduates of sports medicine programs may seek employment in healthcare clinics, physical therapy offices, gyms, and athletic training facilities. Career opportunities for sports medicine graduates include athletic or physical trainer, dietician, or fitness instructor.
Available Degree Levels
- Certificate: One to two years to complete
- Associate Degree: Two years to complete
- Bachelor’s Degree: Four years to complete
- Master’s Degree: One to two years to complete
- Doctoral Degree: Three to five years to complete
An online certificate program in sports medicine introduces students to the basics of exercise science, nutrition, and fitness. These programs may include courses such as basic life support, medical terminology, and sports nutrition. Certificate programs in sports medicine may prepare students to become a certified fitness trainer, or allow them to pursue additional education opportunities to become an athletic trainer or physical therapist.
Associate degree programs in sports medicine provide students with a strong foundation in health and fitness assessment. Coursework may include exercise physiology, sports administration and law, and exercise leadership. These programs may prepare students for entry-level jobs in sports medicine, or allow them to transfer to a 4-year accredited institution.
An online bachelor’s degree in sports medicine offers a balanced curriculum that combines general education courses with classes specific to the sports medicine field. Students may take courses such as psychology of exercise, neuromuscular adaptations to training, and foundations of health and fitness. These programs often include an internship in the health and fitness industry, which provides students with practical, hands-on experience in the field.
Online master’s degree programs in sports medicine are well-suited for students interested in becoming athletic trainers. Advanced courses may include concepts of orthopedic rehabilitation, human physiology, and cultural aspects of sport. These programs typically include a master’s thesis or final project in addition to a supervised clinical experience in sports medicine.
Doctoral programs in sports medicine are research-focused and often incorporate didactic coursework, laboratory-based classes, a clinical experience, and a culminating dissertation. Students may take courses covering evidence-based sports management, statistics, and clinical biomechanics. In addition to their dissertation, students may also be required to complete a doctoral research internship in the field.
Career Options
Graduates of sports medicine programs understand the complexities of athletic injuries and treatment as well as the basics of human physiology, nutrition, and exercise. Graduates of sports medicine programs may have the skills to treat athletes with injuries, assist individuals with their fitness programs, or help people that have some level of disability increase mobility and physical capabilities. This broad knowledge base prepares students for careers in healthcare, sports, fitness, and recreation.
Possible career fields include:
- Personal Trainer
- Athletic Trainer
- Sports Medicine Faculty Member
- Fitness Instructor
- Exercise Physiologist