Sports Medicine Degree Requirements
A degree in sports medicine can prepare you for several different professions in sports, including physical therapy, athletic training, sports psychology, nutrition or even coaching. Physical therapy, sports psychology and other medical specialties will require a post-graduate degree (master's degree) at a minimum. Medical specialists for sports will seek a doctoral degree like any other medical doctor.
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Undergraduate Courses
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In your undergraduate work for bachelor's degree, it is helpful to be a science major, allied health major or psychology major. Suggested courses to prepare you for a sports medicine master's degree include anatomy, biology, chemistry, physics, nutrition, social science, mathematics and statistics. Volunteering in a hospital, clinic or physical therapy department might improve your chances of being accepted to a good sports medicine program or might even be required for admission.
Science Courses
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In a sports medicine master's program, you likely will be required to take anatomy, physiology, histology or cellular biology, biomechanics and neuroscience courses.
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Allied Heath Courses
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Possible required coursework could include exercise physiology, pathology or pathophysiology, pharmacology, radiology and imaging.
Behavioral Science Courses
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Basic psychology courses might be required as well as behavioral health courses such as human growth and development and other higher level psychology courses.
Clinical Based Courses
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A requisite number of hours of supervised clinical work (or residency) will be necessary to become a licensed medical practitioner whether you study physical therapy or medicine. Likely courses will include examination, tests and screening, diagnosis, laboratory, intervention, outcomes assessment and practice management. The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine has a guide for choosing the right residency if you are interested in sports medicine practice.
Licensure
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Whether your sports medicine program prepares you to be a physical therapist or a doctor, additional study and preparation will be necessary to earn a license to practice. Your degree program's courses are designed to prepare you for licensure, but post-graduation, your studies are not over until you have passed your board exams.
Outlook
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the outlook for sports medicine professions in December of 2009 was good, and the employment of physical therapists was expected to grow by 30 percent by 2018. Sports medicine programs are available in almost every state in the United States and several other countries worldwide.
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References
- Bls.gov: Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook 2010-2011
- WorldWideLearn.com: Guide To College Majors In Sports Medicine & Science
- ACGME.org: Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
- AMSSM.org: Students/Residents Guide
- ACSM.org: American College of Sports Medicine: Degree Guide
Resources
- APTA -- American Physical Therapy Association
- CAPTE - Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education: Accredited Program Directory
- AMSSM -- American Medical Society for Sports Medicine
- Foundation of AMSSM: Sports Medicine Education Support
- ACSM.hpcareer.net -- American College of Sports Medicine: Partner Network
- Photo Credit sports medicine image by Keith Frith from Fotolia.com
