An online Master's in Sports Medicine is the best advanced degree for professionals who are interested in working in this specialized health care field. The field requires in-depth knowledge of how exercise, sports, and medicine interact with each other, making it mandatory for all professionals to earn at least a graduate degree in the field prior to working in the sector. And while some people may think that sports medicine can be practiced at the bachelor's level, this advanced degree is necessary to ensure that all pre-service professionals understand sports medicine to a degree in which they can work as ethical and compassionate sports medicine leaders.
However, for many who are already working in the sports medicine field, a traditional graduate program is not an option. These professional require flexible and affordable programs that can be completed on their own schedule. Thankfully, there are online programs that cater to this profession that are found all around the United States. This ranking lists the top ten most affordable programs for sports medicine professionals.
Explore these promoted online degree programs.
These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online graduate degree programs. Figuring out where to apply? Consider one of these online Master's or PhD programs.
10 Most Affordable Master's Sport's Medicine
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Career Options for an Online Master's in Sports Medicine Degree?
An online sports medicine degree offers a variety of choices for professionals. The name of the field may seem quite specific, but in reality, several career options can be found here. Some of these include:
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Athletic Trainer
Sports Psychologist
Sports Nutritionist
Exercise Physiologist
Occupational Therapist
Massage Therapist
Coach
Wellness Director
How Much Can You Earn in This Field?
Sports medicine is a wide-ranging field that encompasses doctors, physiatrists, surgeons, trainers, therapists, and more. For this reason, it can be difficult to pinpoint how much can actually be earned in this field. A good rule of thumb, however, is a salary range of between $28,000 to $125,000, depending on an individual's career path.
It's important to note here that in sports medicine, proximity to major sports cities, Olympic training centers, and competition areas is key. The closer a professional is to these important spaces, the higher their salary will be. It also means that job competition will also be high, as there will be many professionals with similar qualifications vying for the same jobs.
Another thing to consider is that licensed or credentialed professionals in sports medicine make more money than those that do not have any sort of endorsement or license to their name. Work experience and reputation also play a role in how much a professional is paid; if they have worked with teams or athletes in the past, they may be able to command a higher salary.
What are the Various Disciplines of Sports Medicine?
Sports medicine was once a discipline that could only be overseen by a team doctor. This has to do with the fact that sports medicine is a sub-discipline of medicine. But as the view of sports medicine has evolved over the years and technology has advanced to the point where career paths have appeared that do not require a medical license, so too have the disciplines that are associated with this field.
Sports medicine is, first and foremost, the domain of medicine. However, because this subfield focuses directly on sports performance, there are a variety of other disciplines. Some of these include biomechanics, nutrition, kinesiology, exercise physiology, performance psychology, teamwork, and leadership.
The disciplines are so varied in sports medicine that it is common to find professionals in the field that specialize in just one discipline. This is evidenced by the rise of exercise psychologists, sports nutritionists, and biomechanists. Students will often find that once they enter into a graduate program that they will have the ability to choose one field to specialize in, which will be their primary discipline.
What are the Admission Requirements for an Online Master's in Sports Science?
Like many advanced professional degrees, this graduate degree does have requirements. The requirements tend to be the same for both online and traditional programs, and that's because most schools confer the exact same curriculum, taught by the same professors, for their degrees. Below are the most common application requirements that a student will need to fulfill in order to be accepted into these programs.
The first is perhaps the most important, and that is an undergraduate degree in kinesiology or a health-related major. This degree must also be regionally accredited and students will need to provide proof of graduation as well as their college transcripts. This is required because graduate degrees build on the foundation of undergraduate degrees, making it difficult for students from other disciplines to find their footing at the graduate level.
The second requirement is the submission of a GRE or MAT score. Schools vary on which test score they will take, but most will accept either. These are considered important for online students especially because it provides evidence of the commitment towards a graduate degree. Some students may be able to waive this requirement, but this is at the sole discretion of the school.
The third and final common requirement is a resume. While this may come as a shock to pre-service professionals, it is indeed mandatory for these programs. The resume provides the school with an understanding of a student's previous work, education, and volunteer experience. It can help the admissions office make an educated call on whether or not a student would thrive in the graduate program.
These requirements are not set in stone; many schools note on their admissions pages that should a student provide strong proof in other areas of their application, one requirement may be waived. However, students should not expect this to be the case for them. It is advised that students research requirements and see if they meet the needs of the application process prior to committing to a school.
Still Looking for the Right Fit? Discover Similar Programs.
Why are Internships Necessary for Graduate Programs in Sports Medicine?
An online Master's in Sports Medicine is an advanced professional degree. This means that the degree is designed for students who are already in the field and who are pursuing advanced positions. It also means that students who are elevating their career positions will need to have some real-world experience prior to leaving school.
Most graduate programs require, or at least strongly encourage, all students to partake in a practicum or internship. These experiences are for the student's own edification; they will learn what exactly their new career will entail prior to moving into the workforce. This, in turn, provides them with an actual understanding of what their workload and responsibilities will look like once they enter the workforce so that they may plan accordingly.
Sports medicine is a field that generally only grants entry to professionals who have a master's degree. Because of this, it's considered an advanced professional degree, one in which students will have had little to no previous work experience in the field. A work experience like an internship will provide students with at least one experience they can put on their resume; it may also lead to employment with the company that they interned for.
Internships are no longer mandatory for many online programs in this field, including some that have made this ranking. However, they are always listed as options because even though some professionals choose to earn their degree online does not mean that they will be ready to head into the workforce without any experience. Students should take internships into consideration because of this and afford themselves the opportunity to experience the world of sports medicine prior to leaving graduate school.
Sports medicine is not a field that is generally reported widely in the news unless a major issue happens at the highest levels of any sport. However, it is the first line of defense to protect athletes from serious injury and aid in recovery, making it an indispensable part of the sports world. For any student who is considering a career in the world of sports, an online Master's in Sports Medicine can be their ticket forward.
