Sports medicine undergraduate programs are courses that you take at the undergraduate level to prepare you for careers in the health and fitness industry or further graduate studies. The best of these programs are discussed here to guide you while you make a decision on which one is best for you.
Sports medicine is one of the branches of the medical field that focuses on the treatment and prevention of athletic injuries. To become a sports medicine specialist or physician, you must complete a bachelor’s degree in sports medicine, kinesiology, exercise science, physical therapy, or a related program and then apply for med school. You may also apply for a sports medicine college as a freshman and complete all your studies in one place.
In med school, you will go through residency and other training programs to get equipped with the skills of a professional sports medicine physician. To become a practicing sports medicine physician, it takes 6-7 years depending on the length of your undergraduate degree program.
If 7 years seems too long, then you can just stop at the undergraduate level and seek for jobs in athletic centers or fitness centers but this will only get you entry-level roles such as athletic trainer, fitness instructor/coach, etc. To get this job, your bachelor’s degree must either be in sports medicine or a related program like exercise science or kinesiology. They are also known as sports medicine programs because they set you up for careers in sports medicine and graduate programs.
Also, a bachelor’s degree is not the only undergraduate program, an associate degree is also one and it takes only 2 years to complete. Just as there are a number of bachelor’s degree programs in sports medicine, there are also a few of them in associate’s degree programs such as the Associate of Science in Sports Medicine and Fitness Technology that qualifies you to work as a fitness professional assistant or sports medicine physician assistant.
Now, in this article, I have curated a list of the best sports medicine undergraduate programs if you want to quickly enter the field. Undergraduate sports medicine programs may include sport and exercise science, kinesiology, clinical exercise physiology, sports medicine, and exercise science.
These undergraduate programs include coursework in physiology, biology, nutrition, biomechanics, and sports and exercise psychology. Through these course work students learn about common sports injuries, body movement, exercise medicine, and sports science. Students not only gain theoretical knowledge in these courses but also take hands-on practical training with professional sports medicine physicians.
Aside from sports medicine, there are also other careers in the sports industry that you may like to go into like sports analytics and sports marketing and you only need an undergraduate degree to get into these fields.
Having said that, let’s dive into the main topic.
Best Sports Medicine Undergraduate Programs
Here, you will find sports medicine programs that are offered at the undergraduate level which will confer you with a bachelor’s or associate degree depending on the one you go for.
- Sports Medicine Major and Minor – Pepperdine University
- BSc in Sport and Exercise Medical Sciences – University College London (UCL)
- Sport and Exercise Science BSc (Hons) – Anglia Ruskin University
- Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science – Carroll University
- Sport and Exercise Medical Sciences BSc – Kings College London
- Sports Rehabilitation BSc (Hons) – The University of Nottingham
- Bachelor’s in Exercise and Sport Science – Nova Southeastern University (NSU)
- Clinical Exercise Therapy BSc (Hons) – The University of Bedfordshire
- BSc in Kinesiology and Clinical Exercise Physiology – Concordia University
1. Sports Medicine Major and Minor – Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University is a leading Christian liberal arts university in California, USA. It has appeared in a number of rankings on US News including best MFT programs in California and among the best colleges for B students.
Here at Pepperdine, you can pursue a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts in Sports Medicine, and depending on how you want it, you can either take it as a major or minor. Whichever option you choose to go for includes coursework and extensive laboratory experiences preparing you for careers in sports medicine or graduate program.
2. BSc in Sport and Exercise Medical Sciences – University College London (UCL)
University College London is a prestigious higher institution in the UK ranked among the best universities in the world by QS World University Rankings and #2 in the UK for research. The institution offers a wide range of academic degree programs at undergraduate and graduate levels as well as professional certification courses.
Among its many programs are the Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Sport and Exercise Medical Sciences, a sports medicine undergraduate program that equips students with the academic and hands-on foundation required to work in both athletic performance and clinical environments. The program is full-time and takes 3 years to complete. International students are accepted into the program. Tuition is £32,100 for international students and £9,250 for domestic students.
3. Sport and Exercise Science BSc (Hons) – Anglia Ruskin University
The BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science program at Anglia Ruskin University is one of the best sports medicine undergraduate programs because of its unique curriculum that prepares students for careers in administrative or clinical roles in the sports industry. This degree program is nationally ranked and endorsed by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences.
The program has three options; a regular 3 years, 4 years with placement, and 4 years with a foundation year, you can choose the option that suits you best. International students are accepted into the program. Tuition for international students is £15,000 and £9,250 for UK students.
4. Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science – Carroll University
If you are seeking an undergraduate sports medicine program at a small college then Carroll University should be at the top of your list. The institution houses about 1,500 undergraduate students in more than 95 programs. That aside, Carroll University is a private liberal arts school with a reputation in the health sciences.
Here, you can pursue a fulfilling BSc degree program in Exercise Science. The course combines biology, physics, and health sciences to understand the human body and its response to movement through exercise and sport. With a combination of theoretical and hands-on learning approaches, students gain skills and knowledge that prepare them to work with people of age in a variety of health and fitness professions.
5. Sport and Exercise Medical Sciences BSc – Kings College London
Kings College London is among the top reputable schools in the UK and in the world as a whole, ranking among the top 10 by QS World Rankings. The institution offers a wide range of academic degree programs at undergraduate and graduate levels as well as professional certifications. One of the prestigious programs at KCL is the BSc in Sport and Exercise Medical Sciences.
The program is provided by the Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, a world-leading faculty that will train you in nutrition, biochemistry, and psychology to prepare you for roles in sports medicine. Graduating from this program will prepare you for positions in varieties of sports centers and fitness facilities. The program is held on-campus, in a full-time format, and takes 3 years to complete.
6. Sports Rehabilitation BSc (Hons) – The University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is one the top universities in the UK ranking #8 in the nation for research power. Its BSc (Hons) in Sport Rehabilitation is also a reputable program in the UK, ranked #2 by The Guardian Best UK universities for sports science. This program also prepares you for roles or graduate programs in sports medicine.
Students in this program engage in rigorous coursework and practicals to develop clinical assessment and treatment skills to work with patients and athletes of all ages. The university also offers related programs in Sports and Exercise Science BSc (Hons) and Physiotherapy BSc (Hons). You may also apply for these ones as you see fit.
7. Bachelor’s in Exercise and Sport Science – Nova Southeastern University (NSU)
Nova Southeastern University in Florida, USA ranks among the best physical therapy programs in Florida which is almost the same as sports medicine. The Bachelor’s in Exercise and Sport Science at NSU offers students the opportunity to gain knowledge and real-life experience needed to understand the science of movement and prepare them for any workplace setting.
One of the perks of this program at NSU is that students in the program get to work closely with faculty members who are leaders in sports medicine, that is, professional sports medicine physicians.
8. Clinical Exercise Therapy BSc (Hons) – The University of Bedfordshire
A Bachelor of Science in Clinical Exercise Therapy is another program that will prepare you for the next phase in sports medicine whether it is to join the workforce or pursue a higher degree. Students in this program gain skills to use exercise, physical activity, and therapy to promote health and fitness in people of all ages. At the end of the program, students can work in a variety of healthcare settings or pursue a graduate degree in sports medicine or clinical exercise therapy.
The program has a professional practice year track and a foundation year track, students can go for the option that suits them best. Entry requirements vary by UK applicants, EU applicants, and international applicants, so take note of that before you apply. The tuition fee is £9,250 per year for UK students and £14,500 per year for international students.
9. BSc in Kinesiology and Clinical Exercise Physiology – Concordia University
Last but not least is the Bachelor of Kinesiology and Clinical Exercise Physiology offered by Concordia University in Quebec City, Canada. The program develops students’ abilities in addressing the physical activity needs of special populations. It takes three or four years to complete the program depending on the option you go for.
The options are Honors in Kinesiology and Clinical Exercise Physiology consist of 78 credits and take 4 years to complete. The other option is the BSc in Kinesiology and Clinical Exercise Physiology, which consists of 69 credits and takes 3 years to complete.
These undergraduate programs are accredited and will prepare you for varieties of careers in the sports medicine fields across related health centers and facilities.
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