{"id":22858,"date":"2026-09-06T12:12:43","date_gmt":"2026-09-06T12:12:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.degreequery.com\/?page_id=22858---c5d10a26-3e77-4633-9bea-41afacfbe739"},"modified":"2026-10-02T13:05:11","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T13:05:11","slug":"best-sports-medicine-bachelors","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.degreequery.com\/sports-science-degrees\/best-sports-medicine-bachelors\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the Best Bachelor\u2019s Degree to Get if You Want to Get Into Sports Medicine?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Sports medicine professions are attractive to many. Many of us have younger years dotted with practices and games, camps and overnights. And while this passion for health, for movement, and for athletic participation may not gain everyone a spot on the NFL field, it can lead to a fulfilling career in an area one has already loved for a very long time.<\/p>\n

There is no question that the most common bachelor\u2019s degree achieved for one desiring a sports medicine profession is a sports medicine degree. Sports medicine degree programs prepare their students for a variety of careers in both athletics and medicine. Common careers for sports medicine degree program graduates include athletic trainer, personal fitness trainer, physical therapy clinic trainer, rehabilitation specialist, or an athletic coach.<\/p>\n

Sports Medicine Bachelor\u2019s Degree(s)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Program Overview<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Sports medicine degree programs champion their interdisciplinary education. The field is broad, encompassing everything from athletic training to exercise science and nutrition. A sports medicine degree should give its students the skills needed to work with both individuals and communities, working to improve both individual and social health.<\/p>\n

It is common for sports medicine degree programs to offer a specialization. Typical specializations or concentrations include exercise science, health sciences or rehabilitative science. If you have found or are looking at a bachelor\u2019s degree specifically in sports medicine but without offered specializations, it will likely still be impacted by whether it is offered by the department of medicine, physical education, physical therapy, or kinesiology.<\/p>\n

It is important to understand that there are many<\/em> bachelors\u2019 degrees that may be referred to as sports medicine degrees. This includes degrees like a BS in Health Education and Behavior, a BS in Health Science, a BA in Healthy Lifestyle Management, and a BS in Exercise Science. The following discussion of sports medicine degree programs is not specific to one bachelor\u2019s program, but instead is meant to display general knowledge about all sports medicine program details and goals.<\/p>\n

Program Location<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Sports medicine bachelor\u2019s degree programs are available on campuses across the country. Sports medicine degrees online are also a readily available option for qualified students.<\/p>\n

Length of Program<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Sports medicine degree programs are similar to other undergraduate programs. A student who stays on track can expect to finish their bachelor\u2019s in four years. The first two years of education are often filled with general requirement courses and electives, while the final two years of education are specific to the bachelor\u2019s program chosen. Sports medicine degrees online are usually<\/em> going to have a similar timeframe, though it is not uncommon for them to offer greater schedule flexibility and\/or the potential for a slower pace. Should a student transfer into a sports medicine degree program (on-campus or online) or already have existing transferrable credits, it may take as little as two years to complete a sports medicine major.<\/p>\n

Expected Courses and Education<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Generally, sports medicine programs seek to give their students a strong foundation in both health sciences and behavioral sciences. This will include fundamental knowledge surrounding exercise and fitness as they relate to human physiology, as well as a particular emphasis placed on the ability to recognize, prevent, evaluate, and treat fitness related injuries and poor practices.<\/p>\n

Please note that the following list is neither exhaustive nor conclusive. Specific courses are going to depend on what sports medicine bachelor\u2019s degree you have chosen to pursue, what department offers the degree, and what your chosen specialization (if you have one) is.<\/p>\n

The courses listed below are typically taken in addition to (or after the completion of) general elective course and requirements (like math, English, humanities and\/or foreign language(s)).<\/p>\n

Potential Courses<\/em><\/h2>\n