Higher education within the area of sports is offered all over the world, but has become particularly popular and available in for example Australia, the United States, the UK and Sweden. The market for sport professionals is continuously growing as the field is becoming increasingly focused on both physical performance and financial returns.
Some fields within higher education sports are:
Sports Science
Sports science applies scientific principles and techniques to improve sporting and athletic performances. The field studies human movement and the effect of strenuous exercise on the body and what is needed to maximize performance. Courses often included are: physiology, psychology, motor control and biomechanics. There are differences between degrees and institutions, but other common building blocks are nutrition and diet, sports technology and performance analysis for example.
A sports science degree can lead to careers as for example physical education teacher, tietician, sports coach, performance analyst or fitness center manager to name a few.
Sports Medicine
Sports Medicine is further concerned with the body and potential injuries sustained during the playing of sports at various levels. With a degree in sports medicine, you become a specialist in preventing, diagnosing and treating sports related injuries - often related to joints and muscles.
Athletic Training
Athletic trainers are health care professionals who in collaboration with physicians work to optimize the physical activity of not just professional athletes but those engaged in sports at all levels. Athletic training includes prevention, diagnosis and intervention of emergency, acute and chronic medical conditions.
With a certification within the area of Athletic Training, you may find employment in such places as Athletic training facilities, Clinics, hospitals, schools (Secondary, colleges, universities) or professional sport organizations. Further possibilities exist within the military and private physician offices for example.
Sport Management
Sport Management focuses on the business side of sports and athletics. When studying sports management as a bachelor, master or MBA degree, you will be introduced to how to apply business principles to the sport industry. You will study everything from accounting and marketing to management principles with a focus on sports information, sports facility management and sport organization.
Career opportunities within Sports Management rage from Athletic Business Manager, to Country Club Manager, Stadium Manager or Promotion Director to name a very few.
