The Master of Science in Sports Medicine at the University of Western States is designed for health care providers seeking specialization and enhancement of their skills and knowledge to better work with athletes and active populations. The education attained through this degree allows for opportunities in the sports industry and enhances a provider’s skills, knowledge and marketability to active and athletic populations. As one of the best colleges for sports medicine, this online sports medicine degree ensures you get the quality education needed.
The degree is designed for first-professional health care degree holders, or students working toward their first professional health care degree, to build upon existing knowledge of key sports medicine content areas, such as anatomy, physiology, assessment, rehabilitation, exercise sciences and others. The skills gained in the program will also allow graduates to better integrate with sports medicine health care teams and providers. Individuals who may wish to further their education through this degree may include physicians (MDs, DOs), chiropractic physicians (DCs), physician’s assistants, nurse practitioners, physical therapists, athletic trainers and others who meet program admissions criteria.
Sports Medicine Curriculum
Students all take 14 core courses within the sports medicine program and then choose either the high-performance leadership or the performance nutrition concentration. Concurrent chiropractic students do not choose a concentration. They complete the masters in sports medicine with dually attributed chiropractic coursework. If you are looking to pursue a masters in sports medicine online, this is an ideal choice.
High Performance Leadership:
The MS sports medicine high performance leadership concentration strives to prepare current and future sports science and medicine professionals to lead integrated, multi-disciplinary teams.
Performance Nutrition:
The MS sports medicine performance nutrition concentration guides in-depth learning related to the dietary and nutritional assessment approaches for athletic populations that optimize performance, health and recovery.
Offered primarily online, this program also requires one extended weekend hands-on lab session at the UWS campus in Portland, Oregon. Additionally, students will complete four credits of practicum with an appropriate licensed and/or credentialed supervisor in their geographic area.
Please note that the MS in sports medicine program does NOT grant professional licensure or professional certification at a state, provincial, or national level. Students and graduates of the sports medicine program are advised to contact their local, state, provincial, or national governing entity to determine what skills and scope-of-practice requirements are legal under the student or provider’s scope of practice.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Masters in Sports Medicine Degree
Q: Are there opportunities for one-on-one interaction with instructors in the online sports medicine degree program?
Yes, the UWS online classes are conducted collaboratively and dynamically, and students can schedule video calls with an instructor if they need individual time. Interaction with the material and discussions on current research are encouraged, and community hubs within the online platform are used to get to know the instructors and classmates.
Q: Can UWS chiropractic students concurrently enroll in the sports medicine degree program? How does that work?
Yes, UWS chiropractic students can concurrently enroll in the online sports medicine degree program, which allows them to save time and money. If a student enrolls in the master’s in sports medicine program in the 6th quarter, they can finish both the chiropractic and sports medicine programs together in three years. Current UWS chiropractic students who have earned a bachelor’s degree may apply for entry into the master’s in sports medicine during their 5th quarter and start the program in their 6th quarter concurrently with the chiropractic program. If students don’t have a bachelor’s degree, they should apply for the Bachelor of Science in human biology during their 5th quarter term to be eligible for the MS sports medicine program in the 6th quarter.
Q: What are the prerequisites and application requirements for the master’s in sports medicine program at UWS?
For current UWS chiropractic students, prerequisites include earning a bachelor’s degree (or foreign equivalent) and being in the 5th quarter to apply for the sports medicine program in the 6th quarter. Must maintain a 2.75 GPA or above in the DC program and have credits of work in human anatomy/physiology. Other applicants must have a first-professional degree in a relevant field of health care with a minimum GPA of 2.75 and coursework in neuromuscular diagnosis/treatment, biomechanics, etc.
Q: How are practical experiences handled in the master’s in sports medicine program at UWS? Are there any on-site requirements?
Practical experiences in the master’s in sports medicine program at UWS are delivered through hands-on field experiences with a variety of sports and organizations. The program places importance on real-world application and adheres to high standards of safety for patients and the community. Specifically, an extended weekend lab session is required at the UWS campus in Portland, Oregon halfway through the program. Additionally, students will complete four credit hours of practicum experiences either through UWS-provided sites or a self-selected site that meets program requirements. For those participating in practicum at Oregon high school athletic programs, there are annual registration, background checks, and other directives to ensure safety and compliance with Oregon state law.
Q: How do the online courses at UWS accommodate different time zones for global students?
UWS online programs are global, accommodating instructors and students from all over the world. To account for varied time zones, all class lectures, including live-streamed ones, as well as special events like expert guest lectures, are always recorded. This ensures that students can access them at a time most convenient to their schedules. These recorded lectures are available via Panopto, a tool specifically designed for student learning. With Panopto, students can watch recordings at their convenience, search for keywords, adjust playback speed, and even download audio files for on-the-go listening.
