Whether you pursue a career in fitness or health care, earning a degree in exercise science can provide an excellent academic foundation.
The terms Exercise Science and Sports Medicine are appealing to many with a background in fitness or sports.
Much of this appeal has to do with the ability to parlay these personal interests into a career working with others who also share a passion for athletics/healthy lifestyle or helping people achieve/restore physical health.
Though related in some ways, these terms can pose some confusion from an education and career perspective - especially if you have yet to explore the difference.
The basic thing to remember is that a BS in exercise science can lead directly to a fitness-related occupation or indirectly (as a solid foundation) to professions in health care, sports medicine or academics that require further study.
Difference Between Exercise Science and Sports Medicine
Exercise Science is an area of academics traditionally studied at the undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate levels, while Sports Medicine predominantly refers to an area of medical practice that various types of healthcare professionals can specialize in.
For example, you can earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Exercise Science - then go on to physical therapy or medical school and eventually specialize in Sports Medicine. You cannot just go out and get a degree in sports medicine - you typically have to first become an athletic trainer (requires BS degree in AT), physical therapist (requires DPT degree), physician (requires MD or DO degree), nurse practitioner (requires MSN degree) or dietitian (requires nutrition science degree) in order to get into this field.
Know Where Your Degree Will Take You
Whether you’re currently a student or going to college for the first time, the decision of what to major in is among the more important choices you’ll make in life. It’s easy to use the fact that you’re in or going back to school as a cushion and trust that you’ll end up with a secure, well-paying career by virtue of having a degree in a subject you love or think is good.
However, with 1 in 5 graduates not being able to repay their student loan due to unemployed status or low-income jobs, it’s obvious this is not always the case. Furthermore, for those who are able to pay their school debt, many hold jobs not related to their degree or career interest.
Of course, the current economic climate does play a role, but only to a certain extent. The fact is there are some degrees that are truly poor investments if your goal is to immediately make a career out of that degree. Unfortunately this is painfully realized by many recent grads and the main reason why they eventually go back to school to earn a different degree that leads to a stable, in-demand professional career.
The fact is, most 4-year baccalaureate programs nowadays, including Exercise Science, require further education and training to become a health care professional.
Here is an example of the relatively few bachelor degrees that put you in a position to secure rewarding healthcare jobs right after graduation:
- Athletic Training (job: Athletic Trainer)
- Cardiovascular Technology (job: Cardiovascular Technologist)
- Dental Hygiene (job: Dental Hygienist)
- Dietetics (job: Dietitian)
- Nursing (job: Registered Nurse)
The Bottom Line
Unless you’re planning on working as a fitness professional, such as a personal fitness trainer (which is a great temporary gig or even long-term career for some), graduating with a baccalaureate in exercise science will not prepare you for a related job with immediate employment straight out of school, but rather further education in grad school - whether it’s a health professional program or for research/teaching.
You may find exceptions in areas like cardiac rehabilitation or corporate wellness, however these opportunities are few and far between - and even then there may be issues with job security, full-time employment and/or relatively low pay.
This article provides more information on the study of exercise science how it can be used as stepping stone to various professional roles.
