Sports, Health & Wellness
Make it Your Career!

Many high school students have broad areas of interest they think they would like to pursue in college. As students comtemplate and research colleges and future studies, they also wonder about future careers. A job that combines a person's passions and interests is often hard to find. For many, the field of sports may be the answer. If your dream includes a career in sports and athletics, you are fortunate, since there are many exciting and fulfilling possibilities for professional employment.

Do I need to decide my long term career now as a high school senior?
It is very hard to decide at the age of 17 or 18 how to spend the rest of your life, let alone where to go to college and what to major in. I can assure you that you do not necessarily have to decide on the exact profession immediately. A good first step is to settle if you enjoy studying science, social science, or business, since different majors in the sports field will vary in degree of emphasis in these areas. Most allied health degrees (in which you can specialize in sports) require substantial work in science and math. Fields such as Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Athletic Training and Exercise Physiology require in-depth study in math, anatomy, physiology, chemistry, and even physics. Other careers, such as Sport Management, have more of a focus on the business aspect and less on science. Sports Psychology has its foundation in psychology and sociology. Physical education requires study in science, sport, and teacher education. You should examine the curricular requirements of different programs carefully as you explore majors in this field.

How many years will I have to go to school?
Depending on the profession you are interested in, you can earn an associate, bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degree. Physical therapists must now have a master's degree or doctorate, but Physical Therapist Assistants earn a two-year associate degree. Some careers, such as athletic training and exercise physiology, offer degrees at the bachelor's level, but you can advance further in the field by going on to earn a master's or Ph.D. These advanced degrees also offer possibilities for specialization in research.

What will my education be like?
Students working on professions in the sciences, allied health, and sports fields tend to devote more classroom hours to their education than other students. The reason for this is that science courses require not only class lectures but also laboratories. This is a great advantage, as it provides opportunities to apply what has been learned in class. It makes learning more interesting, fun, and meaningful.

Most of these educational programs also require junior or senior level internships. Internship choices include hospitals, rehabilitation centers, sports medicine clinics, educational settings, recreational centers, and different levels of organized sports. You should make sure the college you are interested in has well equipped, state-of-the-art labs as well as a good selection of internship sites. Ask about how they assign students and how much of a say you have in the assignment.

Most allied health, teaching, and sport careers require some type of comprehensive external certification or licensure examination as required at the state or federal level. National organizations can provide you with specific information. In Massachusetts, the Board of Allied Health oversees licensure examinations and requirements for all fields. The Massachusetts Department of Education oversees certification requirements for teachers.

What resources can I access to help me decide on a career?
All students should research particular colleges as well as the professions they are interested in. I would strongly recommend that you go visit places of work and observe professionals at their job. For many colleges, this is actually an entrance requirement! When observing, ask about the benefits and drawbacks of a profession. Ask about salaries, hours, and requirements to maintain licensure. Find out what a typical day in the life of a working professional in the field is like.

 The other important place to get information is through national organizations. Most professions have national organizations. These include the American Physical Therapy Association, National  College of Sports Medicine (for exercise physiology and other related professions) and The National Athletic Training Association. There are organizations for nursing, nutrition, occupational therapy, and sport management, too. The Massachusetts Department of education can provide students with information on becoming physical educators and health educators. Get on the Internet and start searching!

Some examples of careers in sports-related fields include serving as an athletic trainer for a sports team, working in a sports medicine clinic as a nurse, physical therapist, or exercise physiologist, running corporate or recreational sports programs, and representing athletes as a manager or agent.

As you start visiting colleges and making decisions about where to pursue your education, check to make sure a college has an accredited program, qualified faculty with expertise in the discipline, and adequate laboratory and clinical internship sites. Colleges offer many career options. If you can't decide, right away, don't worry or feel pressured. Many professions require a graduate degree, so earning an undergraduate degree in science or exercise science (physiology) will give a student the foundation needed to pursue a career in almost any sport or allied health field. Whatever you choose, a career in allied health and sports is exciting as well as rewarding.

Editorial provided by Lisa B. Harris, Dean for the School of Allied Health and Sports Studies. She is also Director of Academic Advising and First Year Programs at Lasell College.