The sports enthusiasts among us may think that the only type of sports job that they can acquire is through professional playing. Many people dream of becoming a professional footballer, rugby player, or athlete growing up, but for whatever reason life gets in the way of them making this a reality. While playing professionally may not be on the cards for you, the passion you have for sport can still be channelled into other jobs.
For example, sports science courses can lead you to an array of exciting jobs. Rather than playing the sport yourself, you can learn the intricacies of how the human body copes with sporting experiences. Sports science covers an array of topics, and through this piece, we explore what sports science is, the benefits of sports science and how you can study it to enhance your career prospects.
What Does Sports Science Involve?
The subject itself is vast and if you are searching for sports science courses, then it is important that you understand the fundamentals of it. Sports science is the scientific study of physiology, nutrition, psychology, and biomechanics.
A significant portion of your study will be centred on the physical effects of exercise and sport. However, you will also delve into the role that sport plays in social policy, philosophy, and ethics. Given that you will be looking into how the body copes under various levels of pressure, you could eventually work in various settings, from elite sport to children’s team games.
Sports science courses focus heavily on the physicality of sport and exercise, as well as the body’s responses, but you will also need to develop a critical eye. As human beings, we experience life differently and we all have different values and psychological experiences. This level of insight can be applied to sport to understand its role in society.
Why Study Sports Science?
Given that there are a wealth of sports science jobs, you will have plenty of career opportunities should you undertake sports science courses. With medicine and technology advancing all the time, the nature of sports science has to adapt and change. So, if you pursue this type of career, you won’t be at risk of standing still.
There are many benefits of sports science, and some of the many reasons to study it include:
- Opportunity to work with elite sportspeople
- Promote healthy living
- Scientifically in-depth
- Make significant change in injury recovery and prevention
What Subjects Do You Need for Sports Science?
To become a professional in your chosen field, you will need relevant qualifications, including a degree. Generally, degree-level sports science courses require at least two A Levels in the following subjects:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Physical Education (PE)
- Psychology
If you do not possess these A Levels, your hopes of getting sports science jobs are not lost. This is because you can study an Access to Higher Education Diploma with Stonebridge Associated Colleges. An Access to HE Diploma is regarded as the equivalent to 3 A Levels, and most universities accept them as part of their entry requirements.
Studying the Access to Higher Education Diploma (Sports Science) will prepare you for university. While A Levels tend to take two years to complete in traditional settings, an online Access to HE Diploma can be completed much faster. In fact, our students achieve their accredited qualifications within a year.
Alternatively, if you want to obtain A Levels and progress to university through that route, then you can study them online. Through our platform, you can acquire A Level Biology, A Level Chemistry and many other related qualifications.
How to Study Sports Science;
As mentioned, Stonebridge Associated Colleges provides an array of accredited courses that can be completed entirely online. If you believe that an Access to Higher Education course is the right path for you, then it is important to note that you will likely need a GCSE grade C/4 or above in Maths and English (or Functional Skills Level 2).
Most universities recognise Access to Higher Education Diplomas and will accept them as part of their entry requirements, but it is important that you conduct your own research to check with the university of your choice. When you embark on your sports science courses, you will cover an array of units, including the following:
- Preparing to Study
- Academic Writing Skills
- Preparing a Written Assignment
- Cell Biology
- Sport and Exercise Physiology
- The Human Muscular and Skeletal System
- Sports Fitness – Strength and Conditioning
You will then move on to the following units:
- Sports Nutrition
- Research Topic;
- Ethics and Values in Sport
- The Brain and Nervous System
- The Human Endocrine and Nervous System
- Current Issues in Sport
- Human Disease and Prevention
Unlike traditional learning, you will not have to undertake any exams to pass your course, which is one of the many benefits of sports science courses. Instead, you will be issued with a series of assignments, each of which will be based on different units in your course. There will be deadlines set within your Individual Learning Plan provided, which will help keep you on track.
To achieve the Access to Higher Education Diploma (Sports Science), you will need to earn 60 credits in total, with 45 of them coming from graded units that focus on academic topics. The remaining 15 will come from ungraded units, such as study skills.
- Once you have acquired your Diploma, you could go on to study one of the following degrees:
- Psychology with Sports Science
- Physiotherapy and Sports Science
- Sports Science with Management
What Can You Do With a Degree in Sports Science?
Your passion for sport, fitness, and nutrition can lead to a range of sports science jobs. Once you have acquired a degree in the subject or relevant subjects, you could apply for roles within the sports and fitness industry. The benefits of sports science are far and wide, mainly because of the breadth of jobs on offer. You could pursue a career in the following roles:
- Sports Therapist
- Exercise Physiologist
- Sports Coach
- Personal Trainer
- Sports Development Officer
- Fitness Centre Manager
You can progress even further in your career by embarking on postgraduate level study. For example, if you want to become a sport and exercise psychologist, then you can go on to study accredited psychology qualifications.
For those of you who want to take your sports science skills and apply it to teaching, then it’s likely that you’ll need to obtain additional qualifications. If you want to work as a sports coach, you’ll need an approved coaching qualification. If you want to work as a PE teacher, then you’ll need to embark on a postgraduate teaching qualification.
Enrol Today!
If you are keen to pursue sports science jobs, then turn to Stonebridge Associated Colleges! Our sports science courses will set you up for degree-level study, kick-starting your career in the industry. You can find out more information about our courses by speaking to a Career Advisor on 0121 392 8288. Alternatively, contact our support centre to find out more!
