Program Description

The Master of Science Degree (MS) in Sports Medicine provides the course work and practical experience necessary to obtain advanced knowledge and skills in the disciplines of Sports Medicine.  The degree specifically offers the opportunity for those who are Certified Athletic Trainers (NATABOC) to build upon their theoretical and clinical competencies beyond those gained at the undergraduate level.  However, students or professionals who are not Certified Athletic Trainers will also benefit from the program.  The course work within the program is supplemented with practical experience.  The combination of course work and practical experience allows the student to further develop theoretical knowledge and clinical skills, increase their ability critically evaluate current sports medicine related literature, and obtain the ability to conduct clinically relevant athletic training research.  Opportunities are available to gain experience within university intercollegiate athletic programs, secondary school interscholastic settings, Olympic training centers, and sports medicine/physical therapy clinics.  The ability to create a degree around the individual students interests is a priority of this degree program.

Program Objectives

• Further develop critical and independent thinking in professional practice
• Development of management skills in sports medicine professionals
• Facilitate and promote community interaction in sports medicine
• Provide students with expanded field and/or clinical opportunities
• Promote the synthesis of sports medicine related literature
• Integrate theory and research into practice
• Foster scholarly and research activities
• Develop exemplary athletic training/sports medicine professionals

 Coursework

The coursework within this major is focused on the fields of Athletic Training and Physical Therapy.  It includes components of many existing Post-Certification Advanced Athletic Training Degrees.  Below is a link to a sample degree program for the program.

Sample Project Degree Plan

Graduate Assistant Positions

To help defray some of the cost for the graduate studies, the program is seeking out local athletic situations that might need the availability of a Certified Athletic Trainer.  In return for the services rendered to these institutions a financial agreement will be made between the institutions and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs to help offset costs for the students in the graduate program.  These Assistantship will be awarded after a through interview process with the Director of the Sports Medicine Education Program as well as members of the institution providing the funding.  For more information please contact Brian Hardy, Head Athletic Trainer.

Meet Some of the Instructors

Dr. Travis Peterson
Assistant Professor of Health Sciences
Specialty:  Youth Obesity, Exercise Prescription

Dr. Jackie Berning
Associate Professor of Biology
Specialty: Nutrition, Human Metabolism 

Dr. Jeff Broker
Assistant Professor of Biology
Specialty: Biomechanics, Kinesiology 

Future

This is the first phase of multi phase program to adapt the current Master's of Basic Sciences - Sports Medicine Graduate Degree into a NATA Accredited Post Baccalaureate Degree program that will gradate students with a Masters in Athletic Training Degree.  This process will take several years to complete, but the coursework as it exists will not change much once the accreditation takes place.

March 1^st -

• Scholarship Applications

• Available Graduate Scholarship

April 1^st -

• FAFSA

July 1st -

• Application Deadline

Important Links

• Online Applications

• Graduate School Application Info