Bachelor of Science in Education in Sports Science

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Why Choose Sports Science?

Sports science is the study of the body’s response to exercise and physical activity. The field incorporates various sub-disciplines, including exercise physiology, biomechanics, motor behavior, and the psychology of physical activity. Sports scientists rely on scientific principles in biology, chemistry, and physics to advance their understanding of how the body responds to exercise, and to advocate physical activity to prevent and treat chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. With the development of our new sports medicine concentration, the sports science degree is a pathway to healthcare graduate programs. The concentration meets all the requirements for graduate programs in athletic training. With minor program of study modifications, the concentration can be a pathway to graduate programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and physician assistant.

Program Highlights

  • Two concentration options, allowing you to tailor your program to fit your future career goals
  • Growing career field with a variety of positions and career fields you may pursue upon graduation
  • Hands-on lab courses throughout the program giving you the opportunity to practice and learn new skills
  • 400-hour internship required for those pursuing the health and fitness concentration
  • Those pursuing the health and fitness concentration are required and prepared to take a nationally recognized certification.

The sports science program at Wright State is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). We assure program quality through alignment to the national standards set forth by CAAHEP that prescribe the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities programs should develop in future sports science practitioners.

Sports science classes at Wright State are small, typically 25 students or less. Lectures and labs are taught by seasoned professors, not graduate students. Faculty-directed student research is highly encouraged. Our program is one of only 43 nationally accredited programs in the country, and one of four in Ohio.

Program Outcomes

  • 94% pass rate on national credentialing exam 
  • 90% graduate satisfaction rate
  • 92% employer satisfaction rate
  • 90% graduate positive placement (meaning that of those who have graduated within one year, this is the percent who have been admitted into a higher level degree program in exercise science or related program, are employed in the exercise profession (or related), and/or are in military service.

Contact Information

Health and Fitness Concentration

Andrew Froehle, Ph.D.
304 Nutter Center
andrew.froehle@wright.edu
937-775-2962

Sports Medicine Concentration

Rebekah R. Bower, MS, AT, ATC
136 Wright State Physicians Building
rebekah.bower@wright.edu
937-245-7621

For general questions contact an academic advisor in the CHEH Academic Advising Office.

Careers

Health and Fitness Concentration

  • Wellness program coordinator
  • Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation specialist
  • Exercise oncology instructor
  • Group exercise instructor
  • Corporate or recreational fitness director
  • Certified personal trainer
  • Certified strength and conditioning coach

Sports Medicine Concentration (Careers listed will require additional education)

  • Athletic trainer
  • Physical therapist
  • Occupational therapist
  • Physician assistant
  • Chiropractor
  • Sports psychologist

The School of Nursing, Kinesiology, and Health Sciences has provided a dedicated career consultant to assist you in connecting your major to a career. The career consultant focuses on staying up to date on career trends in education, kinesiology and health, leadership, and human services. Our assigned career consultant is an extension of services offered through Wright State’s Career Services.

Real-World Experience

Health and Fitness Concentration Internship

You are required to complete a 12-credit internship (400 contact hours). Internship sites include hospitals and clinics, wellness centers, health care facilities, nursing homes, fitness centers, spas, resorts, sports science laboratories, government/community agencies, or other approved locations.

Experiential Learning Forms and Resources

Success Stories

Academics and Curriculum

View Bachelor of Science in Sports Science program information, degree requirements, and graduation planning strategies in the Academic Catalog.

Health and Fitness Concentration

Certifications

You will be prepared and required to take a nationally recognized certification. Below are examples of some of the certification exams students will be prepared to take:

You are required to be certified by attending an American Red Cross (ARC) or American Heart Association (AHA) workshop (at the students' expense) in First aid and CPR certification.

Sports Medicine Concentration

Allied Health Capstone Project

This 4-hour course will allow you to design a culminating project/experience to meet his/her educational needs. The course will also emphasize preparation for graduate school including such topics as finding the right school, specific graduate program requirements, applying to graduate school, resume writing, interview skills, etc.

Admission

Admission Requirements

  • Cumulative minimum GPA of 2.5
  • Successful completion (grade of "C" or above) of an introductory level class
    • For health and fitness concentration: KNH 2410
    • For sports medicine concentration: ATR 2610

Admission Process

New Students

  • Apply to the university. You will be admitted as a pre-major until you meet the criteria for acceptance into the major.

    If you meet the admission criteria and are listed as a pre-sports science major, you will be admitted at the end of the semester. There is no formal program application.