What Can You do With a Sports Science Degree?

What is Exercise & Sports Science?

Suppose you’ve always been interested in athletic performance, physical education, community health and wellness, workplace wellness, or the general health and wellbeing of others. In that case, pursuing a degree in Exercise & Sports Science (ESS) may be the career path for you. ESS is the study of the immediate and long-term effects of physical activity on the body and covers a variety of disciplines.

You may ask yourself, “What can I do with a sports science degree?” In today’s blog post, we’ll answer this question, walk through what an ESS degree is, what careers you can pursue with this degree, and hear from some students why you should consider Meredith for your ESS degree. 

What Can I Do With an Exercise & Sports Science Degree?

ESS is a wide-reaching and diverse field. Just a few examples of jobs in the ESS field include exercise physiologist, personal trainer, physical education teacher, community program director, sports coach, sports therapist, and more. Whether you decide to go to work right after graduating or you want to pursue a graduate or professional school, you’ll be well-equipped to succeed if you choose to study at Meredith. 

Don’t just take our word for it. Here are some jobs our recent graduates from the program hold. 

• Teacher and head basketball coach, Heritage High School, Wake County
• Elementary physical education teacher, Wake Forest University
• Middle school health and physical education teacher, Leesville Road Middle School, Wake County
• Health and physical education teacher, Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School, Wake County
• Health and physical education teacher, Northern Vance High School, Granville County
• Health and physical education teacher, East Lee Middle School, Lee County
• Cannon Online Learning Designer, Athens, Ga.
• Program Manager, Merck’s Health Matters Fitness Center, West Point, Pa.
• Personal trainer, Raleigh, N.C.

We also have numerous graduates who have been accepted into prestigious graduate programs such as

• Doctorate of Physical Therapy – Elon University
• Doctorate of Physical Therapy – Winston Salem State University
• Master’s Degree in Health Education, East Carolina University
• Master’s Degree in Exercise Physiology, UNC-Chapel Hill
• Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy, Old Dominion University
• Master’s Degree in Exercise Science, UNC-Charlotte
• Master’s Degree in Physical Education, University of Georgia
• Master’s Degree in Instructional Technology, University of Georgia

Why Study Exercise & Sports Science at Meredith?

At Meredith, you’ll be prepared for various careers in ESS by examining the contributions of anatomy, biomechanics, motor learning, exercise physiology, health behaviors, the development of effective movement skills, and exercise and sports performance. 

Our program focuses on

• Wellness
• Skilled movement
• Sports science
• Foundational organizational principals
• Administrative principles

Meredith sits in the heart of Raleigh and the Research Triangle, giving you access to many opportunities that will prepare you for your career in a ESS-related field. 

This includes internships, undergraduate research, access to a state-of-the-art Human Performance Lab, and more. Some of our students’ recent internship sites include

• Abil-OT
• Valencell
• NextStep Raleigh
• Shaw University Athletic Training
• Pediatric Possibilities
• Developmental Therapy Associates
• The Templeton of Cary

Studying ESS at Meredith will give you a strong knowledge base in both the discipline of sports science and the latest instructional skills for success in teaching health and physical education. We also offer two concentrations: Health and Wellness and Health and Physical Education.

What Exercise & Sports Science Students Have to Say About Their Meredith Experience

Kimberly Schuh, ’21, currently works as a physical education teacher at an elementary school in the Triangle area. While at Meredith, she was a student-athlete for both basketball and the track and field team. She combined her interests in movement and K-12 education through the ESS program. Here’s what she has to say about her time at Meredith. 

“I chose to major in exercise and sports science because I’ve always loved moving, being healthy, and learning about health and wellness. I’ve wanted to gain K-12 licensure because I’ve always had a love for teaching others and especially kids and students. So being an elementary PE teacher is the perfect mix for me. 

I hope to teach my future students all about moving and being physically active, even if that’s just getting out for a walk every day or teaching them about the muscles and bones and their bodies. But every little thing counts. So I’m hoping to make just a little impact on each and every student that I have.

One challenge that I have overcome during my time here at Meredith would have to be my student teaching experience. It’s one of the most positive and exciting challenges I’ve had yet because going from being a student yourself to being the educator of young minds is a whirlwind of emotions. I’ve had the most amazing mentors here at Meredith, but also the cooperating teacher they have paired me with at my school put me in a great position to know how to deal with these challenges and be prepared to handle them on my own when I’m a teacher. 

Meredith has an amazing reputation for producing teachers in the area. So, I couldn’t think of a better place to go to where I could have a small, personalized feel with an academic and athletic experience.”

Do you want to learn more about Meredith’s program and if ESS is the right fit for you? Visit the Exercise & Sports Science page or contact admissions to get started on your application today.