Sports Medicine

• Bachelor

  Degree

• English

  Language of instructions

• 4 years

  Years of study

• Full-time

  Study mode

• United States, Erie

  Location

The sports medicine major at Mercyhurst encompasses the health-related professions that prevent and manage injuries and illnesses affecting active individuals and athletes. The program’s curriculum emphasizes evidence-based medical principles, personal and professional responsibility, teamwork and cooperation, problem solving, decision making and improvement of communication skills. In addition, Mercyhurst students learn their discipline from a hands-on clinical approach. Mercyhurst sports medicine students also complete a self-directed baccalaureate research project with the assistance of a department faculty member. The sports medicine major at Mercyhurst is interdisciplinary in nature; it's designed to prepare students for graduate studies and/or licensure or certification needed to be hired in the areas of athletic training, exercise science, physical therapy, occupational therapy and medicine. A Mercyhurst student who is interested in pursuing a sports medicine major must declare a professional concentration upon entrance into the department. There are four concentrations offered within this program: 1) Pre-Medicine: Students enrolled in the pre-medical concentration offered through Mercyhurst University's Sports Medicine program will focus and learn evaluation, hands-on skills to prevent, manage and recognize sports-related injuries. This Mercyhurst Sports Medicine concentration will prepare students for medical school or chiropractic school, as well as help them to work toward a special emphasis in the field, especially orthopedic medicine. 2) Pre-Occupational Therapy: This concentration provides the student with the necessary course pre-requisites and clinical hand-on experience for entrance into a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. Students who choose this educational pathway will be exposed to the special needs physically active population. This population may include military veterans, pediatric orthopedic patients, head-trauma victims and other orthopedic special needs patients. 3) Pre-Physical Therapy: The Pre-Physical Therapy concentration is a highly competitive option within the Sportsmedicine department for those interested in the field of physical therapy. Students are prepared to gain acceptance into physical therapy doctoral programs across the nation upon graduation through a comprehensive background in allied health science, orthopedic assessment, therapeutic modalities and health and wellness of the physically active population. 4) Pre-Physician Assistant: This concentration will provide the student with the necessary course pre-requisites and clinical hands-on experience for entrance into master's degree level Physician Assistants curriculum.The pre-physician assistant student will learn orthopedic evaluation skills and recognition of injuries associated to the physically active individual.