Choosing the best biomechanics course depends on the level of the student and what he or she desires to learn from the course work. Biomechanics is like any other academic field — there are beginners and experts. A biomechanics course may be for novices or professors, specific or broad, or short or long and more intense. Assessing your individual goals before choosing a biomechanics course will assure the most successful endeavor possible. Price and accessibility are other factors you should address, too, in your decision.
Although the best way to choose a biomechanics course successfuly is to match the course with your goals and needs, it is also helpful to get an idea of the types of courses typically offered by colleges and universities. A university may offer the following courses in this field: Mechanical Analysis of Human Performance, Experimental Laboratory Techniques, Biomechanics of Human Performance, and general Biomechanics. There are also graduate courses that tend to focus on one specific aspect of biomechanics as well. It is obvious that there are a plethora of ways to obtain course work in biomechanics, so it is up to you to decide which one you wish to pursue.
Another possible factor to consider is the price of the course. Most courses are priced based on credit; for example, you may pay $500 US Dollars (USD) per credit, making a standard three-credit course valued at $1,500 USD. This is a significant price to pay for supplemental learning. Those not working toward a degree may choose less expensive alternatives, such as a community college or course work involving less credits. Generally, the amount of credits reflects the class time and work associated with the course at hand. Keep this in mind when choosing a biomechanics course because a less expensive course may be less demanding, in turn offering a less beneficial learning opportunity.
Unless you are a person relatively serious about academia or pursuing a degree, there may be other options available to learn about biomechanics. The Internet, for example, can be a great resource for free learning, provided that the source of information is legitimate. If a particular course is necessary, then choose the most efficient course financially or most reputable in terms of university or instructor. In the case that more freedom is allowed in selecting a biomechanics course, you may wish to follow your interests. One way to develop specific interests in biomechanics is to take an introductory course and then pursue the particular topics you find interesting in greater detail with more advanced classes.
