The ever-growing field of sports science involves the study of physics, anatomy, physiology, and even disciplines such as biomechanics. Basic concepts from each of these fields merge together to form a core understanding of the human body and it's interactions during the organized games we commonly refer to as sports.
The best sports science courses depend on the goals of the student. For example, a student wanting to expand his or her knowledge of the field primarily for pleasure may benefit from a more generalized course. General courses will likely be designed in a way that provides the student with a brief overview of all facets of sports science but lacks the specific detail a more specialized course may offer.
If a student is taking sports science courses with a degree or ultimate career path in mind, he or she would be wise to choose course work in accordance with academic requirements. Someone looking to pursue a career as an athletic trainer should take sports science courses such as injury modalities, sports physics, or other similar tracts that will aid the development of necessary knowledge. If you wish to get into biomechanics research, good classes in this field would be biomechanics or physics.
It is apparent that the best way to choose sports science courses is on a personal basis. You may find it helpful to ask yourself questions: Why am I taking a sports science course? What do I like and dislike about classes? How will I benefit from taking this course? Taking time to reflect upon your motives for pursuing education in sports science may yield insight into which courses are the best fit.
There are also numerous external sources available for you regarding course work. If you are an independent and not affiliated with a college or university, using the local library or Internet to browse local course availability may be a good way to start. If affiliated with a university or working toward a degree of some sort, there are likely a plethora of resources at your disposal that will help you find what you are looking for.
Among these resources are fellow students, counselors, and professors. Fellow students may be in the same situation as you and therefore could lend a different approach to the same dilemma. Counselors are professions whose duty is to serve those in your situation, and not taking advantage of such an opportunity would be an injustice. Professors may be the most valuable tool of all, however, able to provide advice that has been brought to fruition through years of work and experience in sports science.
