According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in the fitness industry are expected to increase much faster than the national average for all jobs. A master's degree in exercise science can open many doors to careers in the fitness field. Exercise science is the study of movement and the body's response to movement, and the field of exercise science includes a wide range of jobs, from physical therapy to specialized forms of coaching.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapists use exercise to help people recover from injuries or diseases of the muscles, joints, nerves or bones. A master's degree in exercise science and further specialized training can help you become a physical therapist. After training, physical therapists have to pass a national exam to become certified. Physical therapists usually work in hospitals or clinics. According to the website PayScale, the average physical therapist's salary is $56,747 to $71,246, as of 2010.
Teacher
A master's degree in exercise science can land you a job teaching physical education, health or a related field. Requirements for teachers vary depending on the school and grade levels, but in general, the minimum requirement for a teacher at the elementary, middle school or high school level is a bachelor's degree and teaching certificate, and for the college or university level, at least a master's degree. Teaching salaries vary depending on the location and type of school. Teachers with exercise science degrees also often become coaches.
Coach
Coaching is another field open to exercise science majors. There are many types and levels of coaching jobs, from a junior high school cross-country coach to an NCAA basketball coach. In general, coaches at the high school level must have a bachelor's degree or specialized training in their sport, and college or university coaches need master's degrees. Strength and conditioning coaching is a specialized form of coaching that also requires a master's degree. Strength and conditioning coaches develop and supervise specific athletic programs to increase athletic performance.
Athletic Director
Athletic directors assume a leadership position by running a school's sports program. Duties of an athletic director include hiring and firing coaches, budgeting for sports programs, promoting sports programs and managing athletic facilities. Athletic directors serve as liaisons between school sports programs and the public. A master's degree in exercise science is a prerequisite for athletic directors. Athletic directors' salaries range from $60,000 to $94,000, as of 2010, according to Salary Expert.
Benefits
A master's degree in exercise science opens up a wide range of career opportunities that can help improve the health of a general or specific population. A master's degree opens doors to more specialized positions than a bachelor's degree provides, with possibilities ranging from strength and conditioning coaching to athletic director positions. The American College of Sports Medicine states that a master's in exercise science can lead to jobs that pay more than a bachelor's degree would.
Member Comments