Dive into the world of sports injuries

Sports Medicine: An Inside Look at the Major Injuries & Treatments

Your favorite quarterback is out with a concussion. Will he return for the 4th quarter? You’re playing tennis and you feel your shoulder pop. What’s going on? Get the answers in this course on sports medicine. We’ll focus on 3 common injuries—ACL tear, shoulder dislocation and concussion. Plus, you’ll learn about traumas and treatments of star athletes. This online course is a must if you seek a future career in the field—from orthopedic surgeon to athletic trainer.

Apply Now

Athlete playing tennis and avoiding a shoulder injury

Program Dates

Multiple 1-, 2- and 4-week sessions.

Eligibility

For students ages 13+.

Fees

$1495

Know the Pain Behind the Game

Interested in Sports Medicine? Discover the Opportunities

Get an overview of the field today, and the many careers you could pursue.

Learn How to Diagnose an ACL Knee Injury

Witness a 17-yr. old soccer player’s knee trauma. Learn the anatomy, diagnostic and surgical procedures and prospects for recovery.

Understand How to Treat a Shoulder Injury

What happens when a shoulder is dislocated? What’s the anatomy? How is an injury managed onsite? Does it always require surgery? Learn everything from injury to rehab.

Concussions: Know the Causes and the Consequences

Learn what it means when the cart comes on the field. Look into the ranges of traumatic brain injuries, from minor concussion to spinal cord trauma and current treatment protocols.

Case Studies: An Inside View of Injuries to Major Sports Stars

Ripped from the headlines — famous QBs, pitchers, NBA and track stars. Study their injuries, how they were treated and their outcomes.

Final Project: You Become the Sports Doctor

Choose your patient, whether a family member or sports star in the news, and provide a diagnosis and treatment plan.

How You Will Benefit:

  • Understand concussions and the resulting traumatic brain injuries that occur in sports
  • Learn how an ACL knee injury is diagnosed and treated
  • Analyze case studies of actual professional sports stars, their treatments and outcomes
  • Gain insight on the anatomy of a shoulder dislocation and preferred treatment options
  • Present a sports injury and recommend a treatment plan
  • Explore the college majors and careers associated with sports medicine

Sports medicine doctor viewing an x-ray to diagnose and treat an athlete's injury

3 Learning Advantages Designed for You

  1. Final Capstone Project

    The course culminates with a special Capstone project that allows you to:

    • Demonstrate what you’ve learned in this course
    • Get feedback from your mentors on your work
    • Use video, text, or a presentation to complete your project
  2. Mentoring

    You’ll receive personal guidance from a mentor who can support you and answer questions as you deepen your learning experience. You can expect:

    • Encouragement and direction on all assignments
    • Inspiration, motivation and confidence to help you succeed
    • Brainstorming and ideation help as you prepare for your final Capstone project
  3. Flexible Learning

    • 100% online, works with your schedule
    • You’ll learn through engaging video— tune in anytime that works for you
    • 20-25  hours of total instruction and course work, including engaging multimedia simulations and curated assignments for which you will receive guidance and support
    • Engage with fellow students around the world any time, any place

Apply Now for the Next Available Course


Hear from Wake Forest

Hear from our students

"I would recommend this course to those who have an interest in sports medicine or medicine as a whole. This course taught me a lot about the different roles of healthcare providers in the sports medicine field and about many common injuries. It was a great experience!"

Taylor, sports medicine student from NC

"This course definitely helped me see that I would enjoy working with sports medicine injuries and that I want to do this for the rest of my life. It interested me seeing the consequences, causes, anatomy, diagnoses, and treatment of sports injuries."

Valeria, sports medicine student from Puerto Rico

Meet Your Online Immersion Faculty Member

Dr. Brian Waterman | Sports Medicine Course Instructor | Wake Forest University

Dr. Brian Waterman, Chief and Fellowship Director, Sports Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine

Dr. Waterman is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and complex knee, shoulder, and elbow care. As a Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, he currently serves as Chief and Fellowship Director of Sports Medicine and is Team Physician for Wake Forest University (Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Soccer), Winston-Salem Dash (Chicago White Sox), U.S. Ski & Snowboard, and several Triad area high schools. As a former collegiate athlete himself, Dr. Waterman is passionate about taking care of a wide variety of athletes at all levels. Dr. Waterman has served as a team physician for the Chicago Bulls, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Fire (MLS), and Chicago Steel (USHL).

Meet The Mentors

Abi | Wake Forest Sports Medicine Course Mentor

Abi

Wake Forest University graduate with majors in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and a double minor in Computer Science and Religious Studies. He is currently pursuing his MD from the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.

Carli | Wake Forest Sports Medicine Course Mentor

Carli

Graduate of the Wake Forest PA program and currently working at Wake Forest Baptist Health hospital with the Abdominal Organ Transplant Surgery Program. She holds an undergraduate degree in Microbiology with a minor in Psychology. Carli was also a CNA, worked in home health, a nursing home, and on a medical/surgical floor in a hospital.

Spencer | Wake Forest Sports Medicine Course Mentor

Spencer

Wake Forest University graduate with a degree in Health and Exercise Science. While at WFU, Spencer joined the Sports Medicine staff for both the football and men's soccer teams. He now works as a clinical research assistant for the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City and attends medical school with the goal of a career in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine.

Morgan | Wake Forest Sports Medicine Course Mentor

Morgan

Wake Forest University graduate with a degree in Health and Exercise Science. As an undergraduate, she was an athletic trainer for the Wake football team, a varsity cheerleader, and a teaching assistant for anatomy labs. Morgan is currently a medical student at Wake Forest and hopes to pursue a career in pediatric orthopedic surgery and sports medicine.

How to Apply:

Student at desk

It’s easy. No transcripts or letters of recommendation are required. Just provide some basic information and tell us why you wish to take this program.

NOTE: please submit all application materials in English.

Begin the guided process. It should take only a few minutes of your time to answer the questions.

Begin the guided process

Want to know more?

Sign up for more information and we’ll be in touch.

Admissions

Our application process is easy. You can expect a prompt decision.

Apply Now

Frequently Asked Questions

How will you be graded? What are assignments like? How much time do you get to turn around a project? When do you find out if you’re accepted?

Answers to your questions here

Scholarships

We offer need-based scholarships for participating students who exhibit high potential and an inability to pay the full tuition. 

  • If you haven’t applied to the program, apply here. After submitting your application, click “Apply for a need-based scholarship” on the confirmation page to request a scholarship.  
  • If you’ve already applied to the program, sign in to your profile to check your scholarship status. If we don’t have a scholarship request on file, click “Apply for a need-based scholarship” to request a scholarship.

The University reserves the right to modify the course as may become necessary.