If you like engineering and sports, choosing a major can be confusing. You may search for a sports engineering degree and expect to find dozens of bachelor’s programs with that exact name. In the United States, the field is usually set up differently.
Most students don’t start out majoring in “sports engineering” itself. They usually go for a broader engineering degree first, like mechanical, biomedical, materials science, or aerospace, and then build sports-specific experience along the way through electives, internships, research projects, or a minor. If you want a more direct path, a sports engineering master’s is an option later on for a sharper specialization.
Is There a Sports Engineering Degree?
Yes, but the degree structure depends on the school and level of study. Dedicated graduate programs exist, while standalone bachelor’s degrees with the exact title “sports engineering” are still uncommon in the U.S.
At the undergraduate level, you are more likely to find sports engineering as a minor, research area, elective track, or project focus inside another engineering major. UMass Lowell, for example, offers a 24-credit Sports Engineering minor. Its course options include sports engineering, product design, exercise science, and sports-focused capstone work.
Why Most Programs Are Concentrations, Not Standalone Degrees
Sports engineering is usually a concentration or focus area rather than a standalone degree, since it builds on the same core engineering principles as other engineering fields. Students first build the technical foundation, then learn how to apply it to sports.
That foundation includes:
- Mechanics and materials: Learning how sporting equipment is put together and what lets it hold up under stress.
- Design and modeling: Teach students to develop, test, and improve products.
- Research and testing: Prepare students to measure performance and solve engineering problems.
This approach also gives you more career options. A mechanical engineer with sports experience, for example, can work in sports equipment design, manufacturing, product testing, or fields outside the sports industry.
When comparing undergraduate engineering programs, look at their courses, labs, research, internships, and ABET accreditation, rather than focusing only on whether the school offers a degree called sports engineering.
What Degree Do You Need to Be a Sports Engineer?
So, what degree do you need to be a sports engineer? For most entry-level roles, a bachelor’s degree in engineering is a strong starting point. From there, you can add a sports focus through:
- Engineering major: Build your expertise in mechanical, materials, or engineering
- Graduate study: Consider a sports engineering master’s degree if you want a specialization.
A master’s can help with specialized roles, but it isn’t required for every sports engineering job. For more on job duties and career options, read the Sports Engineering Career Guide.
Best Undergraduate Majors: Mechanical, Biomedical, Materials Science, Aerospace
Several majors can lead into sports engineering:
- Mechanical engineering: A great choice for sporting equipment, product design, motion, testing, manufacturing, and mechanical systems
- Materials science and engineering: Helpful for work involving composites, plastics, metals, footwear materials, protective gear, rackets, bats, skis, and other products.
- Aerospace engineering: Relevant for aerodynamics, fluid behavior, simulation, and products where airflow matters, such as balls, bikes, racing equipment, or ski systems.
The better choice is the major that gives you the technical base closest to the work you want to do.
Do You Need a Sports Engineering Master’s Degree?
No. You can enter parts of the sports industry with a bachelor’s degree, especially if you have strong project work, internships, research, and technical skills.
A sports engineering master’s degree becomes more useful when you want deeper specialization or when your undergraduate degree did not include much sports-related work. It can also help if you want access to advanced biomechanics, materials, data analysis, product development, or research opportunities.
What a Sports Engineering Master’s Adds
Graduate study can connect several subjects that are harder to combine in a standard bachelor’s program. Depending on the school, you may study:
- Biomechanics and human movement
- Sports equipment materials and manufacturing
- Product and process design
- Sensors and data collection
- Data analysis and machine learning
- Athletic performance testing
- Research methods
Purdue’s current professional master’s route, for example, is a 30-credit program that combines sports engineering courses with professional development, applied math, and technical electives. The university says the program typically takes one to two years.
Top Sports Engineering Degree Programs
Formal sports-focused engineering programs are still limited in the U.S. Some schools offer a master’s concentration, some offer a dedicated M.S., and others give students access through research or minors.
Purdue University: Sports Engineering Professional Master’s
Purdue offers a 30-credit Professional Master’s in Sports Engineering. Students earn an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in sports engineering.
The program covers areas such as:
- Biomechanics: Human movement and physical performance.
- Product design: Development and testing of sports products.
- Data and technology: Data management, machine learning, and analysis.
This program can be a good fit if you already have a bachelor’s degree and want a specialized graduate path.
University of Miami: M.S. in Sports Engineering
The University of Miami offers a 30-credit sports engineering master’s degree for students with a STEM-related bachelor’s degree. Thesis and non-thesis options are available.
Students can study:
- Sports equipment: Materials, manufacturing, and product development.
- Biomechanics: How the human body moves during different sports.
- Data analysis: Using data to study equipment and real athletic performance.
The program can be completed in as little as one academic year of full-time graduate study.
Washington State University: Sports Engineering Research
Washington State University focuses on sports engineering research rather than offering a degree with that specific name. Students can gain experience while completing a broader engineering program.
Research areas could be:
- Sports equipment: Putting bats, balls, and protective gear through rigorous testing
- Performance: Exploring aerodynamics, friction, and how gear behaves
This can be a good option if you want to apply engineering principles to sports through research and technical projects.
UMass Lowell: Sports Engineering Minor
UMass Lowell offers a 24-credit Sports Engineering minor, mainly for students already completing an engineering degree.
Students can build sports engineering experience in a few key areas:
- Product design: Create and test sporting equipment.
- Engineering and science: Use technical skills to solve sports-related problems.
- Research: Take part in sports engineering projects and lab work.
The minor lets students add a sports focus without completing a separate sports engineering degree.
What You’ll Study: Core Coursework and Skills
Your classes will vary by program, but most sports engineering paths cover a similar set of technical skills and subjects.
Expect to build skills in mechanics, materials, computer-aided design, testing, data analysis, and mathematics. If your focus involves people, you may also study biomechanics, physiology, movement, or human performance.
The technical work can include tasks such as:
- Creating and testing prototypes
- Using CAD software to model equipment
- Studying forces, motion, impact, and friction
- Comparing materials for weight, strength, or flexibility
- Sensors and wearables collect data from devices used during training or competition.
- Performance analysis: study data to measure athletic performance.
- Equipment testing: check sporting equipment for safety, quality, and consistency.
What you learn in these courses can be applied to many areas of sports engineering, including equipment design, testing, and performance technology.
Alternatives: Certificates and Minors
A sports engineering degree isn’t the only way to prepare for this field. If you’re already studying engineering or another STEM subject, you can build sports-specific knowledge through:
- Minor: Pick up sports engineering courses alongside your main degree.
- Internships: Get experience with a sports brand, equipment maker, or athletic department to see the work up close.
- Certificate: Build extra expertise in areas like sports technology.
- Electives: Choose classes about biomechanics, materials, or product design.
- Research projects: Apply engineering principles to real sports-related problems.
The best option depends on your existing skills and the type of sports engineering work you want to pursue. For example, someone interested in sporting equipment may benefit more from materials and sports equipment design courses, while someone focused on athletic performance may prefer biomechanics or data analysis.
How Much Do Sports Engineers Make?
A career in sports engineering can offer strong earning potential, although your salary will depend on your experience, location, employer, and area of work.
According to ZipRecruiter, the average sports engineering salary in the U.S. is about $146,868 per year as of August 2026.
That figure covers the sports engineering field as a whole, so what you actually earn will depend on where you land. Someone in equipment design, sports tech, product testing, or performance analysis might make more or less than that number depending on the specific role and how much experience they bring.
A sports engineering degree, relevant internships, and hands-on experience can help prepare you for higher-level opportunities as your career develops.
Choosing the Right Path for Your Goals
Start with the type of work you want to do, then choose a degree path that builds the right skills. Different areas of sports engineering may call for different majors.
| Career Interest | Degree or Skills to Consider |
| Sports equipment design | Mechanical engineering, materials science |
| Wearables and body movement | Biomedical engineering, biomechanics |
| Injury and athletic performance | Biomedical engineering, biomechanics |
| Data and performance analysis | Programming, statistics, data science |
| Sports research | Engineering programs with relevant labs and faculty |
A school does not need a dedicated sports engineering degree to be a good choice. Research opportunities, internships, and hands-on projects can be just as valuable.
Your degree provides the foundation, but your experience shows employers how you can apply engineering principles to the sports industry.
Sports Engineering Internships While You’re in College
Internships help turn your sports engineering education into real work experience. Start looking during your sophomore or junior year.
Professional teams are just one option. You can also find sports engineering opportunities with sports technology companies, equipment manufacturers, testing labs, fitness companies, and university research centers.
Summer internships are common, but school-year positions can also help you gain experience while completing your degree.
Where to Find Sports Engineering Internships
Search by the work you want to do, not just the title “sports engineering intern.” Useful search terms can include:
- Mechanical engineering intern sports
- Sports technology intern
- Product design intern sporting goods
- Biomechanics intern
- Wearable technology intern
- Sports data or performance technology intern
- Materials engineering intern sports equipment
You can also look at university labs and research centers. Schools like Purdue, WSU, and UMass Lowell give students hands-on sports engineering experience through research, testing, and real projects.
An internship can also help you decide whether you really want graduate school. After working on actual equipment, data, or testing projects, you may have a much clearer idea of which skills you still want to develop.
You Can Start Your Sports Engineering Career Today
There isn’t one set degree path into sports engineering. Many students choose a major like mechanical, biomedical, materials, or aerospace engineering and add sports-related experience through internships, research, a minor, or graduate study.
Once you are ready to look for opportunities, create a free account on JobsInSports.com and start searching for sports engineering, sports technology, product development, data, and related roles. JobsInSports also offers paid membership options for people who want broader job access and career tools.
You can also join The Network on JobsInSports. Members can create a sports-focused profile, connect with other professionals, get discovered by employers, and receive updates about jobs that match their interests.
If your interests lean more toward data systems, software, or analytics, read the Sports Data Engineer Jobs guide next.
The key is to choose an engineering base that fits the problems you want to solve, then build proof that you can apply those skills to sports. You don’t need one exact bachelor’s title to become a sports engineer. You need the right technical foundation, relevant experience, and a clear connection between your engineering skills and the sports industry.
