15 Sports Medicine Internships for Undergraduates
- Stephen Turban
- 28 minutes ago
- 9 min read
If you’re an undergraduate student interested in sports medicine, internships are an excellent way to gain experience in athletic healthcare, injury prevention, and performance optimization. These programs introduce you to clinical settings, research labs, and athletic training environments, helping you develop practical skills, explore potential career paths, and strengthen your resume.
Internships also provide opportunities to learn from experienced professionals and build a network of mentors and peers. An internship can give you a head start when you enter the job market by showing employers that you’ve already developed relevant skills. To help you choose, we’ve curated a list of 15 sports medicine internships for undergraduates, selected based on the reputation of the institution, the quality and relevance of the professional experience, and the networking opportunities offered. Here’s our selection!
15 Sports Medicine Internships for Undergraduates
Location: Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: $2,000 stipend
Program Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Sports Medicine track: Applicants must have completed their first year of medical school. | Sports Rehab/Nutrition & Performance track: Applicants must have completed their junior year of college and maintain a minimum GPA of 3.5. | Pre-Med Track: Applicants must have completed their junior year of college with a minimum GPA of 3.5. Their coursework should be aligned with medical school admission requirements.
The Women’s Sports Medicine Center at HSS runs an intensive summer internship designed to give students hands-on exposure to sports medicine with a focus on female athletes. Over eight weeks, you’ll shadow physicians, orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists, nutritionists, and sports psychologists, gaining experience across clinical care, performance, and rehabilitation. In addition, participants assist with research and complete an independent project, building both academic and professional skills.
The program offers three tracks- Sports Medicine (for medical students), Sports Rehab/Nutrition & Performance (for undergraduates), and Pre-Med (for undergraduates preparing for medical school). Each track provides tailored shadowing opportunities and practical experiences, providing meaningful insights into the field.
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to undergraduates and gap year students!
Ladder University Internship Program is a selective, virtual internship program where you work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup. Apply now!
Location: Sioux Falls, Fargo, Grand Forks, and Bismarck, SD and ND
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
Program Duration: 12 to 14 weeks
Application Deadline: Summer February 15. Fall May 30. Winter and Spring September 30
Eligibility: Current college students
Sanford Sports Performance offers you an immersive internship to gain hands-on experience in strength and conditioning training. You’ll work with athletes ranging from middle school to collegiate and professional levels, assisting coaches with program design, instruction, and performance training sessions. The program provides exposure to warm-up routines, flexibility and mobility exercises, acceleration and agility drills, plyometrics, and strength and conditioning exercises. You’ll also gain experience with equipment setup and data recording while building professional relationships with staff, athletes, and clients. The internship emphasizes mentorship, personal development, and career preparation, including bi-weekly staff meetings and educational sessions.
Location: Furman University, Greenville, SC
Cost/Stipend: Scholarships can range from $5,000 - $8,000
Program Dates: 4 - 6 weeks
Application Deadline: Contact the program for details
Eligibility: College undergraduates pursuing allied health or medical degrees
The Furman University Sports Medicine Center offers undergraduate interns hands-on exposure to athletic care and rehabilitation. You’ll gain experience in patient care, designing treatment protocols, applying various modalities, learning operational practices, and understanding HIPAA compliance. You can also earn course credit through the Health Science or Internship Program departments.
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Cost/Stipend: Not mentioned
Program Dates: Flexible, based on student schedules
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Undergraduate students enrolled in a CAATE-accredited Athletic Training program
The Pediatric Sports Medicine Athletic Training Internship and Immersion gives undergraduate athletic training students hands-on experience in pediatric sports medicine. Over the course of the program, you’ll gain exposure to clinical and outreach settings, working with Certified Athletic Trainers and Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Physicians. You’ll learn differential diagnoses, bracing and casting procedures, functional rehabilitation, home exercise program development, and injury documentation. You’ll also rotate through orthopedic clinics, radiology, special events coverage, injury prevention programs, and outreach services, providing a comprehensive introduction to the roles of athletic trainers in a pediatric hospital environment.
Location: Various locations in Columbus, Ohio
Cost/Stipend: Not mentioned
Program Dates: Summer semester runs May to August. Fall semester runs August to December
Application Deadline: April 1 for summer. June 1 for fall
Eligibility: Undergraduate or graduate students working toward a degree
The Sports Performance Internship Program provides you with hands-on experience in strength and conditioning. You’ll work with high school, collegiate, and private sector athletes, leading small group sessions and coaching large group activities. The internship also includes administrative responsibilities such as research, data collection, program design, and weekly teaching/learning sessions. You’ll gain the opportunity to build a professional portfolio, receive mentorship from experienced staff, and develop skills in athlete performance and coaching.
Location: Los Angeles, California
Cost/Stipend: Not mentioned
Program Dates: Three year commitment starting fall quarter of sophomore year
Application Deadline: June 9
Eligibility: Full-time UCLA undergraduates with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Applications accepted at the end of freshman year. First Aid and CPR or AED certification required. Three year commitment required starting fall quarter of sophomore year
The UCLA Sports Medicine Internship Program (SMIP) offers undergraduates a comprehensive, multi-year professional development experience in athletic training, physical therapy, and sports medicine. You’ll work with UCLA Sports Medicine staff, physicians, and student-athletes, gaining exposure to injury evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention. The program begins with an observation period in the sophomore year, followed by a probationary quarter with 10–15 hours weekly. In the professional phase, you’ll commit 15-25 hours per week over six quarters, working hands-on with UCLA athletic teams under certified trainers. The curriculum includes clinical rotations, competency workshops, coursework through UCLA Extension, and educational sessions taught by healthcare providers. Alongside technical training, the program emphasizes leadership, professionalism, and communication, making it a good fit for students pursuing athletic training, physical therapy, or medical careers.
Location: Sacramento, California
Cost/Stipend: Not mentioned
Program Dates: Year-round; minimum 6 months
Application Deadline: Not mentioned
Eligibility: Primarily open to undergraduate and graduate students in exercise physiology, biomechanics, or related fields with a minimum commitment of two quarters (six months) and at least 3.5 hours per week, typically in a single morning or afternoon shift.
The UC Davis Sports Performance and Wellness Internship allows students to immerse themselves in the full spectrum of sports performance testing and wellness services within UC Davis Sports Medicine’s state-of-the-art Sacramento facility. You’ll gain experience designing testing protocols, conducting assessments such as VO2max, body composition, and gait analysis, interpreting test data, and applying results to optimize client health and performance. This hands-on program emphasizes skill development beyond basic clinical support, allowing you to contribute to client education, social media outreach, and process improvements. You’ll work alongside orthopedic surgeons, sports medicine physicians, exercise physiologists, biomechanists, and sports dieticians in a multidisciplinary setting that serves everyone from sedentary individuals to elite athletes.
Location: Multiple sites across California coordinated through Pepperdine University
Cost/Stipend: Varies by placement
Program Dates: Offered year round with semester long options
Application Deadline: Not mentioned
Eligibility: Junior or senior undergraduates, graduate students, or recent graduates in exercise science, sports medicine, kinesiology, or related fields
Pepperdine University partners with a wide network of hospitals, clinics, corporate wellness centers, fitness facilities, and athletic organizations to offer students diverse Sports Medicine internship experiences. These placements give you exposure to areas such as orthopedic care, prosthetics, cardiac rehabilitation, therapeutic recreation, athletic training, biomechanics, physical therapy, nutrition, and corporate wellness programming. Internship sites range from large organizations like Amgen, Chevron’s Health Quest Wellness Center, and 24-Hour Fitness, to specialized clinics such as Beverly Hills Prosthetics and Orthotics, Malibu Rehabilitation, and Rancho Los Amigos Hospital, to research-driven institutions like The Cooper Institute. You can also intern directly with Pepperdine’s Division I Athletic Medicine Program, where they assist athletic trainers with the prevention, evaluation, and rehabilitation of student-athlete injuries.
Location: Dallas, TX
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Program Dates: Two three-week sessions offered every summer
Application Deadline: April
Eligibility: Open to college students interested in pursuing sports medicine or orthopaedics
Texas Sports Medicine offers a three-week summer internship designed to introduce college students to the field of orthopedics and sports medicine. Selected interns shadow leading physicians and gain exposure to a wide range of areas, including injury diagnosis, rehabilitation, imaging, and innovative treatments such as cryotherapy, hyperbaric oxygen chambers, and shock wave therapy. The program is a good opportunity, giving you a first-hand look at both clinical practice and cutting-edge medical technology.
Location: MGH, Boston
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Program Dates: July 1 – 31
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Premedical and medical students
This one-month summer internship at MGH is designed to give you direct exposure to women’s sports medicine. You will gain experience through shadowing opportunities in orthopedic surgery, clinic, and physical therapy, while also completing a summer research project. The program could be a great option for students preparing for medical school or currently in medical training who want to build early experience in the subspecialty of sports medicine.
Location: University of Nevada, Reno, NV
Cost/Stipend: Volunteer
Program Dates: Fall and spring rotations
Application Deadline: Based on the selected cohort
Eligibility: Current University of Nevada undergraduates with CPR or AED certification, minimum 3.0 semester GPA, and minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA
The University of Nevada Sports Medicine Student Athletic Training Internship Program offers undergraduate students a hands-on, immersive experience in the field of sports medicine. You’ll work with certified athletic trainers, team physicians, and allied healthcare professionals to gain practical knowledge in evaluating, treating, and rehabilitating athletic injuries. During the program, interns assist in the daily operations of the athletic training room, participate on the sidelines of sporting events, and may travel with teams. Responsibilities include supporting athletes in their recovery plans, assisting with injury assessments, and helping apply therapeutic treatments.
Location: University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA
Cost/Stipend: Varies; typically covered through academic enrollment
Program Dates: Spring, check applications here
Application Deadline: To be announced
Eligibility: Undergraduate students interested in sports medicine, performance, or nutrition
The UMass internships provide undergraduates with hands-on experience in a Division I collegiate athletic environment. You’ll work with sports performance coaches, certified athletic trainers, and the Director of Performance Nutrition. Sports Performance Internship participate in lectures, skill development, and coaching sessions to gain experience in program design, periodization, and performance principles. Sports Medicine Interns gain supervised experience in athletic training, injury evaluation, rehabilitation, and exposure to medical residents and fellows. You’ll assist with athlete fueling, inventory management, pre-/post-practice nutrition setup, and monitoring hydration and supplement distribution.
Location: Foothill College, Los Altos Hills, CA
Cost/Stipend: Not mentioned
Program Dates: Aligned with academic semesters with flexible start dates
Application Deadline: Not mentioned
Eligibility: Undergraduate students pursuing allied health or sports medicine related degrees
The Foothill College Sports Medicine Internship provides undergraduate students with experience working in the Athletic Treatment Center. You’ll assist with injury evaluation, taping and bracing, stretching, therapeutic modalities, supervision of rehabilitation programs, and on-the-field emergency care. Under the guidance of certified athletic trainers, physicians, and physical therapists, you’ll gain exposure to practical sports medicine skills, and possibly also access externship opportunities with organizations such as the San Francisco Giants, Stanford University, and Northern California High School Sports Medicine Seminar. The program also offers core courses to structure clinical learning and maximize skill development in sports medicine.
Location: Columbus, OhioCost/Stipend: Not mentionedProgram Dates: 12 weeks
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Undergraduate students
The Play Strong Internship provides you with hands-on experience in a 12-week physical activity intervention program for children and adolescents. You’ll work with patients ages 5 and older, including those with chronic conditions such as cancer, diabetes, arthritis, or heart disease, as well as children struggling with weight. You’ll help lead group exercises, conduct patient interviews, and assist with goal setting, while also participating in administrative tasks like research, data collection, and program design. Sessions focus on motivation, habit change, and functional movement skills, giving interns a unique opportunity to apply classroom learning in a real-world clinical and community setting.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here, check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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