COURSE IN DEPTH
Year One
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).
Professional Skills and Evidence-Based Practice
20 credits
This module covers the process of research and enquiry in the discipline of sports and exercise science, nutrition, sports therapy, and PE and School Sport. It provides guidance on how to interpret scientific literature, so that you can find relevant sources of information for a study or an assessment, gain an understanding of different sources of information and consider how knowledge is generated.
Introduction to Sport and Exercise Science
20 credits
This module aims to explore the wide-ranging activities of practitioners working in the sport and exercise science industry to enable you to appreciate the inter-disciplinary nature of professional practice. You will be introduced to the skills and knowledge required to work within the disciplines of physiology, nutrition, psychology and biomechanics, and how practitioners from these areas can work collaboratively to solve a variety of problems related to sports performance, exercise and health.
Sport and Exercise Physiology and Principles of Training
20 credits
This module aims to provide you with the underpinning knowledge of various physiological systems in the human body, and key training principles, which relate to sport and exercise. You will be introduced to the concept of the body working as multiple interrelated physiological ‘systems’.
Practical Skills in Sport and Exercise Nutrition
20 credits
This module aims to provide you with an introduction to the core practical competencies required in sport and exercise nutrition. You will consider a vast array of nutrition-related measurements including: energy balance (intake and expenditure); anthropometrical assessments; body composition, methods of assessing dietary intake; and both physiological and biochemical markers of nutritional status.
Applied Anatomy
20 credits
This module provides an introduction to human anatomy, relating to structures, properties and functions of bones, joints, tendons, ligaments and muscle, in relation to the mechanical principles, which govern human movement.
Biomechanics of Human Movement
20 credits
The primary purpose of this module is to introduce the mechanical principles that govern human movement and thus equip students not only with the ability to observe and measure human movement (i.e. to describe movement), but also to begin to understand the mechanisms by which human movement is controlled and effected (i.e. to explore why we move the way that we do).
Year Two
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).
Performance Analysis
40 credits
This module aims to provide an insight into the strategies that can be used to analyse and quantify sports performance in a valid and consistent manner to help inform training and match-play decisions. Specific focus is placed upon the process of conducting a comprehensive needs analysis of a sport including tactics, techniques, and bioenergetics.
Sport and Exercise Physiology and Nutrition
20 credits
In this module, you will learn how manipulation of both physiology and nutrition can impact aspects of health, exercise and sports performance. You will gain extensive knowledge on how the human body tolerates and adapts to a physiological stressor both acutely and chronically.
Planning and Conducting Research
20 credits
This module is a key part of the BSc Sport and Exercise Science, Sports Therapy, Sport and Exercise Nutrition, and PE and School Sport Programmes in that it is studied in preparation for your Level 6 Final Year Project. Information and activities on more complex inferential statistics will be presented building on from your level 4 research module.
Sport and Exercise Psychology
20 credits
This module aims to develop your knowledge of the most common psychological processes in sport and exercise and will help you recognise situations where psychological frameworks may be useful in sport and exercise.
Practical PE and Sport: Applied Pedagogy
20 credits
Within this module students will learn about a range of pedagogical practices which bring about high quality PE lessons where students are physically active for sustained periods of time. Students will identify the key principles of high quality teaching practice and relate these to practical experiences of teaching PE and sport.
Year Three
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 80 credits).
Strength and Conditioning
20 credits
This module aims to develop the skills required to coach and evaluate training methods in strength and conditioning. You will examine contemporary training theories and successfully apply the principles when coaching athletes.
Exercise Referral and Behaviour Change
20 credits
This module aims to develop your understanding of exercise referral. It aims to specifically develop your understanding of assessing, monitoring and managing risk to clients arising from exercise participation throughout the referral period.
Independent Research Project
40 credits
This module provides you with the opportunity to design and carry out a substantive piece of independent research which is focused on an area of interest related to your programme of study. This in-depth, self-managed study will encourage you to examine a critical issue from your sector or discipline.
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete at least 20 credits from the following list of OPTIONAL modules for SEMESTER A.
All core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.
Environmental Physiology
20 credits
In this module you will build upon your knowledge acquired in level 5 Sport and Exercise Physiology and Nutrition. This will include applying both theoretical and practical knowledge on how different environments affect human physiology in reference to both sports performance and health. In particular, this module considers the human capability to exercise in, tolerate, and adapt to, the conditions encountered in various environments. There will be a special focus on how hypoxic training methods can be used to enhance training adaptations. Some of the environments covered include hypoxic, hot, cold, and humid conditions.
Pyscho-Social Aspects of Physical Activity
20 credits
Within this module students will learn about a range of psychological and theoretical frameworks which support physical activity behaviours. Key principles promoting a healthy and physically active lifestyle from a psychological and practical perspective will be taught. This module is underpinned by the need, as a developing PE and school sport practitioner, to be aware of the wide range of psychological influences present when working within a PE and school sport environment. The range of teaching theories will be applied in practice so that students are able to experience and apply theory in real-life situations. This will provide the opportunity to reflect on best practice when completing work placement modules.
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete a further 20 credits from the following list of OPTIONAL modules for SEMESTER B.
All core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.
Psychological Perspectives of Athletic Development
20 credits
This module aims to further develop your understanding of the psychological aspects of development and progress in sport. The module also explores the various ways this topic is researched. The underlying aim of the module is to contribute to your development as a more thoughtful and effective sport scientist. It will equip you with a range of strategies and tools for investigating the psychological aspects of athletic development.
Performance Development in Relation to Sport or Exercise
20 credits
This optional applied module will enhance your interdisciplinary knowledge and understanding of sport science or exercise science. The module aims to develop some of the skills you will require to work in a sport and exercise setting. You will undertake a 12 week ‘case-study’ where you will provide advice and support to an athlete, team or health-based client. The case study aims to allow you to critically analyse a sport or individual, and interpret and synthesize data so it can be communicated in a way that is understandable to a coach, client or practitioner. You will also have the opportunity to develop essential communication skills.
