This course is designed to prepare you to work in physical education, coaching or sport development. You’ll gain a solid grounding in the sport and exercise sciences and learn to plan, teach and assess physical activities and programmes.
In your first year, you’ll study core modules that will give you a fundamental knowledge across all the broad disciplines within sports, health and exercise sciences.
In year 2 you’ll start to specialise in the areas of education, social issues in sport and the policies and practices within physical education, sport development and coaching. However, the flexibility of this course means that if you change your mind about the areas you wish to study, you can switch over to our Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences BSc programme in the second year if you wish.
During your final year, you’ll be able to select specific modules to focus on, to further specialise your learning. You'll also carry out a major project in a topic of your choice.
This course can be studied 3 years full-time, 3 years full-time with placement or 4 years full-time with placement, starting in September.
Year 1
Compulsory
- SP1606 - Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology
- The aim of this module is to provide students with a foundational knowledge of human anatomy and physiology in relation to sport, health and exercise contexts. Specifically, students will develop understanding of the organisation of the human body from molecules, organelles and cells to organ systems. Students will also carry out laboratory-based measurements and evaluation of human physiological function.
- SP1604 - Introduction to Biomechanics
- This module enables students to gain an understanding of the fundamental biomechanical principles underpinning human movement, and how measurement devices can be used to obtain key measures of movement. Students will be able to apply biomechanical principles at a basic level in sport, health and exercise scenarios, and appreciate the use and limitations of common biomechanical measurement devices.
- SP1706 - Introduction to Research Methods and Data Analysis
- The aim of this study block is to enhance students’ existing study skills and introduce conventions of good academic practice. In addition, the content is designed to familiarise students with a range of quantitative and qualitative research skills.
- SP1600 - Introduction to the Psychology of Sport and Exercise
- This module aims to equip students with a preliminary understanding of key psychological concepts in relation to sport and exercise contexts; including how factors such as anxiety, motivation, and confidence impact sports performance. During laboratory-based sessions, students are encouraged to analyse, evaluate, create and apply knowledge to hypothetical and/or real-world scenarios.
- SP1603 - Personal and Professional Development
- The aim of this module is to introduce and prepare students for a range of knowledge, skills and understanding expected in working environments. The study block supports students in the development of their ability to evaluate the transferable skills acquired in their programme of study and their applicability to work settings.
- SP1602 - Physical Activity, Health and Wellbeing
- This modules aims to introduce theoretical, conceptual and methodological approaches to promoting, delivering and measuring physical activity for health and wellbeing. The module supports students to identify and understand different contexts in which physical activity is delivered for health and wellbeing.
- SP1608 - Pedagogy and Policy in Physical Education and Sport
- Students will be introduced to a range of issues relating to Physical Education teaching and coaching practice, including: the history and aims, pedagogical concepts, principles of inclusion and the relationship between policy, curriculum and practice. The module also introduces the theoretical concept of physical literacy through a range of practical contexts and explores how it underpins lifelong participation in physical activity.
- SP1609 - Sport Development Issues and Policy
- This module aims to encourage students to identify and understand social phenomena associated with sports in contemporary society. Students are introduced to social and management theories as well as different political and cultural ideologies, and how they relate with the world of sport.
Year 2
Compulsory
- SP2607 - The Application of Sport Science to Coaching: Working with Individuals
- The aim of this module is to promote students’ understanding of the multidisciplinary nature of coaching and their ability to apply theory to sports coaching practices, contexts and performers; specifically relating to the individual needs of sports performers, at different stages of learning and development. Students will learn performance analysis skills and how these relate to the coaching process.
- SP2720 - Developing Research Methods and Data Analysis Skills
- The aim of this study block is to develop students’ understanding of the nature of different research models as well as their quantitative and qualitative research skills. Students will have the opportunity to formulate research questions and determine appropriate methods that are related to their final-year project.
- SP2600 - Graduate and Transferable Skills
- The aim of this module is to introduce a range of knowledge and skills expected within working environments. Students will develop their ability to engage in self-appraisal through a personal development plan to identify learning needs in the context of work settings.
- SP2610 - Physical Education, Pedagogy and the Learning Environment
- The aim of this module is to enhance students’ knowledge and understanding of physical literacy by developing confidence and competence in a range of movement contexts. Effective learning environments and motivational climates are considered in relation to the development of lifelong participation in physical activity.
- SP2603 - Physical Activity, Health and Wellbeing in the Life Course
- This module aims to develop students’ ability to examine and apply selected theories and concepts of physical activity for health and wellbeing in the life course. Students will also discover and understand the multidisciplinary nature of physical activity, health and wellbeing.
- SP2608 - Policy and Practice in Physical Education, Sports Coaching and Sport Development (Macro analysis)
- During this module, students will develop their understanding of different policy instruments and processes and how different people engage with and interpret macro level policy. Students will consider the issue of inclusion and exclusion in Physical Education, youth sport and sports development from a policy and practice perspective.
- SP2609 - Social Issues in Sport
- This module aims to develop students' understanding of sociology and sport development theories and concepts and their application to various contemporary social issues in sport. Students will have the opportunity to enhance their digital literacy skills and acquire the technical skills and knowledge associated with video production.
Year 3
Compulsory
- SP3600 - Advanced Research Methods and Data Analysis: Final Year Project
- Students will carry out an individual, original piece of academic work within an area of personal interest in a particular topic within the context of sport, health and exercise sciences. Students can choose their own approach to the project, which is most suited to their skills, interests and subject focus.
- SP3605 - Employability and Professional Development
- The aim of this module is to continue to improve students’ professional development and employability through critical reflexive practice, personal responsibility and autonomy. Specifically, the module encourages the development of leadership and management skills that are valued in graduate-level employment contexts and enable students to produce strong applications for graduate-level jobs and/or courses of further study.
- SP3604 - Issues in Physical Activity, Health and Wellbeing
- The aim of this module is to select, critically analyse and apply interdisciplinary knowledge and methods to understanding physical activity, health and wellbeing. The module encourages students to engage in detailed critical analysis of current policy research and practice in the field of physical activity, health and wellbeing.
Optional
- SP3610 - The Application of Sport Science to Coaching: Working with Teams
- This module aims to develop an understanding of effective team coaching and enhance awareness of the multidisciplinary nature of contemporary sports coaching. Specifically, students will discover the multidisciplinary needs analysis of a team, and to propose a viable intervention to address those needs. Skills acquired within this module relate to performance analysis and how this links to the coaching process.
- SP3612 - Critical Issues in Sport
- The aim of this module is to provide students with an opportunity to critically evaluate social problems/issues associated with sports in contemporary society and apply social theories/research to critically analysing these issues. A particular focus is given to the role of the media in (re)producing social phenomena.
- SP3613 - Critical Pedagogy and Learning in Physical Education and Sport
- The aim of this module is to understand how learners' embodied experience can be supported through the construction of effective learning environments and the implementation of critical pedagogy in physical education and sport. The module explores the challenges, choices and constraints faced by teachers, coaches and learners in present and future learning environments. This is studied in relation to physical literacy, health and wellbeing, digital technology and physical culture in the context of learners embodied difference.
- SP3611 - Policy and Practice in Physical Education, Sports Coaching and Sport Development (Micro analysis)
- This module introduces the policy context of physical education, sports coaching and sports development and aims to build an understanding of different political ideologies, policy instruments and process. Students will critically analyse how people engage with and interpret meso- and micro-level policy. This is developed through a broader social context that explores issues of identity and power, considering how they relate and influence policy and practice.
