Community Sports Development
Postgraduate
In Bolton
Description
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Type
Postgraduate
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Location
Bolton
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Duration
3 Years
The course will help you develop the professional skills and knowledge required to manage community development through sport in an effective and proactive way. You will develop a deeper understanding of communities, and how they function, and of government policies in this field. Studing on this degree also encourages you to think independently, to challenge received wisdom and to develop innovative approaches to your work. Suitable for: This course is designed for professional people who are working in this exciting but highly complex field, and is very firmly grounded in a British policy context.
Facilities
Location
Start date
Start date
About this course
You should have at least a lower second class honours degree (2.2) in any subject, and preferably some relevant work experience.
If English is not your first language you will also need IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent).
Reviews
Course programme
About the course
As the only course of its kind in the North West and one of a very small number of postgraduate courses in this field nationally, it offers an excellent opportunity for career enhancement.
The course is delivered as flexibly as possible to accommodate the time pressures on those in full-time employment. Modules are delivered through a series of one-day workshops. The dates of these are arranged in cooperation with students to facilitate attendance. The course is delivered at the University of Bolton campus. Road and rail connections are excellent and student car parking is available.
What you will learn
You will learn about how communities function and why some communities become dysfunctional. You will learn how to articulate the ways in which sport and physical activity can have beneficial impacts on communities, and how community groups that are considered “hard to reach” can be effectively included. You will also learn to understand trends in community sport and physical activity within the context of government policies. You will acquire the skills and knowledge to be a strategic thinker and planner in utilising sport and physical activity to regenerate and develop communities.
The learning you undertake on the course will enable you to develop your professional outlook and to perform more effectively in your job. It will be of value in preparing funding bids, managing sport and physical activity projects and in articulating the community benefits of sport and physical activity.
What you will study
The course provides ample opportunities, through seminars, presentations and discussion papers, to discuss and debate salient issues relevant to community development through sport with colleagues peer professionals,
Each module is delivered through two one-day workshops in Bolton. These are supported by eight weeks of independent tutor-supported study. You can access web-based course learning materials at home or at work. Assessment is undertaken through a wide variety of means including, reports, essays, case studies and presentations. All assignments offer scope to draw on your own working environment.
Special features
- The dissertation, undertaken in the final year, provides you with an opportunity to undertake a self-chosen and unique piece of research in some aspect of community sport development. You may select a topic of direct relevance and benefit to your employing organisation, or a topic of personal interest.
- This course is unique in the North West and is one a very few such courses nationally. Students join from all regions of England and from Scotland, Ireland and Wales.
- The course team are currently active researchers in the field of community sport development and have completed funded research and evaluation commissions from a number of organisations. Teaching is thus based on first-hand current knowledge of the community sports development sector.
Careers and professional development
Our students find that the course immediately benefits them in their working environment. Additionally, many students have obtained promotions on completion of the course or whilst undertaking it. Through developing professional skills and attributes, the course significantly enhances individual opportunities for career progression.
On completion of your MA you will also become a member of the University’s alumni association. You can be a lifelong member of the University's community, able to access careers information and guidance, as well as the University's library and other facilities.
Professional recognition
This course was developed in partnership with Sport England North West.
Mode of attendance: Part-time: the course is delivered through a series of one-day workshops.
Community Sports Development