Sports Science and Personal Training

BSc (Hons) Sports Science and Personal Training
Mode: full-time

This was one of the first courses in the country to offer vocational qualifications within a wider theoretical content. It contains areas of study endorsed by SkillsActive, the Sector Skills Council for Active Leisure and Learning, and gives Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) Advanced Stage three status.

This course offers a mix of practical skills and scientific understanding and prepares students for a number of health and exercise based professions.

Blending vocational, practical and theoretical elements, the course includes gym-based work, exercise referral schemes and personal training. plus physiology, psychology, biomechanics and fitness instruction.

At stage two, you can specialise in biomechanics or exercise psychology while maintaining core physiology and higher instructor awards. In stage three, you will qualify as a personal trainer and GP referral specialist. You will also work towards your final dissertation.

Staff are experts in their fields and ensure that students are kept informed of latest developments. The Faculty has a brand new, state-of-the-art sports halls and sport laboratories with excellent physiology and human movement research laboratories.

Areas of study include:

• Physiology of Exercise
• Psychology of Exercise
• Fitness Industry Awards

Why choose this course?

• Integrates vocational qualifications with traditional academic degree
• Units recognised by the Register of Exercise Professionals (REP)
• expert staff, with many being published internationally
• State-of-the-art £8m PE and Sport Science Centre
• Sport-related courses ranked 12th in the UK, according to the Guardian 2007
• Gain fitness industry qualifications at the same time as a degree
• Covers same depth of subject matter as a traditional sports science degree
• Sport courses rated 14th in the UK - 2009 Guardian University Guide

Career Opportunities

Graduates are well placed to progress to PGCE and other postgraduate degrees.

Teaching/learning methods and strategies

Teaching is delivered through a variety of methods including lectures, seminars, workshops, laboratory practicals, small group tutorials and self-directed study. In addition, there is significant use of guest lecturers and assessors in the module relating to vocational qualification.

Assessment

Assessment on the course is through essays, group projects, presentations, laboratory reports, seminar papers and exams.

Entry requirements

• Standard entry requirements apply.
• Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.
• Due to the nature of the course accreditation of prior learning will be considered on a case by case basis for individuals with considerable experience in the exercise and fitness sector.
• We welcome applications form students with ethnically diverse backgrounds, students returning to education and international students. We also support widening participation and encourage applicants with non-standard qualifications.
• If English is a second language, an IELTS score of 6.0 or greater, or a TOEFL score of 650 or greater, or an approved equivalent must be supplied.