Clinical Exercise Physiology

MSc Clinical Exercise Physiology
Mode: part-time (2-5 years)

The overall aim of the course is to provide an intellectually challenging multidisciplinary programme of advanced study in application of exercise physiology in clinical settings.

Specifically the award involves the detailed study of the physiological consequences of a range of chronic debilitating diseases and highlights the predictable changes that these different diseases cause during exercise testing.

Rehabilitation practice is also a factor of the course with an overview of phase IV cardiac rehabilitation informing the curriculum.

You will be given a solid grounding in the theory and application of a variety of physiological tests and their application in clinical populations.

The theoretical parts of the course are underpinned by significant amounts of time spent in the laboratory learning the practical skills required.

This includes graded cardiopulmonary exercise testing, cardiac ultrasound measurements, vascular ultrasound measures and muscle function analyses.

The integration of theory and practice within the course ensures that you will be able to meet developing statutory professional requirements of practice-specific knowledge, understanding and skills.

Career Opportunities

Graduates would be well qualified to work in the health and fitness industry. Further career opportunities would also include health promotion and development with local authorities and well as working as a researcher within the NHS.

Graduates will also be well placed to develop their research interests within higher education.

Teaching/learning methods and strategies

Since the course is primarily designed for graduate entry or equivalent, you will be expected to have already developed ability for independent study.

The structure and assessment strategies of the research methods units ensure a very solid grounding in the approaches, techniques and methods that would be required for a successful completion of the dissertation.

In the taught part of the course, lectures would not normally exceed 50% of class contact time.

In line with the expectation of greater independent learning at masters level the remainder of the time will consist of seminars, practical sessions, laboratory sessions, oral presentations, case studies and poster presentations.

Laboratory based sessions are formally timetabled to ensure appropriate supervision. These sessions are specifically designed to create a learning environment where both group and individual learning will take place, involving observation, demonstration, participation, problem-solving and reporting.

Other practical sessions will be field based providing necessary practical skills to successfully intervene in an athlete’s physical development.

A Virtual Learning Environment (BREO) supports delivery of all units and their various activities supplemental to formal classroom-based work.

Assessment

Assessment forms an integral part of the learning process and will allow your progress to be monitored during the course and your achievements to be graded at the end.

Assessments will be carried out using several methods including oral and poster presentations, course work essays/reviews, end of unit examinations, laboratory reports, case studies and practical demonstrations.

The course team believes that there should be a clear relationship between the course objectives and the assessment of your performance.

Assessment not only provides you and staff with information on performance of teaching and learning in the units but, through feedback, you will be guided towards improvements.

Entry requirements

Standard Entry
Graduates with a first degree normally 2:1 (at least 2:2 classification) in a relevant science based subject, such as biological science, sports science, coaching, exercise or health science based subject (e.g. nursing, physiotherapy, medicine, osteopathy).

Non-Standard Entry
All non-standard entry candidates will be required to attend an interview with the Award Manager.

(a) Graduates with a first degree in a closely allied subject, where the gaps in subject specific knowledge could be closed using a negotiated programme.

(b) Sport, Exercise, Coaching and Health professionals with demonstrable experience and expertise within the field who also possess an HNC/HND or GNVQ/NVQ at level 4 in an appropriate subject. These candidates will be required to provide a full portfolio of supporting evidence outlining appropriate academic and educational training and attend an interview.

Special entry requirements

• Evidence of a reasonable standard of written and spoken English (at least IELTS 6.5 or equivalent).
• This level of English is paramount to attempt this course, due to the technical and scientific language common to science based courses.

Attendance

Part time: by negotiation