Sport and Exercise Science BSc Honours

Course content

What will you study on the BSc Sport and Exercise Science?

At the centre of this course lies the scientific approach to supporting athletes to perform at their peak while reducing the risk of injury. You will develop an in-depth understanding of physiological, psychological and biomechanical theories, and how they can be used to assist performance enhancement, health and fitness. A large part of your studies will be practice-based at our Allianz Park site and you will take part in 150 hours of clinical practice throughout your degree (50 hours per year).

What will you gain?

You will graduate, armed with the knowledge and understanding of the research methods and processes relating to exercise and health. You will be proficient in the techniques and procedures used to analyse and interpret human movement, to assess and interpret physical fitness and well-being. You will have an understanding of sports psychology and how to work effectively with sportspeople.

Modules

This module aims to provide you with a broad knowledge of anatomy to develop an understanding of the principals of movement. You will explore the function of the skeletal system and identify the joints range of movement and type structuring the human skeleton. This will provide a platform to understanding how bones interact with muscles in order to produce primary movement at joints. You can then utilise this knowledge to advancing your coaching skills across a wide range of sports.

This module provides a broad understanding of learning theories and coaching styles in a variety of sporting situations. You will know the underlying theoretical concepts of how to plan, deliver, evaluate and modify coaching sessions, whilst understanding the National Curriculum and the differences between the pedagogy at various key stages. You will work effectively on complex coaching sessions both individually and as a group to enhance your interpersonal and communications skills.

This module will introduce and apply key scientific concepts and principles across the three main sports science disciplines of physiology, psychology and biomechanics. You will gain a broad understanding of human movement, physiological mechanisms that underpin these movements and core psychological concepts that affect health and sporting performance. You will learn how to work effectively in a team by carrying out practical investigations in all three sport and exercise disciplines.

This module will introduce the underlying theoretical frameworks of health and fitness, to provide you with the confidence and practical skills to deliver effective training sessions. You will develop your coaching knowledge through a variety of topics, ranging from the benefits and risks of physical activity, the development and maintenance of health and fitness, and understand how to optimise and monitor sports performance. The theoretical sessions will support you to undertake complex and routine practical performance tasks, orientated around developing effective coaching skills, both on an individual and group basis.

This module will provide a broad understanding and knowledge of the key academic skills required for you to successfully complete your degree. You will know the underlying theoretical frameworks for research methods and academic writing by demonstrating your understanding of literature, sourcing literature, the components of research and identifying strengths and weaknesses. You will also gain the fundamental skills to acquire professional industry experience such as how to identify appropriate work placements and understand the professional requirements to work effectively with others, recognising the factors for team performance.

This module will provide you with a detailed theoretical knowledge of performance analysis concepts and practical skills to prepare you for work in an applied performance analysis environment. You will learn to collect, analyse and present relevant performance-related data to understand how performance analysis can be utilised in sport. You will also learn the roles and responsibilities of the performance analyst developing and adapting interpersonal and communication skills to a range of sporting scenarios and audiences.

This module will provide you with the detailed knowledge of key concepts and theories of sport and exercise nutrition that can influence sporting performance. You will explore the physiological and biochemical basis of sport and exercise nutrition and develop your understanding of applied strategies to enable an adaptation in sporting performance. You will discuss such strategies in a sporting context by interpreting and analysing scientific literature through an oral presentation and written case study.

This module will provide detailed knowledge of key biomechanical and physiological theories and concepts that can affect sport and exercise. You will explore the mechanical basis of human movement and develop your understanding of the chronic physiological adaptations that occur during sport and exercise. You will interact effectively within a team through physiological and biomechanical laboratory and field based measurements to interpret and analyse your findings through a scientific report.

This module will teach you how applied techniques and practices can be utilised to positively impact the psychological constructs associated with sport. For example, how mental imagery can be used to enhance an individual’s confidence. You will also be taught theory related to mental skills training and psychological maladaptation in sport. This will enable you to understand how an athlete's performance and wellbeing can be supported through the use of psychological skills and the construction of performance environments. Upon completing this module, you will be able to plan and deliver a mental skills training sessions and understand how to identify antecedents and symptoms of psychological maladaptation.

This module will provide you with the skills to analyse a range of academic information, comparing alternative methods and techniques. This will involve the collecting and synthesising of information to inform a subject specific research question. You will have knowledge of well-established research methods and concepts evidenced by the awareness of inconsistencies, gaps and limitations within literature.

This module develops your ability to apply the in-depth knowledge and skills gained from prior learning in relation to a professional practice environment. You will be required to reflect and evaluate your working practice and be able to adopt a problem-solving approach to practice and a working environment. This is a compulsory placement module where you will be encouraged to seek short term (minimum of 400 hours) work experience in a suitable Sport and Exercise Rehabilitation environment. This should be supervised by a suitably qualified practitioner (certified and registered/insured with a professional body; Sports Rehabilitator, Sports Therapist, Physiotherapist, Chiropractor, Osteopath, Sports Medicine doctor, or equivalent, dictated by the programme leader).

This module aims to explore unfamiliar populations and investigate physiological strategies and techniques to undertake critical analysis, evaluation and outcomes in sport performance, health and monitoring. You will demonstrate your in-depth knowledge of advanced physiology through successfully identifying and executing appropriate methods, analysis, evaluation and dissemination of information.

This module provides you with a systematic understanding of human movement and you will apply an understanding of specialist concepts to assess and critically analyse the causes of human movement, synthesise ideas and be able to produce a theoretical model for a chosen sport. Working effectively within a team, you will identify, select, and apply a variety of biomechanical tests for critical analysis that affect sporting performance.

This module will give you the advanced knowledge of applied sport psychology theories and techniques that can be utilised to positively impact clients. You will develop an understanding of a variety of psychological frameworks and approaches that can shape the direction of needs analysis and intervention protocols. Upon completing the module, you will know how to structure needs analysis and be able to develop theoretically framed intervention strategies that are underpinned by research.

This module aims to introduce additional advanced sport science concepts, from a variety of disciplines. You will examine and analyse their role in optimising sports performance and/or health in a field setting. You must demonstrate the interdisciplinary nature of how the theoretical principles of coaching, biomechanics, physiology, psychology, strength and conditioning, and rehab can be integrated and applied to working with a client in the field. This module will enable you to experience and apply appropriate interdisciplinary knowledge, tools and procedures in working with both elite athletes and general populations.

This module aims to synthesise learning from your previous modules and provides an opportunity for you to study independently and investigate a topic in depth. It fosters academic curiosity, an inquiry-based approach, the employment and application of research skills, and facilitate the development of higher level theorising. You will select a topic relevant to your degree on which you wish to undertake a substantial in-depth study. You will judge the reliability, validity and significance of the evidence to support conclusions and/or recommendations.

Modules

Applied Sport and Exercise Science Research (30 credits – compulsory)

To introduce students of health and social care related subjects to the process of health and social care research. It is a professional requirement for those working in health and social care related disciplines to underpin their knowledge with research and evidence-based practice. Professionals need to be able to access research findings, and through an understanding of the research process and methodology, be able to critique research and apply this knowledge to practice. The aim of this module is to develop the students' awareness the research process and to equip them with the skills required in the subject area appropriate to their target award and to offer some preparation for the final year project/dissertation.

Applied Physiology and Biomechanics (30 credits – compulsory)

This module aims to enable students to understand the physiological basis of human movement from the cortex to skeletal muscle. Students will gain an understanding of the mechanical basis of human movement from Newton’s laws to the kinematics and kinetics of sport, exercise and rehabilitation. Students will gain understanding of the chronic physiological adaptations to sport, exercise and rehabilitation. Students will gain an understanding of the principles of measurement in muscle, vascular, cardiopulmonary physiology, kinetics and kinematics of human movement.

Applied Sports & Exercise Psychology (30 credits – compulsory)

This module integrates psychology theory with sport and exercise to explore how performance can be optimised. The first part of the module focuses on psychological and personal factors that affect performance, physical activity, exercise and sporting achievements. The module then progresses on to psychological skills training and the development of a sport psychology framework, focusing on specific techniques that can improve performance. The module provides the individual with a theoretical understanding of factors that underpin working with athletes and exercisers through practical exercises as well as psychological sport and exercise tests. The later part of the module provides an understanding for those working in sport, exercise, and rehabilitation on how psychological and socio-cultural issues impact on recovery from injury and illness and explores the importance of lifestyle management in working with those recovering from injury.

Applied Sport & Health Coaching (30 credits – compulsory)

The module introduces the theoretical concepts of sports and health coaching and performance analysis in a practically orientated way. SES, T&C and S&C students will experience different coaching styles in a variety of sporting and fitness situations and have the opportunity to plan, deliver, evaluate and modify coaching sessions. The module also offers opportunities to further develop ethical issues and aspects of health and safety. The PA students will be able to enhance their academic knowledge and practical experience of performance analysis in sport. PA students will learn to design, reliably collect, appropriately analyse and professionally present relevant performance-related data. Using a variety of sporting scenarios and techniques students will gain a good understanding of how performance analysis is used in sport, and the role of the performance analyst.

Interdisciplinary Sports Science (30 credits – compulsory)

This module aims to introduce additional advanced sport science concepts, from a variety of disciplines. Students will examine and analyse their role in optimising sports performance in a field setting, as well as how they may practically influence the coaching process. Students must demonstrate the interdisciplinary nature of how the theoretical principles of biomechanics, physiology and psychology apply to and impact on the coaching process and performance of unique sports disciplines. This module will enable students to experience and apply appropriate interdisciplinary tools and procedures in working with an athlete.

Advanced Sport and Exercise (30 credits – compulsory)

The aim of the module is to highlight and introduce the advanced key scientific Principles and contemporary topics, across the three main sports science disciplines of physiology, psychology and biomechanics

Dissertation (60 credits – compulsory)

This module aims to synthesise learning from the students' undergraduate programme providing an opportunity for students to study independently and investigate a topic in depth. It fosters academic curiosity; an inquiry based approach, the employment and application of research skills thus facilitating the development of a higher level of theorising. Students will select a topic of personal interest on which they wish to undertake a substantial in-depth study. They will manage their own learning during this module, with the support of an allocated supervisor for this period if independent study.

Modules

Interdisciplinary Sports Science (30 credits – compulsory)

This module aims to introduce additional advanced sport science concepts, from a variety of disciplines. Students will examine and analyse their role in optimising sports performance in a field setting, as well as how they may practically influence the coaching process. Students must demonstrate the interdisciplinary nature of how the theoretical principles of biomechanics, physiology and psychology apply to and impact on the coaching process and performance of unique sports disciplines. This module will enable students to experience and apply appropriate interdisciplinary tools and procedures in working with an athlete.

Advanced Sport and Exercise (30 credits – compulsory)

The aim of the module is to highlight and introduce the advanced key scientific Principles and contemporary topics, across the three main sports science disciplines of physiology, psychology and biomechanics