Overview

Sport and exercise science involves the practical application of scientific principles from different disciplines (physiology, psychology, biomechanics, motor learning, and sociology) to improve sports performance and the health and wellbeing of society.

You will learn how sport and exercise science principles can improve sports performance and sports coaching, and how this knowledge can support the health and wellbeing of society. The course emphasizes practical experience, teamwork and communication, digital skills, and a global perspective to prepare you for the workplace, and understanding and using research.

The degree is built on the core disciplines of physiology, psychology, biomechanics, motor learning, and sociology.

Course details

This module shows you how to design, deliver and evaluate applied physical activity sessions, in the context of the national curriculum for teaching Physical Education (PE). Typical weekly sessions involve practical and group-based activities in the sports hall, where your communication skills and professionalism are developed and assessed. This is in the context of working with individuals from pre-school age to older adults, giving you coaching and teaching skills.

Future Graduate Destination 

Your opportunity to meet professionals working in PE teaching, sports coaching, personal training, exercise referral, the health and fitness industry, and others to help build your professional networks and discuss your career plans with potential future employers.

Performance Analysis: Physiology and Biomechanics

This module introduces you to a series of competency-based scientific methods for assessing human performance. This involves assessing the physiological systems of the body, such as the cardio-respiratory system, skeletal muscle, and the metabolic system, and investigating the biomechanical principles underpinning movement technique. The laboratory sessions are designed to teach you to sport science laboratory skills such as taking blood, measuring oxygen uptake, monitoring heart rate, and movement analysis using 3D motion capture and assessing ground reaction forces.

Performance Analysis: Psychology and Motor Learning

This module introduces you to the professional and interpersonal skills needed to work with and assess the human performer and, working in a multidisciplinary team, enable effective communication and rapport building. You acquire practical knowledge in how to deliver psychological and motor behavior assessment tools such as performance profiles, systematic observations, and eye-tracking. Together you use these interpersonal skills and assessment tools to help an athlete to meet their potential in their sport.

Sport in Society

This module looks at sport and its role within society. You will examine this in relation to global, social, political, and economic aspects. You will use social scientific theory to identify, analyze and evaluate the social values relating to power and hierarchy, fairness and deviance, money and sport as a commodity.

The Sports and Excercise Science Consultant

This module works like a real-life sport and exercises science consultancy service. We have strong links with athletes and sports teams. These athletes will visit the laboratories at the university and you will assess their sporting performance using a variety of cutting edge techniques, under the supervision of highly qualified and experienced members of academic staff. You develop the practical and professional skills required to deliver a high-quality sport and exercise consultancy service in both the laboratory and field environments. You have the opportunity to build your competencies in a range of scientific methods across the core disciplines in sport and exercise science.

How you learn

Semester themes include:

• the future-facing sport and exercise graduate
• assessing sports performance
• the physical and mental wellbeing in society
• research for impact in sport and exercise science.

The flexible nature of the course enables the teaching team to develop new semester themes, in response to current trends in sports performance, grassroots participation, and the public health agenda. These themes are reviewed on an annual basis.

As a team, we focus on developing your scientific, professional, and communication skills within the applied practice, the sport and exercise laboratory, and industry so you graduate with essential work-related skills. Teaching methods vary between modules but are all interactive and include lectures, seminars, laboratory work, workshops, practicals, tutorials, and at least two work placements. The majority of our academic staff are either qualified or currently training to doctorate level, which brings integrity and insight to our research-led teaching. The reach and significance of our ongoing research are communicated throughout the degree. Our teaching is delivered by academic staff who are publishing research at the forefront of their disciplines and leading research projects and groups, including our two Professors in Sport and Exercise Science.

How you are assessed

A core component of the assessment and feedback strategy is that your progress is monitored throughout the degree toward successful accomplishments in becoming research active, digitally empowered, socially and ethically engaged, and globally connected. These learning objectives are embedded throughout all aspects of the teaching and learning materials at all levels of the degree.

You are assessed by a wide variety of professional relevant methods including group work, presentations, and laboratory reports. Based on our consultations with employers, we have removed all exam-style assessments from the degree. Many of the assessments mirror work-related tasks to help you prepare for employment in the industry. For example, applications for grant funding, an athlete case study needs analysis, delivering applied practical sessions (for example, teaching PE), group-based activities demonstrating competency in data collection, portfolios of evidence showing your ability to build networks in the industry (such as through work placements), understanding and implementing sports policies, and the creative use of novel technologies in sport and exercise. There are also digital submission formats, such as video diaries, blogs, and video-based user guides, which reflect your digital literacy.

Formative feedback is provided throughout every module to help consolidate your skills, knowledge, and understanding prior to the final submission.

One assessment component per year involves a credit system through which you are encouraged to get involved in extracurricular activities throughout your degree including research volunteering, work placements, sport science consultancy, and vocational courses.

Work placement

There is a wide range of placement opportunities available throughout the degree including, but not limited to, arrangements with local sports teams, Middlesbrough Football Club, MFC Foundation, Tees Valley Sport, and Public Health South Tees.

Career opportunities

A core objective of the degree is to equip you with a range of skills, competencies, and knowledge for embarking on a successful career. It is important to recognize the broad range of professional roles and industries related to the field of sport and exercise science.

Examples of these roles include:

• secondary school PE teacher
• primary school teacher
• exercise referral specialist
• sports development officer
• head coach
• performance analyst
• health promotion specialist
• researcher
• lecturer
• manager, through a graduate scheme
• outdoor adventure coach
• clinical cardiac physiologist
• high-performance physiologist
• biomechanist
• sport scientist
• fitness instructor or personal trainer
• strength and conditioning coach
• owner of a lifestyle business