Overview

On the BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science with Foundation Year) you develop knowledge in teaching exercise, sport and exercise psychology, nutrition, the fundamentals of anatomy and physiology, numerical, communication, practical, and learning skills. Successful completion of your first year enables you to proceed confidently on to the remainder of your degree course.

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.

This course includes a foundation year - ideal if you need additional preparation or if you don't have sufficient grades to join Year 1 of a degree.

Course details

This module is delivered over two semesters, as part of the School of Health & Social Care's Foundation Year. You have the opportunity to develop the study and language skills essential for studying at the undergraduate level.

We use a number of learning and teaching methods to help your learning including lectures, seminars, guided reading, writing and speaking tasks, tutor-led explication and discussion, and individual tutorials. Our learning and teaching strategy use a combination of face-to-face teaching and online delivery. Your language development is supported by using the Learning Hub and English language café. We also use tutorials to direct your independent study to further develop your language skills.

An Introduction To Anatomy and Pathophysiology

This core module gives you the opportunity to develop a basic knowledge of human anatomy and physiology as part of your foundation year. It focuses on the concept of homeostasis – how all systems work in harmony. The content is delivered using a systems approach across a range of body systems

Exercise Programming For Health

You further develop your knowledge and application of the exercise and health sciences to enable you to design, plan and deliver individual exercise programs focused on health improvement for healthy adults. You learn about key components of fitness and the scientific evidence that supports the most appropriate way to improve human health performance. Additionally, you analyze testing and monitoring of an individual's development.

Getting Started With Maths

This module concentrates on the basic skills necessary to demonstrate a competence in basic numeracy or mathematics to enter, or progress in, your chosen profession. It covers basic arithmetic (fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio, and proportion) both with and without the use of a calculator. Charts are introduced to display statistical data and assist with basic statistical calculations. The module also introduces the notation and techniques of elementary algebra.

Introduction To Professional Practise 

This module enables you to develop your knowledge of professional, legal, ethical, and political issues that influence or impact health professionals. It creates a foundation for you to continue your exploration of these areas. You critically reflect on both current and contemporary issues and explore the implications for personal and professional practice.

Personal Development Planning

This module is to help you get the prerequisite entry requirements and personal skills to be eligible to apply for a pre-registration health-related course.

Within the scope of the module, you explore the concept of personal effectiveness and self-management, using established tools and strategies to develop self-awareness, identify areas for personal development, and ultimately, set realistic goals and action plans using the SMART action planning method. We use a predetermined range of self-assessment tools and frameworks to guide you through the process

Teaching Exercise

This module will provide you with the knowledge and skills to teach exercise in a variety of disciplines. Its module reflects modern practices in teaching exercise and takes into account the national occupational standards developed for the sector by the National Training Organisation for Sport, Recreation, and Allied Occupations. The course is designed to ensure that you will have sufficient skills and knowledge to work with participants and be able to promote adopting and maintaining regular physical activity.

Year 1 core modules

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 Sport 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. 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 in a final-year module 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