About Sport and Exercise Science, MSc, PG Dip, Postgraduate Certificate - at Sheffield Hallam University
We have a long history of providing courses in sport, physical education and leisure management.
We recently spent £5m refurbishing and expanding our sport and exercise science facilities and have first class suites of research and teaching laboratories.
Our specialist Centre for Sport and Exercise Science (CSES) provides research and consultancy services for sport science at elite level. These include the sports of
squash
yachting
table tennis
cricket
soccer
rugby union
tennis.
We also successfully supported althletes at the Athens Olympics in boxing, cycling, sailing and speed skating.
CSES is also heavily involved with the non-competitive exerciser and has prestigious grant-funded projects. For instance
in physiology, the effects of upper and lower body exercise on intermittent claudication
in psychology, the effects of exercise on breast cancer survivors
in biomechanics, factors that increase susceptibility to injury
You benefit from CSES activities by our continuous updating of course content.
Members of The British Association of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES) can become accredited practitioners in one of the three major disciplines, biomechanics, physiology and psychology plus as interdisciplinary scientists. We designed the course to reflect BASES’ supervised experience scheme and combine core studies with routes in each of these three disciplines.
The course will enable you to
develop your understanding of science
develop your ability to apply theory to practice in sport and exercise
develop towards BASES accreditation
conduct independent research
gain experience as a sport or exercise science consultant
complete a vocationally relevant higher degree
Major themes include
biomechanics - measurement, performance, reducing injury, motor learning and motor control
physiology - instrumentation and measurement, assessment of the elite athlete, health and exercise, field-based assessments
psychology - motor learning and motor control, social psychology of sport, exercise and health psychology, applied sport psychology
nutrition - nutrition for health and exercise, sport nutrition
research methods - principles of research design and evidence-based practice
Associated careersThis course supports BASES accreditation. Anyone wanting to offer sport science support to any athlete or national governing body of sport funded through the National Lottery’s World Class Potential and World Class Start schemes is encouraged to gain this accreditation. This qualification is important for anyone who seeks a career as a sport science practitioner.
The government considers exercise science to have an increasingly important role in the UK as part of a positive public health intervention strategy. Important initiatives such as ’Healthy Living Centres’ or ’General Practice (GP) Referral Schemes’ need suitably qualified professionals in this area.
This course is an important first step into employment in higher education. Many universities with sport-related courses require staff to have accreditation as well as a higher degree. The course and accreditation orientation also opens many other doors into further training.
Students with this qualification and accreditation usually enter careers in, for example
research
the health and fitness industry
coaching
the pharmaceutical industry
the armed and uniformed services
journalism
teaching
local health trusts
professional soccer clubs
work with elite sport performers in a variety of sports
Other careers include
sports science support officer - biomechanics, physiology or psychology
sport national governing body and English Institute of Sport support workers
opportunities in health clubs and gym
AssessmentIncludes
coursework assignments
essays
management projects
problem solving exercises
group work
formal examinations
dissertation (for MSc only)
Course contentCore modulesresearch methods 1
research methods 2
scientific support 1
Biomechanics modulesreducing injury
improving performance
motor learning and motor control
measurement techniques in biomechanics and motor control
Physiology moduleslaboratory techniques in physiology
physiological assessment of the elite athlete
exercise and health
field-based procedures
Psychology modulesmotor learning and motor control
psychology of exercise and health
applied techniques in psychology
sport psychology
Nutrition modulesnutrition for health and exercise
applied sport nutrition
laboratory techniques
field-based procedures
Completion of the MSc requires a dissertation of 15,000-20,000 words.
Entry requirementsThis course is specifically designed to continue specialist studies at masters level for students who already possess a relevant first degree, or an appropriate combination of other subject specific qualifications along with relevant practical experience.
Applicants will normally require one of the following
a good first or upper second honours degree in sport science
a good honours degree in a relevant science discipline with suitable content
an alternative qualification with a suitable concentration of relevant science (at the discretion of the course leader)
a qualification in science or sport science at a level lower than first degree coupled with relevant practical experience
The course leader will interview applicants with non-standard qualifications.
If your first language is not English you must normally produce evidence of competence in English such as TOEFL 260 or 620 or IELTS 7.
