Sociology of Sport, Health and Exercise MSc

Program Overview

The MSc in Sociology of Sport, Health and Exercise explores the societal impact of sport and exercise. Through research-informed teaching, students gain a deep understanding of theories and issues in these fields. The program offers a range of modules, including compulsory courses on theories, research methods, and contemporary issues, as well as optional modules in areas such as physical education, leisure, and sports journalism. Graduates are well-prepared for careers in academia, research, sports development, and the health and fitness industry.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Sociology of Sport, Health and Exercise is an increasingly important discipline in understanding sport, exercise and wider fields such as health. Students studying this course will be better prepared to understand the place sport and exercise have within society and apply this to a range of vocational careers in the field. Our MSc in the Sociology of Sport, Health and Exercise is taught by Sport and Exercise Sciences academic staff, whose commitment to research-informed teaching makes the course academically rigorous while creating a relaxed learning environment that the students find enjoyable.

Outline:

Year 1

All modules will enable you to explore, theoretically and empirically, research topics that interest you. These include: sport and health, sport policy and development, physical education and youth sport, journalism, the media, drugs, and body image. You will be encouraged to work with sociological theories and topics that are directly of interest to you throughout the course, and then build on this with a final research thesis.

Compulsory Modules:

• Theories of Sport and Exercise: This module introduces students to the use of sociological theories with particular reference to sport and exercise.
It covers the role of values and ideology in theoretically informed research and provides a detailed assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of various dominant theories for understanding sport and exercise, including Marxism, Neo-Marxism and cultural studies, symbolic interactionism, figurational sociology, feminisms, post-structuralism, and Bourdieu.
• Issues in Contemporary Sport and Exercise: This module aims to improve students' understanding of various issues related to sport and exercise, including ethnicity, gender, class, age, disabilities, the use of drugs in sport, violence in sport, sport and nationalism, sport, the media and commercialism, and the health/injury balance sheet.
• Research Methods in the Sociology of Sport and Exercise: This module provides students with a critical understanding and knowledge of a variety of research techniques, enabling them to justify their choice and use in subsequent independent research projects.
• Sociology of Sport, Health and Exercise: This module develops a sociological understanding of the field of health-related exercise, examining the social relations of physical activity, exercise and sport.
It analyzes the health benefits of physical activity, explores the relationship between sports policy and health policy, and examines pain and injury in sport, the development of sports medicine, contact sport and health, and abuse, welfare and safeguarding in sport.
• Research Dissertation in the Sociology of Sport and Exercise: This module allows students to conduct in-depth research on a topic within the sociology of sport and exercise.
It develops their ability to carry out theoretically informed, empirically grounded, and methodologically and ethically sound research.

Optional Modules:

• Sociology of Physical Education: This module provides a critically informed sociological understanding of the work situation of those employed within the field of physical education, as well as the interdependence of PE with the work of government, sports development officers, national governing bodies, and sports clubs.
• Sociology of Leisure: This module develops a critical sociological understanding of the work situation of those employed within the field of leisure provision, examining the ways in which this field has undergone continuities and changes over the past 25 years.
• Sociology of Sport Policy and Development: This module provides a sociological understanding of the work situation of those employed within the field of sports development and the complexities of the sport policy process.
• Sociology of Sports Journalism and Mass Media: This module develops a critical sociological understanding of the dominant ideologies at play in, and the work situation of those employed in sports-related careers in the mass media.
• Research Project in the Sociology of Sport and Exercise: This module allows students to explore a specific research area within the sociology of sport and exercise.
It helps them develop their ability to use relevant research resources, generate an appropriate bibliography, and identify and utilize published sources of information.

Assessment:

Assessment involves 100% coursework in the form of essays, individual presentations, poster presentations, and a research dissertation.

Teaching:

Students are taught in lead lectures, student-led group discussions and workshops, and weekly one-to-one tutorials. Full-time students have six hours’ contact time per week, plus additional student tutorials. They are also expected to engage in up to 20 hours’ private study per week.

Careers:

Our graduates have gone on to pursue successful careers including: teaching in further/higher education institutions; full-time funded doctoral research; working with local, national and international sports organisations; research and consultancy; physical education teaching; and working in the health and fitness industry.

Other:

This course is designed around in-person study. There may be some online learning activities. The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance. Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work. We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.

Tuition Fees and Payment Information:

UK Fees:

£8,505 for the full course (2024/25). Please follow the link below for part-time fees. More on UK fees

International fees:

£14,750 for the full course (2024/25) More on International fees