Sport and Exercise Science with Foundation year

Program Overview

The BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science with Foundation Year at LSBU is a four-year undergraduate program designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of sport and exercise science principles, skills, and employability competencies. Through blended learning, professional support, and practical experience, the program prepares graduates for careers in elite sport, clinical exercise, research, and other related fields. The program is aligned with industry standards, endorsed by CIMSPA and BASES, and features access to specialized facilities and industry partnerships.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science with Foundation Year is a 4-year program designed for students who may not meet the entry requirements for the standard BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science degree. The Foundation Year provides a supportive learning environment to develop the necessary theoretical knowledge, academic skills, and practical skills required for successful study at the undergraduate level. The program aims to develop a detailed understanding of the subject areas that underpin sport and exercise performance, as well as relevant employability skills and competencies. It incorporates a blend of professional and academic skills, career support, volunteering opportunities, and extra-curricular activities.

Outline:

Foundation Year:

• Introduction to Academic Skills for the Applied Sciences: This module introduces the skills needed for undergraduate academic study, focusing on writing skills.
• Foundation Maths for Science: This module provides students with the mathematical knowledge and skills necessary for level 4 science studies.
• Foundations of Chemistry: This module builds on the concepts and skills introduced in semester 1, covering basic chemistry elements and further developing mathematical understanding.
• Foundations of Human Nutrition: This module delivers foundational knowledge in nutrition, covering the science of nutrition, nutritional requirements, food chemistry, macro and micro-nutrient functions, and the relationship between diet and health.
• Foundations of Sport and Exercise Science: This module introduces the subject area with respect to the basic and interdisciplinary sciences, developing students' knowledge of the role of biology, chemistry, physics, and psychology in sports performance.

Year 1:

• Biomechanics 1: This module extends knowledge of human anatomy and the musculoskeletal system, introducing basic biomechanical concepts and terminology for analyzing movement patterns.
• Sport Psychology: This module introduces different approaches to psychology and the study of psychological aspects in exercise and performance, covering theoretical approaches, methods of scientific inquiry, and the application of psychological methods in sports performance and exercise participation.
• Perception and Action 1: This module introduces key topic areas in perceptual-motor control, development, learning, and performance, providing practical experience in exercise, sport coaching, and exercise settings.
• Nutrition, Health and Disease: This module explores the fundamental principles of human nutrition from a multidisciplinary perspective, covering nutritional requirements, food chemistry, macro and micro-nutrient functions, and the relationship between diet and health.

Year 2:

• Biomechanics 2: This module applies biomechanical knowledge to the practical analysis of human movement, developing awareness of equipment, techniques, and methodological considerations involved in biomechanical analyses.
• Exercise Physiology and Metabolism: This module develops knowledge of exercise physiology and laboratory procedures used in the assessment of athletic populations, covering acute and chronic responses to exercise, factors determining muscle strength and power, and the design of training programs.
• Sport Psychology 2: This module advances knowledge of theory and practice in the psychological preparation of sport performers, integrating research and practical experience.
• Perception and Action 2: This module develops the application of interdisciplinary scientific principles and evidence-based practice associated with perceptual-motor skill development and performance.
• Research Methods: This module develops understanding of the research process in applied human sciences, covering research principles, methodologies for data collection and analysis, and practical experience in developing a research proposal and analyzing data.

Year 3:

• Clinical and Applied Biomechanics (optional): This module develops understanding of the functional mechanics of the body and the biomechanical underpinning of injury mechanisms.
• Environmental Exercise Physiology (optional): This module explores the role of nutrition and technological aids in optimizing performance in different environments.
• Applied Sport Psychology (optional): This module extends theory and research into the field to apply sport psychology into practice.
• Employability and Placement (optional): This module develops skills, competencies, and behaviors to align with a chosen career path, exploring reflection, mentoring, professional development strategies, networking, and work experience.
• Research Project: This module provides an opportunity to plan, carry out, and report an extended piece of research in sport or exercise science.

Assessment:

The program uses a blend of formative and summative assessment. Formative assessment provides structured feedback to support students in the summative task, scaffolding the approach to assessment and ensuring appropriate development of critical thinking, academic writing, practical and technical comprehension, and creativity. Most modules are assessed by coursework only, using a blended approach to assessment (written essays, lab reports, oral presentations, oral defenses). At level 4, knowledge and understanding are typically assessed via written reports and multiple choice questionnaires. As students progress through the course, their transferrable skills are scrutinized more, with oral presentations becoming a more common form of assessment. Each module has a 20 credit accumulation and transfer apart from Research Project in Level 6, which has 40 credits assigned to it for student study hours.

Teaching:

The course delivery includes blended learning, allowing students to experience high-quality teaching with flexible modes of delivery, both online and on campus. Support is provided throughout the studies through the virtual learning environment, Moodle, professional tutoring, seminars, online learning environments, specialist advice sessions, and dedicated computing and experimental equipment in the laboratories.

Careers:

The course has employability embedded within its curriculum. In addition to practical skills-based modules, students take a work-based module in Level 5 to develop practitioner skills and have the option to choose a Placement module in Level 6 to pursue a specialist area of knowledge within the Sport and Exercise sector. Typical career pathways for a Sport and Exercise Science graduate include:

• Elite Sport and Performance: Roles like Coach, Sports Scientist, Strength and Conditioning Coach.
• Clinical Exercise, Health and Fitness: Roles like Physiotherapist, Sports Therapist, Clinical Exercise Physiologist, Personal Trainer.
• Research, Teaching, Coaching, and Sport Development: Roles like Higher Education Lecturer, Research Fellow, School Teacher, Sport Development Officer.
For most job roles, a postgraduate or professional qualification is required. The Master's program in Sport and Exercise Science at LSBU is designed to support these career pathways.

Other:

• The course is endorsed by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA).
• The course is aligned to the standards of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES).
• Students can gain coaching awards through Sports Coach UK and National Governing Bodies at LSBU Active.
• The University provides access to the Sport and Exercise Science Research Centre (SESRC) with specialized and industry-standard equipment.
• Students have access to LSBU Active facilities, including a fitness suite, Functional Training Zone, Free Weights Room, and Sports Hall.
• The University works with leading partners like Active Communities Network, British Cycling, European Space Agency, Lanserhof London, SilverFit, and The Altitude Centre.

UK Fees

£9250

Fees

£14900