MSc Strength and Conditioning

Program Overview

Bournemouth University's MSc Strength and Conditioning program equips students with advanced knowledge and practical skills in strength and conditioning. It covers scientific principles, coaching techniques, professional practice, and industry-standard assessments. Graduates are prepared for careers as strength and conditioning coaches, fitness practitioners, and other related fields. The program aligns with UKSCA professional standards and provides a 150-hour placement opportunity.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The MSc Strength and Conditioning program at Bournemouth University is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in the field of strength and conditioning. The program emphasizes both theoretical understanding and practical application, allowing students to develop industry-standard skills while applying cutting-edge scientific knowledge. The program aims to optimize athletic performance and mitigate the risk of injury.

Objectives:

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the science and practice of strength and conditioning.
• Acquire practical skills in strength and conditioning coaching, including weightlifting, plyometrics, speed, acceleration, endurance, and flexibility.
• Develop advanced professional skills crucial for careers within Strength and Conditioning, that are transferable to other career paths.
• Build professional networks and enhance career prospects through a 150-hour work placement.
• Align with the UK Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA) professional standards to allow progression onto industry accreditation.

Outline:

Content:

The program covers a wide range of topics related to strength and conditioning, including:

• Advanced Physiological Responses to Exercise
• Neuromuscular Adaptation
• Periodisation and Programme Design
• Practical Strength and Conditioning
• Independent Project
• Professional Practice and Placement

Structure:

The program is delivered in a combination of lectures, seminars, practical sessions, and a mandatory 150-hour placement.

Course Schedule:

• Full-time: 12 months, including 150-hour placement.
• Part-time: 24 months, including 150-hour placement.

Individual Modules:

Core Units:

• Advanced Physiological Responses to Exercise: This unit provides a systematic understanding of advanced principles governing acute and long-term physiological responses to exercise in diverse environments.
Students will critically apply established physiological assessment techniques to a professional standard, autonomously collecting and analyzing physiological data for decision-making.
• Neuromuscular Adaptation: This unit equips students with a comprehensive and critical understanding of neuromuscular function and applied biomechanics applied to strength and conditioning training and injury prevention.
Students will develop practical, autonomous skills in systematically assessing human function, emphasizing the complex interplay between the skeletal, nervous, and muscular systems controlling movement.
• Periodisation and Programme Design: This unit critically evaluates the challenges associated with designing and monitoring strength and conditioning training programs.
Students will demonstrate creative decision-making and complex problem-solving associated with the individualised training requirements and needs of the individual, to achieve the performance goal within a series of time frames (i.e., periodisation).
• Practical Strength and Conditioning: This unit focuses on demonstrating and coaching the principal techniques in strength and conditioning, including weightlifting, plyometrics, linear and multi-directional speed, acceleration, aerobic, anaerobic endurance, and flexibility.
Students will professionally apply knowledge of advanced training techniques and strength and conditioning theory, integrating critical technical evaluation with effective practical coaching delivery to develop learning and performance environments.
• Independent Project: This unit empowers students with the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking abilities required to undertake a self-directed research project.
Through a blend of theoretical understanding and practical application of research methods, students will explore and contribute to their field of expertise.
• Data Science for Sport: This unit introduces data science within a sporting context.
Data science is a multidisciplinary field that involves the systematic analysis, interpretation, and extraction of valuable insights from complex and large-scale datasets, employing a combination of statistical, mathematical, and programming techniques to inform decision-making and solve real-world problems across various domains. Students will develop a detailed understanding of the interplay between the physiological and psychological (behavioural) regulatory processes underpinning the control of feeding and energy intake with a view to improve health and quality of life among individuals and groups in the community.
• Understanding Safe Sport: This unit provides a critical insight into contemporary themes and key issues within the current safe sport, safeguarding, and welfare agenda.
It covers core definitions of interpersonal violence in sport as well as an understanding of the cultures that enable it to occur.
• Inclusive Practices in Sport: This unit explores inclusion through a welfare lens, focusing on the roles of key stakeholders, such as coaches, officials, managers, and support staff, and highlights their interconnected roles in creating safe and inclusive sports environments.

Assessment:

The program utilizes a variety of assessment methods, including:

• Written examinations
• Coursework assignments
• Practical assessments
• Presentations
• Independent research project

Teaching:

The program is taught by a team of experienced and qualified academics and practitioners, many of whom are actively engaged in research and/or professional practice. The teaching methods employed include:

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Practical sessions
• Workshops
• Case studies
• Guest speakers

Careers:

The MSc Strength and Conditioning program prepares graduates for a variety of career paths in the sports and fitness industry, including:

• Strength and Conditioning Coach
• Health and Fitness Practitioner
• Personal Trainer / Athletic Trainer
• Lecturer/Teacher
• Data Scientist

Industries Worked In:

Graduates from this program can find employment in a range of industries, including:

• Grass-roots to Elite sports teams
• The NHS (hospital and community)
• Private and independent health sector
• Education
• Academic research

Other:

• The program is based in Bournemouth University's state-of-the-art Strength and Conditioning Suite and Human Performance Laboratories.
• Students have opportunities to apply their learning with Sport Scholars to develop their coaching and communication skills.
• SportBU membership is available for MSc Strength and Conditioning students.
• The program is aligned with the UK Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA) professional standards.
• Students are required to identify and organize their own placement, but a dedicated placement development coordinator and advisor will be available to assist students where necessary.
• The program specification provides definitive records of the University's taught degrees in line with Quality Assurance Agency requirements.
• The program is designed for graduates in fields such as sports science, exercise physiology, and related disciplines.
• The program emphasizes the importance of developing professional skills, such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.
• The program provides students with the opportunity to gain valuable experience through full-time industrial placements.
• The program offers a range of support services to help students find work, including seminars on CV writing, cover letter writing, application forms, and interview skills.
• The program offers a range of scholarships and financial aid options to help students fund their studies.

For UK, ROI & CI students: £10,000 For international students: £17,500 All fees are quoted in pounds sterling and are per annum. Your tuition fees will be the same for each year of your course.