Sport and Exercise Science BSc (Hons)

Program Overview

The University of Northampton's Sport and Exercise Science degree provides students with a scientific foundation for careers in sport and exercise. Through practical and research-informed teaching, students gain expertise in areas such as biomechanics, physiology, and psychology. The program boasts industry partnerships, internship opportunities, and additional coaching qualifications. Graduates are well-equipped for roles in sport science support, teaching, coaching, and the health and fitness industry.

Program Outline

The course is practical-based, stimulating, well-structured, and research-informed, covering a range of topic areas including biomechanics, physiology, and psychology. The practical elements of the course make use of purpose-built laboratories to develop students' knowledge and understanding of key issues within sport and exercise science. The program has a strong applied focus and works consistently with local professional sports clubs to help students transition from their degree to a real-world working environment. The course aims to develop students' critical skills, allowing them to investigate and analyze issues from a scientific perspective, as well as enhancing their personal and transferable skills. The course is endorsed by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES), indicating the high caliber of work, applied practice, and academic standards that the program espouses.

Outline:

The Sport and Exercise Science degree is a three-year full-time program. The first year provides an introduction to the core disciplines that underpin the academic analysis of sport, allowing students to develop their knowledge, understanding, and practical/laboratory skills. It explores the sources of nutrients in the diet and how the body incorporates them. Students learn how to investigate the consequences of nutrient intake, gaining a fundamental understanding of nutrition research and how diet relates to health.

• Physiological Function and Response (20 Credits): This module introduces students to the fundamental aspects of pertinent areas of physiology.
It links these aspects to exercise performance, highlighting the rapid rise in the application of scientific principles to sport performance.
• Anatomy and Human Movement (20 Credits): This module provides an introduction to the anatomy of the musculo-skeletal, neurological, and arthrological systems of the human body and how they relate to human movement.
The knowledge base is applied to underlying principles of human movement and the biomechanical analysis of sporting, exercise, and athletic demands. The module helps students develop a holistic understanding of anatomy and kinesiology in support of human movement, athletic performance, and patient diagnosis/management/recovery.
• Introduction to Fitness Training Methods (20 Credits): This module provides an introduction to fitness training methods.
It is designed to provide students with knowledge and understanding of the components of health and fitness, the associated training principles, and the methods used to train these components for a variety of populations (sedentary to athlete).
• How to be Successful at University (20 Credits): This module provides students with essential academic and employability skills to improve their capabilities and excel at university and in their chosen careers.

Year 2:

• Nutritional Perspectives of Exercise, Health, and Disease (20 Credits): This module explores the role of nutrition in various states that affect individuals over a lifetime and in current epidemics of chronic diseases.
It expands students' nutritional perspective by investigating key current and relevant topics relating to altered nutritional states, and the influence of exercise and disease on human performance.
• The Physiological Basis of Sport and Exercise (20 Credits): This module builds upon the basic introduction to the physiological function of an athlete or individual and the associated responses to exercise gained in Year 1.
It further develops the theories surrounding the acute response of physiological systems to exercise and introduces the theories associated with chronic adaptations.
• Biomechanical Basis of Sport and Exercise (20 Credits): This module provides an understanding of the biomechanical factors that influence movement, performance, and injury risk.
It further explores the mechanical principles involved in sport and exercise activities, mechanical properties of the musculoskeletal system, and the analyses used to understand movement, performance, and injury in sport and exercise environments.
• Sport Research Methods (20 Credits): This module develops knowledge and understanding of a variety of research designs, methods, and research skills within a subject-based context.
It equips students with a framework to conceptualize quantitative and qualitative traditions and applications. The emphasis is on understanding and experiencing the research process and developing critical skills necessary to collect, analyze, and present data.
• Fitness Training Methods (20 Credits): This module develops students' knowledge and understanding of the role and application of the assessment of sport and exercise specific fitness components.
It explores the complex issues surrounding overall design and monitoring of individual training programs in the context of sports performance or special populations. It also provides students with the necessary theoretical knowledge and understanding of the different methods of training and how this information may be applied to enhance specific performance or lifestyle characteristics. Finally, the module introduces students to the associated adaptation developed during training.
• Professional Practice and Entrepreneurialism (20 Credits): This module enables students to gain experience working within a program-relevant environment and to make an effective contribution to the operation of the host organization.
It also helps prepare students for small business start-up by developing entrepreneurship, business development, and management skills through the application of vocationally relevant knowledge.
• Health Physiology (20 Credits): This module develops an understanding of the physiological aetiology and epidemiology of "lifestyle" diseases and the role of physical activity in ameliorating morbidity associated with a sedentary lifestyle.
It explores the complex issues surrounding prescribing exercise as medicine, in the context of the potential role physical activity/exercise/physical fitness can have in reducing the risk of poor physical health.
• Psychology of Sport Performance (20 Credits): This module develops students' knowledge of theory and research explaining performance-related emotions and psychological constructs important to the understanding of peak performance in sport.
It also aims to provide students with an awareness of key psychological skills utilized to inform applied practice with athletes. There is a focus on the role of the sport psychologist and an application of psychological skills theory in relation to enhancing sport performance and well-being.
• Psychology of Exercise and Health (20 Credits): This module builds upon and further develops knowledge of previous modules concerning the role of exercise in the development and maintenance of physical and mental health.
It enables students to develop their understanding of the practical application of psychological theory for physical activity promotion in general and specific populations. It also enables students to consider a variety of strategies and intervention designs appropriate to specific, targeted groups for the improvement of physical activity levels in relation to good health across the lifespan.
• Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation (20 Credits): This module provides an understanding of the aetiology of various sport and exercise injuries.
It further explores common risk factors, preventative measures, rehabilitative techniques, and diagnostic analyses for different types of sport and exercise injuries.
• Advanced Fitness Training Methods (20 Credits): This module builds upon the knowledge gained in the previous two years in Fitness Training Methods.
It focuses on the applied nature of training with a strong practical and work experience focus for students to gain valuable understanding of periodised training prescription. It specifically addresses the use of applied strength and conditioning training, techniques, and develops student preparation for independent work in a sporting environment. Students develop practical skills such as data collection, training and lifting techniques, periodised training prescription, and applied practice with various teams. The module has a strong work placement/experience focus which helps develop students ready for the workplace.
• Applied Physiology (20 Credits): This module considers the analysis of sports performance, with particular emphasis on physiological and biomechanical tests.
The underpinning rationale for the use of such tests in the analysis of sports performance is evaluated, and issues of validity and reliability are also considered prior to a focus on the procedures and methods underpinning these performance tests.
• Exercise as Medicine (20 Credits): This module explores the physiology of chronic diseases, as well as the utilization of exercise to treat a variety of pathological conditions.
Students develop key practical skills in clinical exercise testing according to current guidelines. Students also gain insights about chronic diseases and develop core knowledge.
• Dissertation (40 Credits): The dissertation provides an opportunity for sport students to apply knowledge, concepts, and research techniques to a question or problem in sport, exercise, or physical activity.
It builds and expands on students' prior knowledge of research acquired at levels four and five. It aims to foster the development of expertise in methodology and skills in the planning, conducting, and writing up of research reports. This form of independent, experiential learning requires students to ask logical questions to diagnose and define problems, generate and implement solutions, and evaluate the effectiveness of their action-outcomes. It develops in students the ability to work independently and to reflect on the subject-specific research process.

Assessment:

Students are assessed through coursework and examinations.

Teaching:

The Sport and Exercise Science course is delivered through well-designed, coherent, and up-to-date modules that cover a wide range of topics. The teaching staff are all active researchers in their specialist areas, and this feeds into the content of the modules. Students undertake a variety of activities and encounter new challenges that support their learning, such as performance analysis and measurements. Throughout the course, students are exposed to different project designs and develop their ability to apply both quantitative and qualitative approaches to research questions.

Careers:

The Sport and Exercise Science degree provides students with the skills necessary to secure employment in a number of careers in a range of sectors, including opportunities in sport science support, teaching, coaching, performance enhancement, and the health and fitness industry. Students develop excellent communication and analytical skills, giving them a great advantage when looking for employment. They also have the opportunity to continue their academic study and have the option to progress onto the MSc Strength and Conditioning course, amongst other master's programs.

Other:

• The program offers internship opportunities with three local professional sports clubs.
• Students are encouraged to become members of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES).
• Students have the opportunity to gain additional coaching qualifications during the course.
• The program includes the Northampton Energy Elite Athlete Scholarship.
• Students receive a HP laptop and software when they begin the course (UK fee payers only).
• The program includes the Northampton Employment Promise, which guarantees a paid internship upon completion of the course.

2024/25 Tuition Fees Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 24/25 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years. UK – Full Time: £9,250 UK – Part Time: £1,540 per 20 credit module UK – Integrated Foundation Year: £9,250 International – Full Time: £15,200 International – Integrated Foundation Year: £15,200 Additional costs Additional costs will be incurred if you decide to participate in optional field trips/visits as part of your course. The exact cost will depend upon the location chosen for the trip. You will need to wear suitable sports kit for practical sessions as part of the course. We can purchase Sport and Exercise kit (polo shirts and hoodies) but these are not compulsory. The exact cost of kit will be provided at the start of the course. Costs associated with producing a poster for the final year conference. 2023/24 Tuition Fees Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 23/24 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years. UK – Full Time: £9,250 UK – Part Time: £1,540 per 20 credit module UK – Integrated Foundation Year: £9,250 International – Full Time: £14,750 International – Integrated Foundation Year: £14,750 Additional costs Additional costs will be incurred if you decide to participate in optional field trips/visits as part of your course. The exact cost will depend upon the location chosen for the trip. You will need to wear suitable sports kit for practical sessions as part of the course. We can purchase Sport and Exercise kit (polo shirts and hoodies) but these are not compulsory. The exact cost of kit will be provided at the start of the course. Costs associated with producing a poster for the final year conference.