Doctorate in Sport and Exercise Science
Program Overview
The Doctorate in Sport and Exercise Science is a research-oriented program designed for professionals in allied sport fields, aiming to develop their research competence and enable them to apply research findings in their professional practice. The program combines structured learning and self-directed research, fostering researching professionals who can impact sport and exercise organizations and beyond. Graduates acquire high-level thinking and problem-solving skills, enhancing their career opportunities in leadership and management roles within the sport industry.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Doctorate in Sport and Exercise Science is a postgraduate research degree designed for individuals associated with professions allied to sport, such as sport and exercise scientists, coaches, physiotherapists, medical doctors, sport educators, and sport managers. The program aims to enable these professionals to develop their practice through applied research.
Objectives:
The program's primary objectives are:
- To create and interpret new knowledge associated with professional practice in Sport and Exercise Science.
- To equip students with a detailed understanding of, and innovation in, applied research methodology appropriate to professional practice in Sport and Exercise Science.
- To enhance students' ability to develop and apply research in their chosen area of professional practice.
- To support individuals in developing strategies to optimize personal and professional growth to maximize the potential to create change in themselves and others.
Description:
The Doctorate in Sport and Exercise Science is a more practically focused degree than a traditional PhD, emphasizing the development of research competence and the ability to apply it in relevant contexts. It is ideal for sport professionals seeking to become practicing professional researchers. The program fosters the development of researching professionals who can undertake research and activities that inform professional practice within their organizations and more broadly within sport and exercise.
Outline:
Content:
The program includes both tutor-led structured learning (modules) and self-directed, tutor-supported project-based learning (research projects). The research element of the program allows students to investigate a broad range of areas related to their interests, including sport and exercise science, nutrition, coaching, physiotherapy, sports medicine, sport education, and sport management.
Structure:
The program is structured around a blended approach to learning, combining in-person and online delivery. It is designed to be flexible, accommodating the professional commitments of enrolled students.
Course Schedule:
- Year 1:
- Developing Research for Sport and Exercise Science (40 credits)
- Professional Practice: Developing Competency in Sport and Exercise Science (40 credits)
- Year 3:
- Evaluating Performance: Critical Reflections in Sport and Exercise Science (40 credits)
Modules:
- Developing Research for Sport and Exercise Science: This module focuses on evaluating current competency in research, specifically related to sport and exercise science. Students develop an understanding of key considerations in developing a research program, including ethical review, identifying appropriate research questions and methodologies, and planning research projects.
- Professional Practice: Developing Competency in Sport and Exercise Science: This module encourages students to explore assumptions concerning their own learning and current competencies relevant to sport and exercise science, such as technical skill, personal effectiveness, problem-solving, and professional relationships. It emphasizes integrating theory and research into practice, managing self-learning, and developing others within a professional context.
- Evaluating Performance: Critical Reflections in Sport and Exercise Science: This module concludes the program by supporting students in reflecting on their personal, professional, and research development. It encourages critical evaluation of current competency and signposts potential next steps in an individual development plan. Students examine their doctoral education using reflection and meta-reflection, identifying and evaluating key learning experiences associated with the completion of their research program, the impact of their research on professional practice, and their personal approaches to professional performance.
Assessment:
Methods:
- Coursework Assessments: Research papers, reports, reflective commentaries, and viva voce examinations.
- Research Component: Formal viva voce examination.
Criteria:
- Core Modules: Assessments focus on the preparation, delivery, and evaluation of original research projects within a professional, organizational, and/or developmental context.
- Research Component: The research component is evaluated based on the quality and originality of the research, the student's ability to present and discuss their findings, and their overall understanding of the research process.
Teaching:
Methods:
- Independent research activity
- One-to-one supervision
- Workshops
- Work-based learning
- Critical friend feedback
- Self-audits
- Independent and guided critical reflection
Faculty:
- Experienced staff with expertise in both applied sport and exercise and clinically based areas.
- A strong network of specialist academic experts and experienced practitioners in high performance sport and other sports organizations.
Unique Approaches:
- Blended learning approach
- Flexible delivery to accommodate professional commitments
- Peer-to-peer learning through seminars and tutorials
- Collaboration with academic experts and professional individuals active in high performance sport or sports-related organizations.
Careers:
Potential Career Paths:
- Management and leadership roles in high-level sports organizations.
Opportunities:
- Doctoral level qualifications are becoming increasingly important for roles within professional sport and other sport-related occupations.
- The program develops high-level thinking and problem-solving skills, which are essential attributes for senior figures in organizations.
Outcomes:
- The program equips graduates with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in competitive career markets.
Other:
- The School is based in the largest custom-built Sport and Exercise facility in the UK, with state-of-the-art research labs dedicated to exercise testing and sample analysis across the spectrum of sport and exercise sciences.
- The School uses a wide range of practical spaces for professional and vocational-related research.
- Contact hours vary for each individual according to their stage in the program.
- The program aims to enhance the employability of graduates through doctoral-level research training relevant to professional practice.
