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Physical Activity and Health Science – BSc (Hons)

  • CAO Points: 289

  • Campus: Athlone

  • years: 4


Course Overview

This course draws upon expertise from psychologists, nutritionists, exercise and sport scientists, and public health professionals to provide you with the knowledge and skills to improve the general health of various sectors of society using exercise courses, physical activity and nutrition.   This is a unique course primarily due to the multidisciplinary approach to physical activity and nutrition for public health. No other course within the Republic of Ireland produces graduates with a comparable in-depth a knowledge of both physical activity and nutritional interventions, while bringing together the social, behavioural, biological and biomedical sciences to facilitate the development and improvement of existing interventional techniques. Being physically active and having a healthy diet are important for people of all ages to maintain their health and wellbeing. As the number of people with diseases associated with physical inactivity and poor nutrition increases, the roles of exercise, physical activity and dietary behaviour in health promotion are gaining more importance. If you would like to be part of the national and local effort to improve the health and wellbeing of this country, then this is the course for you.

Contact Details

Dr. Clare McDermott

Email: Clare.McDermott@tus.ie

Dr. Fiona Skelly

Email: Fiona.skelly@tus.ie

What are the entry requirements?

Leaving Certificate

Minimum of Grade H5 at higher level in two subjects plus a minimum of grade O6/H7 at ordinary level in four other subjects in the Leaving Certificate examination. Two of these six subjects must be Mathematics and a language (English or Irish).

QQI

Places will be reserved for QQI applicants. Any major QQI award with three distinctions and a pass in 5N1833 or 5N0556 or Leaving Certificate Maths at O6/H7.

Mature Applicants

The Department welcomes application from mature students. Such applicants may not be required to have the minimum entry requirements. However, the Institute will look for satisfactory evidence of the applicant’s ability to pursue and benefit from the course. Knowledge and skills gained through experiential learning will be taken into account. Mature applicants may be required to attend for interview at TUS as part of the selection process.

International Applicants

International applicants should apply directly to the International Office at TUS, allowing plenty of time for completing the visa process. Applications for September start should be made by 1st June at the latest to ensure visas are processed in time. You should familiarise yourself with visa processing times for your country of origin to ensure you make a timely application. Find out more here.

All students on the BSc (Hons) in Physical Activity and Health Science programme are required to obtain Garda clearance through the National Vetting Bureau.

Course Modules

  • Physical Activity for Health

    Credits: 5

    This module will explore physical activity trends and guidelines for range of populations and across the lifespan and will introduce the role of physical activity for health, wellbeing and the prevention of disease.

  • Human Physiology 1

    Credits: 5

    Human Physiology 1 aims to introduce and provide students with an in-depth understanding of the structure and function of four physiological systems in the human body: the cardiovascular system, the musculoskeletal system, the respiratory system and the nervous system.

  • Academic Skills for Sport and Health Sciences

    Credits: 5

    The aim of the module is to equip students with the key academic and research skills needed to succeed at university.

  • Fundamentals of Sport and Exercise Science 1

    Credits: 5

    This module, through a multidisciplinary approach, introduces students to the basic theory and principles of sport and exercise science and will equip students with the basic skills needed to assess an individual/group/team and subsequently write a training/ exercise plan to improve sporting performance and/or health.

  • Introducing Health and Wellness

    Credits: 5

    This module will introduce students to the concept, models and principles of health promotion theory and practice to improve health and wellbeing.

  • Science for Sport and Health

    Credits: 5

    This module aims to introduce students to the fundamental principles of biology and chemistry required for the sport and health sciences.

  • Quantitative Methods for the Health Sciences

    Credits: 5

    The aim of this module is to introduce students to the fundamental quantitative principles underpinning the health sciences and to provide them with the necessary tools to deal with the quantitative aspects of the discipline, using a wide range of well-illustrated context-based examples.

  • Lifestyle Behaviours, Health and Wellness

    Credits: 5

    The aim of this module is to enable students to develop an understanding of the concepts of health and wellness, a key priority for the Government and the whole of society, and will focus on lifestyle-related behaviours which are central to chronic diseases and poor health observed in modern-day society.

  • Human Physiology 2

    Credits: 5

    Human Physiology 2 aims to introduce and provide students with knowledge of the digestive system, metabolism and energy systems, fuel utilisation, endocrine system, and immune system.

  • Factors Influencing Physical Activity

    Credits: 5

    The module will explain the difference between determinants and correlates of Physical Activity Behaviours, and will outline and describe the predominant approaches to increasing physical activity through knowledge of determinants that influence Physical Activity Behaviours across the life course in different settings

  • Academic and Scientific Writing Skills for Sport and Health Sciences

    Credits: 5

    This module aims to develop the academic and scientific writing skills Sport and Health Science students need to succeed at university.

  • Group Exercise Instruction

    Credits: 5

    Foundations of group exercise instruction introduces students to the fundamental components of exercise in a group setting and how to apply components and principals within a group exercise environment.

  • Sports & Health Marketing and Entrepreneurship

    Credits: 5

    The aim of this module is to provide students with an introduction to business, business modelling with particular emphasis on marketing and entrepreneurial skills.

  • Youth Physical Activity

    Credits: 5

    The aim of this module is to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the physical development of children and adolescents, with specific focus on skills that affect participation in physical activity and sport.

  • Fundamentals of Sport and Exercise Science 1

    Credits: 5

    This module, through a multidisciplinary approach, introduces students to the basic theory and principles of sport and exercise science and will equip students with the basic skills needed to assess an individual/group/team and subsequently write a training/ exercise plan to improve sporting performance and/or health.

  • Introducing Health and Wellness

    Credits: 5

    This module will introduce students to the concept, models and principles of health promotion theory and practice to improve health and wellbeing.

  • Measuring Physical Activity

    Credits: 5

    This module will outline and describe the predominant measurement methodologies utilised in physical activity and health research.

  • Views of Society and Health

    Credits: 5

    This module aims to provide students with an understanding of the social and cultural contexts of health and physical activity, while seeking to explore the manner in which society shapes and informs our experiences of, and responses to, health and physical activity.

  • Functional Anatomy for Sport Science

    Credits: 5

    The aim of this module is to develop the student’s knowledge of the anatomy and functioning of the musculoskeletal system with specific focus on the role, structure, and location of muscle, tendons, ligaments, and bones responsible for both every day and sports related movements.

  • Promoting Health

    Credits: 5

    To provide the student with the necessary knowledge and skills required for promoting health taking into account assessment of needs, methods, target groups, settings and timing of activities.

  • Research Methods and Statistics 1

    Credits: 5

    The purpose of this module is to provide students with a formal introduction to scientific research methods; the critical analysis of research; and the use of statistics in sports, exercise, and health science from factors related to designing a study through to the formal analysis of the data and the presentation of results.

  • Individual Exercise Instruction

    Credits: 5

    Individual Exercise Instruction is a progression from Foundations of Group Exercise Instruction where students will explore more advanced exercise training techniques and further students’ competency for individual exercise programme design and delivery.

  • Nutrition for Health across the Lifespan

    Credits: 5

    This module will apply the principles of human nutrition by providing theoretical content regarding the role of nutrition throughout the lifespan.

  • Applied Exercise Physiology

    Credits: 5

    The aim of this module is to provide students with an understanding of the scientific principles that underpin the design of training programmes, and the physiological adaptations that occur in response to aerobic training, anaerobic training and resistance training, in the context of both sport and health.

  • Research Methods and Statistics 2

    Credits: 5

    The purpose of this module is to address a range of research methodologies relevant to the analysis, critique and understanding of the research process and to subsequently apply these methodologies to sport and health science related issues.

  • Youth Physical Activity

    Credits: 5

    The aim of this module is to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the physical development of children and adolescents, with specific focus on skills that affect participation in physical activity and sport.

  • Promoting Health for Special Populations

    Credits: 5

    The aim of this module is to examine key principles and concepts of promoting health and lifestyle-related behaviours among special populations, in order to develop students’ theoretical knowledge and applied skills of health promotion in practice.

  • Exercise Prescription for Clinical Populations

    Credits: 5

    The aim of this module is to provide students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills to prescribe and deliver safe and effective exercise for clinical populations.

  • Understanding Health Risk and How to Change Behaviour

    Credits: 5

    The aim of this module is to inform students of the current theories, challenges and interventions for supporting health behavioural change to enable students to apply this learning to practice.

  • Epidemiology in Public Health

    Credits: 5

    This module aims to explore the underlying principles of public health epidemiology and how it can provide evidence for policy and public health agendas.

  • Professional Work Experience

    Credits: 30

    The aim of this module is to provide students with the opportunity to participate in a full-time work-place environment in the fields of Physical Activity and Health/Sport Science/Nutrition and Health Science and to apply their knowledge and skills in a practical, real-word setting while experiencing the culture, nature and structure of employment.

  • Research Project (Year-Long)

    Credits: 20

    The purpose of this module is to engage students in formal scientific research as a means to develop skills in project management, data acquisition, evaluation and communication of scientific information.

  • Designing Healthy Lifestyle Programmes

    Credits: 10

    In this module, students will engage with key stakeholders and apply behaviour change theory and principles to develop a healthy lifestyle programme, that includes a focus on physical activity, for a target group.

  • Consultation Skills for Public Health

    Credits: 10

    The aim of this module is to provide the learner with in-depth knowledge and skills to conduct consultations for public health in both group and one-to-one settings.

  • Research Project (Year-Long)

    Credits: 20

    The purpose of this module is to engage students in formal scientific research as a means to develop skills in project management, data acquisition, evaluation and communication of scientific information.

  • Advanced Exercise Prescription

    Credits: 10

    The aim of this module is to equip students with the specialist knowledge and practical skills required to design and deliver comprehensive exercise programmes for populations with unique needs.

  • Delivering and Evaluating Healthy Lifestyle Programmes

    Credits: 10

    This module will afford students the opportunity to practically apply their knowledge and skills of core principles within health promotion and health behaviour change by implementing and evaluating a healthy lifestyle programme, that includes a focus on physical activity, for a target group.

What can you do after this programme?

There are several career pathways open to you as a graduate of this degree. These include employment with health and fitness centres/GP exercise referral schemes, as physical activity co-ordinator/administrators (within the LSP/HS or other bodies), as health promotion co-ordinators within large multinational companies based in Ireland, within hospitals/primary care centres as physical activity and health officers, as community wellness course co-ordinators, health promotion consultants/policy officers, as exercise and physical activity co-ordinators for active retirement groups, youth services/clubs groups, special needs groups.

Many students progress to further study in areas such as health promotion, nutrition, psychology and exercise physiology.  Students also successfully progress to doctoral level research undertaking PhDs in TUS and other Universities across Ireland and internationally.

Student Testimonials

Jennifer Firzpatrick

I decided to complete my internship in a priority research centre for physical activity and nutrition, in Australia. Throughout this experience I gained exceptional practical and research skills. I was involved in large scale research studies, analysing physical activity levels and health indices by combining the use of smartphone technology and outdoor gym facilities.

Jenny Fitzpatrick

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