Program Overview

Master of Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy/Master of High Performance Sport

The Master of Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy/Master of High Performance Sport is a 2-year full-time or equivalent part-time program that combines the principles of sports and exercise physiotherapy with high performance sport. The program is designed to provide students with advanced knowledge and skills in the areas of sports and exercise physiotherapy, as well as high performance sport.

Credit Points and Duration

The program consists of 160 credit points and can be completed in 2 years full-time or equivalent part-time. Full-time students must attend a compulsory 7-10 day on-campus component during their program, delivered at ACU's Brisbane campus. Part-time students may attend this compulsory on-campus component split across two years.

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admission to the program, an applicant must have completed a Bachelor degree or higher in Physiotherapy and have a minimum of 2 years clinical experience as a physiotherapist post-graduation, including at least 1 year in musculoskeletal or sports areas. Alternatively, applicants may have completed ACU's Graduate Certificate in Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy.

Completion Requirements

To qualify for the Master of Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy/Master of High Performance Sport, a student must complete 160 credit points from the Schedule of Unit Offerings, consisting of:

• 60 credit points from Specified Physiotherapy Units (Part A)
• 40 credit points from Specified High Performance Sport Units (Part B)
• 20 credit points from Elective High Performance Sport Units (Part C)
• 40 credit points from Research Units (Part D)

Course Structure

The program is structured into four parts:

Part A: Specified Physiotherapy Units

Complete exactly 60 credit points from the following units:

• PHTY614 Advanced Principles of Human Movement for Exercise and Sports Performance
• PHTY615 Clinical Exercise for Health and Performance Across the Lifespan
• PHTY616 Sports Medicine and Musculoskeletal Clinical Practice for Physiotherapists
• PHTY617 Physiotherapists Working in Sport
• PHTY618 Leadership, Management and Advocacy for Sports and Exercise Physiotherapists
• EXSC669 Exercise Rehabilitation for Return to Sports Performance

Part B: Specified High Performance Sport Units

Complete exactly 40 credit points from the following units:

• EXSC510 Strength and Conditioning for Performance and Rehabilitation
• EXSC650 Fatigue, Recovery, Adaptation and Performance
• EXSC651 Sports Injury Prevention
• EXSC674 Contemporary Practice in Strength and Conditioning

Part C: Elective High Performance Sport Units

Complete exactly 20 credit points from the following units:

• EXSC513 Data Analysis and Interpretation for High Performance Sport
• EXSC652 Contemporary Issues in Sports Science
• EXSC657 Industry Internship
• EXSC668 Performance Nutrition
• EXSC672 Theoretical Foundations of Performance Analysis

Part D: Research Units

Complete exactly 40 credit points from the following units:

• HLSC640 Interpreting Health Research
• HLSC641 Introduction to Health Sciences Research
• HLSC646 Qualitative Research Methods
• HLSC647 Quantitative Research Methods
• PHTY606 Physiotherapy Research Project A
• PHTY607 Physiotherapy Research Project B

Exit Points

A student who has completed 80 credit points from the Schedule of Specified Unit Offerings, including a minimum 40 credit points from Specified Physiotherapy Units, may exit with the Graduate Diploma in Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy. A student who has completed 40 credit points from the Schedule of Unit Offerings, including a minimum 30 credit points from Specified Physiotherapy Units, may exit with the Graduate Certificate in Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy. A student who has completed 40 credit points from the Schedule of Unit Offerings, including a minimum 30 credit points from Specified and Elective High Performance Sport Units, may exit with the Graduate Certificate in High Performance Sport.

Progression Requirements

Students are required to follow the pattern of unit enrolment set out in the relevant Course Enrolment Guide, unless otherwise approved by the Course Coordinator. In all aspects of progress through the course, students will be advised by the Course Coordinator.

Course Maps

The program offers three course maps:

1. Commencing ACU Term 1 - 2 year option
2. Commencing ACU Term 1 - 4 year option
3. Commencing ACU Term 3 - 2 year option

Each course map outlines the units to be completed in each term, as well as the credit points and prerequisites for each unit.