Program Overview

EXSC309 - Internship in Coaching and Prescription

Year

2023

Credit Points

20

Campus Offering

No unit offerings are currently available for this unit.

Prerequisites

• ANAT100 Anatomical Foundations of Exercise Science
• EXSC118 Nutrition and Exercise OR EXSZ118 Nutrition and Exercise OR NUTR101 Introduction to Nutrition OR NUTD101 Introduction to Nutrition
• EXSC224 Mechanical Bases of Exercise OR EXSC120 Mechanical Bases of Exercise Science
• EXSC225 Physiological Bases of Exercise OR EXSC198 Physiological Bases of Exercise
• EXSC204 Exercise Prescription and Delivery
• EXSC216 Resistance Training: Science and Application
• EXSC218 Internship Preparation for Coaching and Prescription

Teaching Organisation

300 hours of focused learning.

Unit Rationale, Description, and Aim

To be a competent Exercise Scientist and Strength and Conditioning Coach, students must be able to transfer the knowledge and skills to a professional context with increasing autonomy and confidence. Professional practice is an integral aspect of the transition from learner to practitioner. It provides students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge, understanding, and skills in a work context and gain the necessary experience under the supervision of qualified professionals.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate professional practice knowledge, skills, and attributes for employment opportunities in exercise science and strength and conditioning.
2. Design and implement an evidence-based professional practice service which integrates knowledge, skills, and attributes of exercise science and strength and conditioning.
3. Critically reflect on feedback from a variety of sources, including placement supervisor(s), peers, and self, to improve professional practice in a work context.
4. Demonstrate competency of professional practice as an exercise scientist and strength and conditioning coach in a work context.

Graduate Attributes

• GA1: Demonstrate respect for the dignity of each individual and for human diversity.
• GA2: Recognise their responsibility to the common good, the environment, and society.
• GA3: Apply ethical perspectives in informed decision making.
• GA4: Think critically and reflectively.
• GA5: Demonstrate values, knowledge, skills, and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession.
• GA7: Work both autonomously and collaboratively.
• GA9: Demonstrate effective communication in oral and written English language and visual media.
• GA10: Utilise information and communication and other relevant technologies effectively.

Content

This unit requires the completion of a minimum of 200 hours of internship placements in accordance with ESSA and ASCA requirements for placement. Additional content that will be delivered to support the internships includes:

• Exercise science practice
• Professional development planning
• Critical reflection of competency, based on a variety of feedback
• Preparing for job applications
• How to record placement hours
• Professional conduct
• Scope of practice

Learning and Teaching Strategy and Rationale

EXSC309 Internship in Coaching and Prescription sits in one semester of the timetable, however students have the full year to complete the minimum 200 hours of professional practicum experience in the field.

Learning and teaching strategies include:

• Authentic learning and case-based learning through application of knowledge, understanding, and skills of course learnings under the supervision of a qualified professional in a professional workplace environment, for a minimum of 200 hours.
• Active learning will allow students to develop effective professional verbal and non-verbal communication skills by interaction with both clients and professionals in the exercise science and strength and conditioning field.
• Critical reflective thinking activities which will give a greater awareness of the scope of practice of an Exercise Scientist and strength and conditioning coach within ESSA's Code of Professional Conduct and Ethical Practice and ASCA.

Assessment Strategy and Rationale

Students will have a variety of assessment activities to demonstrate completion and achievement of the learning outcomes for the unit. This unit draws upon on both internal opportunities and placement experiences to facilitate continual reflection upon a student's professional practice and skills, promoting their professional growth.

• Professional Portfolio: Enables students to develop a professional portfolio for a mock industry-specific job in a competitive opportunity, demonstrating knowledge of the skills and understanding required for a job in the field of exercise science. (20%)
• Design and implement an evidence-based service: Enables the student to demonstrate their professional practice skills relevant for their scope of practice through simulated and practicum experiences and reflect upon their performance. (40%)
• Professional Development: Allows students to reflect and identify aspects of their professional practice which they determine require improvement and plan professional development activities to improve their practice. (40%)
• Professional Practice Reflection: Present a summary from professional experience and reflect upon your knowledge, skills, and attributes. (Ungraded Hurdle Task)
• Competency as an Exercise Scientist and Strength and Conditioning coach: Students must demonstrate the application of discipline-specific knowledge, understanding, and skills within the scope of practice for an accredited exercise scientist and strength and conditioning coach. Supervisors will complete an evaluation of student's performance while undertaking practicum. (Ungraded Hurdle Task)

Representative Texts and References

• American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) (2020). Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription (11th ed.). Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams.
• Coombes, J.S. and Skinner, T.L. (2014) ESSA student manual for health, exercise and sport assessment. Mosby and ESSA.
• Australian Strength and Conditioning Association.
• Exercise and Sports Science Australia.