Sports and Exercise Science (Study Abroad) BSc Hons drafted
| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2023-10-02 | - |
Program Overview
Overview
Lancaster University’s BSc Sports and Exercise Science is one of the first in the UK to be delivered by a medical school. Lancaster Medical School is recognised for its subject expertise, supportive community and satisfied students. This is your chance to study sports and exercise science within an academically rigorous environment and to combine scientific knowledge with professional practice.
You will explore the science behind human performance in sports, exercise and health. The course balances scientific focus with employability, so you will study anatomy, physiology, biomechanics and psychology alongside subjects such as nutrition, digital technologies in sport and exercise, and data analysis.
The mix of lectures, workshops and laboratory sessions also includes valuable experience of sports and exercise science research. You may find yourself analysing warm-up strategies to prevent injury, developing effective training and nutritional approaches for high-performing athletes, or assessing the effects of exercise for weight loss in obese people. You will also be encouraged to consider the increasing prominence of exercise and physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle, and to engage with current debates on public health and disease management.
You will be taught by Lancaster Medical School’s research-active academics with expertise in sports and exercise science, plus specialists ranging from bioscientists and clinicians, to sports nutritionists and public health experts.
Our brand-new Human Performance Laboratory gives you access to specialised sports facilities featuring cutting-edge technology used by today’s elite athletes. You will learn anatomy using Lancaster Medical School’s life-size anatomical models and benefit from access to Lancaster University’s new £4m life science teaching laboratories.
Using our state-of-the-art equipment, you will gain the skills to capture and analyse physiological and biomechanical data to better understand human performance and activity. You will learn how to act to enhance performance and activity - whether for competition or disease management - and how to provide feedback to an athlete, a patient or member of the general public.
In your first year, you will begin to explore the science behind human performance in sports, exercise and health through a broad range of core modules. The degree content covered in year one offers you the opportunity to complete an industry-recognised gym instructor qualification and a personal trainer qualification. This enables you to become a qualified fitness professional at the end of your first year and gain experience of working with people in an exercise and fitness environment over the following two years of your degree, boosting your employability.
In your second year, you begin to tailor your degree to your own interests or career aspirations by choosing to study an optional module in either Exercise Medicine (health performance) or Sports Medicine (athletic performance).
You will spend your third year studying at one of our overseas partner universities building your global outlook and connectivity.
Returning to Lancaster for your final year, you will choose two core modules from the subjects of physiology, biomechanics and psychology and an optional module in areas such as maximising elite performance or optimising health outcomes. You will also make a contribution to sports and exercise science research and undertake a research project on a topic of your choosing. In addition, you will finalise your professional practice programme by delivering an activity at a sports and exercise science public engagement event.
Your department
Faculty of Health and Medicine
Telephone
+44 (0)1524 594547Program Outline
Course Structure
Lancaster University offers a range of programmes, some of which follow a structured study programme, and others which offer the chance for you to devise a more flexible programme to complement your main specialism. We divide academic study into two sections - Part 1 (Year 1) and Part 2 (Year 2, 3 and sometimes 4). For most programmes Part 1 requires you to study 120 credits spread over at least three modules which, depending upon your programme, will be drawn from one, two or three different academic subjects. A higher degree of specialisation then develops in subsequent years. For more information about our teaching methods at Lancaster please visit our Teaching and Learning section.
The following courses do not offer modules outside of the subject area due to the structured nature of the programmes: Architecture, Law, Physics, Engineering, Medicine, Sports and Exercise Science, Biochemistry, Biology, Biomedicine and Biomedical Science.
Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, and the University will make every reasonable effort to offer modules as advertised. In some cases changes may be necessary and may result in some combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research.
Core
Technology use in sport, exercise and health has steeply increased in the last few years, aided in particular by technological advancements in software, hardware and data processing power. Indeed, the overall market for wearable technology is expected to grow from 113.2 million units sold in 2017, to 222.3 million in 2021 (IDC, 2017). The benefit such technology development brings can be very useful in providing support to athletes and clients, but it does not come without limitations or aspects that require a deeper understanding of ‘how it works’ to ensure accurate results.
This module will cover such technologies (e.g. wearables), what the data obtained can tell us and any caveats with it. It will afford students the opportunity to explore relevant technologies and develop an argument for their use.
This wide-ranging module provides an engaging introduction to Sports and Exercise Science, including its history, growth and future. It’s your chance to learn about the overarching role of Sports and Exercise Science in public health, disease management, elite performance, and recreational sports and activities. You will gain an awareness of research, professionalism and potential career opportunities as we educate, excite and inspire you. As you embark on your academic and career journey within this exciting field we’ll also ensure that you understand and adhere to professional conduct requirements.
We will highlight the connections between the Sports and Exercise Science disciplines and modules, helping you to take an integrated but multidisciplinary approach to both your degree and your professional development.
The lecture series is accompanied by workshops based around the role of Sports and Exercise Scientists. The combination of lectures, workshops, and Human Performance Lab sessions provides you with an insight into Lancaster’s various learning environments and to the way we will put theory into practice. The Human Performance Lab sessions will focus on working safely in the Sport and Exercise Sciences.
Throughout the module you will complete a weekly online test, which will help you to spot any gaps in your learning and to feel good about the knowledge that you’ve already secured.
This module is an introduction to the structure and function of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. The first five lectures of the module will examine the main components of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and the way eukaryotic cells are organized into tissues. The techniques used to study cells will also be reviewed. The next two lectures will look in detail at the structure and function of mitochondria and chloroplasts and the chemiosmotic theory. This will be followed by a lecture on the way cells are organised into tissues. The final four lectures will cover reproduction in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and the eukaryotic cell cycle. The lectures are supplemented by two practical sessions, the first on light microscopic technique and the second covering organelle isolation
How does a tennis player who is behind in a match keep focussed and fight back to win the match? Why do 100m sprinters visualise in their mind the race they are about to take part in? Why is breaking a bad habit, perhaps not taking exercise, so difficult?
These are important questions in Sports and Exercise Science and in this module you’ll get a chance to explore these topics as you examine theories of behaviour change along with studying motivation, visualisation and the effects of pressure on athletic performance.
This interactive and engaging module is your chance to get to grips with human physiology in the context of sports and exercise. Combining a lecture series with sessions in the Human Performance Lab, we will balance theory and practice to develop your understanding, and explore the integration of multiple physiological systems in response to exercise.
During your time in the Human Performance Lab, we will consider the ways in which physiological monitoring and analysis can be used to understand how these systems respond and adapt to the demands of different modes of exercise. You will carry out resting, submaximal and maximal tests using treadmills and static cycle ergometers. You will use heart rate monitors to evaluate workload, gas analysers to determine oxygen uptake, and blood sampling to assess changes in lactate levels to name a few. Your practical skills will be observed and you’ll complete a competency log ahead of a practical assessment.
By the end of the module you will also know what the requirements are for carrying out physiological measurements and tests, how to record data from those tests, and, how to analyse and present that data in a laboratory report.
Throughout the module you will complete a weekly online test, which will help you to spot any gaps in your learning and to feel good about the knowledge that you’ve already secured.
This fascinating module reveals the science behind the structure and function of the human body, which will be related to the contexts of sport, exercise and health, providing the foundation knowledge you need for studying physiology, biomechanics and nutrition.
Taught sessions will combine a lecture series, interactive workshops and laboratory practicals providing a good balance of theoretical and practical understanding. With access to the Human Performance and Biological Life Science Laboratories you will enjoy an active learning approach to studying the neuro-muscular, musculo-skeletal, cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
The assessment focus is on the production of a movement analysis drawing on the assessment of information from a variety of sources. You will also complete a weekly online test, which will help you to spot any gaps in your learning and to feel good about the knowledge that you’ve already secured, ahead of an end of year exam.
In this module students will learn the functions of several endocrine (hormone-producing) glands in lectures and workshops, such as the pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal glands. Students will then explore the underlying chemistry behind what makes exercise possible, our metabolism. Students will explore the links between nutrition and energy provision, how chemical reactions take place to increase skeletal muscle mass (anabolism), and finally explore how metabolism is linked to health, performance and even the ageing process.
Students will be assessed through a combination of weekly online multiple choice tests, a piece of coursework on hormonal control, and an exam covering the metabolism aspect of the module.
This exciting module will get you to grips with the foundations of general and sport nutrition, providing you with the knowledge and skills to analyse and review a real-life diet diary and provide appropriate dietary advice to a self-selected case study.
Your learning will take place in various environments including lectures; classroom-based workshops where you will discuss dietary assessment methods; computer-based sessions where you will use advanced dietary analysis software; and you will engage in testing blood sugar control in our Human Performance Laboratory. You will learn how to calculate energy requirements and understand how this differs across different activities and populations in both a sport and health context.
The assessment focal point for this module is the production of a dietary analysis report, where you will produce a diet diary and you will then accurately input, analyse and interpret the data. You will draw on recommendations and client goals to provide an evidence-based justification for your chosen advice. You will complete a weekly online test, which will help you to spot any gaps in your learning and to feel good about the knowledge that you have already secured, ahead of an end of year exam.
In this module, students will explore the chemistry of some of the most important molecules to life, including water, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, proteins and lipids. The module begins with an overview of basic chemistry for example atomic structure, bonding, pH and molecular shape. It looks at the properties of water and how these enable water to support life. The structure and bonding within nucleic acids, proteins and carbohydrates are explored with emphasis upon how this is related to function within a cell. Finally, the structure and functions of lipids are described, with emphasis upon the role of lipids, proteins and carbohydrates in biological membranes.
Workshops on this module enable use of RasMol molecular modelling software, making molecular models and problem-based learning.
This captivating module provides you with a strong grounding in biomechanics within the context of sports and exercise. Combining a lecture series with sessions in the Human Performance Laboratory, we will balance theory and practice to develop your understanding of one central theme: how and why the human body moves in the way it does and how human movement alters in different sport and exercise activities.
Our highly engaging professional practice module is an excellent opportunity to gain the academic knowledge, skills and values to progress in the sports and exercise sector.
Workshops will follow two themes where students will work collaboratively and engage with their peers while applying theoretical principles to applied practice using appropriate software:
Throughout the module you will complete assessment tasks to improve your scientific and concise writing style, refine your ability to search literature and reference appropriately, reflect on your presentation and communication skills, and critically apprise published experimental research.
This module ends with an analysis of your personal academic development throughout the first year of the degree programme and designing a plan for progression. The professional practice module continues to run throughout your degree with a moving focus towards professional development and public engagement.
This contemporary module will engage you in three public health challenges that directly relate to the sport and exercise sciences and complement modules in psychology, nutrition, exercise prescription and digital technology. You will gain a greater awareness and understanding of health inequalities, discussing the challenges faced by obesity, identifying the need to get people active and ensure our ageing population live better for longer.
Taught sessions will consist of interactive lectures and classroom-based seminars where you will be creative and develop key skills to discuss current and future public health initiatives. You will also enhance your ability to understand epidemiology and interpret statistics, whilst effectively presenting complex information using simple to understand statements - essential for successful public engagement and a valuable employability skill.
You will be assessed by creatively designing material to inform the public about particular health challenges and solutions, as well as developing your group presentation skills. Throughout the module, you will complete a weekly online test, which will help you to spot any gaps in your learning and to feel good about the knowledge that you’ve already secured.
Core
Biomechanics II builds on previous knowledge and skills developed around the area of Biomechanics. Students will explore in more depth how muscle performance affects our day to day life, whether this is being able to walk to the shops or achieve a personal best in a competition, how to assess that performance in both laboratory and field settings, and how to interpret the data in a meaningful way. The work will be completed in the Human Performance Laboratory as well as in seminars and workshops, while students will get a flavour of how we conduct and present research in Biomechanics. The module provides the perfect stepping stone for getting more excited with Biomechanics and preparing students for further engagement with the area, should they wish to do so.
This module allows the opportunity for students to engage with hot topics and current debates within sport and exercise science, across all the core disciplines of physiology, nutrition, psychology and biomechanics. You will develop the skills and confidence to review both sides of a number of controversial topics, build and defend a strong argument in a cohesive learning environment. This provides a dynamic approach to developing the ability read, listen, write and think critically, all of which are key skills for the final year of the degree.
You will be assessed via contributions to a collaborative learning environment, a short written critical review, and a live debate. A highly valuable and interactive approach that is intended to excite you to want to learn more.
This exciting module applies exercise science and exercise prescription to health and medical conditions. With the growing public health challenge associated with physical inactivity, as well as the convincing evidence that exercise is an effective prevention and treatment strategy, this module will appropriately equip students with the knowledge and skills to work towards a career in the health domain. Lancaster Medical School has a focus on improving population health via innovative methods and this allows Sports and Exercise Science to align closely with the wider vision of the Medicine programme.
You will learn about the role exercise plays in the prevention of risk factors associated with heart disease, as well as the use of exercise rehabilitation for those recovering from a cardiac event. You will discover how exercise can delay issues with bone health such as the importance of load-bearing activities in people with osteoporosis. You will gain in-depth insights into the pathophysiology, medications and exercise prescription across a wide range of conditions that are high on the UK and Global public health agenda, developing an adapted physical activity programme and engaging with real-life patients to raise awareness of the real-life barriers, facilitators and approaches to exercise medicine.
You will be engaged in lectures, interactive workshops, online forums and even a focus group with patients. Your knowledge and skills will be assessed by online weekly tests, a real-life patient case study and an end of year exam.
Following year one modules in physiology and nutrition, this takes your knowledge and application of skills to the next level by focusing on the measurement and evaluation of physiological responses to exercise and related environments. The module will take you beyond stand-alone physiological tests and provide a more experimental approach to your learning and start to apply the content to real-world sport and health scenarios.
You will delve deeper into energy systems and metabolic processes, find out more about the determiNAts of exercise performance, fatigue and recover and have fully grasped the integrated nature of exercise physiology to suitably prepare you for final year modules. You will learn how to conduct tests that determine lactate threshold, as well as using multiple different protocols to determine VO2max and investigating the effect of commonly used nutritional supplements. The module will introduce you to a variety of both laboratory and field-based assessments.
You will further your year one practical skills by continuing to add to your competencies and practical workbook/portfolio and laboratory report writing will have a more experimental focus, showcasing your understanding of protocol selection. The nature of the module will have helped to further develop your ability to analyse data and interpretation, which will feature in the module examination.
This module focuses on you and your professional development, to ultimately place you in a stronger position upon graduation. We are committed to ensuring you start thinking about and planning your career pathway, which can often be daunting, but it is highly beneficial to make some progress on this during your second year.
Working alongside a specific job specification, you will set out a professional development plan, engage in professional development opportunities and complete valuable employment-related assessments. Taught sessions are interactive and task-based to ensure you have something tangible to take away each week that moves you one step further towards your ideal job. Professional development opportunities can be advertised to you, but you are equally encouraged to seek your own. Examples include work placements, shadowing opportunities, volunteering, providing sport science support to university sports team, engaging as a research participant or assistant, attending conferences.
In addition to this, you will form a small group to prepare the initial ideas for a science communication event to be developed and delivered in year 3 (Professional Practice III). This features within this module as it gets you thinking about how your sports and exercise science knowledge can be applied and shared with a range of audiences, focusing on the transferability of skills – a key focus of professional practice
This module will examine how to identify different types of data and how interpret experimental plans and approaches, to select an appropriate statistical test to interrogate the data which is derived. This valuable experience is essential for a successful career in Sports Science and is relevant to any career in which data analysis is required.
Your learning will take place in the lecture theatre and computer lab. The lecture sessions are used to discuss approaches to data analysis and to introduce analytical concepts, while the computer lab sessions are used to practice choosing the most appropriate statistical tests and practicing using the tests using example data from the field of sport and exercise sciences. You’ll get experience of using several tools for data analysis, including packages which are freely available and which you can use following graduation in any role as there is no need to purchase or license specific software packages.
You will be assessed through a combination of weekly online tests, to check your knowledge, coursework for which you will complete statistical tests on model data and an end-of-year exam.
This module will focus on the mental and emotional needs of athletes and participants in all forms of exercise. Students will explore the nature of performance sports stressors and approaches to the management of these along with visualisation and mental rehearsal, and the connection to enhanced performance. Students will examine other psychological models such as Mindfulness, Acceptance, Commitment models and determine their usefulness in the sport and exercise domain. These explorations will allow the examination of the role of the Sports Psychologist and the nature of effective athlete-psychologist relationships.
Students will explore the nature of individual differences with a focus on personality and its impact on Sports performance and exercise engagement. Furthermore, students will examine the challenges behind the adoption of beneficial health and wellbeing habits. The topic will continue by examining resilience and motivation, exploring challenges associated with loss or lack of motivation, poor performance, injury and retirement.
Core
This highly engaging module is an excellent opportunity to discover and develop skills in science communication: informing, educating and raising awareness of sports and exercise sciences with the public. The skills, knowledge and values gained through this module are directly relevant to applied work as part of a team and interacting with the public, leading directly to enhanced employability.
This module will provide you the opportunity to work collaboratively to design, critique and deliver a piece of science communication to a public audience with accompanying resources. The module will end with a reflective report to analyse the successes and challenges of the process, output and interaction.
A crucial part of your degree is the final year project during which you’ll have the opportunity to work with staff to undertake your own research project. You’ll be guided in doing this, and you’ll be able to apply all of the knowledge and skills you’ve developed as you undertake your original research project.
Your project will allow you to develop your research and time-management skills as well as your presentation and team working skills. In addition it will allow you to undertake an investigation into a topic of your choice.