Applied Sports Science with St - Technological U

Tuition Fee

Start Date

Medium of studying

On campus

Duration

48 months

Program Facts

About Program

About University

Admission Requirements

Ambassadors

Easy Apply

Program Facts

Program Details

Degree

Bachelors

Major

Sports Coaching | Sports Science

Area of study

Sports

Education type

On campus

Timing

Full time

Course Language

English

About Program

Program Overview

Applied Sports Science with Strength and Conditioning – BSc (Hons)

Course Overview

The course content will be delivered through theory and practical classes. We place a significant emphasis on preparing students to be able to deliver the knowledge through practical coaching sessions. Over the four years, students will study the components of fitness, the principles of training, sports nutrition, sports psychology, learn how to analyse biomechanical movements and the science of sport.

Students who choose this course will specialise in strength and conditioning. Some modules include; resistance training, weightlifting, injury prevention, and periodisation. Covering the course content will allow students to take the ITEC gym instruction qualification exam.

This exciting 4 year honours degree will allow students to study resistance training, weightlifting, programme planning, sports psychology, and injury and rehabilitation. A core element of this course is the applied nature of the study. Consequently, the modules that students will study have significant practical elements that focus on developing coaching competencies necessary to improve the athletes in their chosen sport. Strength and conditioning coaches are in demand right across the lifecycle from designing programmes and coaching children, youth, adults, or older adults. This course offers students an opportunity to gain a qualification in the area of exercise science. We place a significant emphasis on preparing students to be able to deliver the knowledge through practical coaching sessions. This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills to undertake conditioning programmes to support coaches and athletes in their performance improvements. In addition, we aim to prepare students to be industry-ready.

Course Details

CAO Points: 244
Location: Thurles
Duration: 4 years
Course Code: US958
Level: 8
Course Type: Undergraduate
Study Mode: Full Time
Department: Sport & Early Childhood Studies

Entry Requirements

Leaving Certificate: A minimum of 2 H5 & 4 O6/H7 grades in six Leaving Certificate subjects, including Mathematics and English or Irish.
Mature Applicants: Candidates applying as mature applicants may be required to attend an interview and may be requested to take an aptitude test to prove their suitability for a place on this programme.
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.

Course Modules

Year 1 – Semester 1

Coaching Skills & Athlete Preparation (5 credits)
Communication Skills (5 credits)
Foundations of Human Anatomy (5 credits)
Foundations of Nutrition (5 credits)
Physical Activity & Movement Development (5 credits)
Principles Of Resistance Training (5 credits)

Year 1 – Semester 2

Foundations In Biomechanics (5 credits)
Fundamental Movement Skills (5 credits)
Fundamentals Of Exercise Physiology (5 credits)
Philosophy & Ethics of Practice (5 credits)
Resistance Training Methods (5 credits)
S&C Across the Lifecycle (5 credits)

Year 2 – Semester 1

Clinical Biomechanics (5 credits)
Psychology For Sport (5 credits)
Speed & Agility For Sport (5 credits)
Sport Nutrition (5 credits)
Sports Profiling & Needs Analysis (5 credits)
Weightlifting Techniques And Practices (5 credits)

Year 2 – Semester 2

Endurance Development For Sport (5 credits)
Injury Management & Return to Play (5 credits)
Performance Measurement & Testing (5 credits)
Special Populations Interventions (5 credits)
Sport Statistics (5 credits)
Training for Power & Force (5 credits)

Year 3 – Semester 1

Advanced Sports Conditioning (5 credits)
Current Concepts In Performance Technology (5 credits)
Para Sport (5 credits)
Sport Technology Analytics (5 credits)
Statistical Research Methods For Sport (5 credits)
Youth Athletic Development (5 credits)

Year 3 – Semester 2

Work Placement For Strength & Conditioning (30 credits)

Year 4 – Semester 1

Adv Resistance Training (5 credits)
Applied Exercise A&P Assessment (5 credits)
Coaching Competencies & Behaviours (5 credits)
Periodisation (5 credits)
Sports Innovation & Professional Development (5 credits)
The Female Athlete (5 credits)

Year 4 – Semester 2

Final Year Project Strength & Conditioning (15 credits)
Leadership and Management (5 credits)
Monitoring & Recovery (5 credits)
Problem Based Learning (5 credits)

Career Opportunities

Graduates with sports science with strength and conditioning degrees can take up work in gyms, sports teams or set up their own sport business. Graduates can also further their education in sports performance, sports coaching, sports psychology and physiotherapy.

Graduates are expected to gain employment in sports organisations, sports’ national governing bodies, sporting clubs and colleges, health and fitness industry, community activity programmes and private enterprise.

Further Study

Successful graduates of this programme are eligible for Level 9 and 10 postgraduate programmes within TUS or elsewhere.

Program Outline

Applied Sports Science with Strength and Conditioning – BSc (Hons) - TUS

Degree Overview:

The BSc (Hons) Applied Sports Science with Strength and Conditioning prepares students to work with children, youths, and adults in various sporting environments. This course focuses on the applied nature of exercise science. The course content is delivered through theory and practical classes, with a significant emphasis on preparing students to deliver knowledge through practical coaching sessions. Over the four years, students will study the components of fitness, the principles of training, sports nutrition, sports psychology, learn how to analyze biomechanical movements and the science of sport. Students will specialize in strength and conditioning, covering modules like resistance training, weightlifting, injury prevention, and periodization. This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills to undertake conditioning programs to support coaches and athletes in their performance improvements. The program aims to prepare students to be industry-ready.

Outline:

Year 1

Semester 1:
Coaching Skills & Athlete Preparation (Credits: 5):
Communication Skills (Credits: 5): Develops personal and interpersonal communication skills for the sports and fitness industries, covering verbal, written, non-verbal, and electronic communication.
Foundations of Human Anatomy (Credits: 5): Provides foundational knowledge of human anatomical structures and systems.
Foundations of Nutrition (Credits: 5): Introduces fundamental aspects of human nutrition, including macronutrients, energy balance, vitamins, minerals, and hydration.
Physical Activity & Movement Development (Credits: 5): Explores the development of movement patterns throughout the life cycle and its relevance to athletic development and planning.
Semester 2:
Foundations In Biomechanics (Credits: 5):
Fundamental Movement Skills (Credits: 5): Explores the principles and practices of fundamental movement skills and their relation to athletic development.
Fundamentals Of Exercise Physiology (Credits: 5): Provides a basic understanding of human physiology and physiological responses to exercise.
Philosophy & Ethics of Practice (Credits: 5): Develops personal philosophy and ethical framework for the role of a performance technologist.
Resistance Training Methods (Credits: 5): Enhances knowledge and competency in the science and application of resistance training for athletes.
S&C Across the Lifecycle (Credits: 5): Examines the physiology of aging and the importance of maintaining strength, conditioning, and physical activity across the lifespan, including designing appropriate exercise programs.

Year 2

Semester 1:
Clinical Biomechanics (Credits: 5):
Psychology For Sport (Credits: 5): Examines psychological skills and knowledge to enhance sporting performance.
Speed & Agility For Sport (Credits: 5): Explores the key physical elements required for speed and agility in sports, covering the science and practice of improving multidirectional speed and agility.
Sport Nutrition (Credits: 5): Introduces the relationship between nutrition, exercise, and sports performance, discussing the effects of nutritional strategies on strength, power, speed, and endurance.
Sports Profiling & Needs Analysis (Credits: 5): Introduces performance profiling techniques to identify characteristics required for success in a sport and develop training regimens for improvement.
Weightlifting Techniques And Practices (Credits: 5): Explores the science behind weightlifting for strength, power, and conditioning, developing competency and coaching skills in classic lifts, barbell weight training, and accessory movements.
Semester 2:
Endurance Development For Sport (Credits: 5):
Injury Management & Return to Play (Credits: 5): Provides theoretical and practical knowledge and skills to identify injuries, injury risks, implement prevention strategies, and perform return to play programs.
Performance Measurement & Testing (Credits: 5): Develops understanding and competencies in sports performance testing of athletes and how such methods are used to measure performance within Strength and Conditioning.
Special Populations Interventions (Credits: 5): Provides a multi-disciplinary approach to dealing with the needs of special population groups and how it applies to physical activity, exercise, and sports participation.
Sport Statistics (Credits: 5): Introduces statistical concepts, computational skills, and their practical application in sporting situations, developing a systematic approach to dealing with statistical data.
Training for Power & Force (Credits: 5): Explores the force-velocity science behind power development and its benefits to sporting performance, covering strength and power training methods and coaching skills in Olympic lifts.

Year 3

Semester 1:
Advanced Sports Conditioning (Credits: 5):
Current Concepts In Performance Technology (Credits: 5): Examines current and emerging trends, research tracks, and contemporary issues within strength and conditioning literature and evidence-based practice.
Para Sport (Credits: 5): Provides a multi-disciplinary approach to working with various disabilities in Paralympic sports, developing knowledge and skills to adapt exercise programs for para-athletes.
Sport Technology Analytics (Credits: 5): Develops technical skills in using sports technology to analyze individual and team-based technical, training, and gameplay movements using various technologies.
Statistical Research Methods For Sport (Credits: 5): Introduces quantitative research in sport, developing a systematic approach to dealing with statistical data and equipping students with IT skills for data analysis and presentation.
Youth Athletic Development (Credits: 5): Explores the nature of strength and conditioning needs throughout the youth and adolescent life cycle, informing exercise selection, programming, and planning.
Semester 2:
Work Placement For Strength & Conditioning (Credits: 30):

Year 4

Semester 1:
Adv Resistance Training (Credits: 5):
Applied Exercise A&P Assessment (Credits: 5): Deepens understanding of anatomy and physiology as it relates to sport, exercise, and physical activity, applying theory to exercise performance monitoring and evaluation.
Coaching Competencies & Behaviours (Credits: 5): Analyzes the theoretical constructs involved in the behavioral aspects of coaching within a sports performance environment.
Periodisation (Credits: 5): Analyzes the principles of training science and their application in developing appropriate periodised programs in sports performance.
Sports Innovation & Professional Development (Credits: 5): Builds understanding of innovation and professional development, applying learning to new venture creation and career planning, providing grounding in innovative sports enterprise development.
The Female Athlete (Credits: 5): Provides scientific theoretical knowledge and practical skills required to work with female athletes of all ages, equipping students to enable these athletes to perform and recover optimally throughout the lifecycle.
Semester 2:
Final Year Project Strength & Conditioning (Credits: 15):
Leadership and Management (Credits: 5): Focuses on the knowledge and skills required for effective leadership and management of elite teams and high-performance athletes, as well as in an organizational setting.
Monitoring & Recovery (Credits: 5): Analyzes and assesses the scientific basis and practical application of appropriate monitoring and recovery strategies, protocols, and procedures for athletes.

Careers:

Graduates with sports science with strength and conditioning degrees can take up work in gyms, sports teams, or set up their own sports business. Graduates can also further their education in sports performance, sports coaching, sports psychology, and physiotherapy. Graduates are expected to gain employment in sports organizations, sports' national governing bodies, sporting clubs and colleges, health and fitness industry, community activity programs, and private enterprise.

Other:

This course is recognized by the National Strength & Conditioning Association.

Contact Details:

Dr. Damien Young

Admission Requirements

Entry Requirements:

Leaving Certificate: A minimum of 2 H5 & 4 O6/H7 grades in six Leaving Certificate subjects, including Mathematics and English or Irish.
Mature Applicants: Candidates applying as mature applicants may be required to attend an interview and may be requested to take an aptitude test to prove their suitability for a place on this programme.

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