Health, Sport and Exercise Sciences

Bachelor of Science (Honours)

Health and Leisure students listening to lecturer
Health and Leisure students listening to lecturer
Type of Programme
Full-time
Number of Places
35
Duration
4 Years
Course Code
MT 911
Entry Requirements
308 CAO Points in 2023 and meet minimum entry requirements as listed below
Application Deadline
See CAO for details
Location(s)
MTU Kerry North Campus, Kerry
Course NFQ Level
Level 8

Michael Hall

T: +353 (0)66 714 4168

Email: (email)

Overview

This honours degree provides you with the skills to launch an exciting career as a professional in health, fitness, sport and leisure sectors. It involves the study of six major subject areas, five of which are common to all students: Exercise Science, Health Studies, Activity Leadership, Physical Education, and Professional Practice. For the sixth subject area, students study either ‘Education in Aquatics’ or ‘Outdoor and Experiential Learning’. All course material is delivered through a mix of applied theory and practice. This blend of teaching and learning approach prepares the student to be competent and confident in their practice as a health professional.

The first two years of the programme are generic and cover a broad range of areas of study which provide a foundation for a range of careers in the health, exercise and sports industries. At the end of second year, students enter Health, Sport and Exercise Sciences, Inclusive Sport and Physical Activity or Physical Education Studies with Business streams which allows students to begin to specialise in third year. There is also a 12- week work placement in third year, which can be completed with a local, national or international service provider.

Graduates will have an honours bachelor of science degree and a variety of discipline- specific professional certifications. Students are expected to become sufficiently competent practitioners to become eligible for professional fitness instructor registration in group exercise, gym instruction, and personal training. They will gain internationally recognised qualifications in aquatics including swim/aquatic teaching, aqua fitness, lifeguarding and inclusive aquatics from the Education in Aquatics module.

What will I study?

First year at a glance

Exercise Science – Anatomy and Physiology: the aim of this module is to explain, through principles and concepts of physiology and anatomy, the structure of the human body and how physiological systems contribute to overall body function.

Physical Education and Coaching Studies: the aim of this module is to enable students to critique human movement in order to facilitate learning and development in others across a range of movement contexts.

Activity Leadership: this module aims to bring students to a level of competence in the planning, delivery and evaluation of individual and group exercise sessions in the exercise to music and gym environments with healthy adults using a whole-part-whole approach.

Modules

What is a Module?

A module is a standalone unit of learning and assessment and is completed within one semester. A full-time student will normally study six modules in each semester; part-time and ACCS (Accumulation of Credits and Certification of Subjects) students will have flexibility as to the number of modules taken.

The button below provides a link to all of the University's approved modules for this programme.

View Modules

Entry Requirements

Entry 2024

For admission to a programme, standard applicants must

  • score the necessary CAO points and
  • meet the minimum entry requirements

Leaving Certificate in six subjects i.e. H5 in two subjects and O6/H7 in four other subjects. The six subjects must include Mathematics and either English or Irish grade O6/H7.

NOTE 1: Applicants must provide certification of fitness for a programme of vigorous physical activity.

NOTE 2: Vetting by an Garda Síochána is a mandatory requirement for this programme.

For Non-EU International Entry Requirements please visit https://www.mtu.ie/international/non-eu/.

Career options

Employment Opportunities

Graduates work in health and leisure centres, in health promotion units, in spa/wellness centres, in coaching and team sport settings, in sports development, in performance training, exercise programming, hotels, with disability service providers, in clinical settings, in the private/entrepreneurial area, in local sports partnerships and governing bodies of sport, in swimming pools, and in the great outdoors.

Inclusive Sport and Physical Activity specialism graduates are health and leisure professionals with a specialist knowledge and experience in working with people with disabilities.

Physical Education Studies with Business specialism graduates work within the school environment, and also in youth work, adult education and broader community sport and leisure settings.

Health, Sport and Exercise Sciences specialism graduates develop, influence and advocate for policy, provision and practice in a range of sectors, while maintaining health, wellbeing and fitness and optimal performance as central paradigms of their careers

Progression

Further Studies

Suitably qualified Level 8 Honours graduates are eligible to progress to the MSc in Applied Exercise for Health at MTU Kerry North Campus or to research at either master or PhD level. Graduates of the level 8, Physical Education Studies with Business stream, will be eligible to apply to a number of Professional Master of Education (PME) programmes in Ireland or similar postgraduate teaching programmes in the UK. Within Ireland, graduates will be eligible to apply for the PME in Physical Education in the University of Limerick, or a PME in business offered in a number of third level institutions nationally. Alternatively, students may apply for the merged PE and Business PME offered by the University of Limerick.

Question Time

Yes, graduates of the BSc (Hons) in Physical Education Studies with Business stream will meet the Teaching Council curricular subject requirements for teaching both PE and Business to Leaving Certificate level. In order to teach, graduates must also complete a Professional Master of Education in Ireland or similar postgraduate teaching programme in the UK.

See also the BSc (Honours) in Physical Education Studies with Business MT 906 and BSc (Honours) in Coaching Science and Sports Pedagogy MT 915.

PLEASE NOTE: If you sustain injuries that impact your physical engagement with the programme, this may affect your ability to continue on the programme and/or to progress.

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