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SHN4313 - The Sport and Exercise Scientist

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, you will be able to:

1 - Draw on understanding gained in other programme modules and apply this within a chosen sport or exercise setting.

2 - Demonstrate ability to conduct a needs analysis within the context of sport, exercise, and/or health, integrating knowledge from various disciplines and apply thinking skills to identify relevant needs and challenges.

3 - Reflect on your personal and professional development throughout the work placement or professional challenge, identifying strengths, areas for improvement, and strategies for continued development linking to future practice and career aspirations.

4 - Communicate effectively an understanding of the research and applied skills and knowledge required of sport and exercise science practitioners to support a range of client groups from sport and exercise.

5 - Demonstrate understanding of the contribution of various professional bodies of sport and exercise to sport performance, exercise behaviour and wellbeing.

Content:

The module will explore concepts discussed in the British Association for Sport and Exercise Science publication (The Sport and Exercise Scientist) and will use these contemporary issues to develop research and applied knowledge and understanding relevant to your programme.

This module will give you experience and understanding of the requirements of working within the Sport and Exercise Science sector. This will include: an awareness of the sector and typical clients/stakeholders/roles and responsibilities; employment opportunities within the sector; an appreciation of practice in and reflection on undertaking the participant consultation process; understanding the challenges and benefits of working as part of an interdisciplinary team, working empathetically, ethically and with compassion. It will also facilitate you contextualising this information and skills within your focus of study. This module also incorporates the Professional Development Block: professional challenge and optional work placement. This module consists of interactive lectures where the key theoretical underpinning is established as well as workshops to apply theory to practice.

Learning and Teaching Information:

This module consists of interactive lectures where the key theoretical underpinning is established. Lectures will be supported with asynchronous activity in various forms to consolidate and develop core theory understanding. Workshop sessions provide the opportunity to develop theoretical underpinning further and apply this through a range of practical activities. There will be a range of individual and group work activities throughout the module. The taught sessions will also include tasks to develop academic skills such as critiquing literature, scientific writing, and presentation skills. Asynchronous tasks will scaffold progression throughout the module towards the assessment. Content will be supplemented with inputs online and on-campus from guest speakers in the relevant employment sectors. With a focus on skills development and demonstration in the context of equality, diversity and inclusion, learning will include (where appropriate) practicals, simulations and role plays. This module will also offer a two-week professional challenge or two-week work placement, supporting students working towards graduate-level employment.

Lectures
Hours: 10
Intended Group Size: Cohort

Workshops
Hours: 40
Intended Group Size: 30

Guided independent study
Hours: 250



Further Details Relating to Assessment



Component 1, Case study:

A choice of case studies will be provided for you to consider the ethical requirements of working with clients and how to support individuals to improve their health and/ or performance. This will involve you using evidence on how to undertake a needs analysis and recommendations on how to gather data relevant to the chosen case study. The integrated assessment element of this work will require you to present reflections on ways in which content from the programme has helped you understand the diverse needs of participants and how an interdisciplinary approach to supporting participants is beneficial, you will draw on skills learnt in SHN4183 Foundations of Physiology and Nutrition, SHN4193 Fundamentals of Biomechanics and Human Movement for Strength and Conditioning and SHN4303 Introduction to Sport and Exercise Psychology. This may include a range of activities, including (as examples only): data collection utilising a range of skills such as load monitoring, food diaries, notational analysis, presentation of data collected in a suitable manner and integrated assessment of working as a multidisciplinary team.

Component 2, Professional Challenge Project/ Work Placement:

This module will culminate in a two-week Professional Challenge Project or a two- week work placement. You will have the chance to opt for which option you want to take during the course of the module. Guidance regarding the options will be included in the Module Handbook and supported by briefings through the module.

A pass in the Professional Challenge Project will be achieved through participation in key tasks throughout the project. A pass in the work placement will be based on employer feedback (confirmation of satisfactorily completing the placement).

Component 3, Reflective Statement:

During the Professional Challenge Project or Placement, you will complete a reflective statement outlining your learning from the project/placement and this will form your final assessed component for this module.



Formative Assessment and Feedback: You will receive formative feedback throughout the module, the opportunities for this will be made clear in your module handbook. Formative feedback will be provided to support the development of both your summative assessments.

Ethical Approval: No formal research requiring ethical approval is expected within this module. However, any practical activities which develop your understanding of concepts relevant to your assessment will align with standard procedures that ethics has been obtained for.

Marking Criteria: Standard university marking criteria will apply. Details of assessment specific marking criteria will be outlined in the Module Handbook.

Negotiated Assessment: If applicable, you may have the opportunity to negotiate certain aspects of your assessment (such as selecting a specific athlete or focus of the assessment), provided it meets the learning outcomes. This will be discussed with the module leader and agreed upon at an appropriate stage.

Please refer to the Module Handbook for full details on assessments, marking schemes, and feedback.

Please note that assessment component 002 will need to be passed, in accordance with University requirements.

Assessment:

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Danielle Davis
Level - 4
Credit Value - 30
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 4YL