The BSc (Hons) in Nutrition & Exercise Science is a full-time, four year, honours degree course of study that can be chosen within the Exercise Sciences Common Entry Route. The Nutrition and Exercise Science pathway will give graduates the knowledge and skills to work with individual athletes and teams to optimise nutritional intake. They will also have the knowledge and skills to assist the general population in following healthy eating guidelines and achieving a healthy body weight. The final two years of the programme will be built on a broad-based exercise science education in physiology, biomechanics, psychology, nutrition and dietary assessment, physical activity, strength and conditioning and exercise programming.
At the end of the programme, graduates will be able to:
Assess the specific nutritional needs of various athletic populations
Undertake a comprehensive dietary intake analysis
Assist athletic populations in altering dietary intake and dietary planning to optimise performance, during training and around competition
Assist the general population in following healthy eating guideline and achieving a health bodyweight
Advise on the use of supplements
Assist athletes, coaches and the general public in distinguishing fact from fiction with reference to the nutrition research literature
Facilities
Laboratories and apparatus available for practical classes and research projects include human performance laboratories, a DEXA body composition analyser, resting metabolic rate gas analysis system, dietary analysis software and ActivPal physical activity motion sensors. Certain classes are delivered in the teaching and laboratory facilities of the WIT ARENA.
Staff
Staff in the Department have experience providing nutritional support to athletes and teams. This includes staff
Acting as Tournament Nutritionist for the Women’s Rugby World Cup in Ireland in 2017
Providing nutritional support to an elite intercounty GAA team
Placement
A 16-week work placement will offer supervised experience in a nutrition and exercise environment.
Research and Project Work
Students in the programme have an opportunity to experience the full research process culminating in the completion of a dissertation on in the final year of the programme. Students will benefit from exposure to the nutrition and sports nutrition PhD research, at MSc and PhD level, ongoing in the Department including:
low carbohydrate diet, endurance performance and health
influence of making weight on health in professional jockeys
relative energy deficiency (REDS) in athletes and effects on health
bioactive foods and performance in athletes
Students in the programme have an opportunity to experience the full research process culminating in the completion of a dissertation on in the final year of the programme.
Awards
REPS Ireland recognised fitness instructor awards are built into the programme, including Fitness Instruction, Group Fitness Instruction and Personal Training that can be obtained by the end of year 2.
Teaching, Learning and Assessment
The programme combines classroom teaching, tutorials with practical experience through exercise science laboratories and work experience. Assessment approaches utilise continuous assessment, practical examinations, group work and written examinations.
Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
---|---|
Fitness and Movement | Sport & Exercise Biomechanics 1 |
Functional Anatomy & Kinesiology | Introduction to Exercise Psychology |
Promoting Physical Activity | Biochemistry & Cell Physiology |
Research & Learning | Strength & Conditioning |
Human Physiology | Data & Measurement |
Introduction to Sport Psychology | Business for the Exercise Professional |
Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
---|---|
Teaching for the Exercise Professional | Exercise Physiology |
Exercise Prescription for Program Design I | Research Methods & Statistics |
Nutrition 1 | Nutrition 2 |
Motivational Interviewing | Group Fitness Instruction |
Physical Activity Interventions | Exercise Prescription for Program Design II |
Sport Psychology & Skill Acquisition | Positive Psychology |
Semester 5 | Semester 6 |
---|---|
Applied Sport and Exercise Physiology | Applied Sports Nutrition |
Assessment for Nutritional Status | Food Components & Health |
Pathophysiology of Disease | Food Technology and Safety |
Sport and Exercise Nutrition | Major Project in Nutrition and Exercise Science 1 |
Weight Management | Nutrition for the Life Cycle |
Choose 1: | |
*Exercise as Medicine 1 | |
*Exercise Psychology in Practice |
Semester 7 | Semester 8 |
---|---|
Work Placement in Nutrition & Exercise | Ergogenic Aids in Sport & Performance |
Major Project in Nutrition and Exercise Science 2 | |
Professional Practice and Social Media | |
Sports Nutrition for Special Populations | |
Advanced Sport & Exercise Physiology | |
Exercise as Medicine 2 |
2 subjects: H5
4 subjects: O6/H7
English or Irish: O6/H7
Mathematics: O6/H7
The entry route for this programme is from WD006 BSc (Hons) in Exercise Sciences (Common Entry). Applicants who select degree option WD006 ESN (Nutrition and Exercise Science) are guaranteed a place in that programme, subject to meeting the entry requirements and points. Applicants who are undecided about their degree option should choose WD006 GEN.
At the end of semester 3, students must confirm their degree option and may change their selection up to that date.
Opportunities exist within the Department of Sport and Exercise Science for post graduate study through either taught Masters programmes or research degrees at Masters and Doctoral level.