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Code
SE902
Cao points
🛈270 -559
Level
8
Campus
Cork Road
Duration
4 years
Credits
240 ECTS
Placements
Available
Study Abroad
Yes
International Applications
Accepted
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What is the BSc (Hons) in Sport & Exercise Science?

The BSc (Hons) in Sport & 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 BSc (Hons) in Sport and Exercise Science programme will give graduates the knowledge and skills to evaluate sport and athletic performance from a biomechanical, physiological and psychological perspective.  They will then be capable of working with athletes and coaches on an ongoing basis to improve performance, health and well-being. The programme will emphasise the traditional sports science disciplines of biomechanics, physiology and psychology but also newer applied sports science disciplines including strength and conditioning, sports nutrition and team performance analysis.

At the end of the programme, graduates will be able to:

  • Measure, analyse and evaluate athletic performance using sports science laboratory apparatus and analysis software

  • Evaluate psychological profiles and mood states using sports psychology assessment tools

  • Assist athletes and coaches in improving performance during the training year and in preparation for major competitions in challenging environments

  • Plan sports-specific strength and conditioning programmes for athletes and teams

  • Assist athletes and coaches in distinguishing fact from fiction with reference to the sports science research literature

Programme features

Staff

Department staff have extensive experience providing sports science support to elite athletes and teams. This includes

  • Assisting elite teams and athletes of the region in monitoring body composition changes during the training year

  • Working with intercounty GAA teams and various athletes in strength and conditioning, psychology and nutritional support roles

  • Providing ongoing performance testing for elite cyclists and triathletes as well as teams

  • Working with the Sport Ireland Institute to assist elite student athlete development

  • Acting as a performance physiologist with Sport Ireland Institute

  • Acting as Team Ireland's Paralympic Sport Psychologist

  • Acting as the sports psychologist with professional and amateur jockeys

  • Providing sports psychology support to Olympic, World and European athletes in Irish boxing

 

Previously staff have

  • Provided sports science support to the Irish Paralympic team over the Beijing and London Olympic cycles

  • Provided sports psychology, sport science and backup team support at the Olympic Games in London and Rio

  • Provided on-site sport psychology support at the London and Tokyo games

Facilities

Laboratories and apparatus available for practical classes and research projects include 3 human performance laboratories, a high-performance gym, access to a DEXA body composition and bio-electrical impedance analysers, Dartfish and Nacsport performance analysis software and Powerlab data acquisition systems.  Certain classes are delivered in the teaching and laboratory facilities of the SETU Waterford ARENA.

Placement

A 300 hour work placement offers supervised experience in a sport and exercise science environment. The Department has an extensive network of placement opportunities or students may be able to organise their own. Examples include:

  • Undertaking performance analysis with Premiership football clubs

  • Assisting with strength and conditioning programmes with professional rugby clubs

  • Personal trainer in community and private enterprises

  • Providing sports science support to athletes or teams

  • Working in sports science centres and laboratories

Further details on our work placement programme can be found here

Research and Project Work

Students in the programme have an opportunity to experience the full research process culminating in the completion of a dissertation in the final year of the programme.  Students will benefit from exposure to the sport and exercise science PhD research ongoing in the Department including:

  • evaluation of functional movement screening for injury prevention

  • relative age effect in soccer talent development

  • Gaining a better understanding of online sports coaching

  • Jockey transition into retirement

  • Behaviour change in jockeys

  • Influence of making weight on jockey health and performance

  • Performance characteristics of Olympic combat sports

  • Body composition and performance in elite female athletes

  • Sprint performance and resistance-based training interventions

  • Effects of strength training on performance in endurance athletes

  • Career transitions in student athletes

Further details of our ongoing postgraduate research can be found here

Awards

Several REPS Ireland accreditations are built into this programme. After successfully completing year 2, students will be eligible for the Fitness Instruction, Group Fitness Instruction and Personal Training accreditations.

In the Classroom

All programmes within the Department of Sport and Exercise Science adopt a similar approach in terms of timetable structures, teaching and learning approaches, assessment and student support systems. Further details can be found on our In the Classroom page

Want to learn more?

In addition to our SETU Open Days, we offer a number of ways for prospective students to learn more about this and other programmes. Click here for further information

Year 1
Semester 1Semester 2
Fitness and MovementSport & Exercise Biomechanics 1
Functional Anatomy & KinesiologyIntroduction to Exercise Psychology
Promoting Physical ActivityBiochemistry & Cell Physiology
Research & LearningStrength & Conditioning
Human PhysiologyData & Measurement
Introduction to Sport PsychologyBusiness for the Exercise Professional
Year 2
Semester 3Semester 4
Teaching for the Exercise ProfessionalExercise Physiology
Exercise Prescription for Program Design IResearch Methods & Statistics
Nutrition 1Nutrition 2
Motivational InterviewingGroup Fitness Instruction
Physical Activity InterventionsExercise Prescription for Program Design II
Sport Psychology & Skill AcquisitionPositive Psychology
Year 3
Semester 5Semester 6
Advanced Performance AnalysisApplied Biomechanics
Applied Sport and Exercise PhysiologyExercise Psychology in Practice
Conditioning for performance sportMajor Project in Sport and Exercise Science 1
Contemporary Issues in Sport and Exercise Science of Elite Sport Performance
Sport & Exercise Biomechanics 2Sports Medicine
Sport & Exercise Nutrition
Year 4
Semester 7Semester 8
Work Placement in Sport and Exercise ScienceAdvanced Sport & Exercise Physiology
Ergogenic Aids in Sport & Performance
Major Project in Sport and Exercise Science 2
Professional Practice and Social Media
Sport psychology in practice

Leaving Cert: Minimum entry requirements for the BSc (Hons) in Sport & Exercise Science:

2 subjects: H5
4 subjects: O6/H7
English or Irish: O6/H7
Mathematics: O6/H7

 

How to apply for the BSc (Hons) in Sport & Exercise Science on the CAO:

 

The entry route for this programme is from WD006 BSc (Hons) in Exercise Sciences (Common Entry). Applicants who select degree option WD006 ESS (Sport 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.

 

Advanced and Equivalent Entry for the BSc (Hons) in Sport & Exercise Science:

 

See what our students and graduates have to say

Paul Flint – Current Sport and Exercise Science 4th year student

Cillian Dollion – Graduate of Sport and Exercise Science

Graduates of this course may work in the following roles

Sports Scientist

Sports Physiologist

Sports Biomechanist

Strength & Conditioning Specialist

Performance Analyst

Sport & Exercise Consultant

Sports Development Officer

Fitness Instructors

Personal Trainers

Sports Industry

Follow-on study for BSc (Hons) in Sport and Exercise Science graduates

Graduates of this course can also continue to further postgraduate study in Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology (SETU), Strength and Conditioning (SETU), Performance Analysis (SETU) Sports Coaching, Physiotherapy and Sports Nutrition

Opportunities also exist in the Department of Sport and Exercise Science to undertake research postgraduate degrees to doctoral level in Sports Physiology, Sports Psychology, Movement Analysis and Strength and Conditioning

Student letters show how much SETU graduates have grown 

Student letters show how much SETU graduates have grown 

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Contact

Course Leader
Bruce Wardrop
Mr. Bruce Wardrop
Lecturer in Sport & Exercise Science
Tel: 051 302156 [email protected]

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