Overview
Exercise scientists help people prevent and recover from injury and disease, help maximise athlete performance, and promote wellbeing and healthy ageing. They use a person-centred approach to educate individuals and communities about the benefits of exercise and encourage lifelong positive exercise behaviours.
In this course, you will gain the theoretical knowledge and practical skills within each of the foundational pillars of exercise science: biomechanics, physiology, psychology, behaviour change, and motor control and learning.
In your first year of study, you’ll develop a strong understanding of the human body and human health. As your studies progress, you’ll delve deeper into each pillar of exercise and sport science. In your final year, you’ll apply your expertise in real-world settings. Your professional practice experience will include at least 140 hours at our site at Cockburn Aquatic and Recreation Centre and through one of our industry partnerships – which span elite sport, strength and conditioning, corporate health, clinical exercise physiology and paediatric exercise. This is a practical course and active participation in practical classes is essential. Please note that some practical classes involve disrobing, as well as palpation of muscles and bony landmarks for learning anatomy and skills such as anthropometry.
Further study
High-performing students may apply to complete an honours degree. An honours program involves managing a research project to contribute to scientific knowledge, while experiencing working as an exercise or sport scientist.
The Bachelor of Science (Exercise and Sport Science) is also a stepping stone to our Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology – which will broaden your capabilities and enable you to use exercise to treat chronic conditions.
This can be a physically and mentally challenging course. Please familiarise yourself with the inherent requirements before applying.
What jobs can the Exercise and Sport Science course lead to?
Careers
- Fitness and performance consultant
- Exercise scientist
- Strength and conditioning coach
- Corporate health consultant
- Health and fitness assessor
- Workplace wellbeing consultant
- Sport developer
- Preventative health / early intervention
- Health promotion consultant
- Cardiac technician (preventative health and early intervention)
Industries
- Sport and recreation
- Healthcare
- Defence
- Business
- Government
- Education
- Industrial, resources and mining
- Research and development
What you'll learn
- integrate discipline knowledge and evidence-based approaches to enhancing the health and well-being of individuals and communities through exercise.
- demonstrate cultural competence and ethics in exercise promotion, prescription and delivery in the local and global context.
- appraise current and emerging technologies that are relevant to the field of exercise science and human performance.
- formulate creative solutions to contemporary issues impacting exercise science and human performance.
- select effective ways to communicate ideas related to exercise science and human performance, that enhances client participation, choice and decision making.
- demonstrate ethical personal autonomy and interprofessional practice when collaborating with diverse groups, industries and stakeholders.
- challenge personal and professional knowledge, skills, attitudes and values, and the impact of these on the provision of exercise and human performance services.