Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

1. To provide students with the underpinning scientific knowledge and skills in exercise medicine required by academia and industry to enable them to transform the way that exercise is used throughout the health, wellbeing and healthcare sectors.
2. To provide students with the scientific knowledge and skills to promote the uptake of exercise, both as a prescriptive medicine and as preventative therapy for patients with various chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, pulmonary, renal, and other cardiac conditions or those with elevated cardio-metabolic risks. 
3. To enhance students’ employability and career prospects by developing a range of both subject specific, practical and key transferable skills.
4. To give students the opportunity for in-depth critical enquiry in relevant areas of interest.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

Aspects of the following where congruent:

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, guidelines on:

            Exercise referral schemes to promote physical activity

            Lifestyle and wellbeing

World Health Organization, Global strategy on Diet, Physical Activity & Health

American College of Sports Medicine, Exercise is Medicine®

Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology

Exercise & Sports Science Australia

QAA Framework.

Benchmark statement: Masters Programmes – Medicine (2002)

Benchmark statement: Honours Degrees – Health Studies (2008)

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding of…

K1        the current health and exercise recommendations, including among others, the World Health Organisation, American College of Sports Medicine and Department of Health guidelines

K2        how exercise affects physiological, metabolic, and psychological processes and its impact on health and wellbeing, taking into account individual differences in responses to exercise

K3        the measurement tools used for monitoring exercise, physical activity, and sedentary behaviour along with the methods used for assessing health and the effects of exercise

K4        effective and ineffective exercise intervention strategies and how to successfully implement strategies in order to improve long term health and wellbeing

K5        exercise treatment/testing strategies in apparently healthy individuals as well as in specific sub-clinical and clinical groups

K6        the importance of exercise (including sitting less and moving more) as a vital sign and key prevention strategy and treatment modality across the health and healthcare continuum 

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to…

C1       apply fundamental knowledge of human physiology, metabolism, epidemiology, and psychology to identify those at risk, and those who will have a readiness to change and adhere to exercise in order to optimise their health

C2       critically evaluate the impact of emerging therapies and technologies on future developments in the prevention and treatment of chronic lifestyle diseases

C3       apply fundamental knowledge of human physiology, metabolism, and psychology to develop exercise based methods and programmes to aid in treating chronic lifestyle diseases

C4       critically and reflectively evaluate C1-3 in order to develop effective interventions, programmes and processes to improve health and wellbeing through exercise 

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to…

P1        Critically evaluate the scientific evidence on the effects of exercise in preventing and treating disease

P2        measure behavioural and physiological phenotype including physical activity, exercise, sedentary behaviour, health, fitness

P3        identify those at risk from diseases who can be treated with exercise and activity

P4        prescribe, implement and support patients through exercise and activity regimes to improve their health and wellbeing and help manage and treat their conditions 

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to …

T1        manage self-learning

T2        communicate effectively, in verbal, written, visual and physical forms

T3        work effectively as part of a team

T4        solve numerical problems

T5        solve complex problems 

4. Programme structure

 In the following table, ‘C’ indicates a compulsory module and ‘O’ indicates an optional module: 

Semester One

Compulsory Modules

 Optional Modules 15 credits from:

Semester One Sub-total: 60 credits

Semester Two

Compulsory Modules

 Optional Modules 15 credits from:

Semester Two Sub-total: 60 credits + Dissertation (60 credits - semester 2 & 3)

Please Note:  Semester 1 compulsory module, PSP357 Measurement of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour is a pre-requisite for the following semester 2 compulsory module:  PSP354 Interventions for Physical Activity Promotion.  This information is pertinent to Part Time Students that are likely to complete modules in circuitous routes. 

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to be eligible for the award, candidates must satisfy the requirements of Regulation XXI.  For the award of MSc, students must obtain 120 credits from compulsory and optional modules (not including the research project), and then complete the 60 credit research project (180 credits in total).  For the exit award of PG Dip, students must obtain 120 credits from compulsory and optional modules (excluding the 60 credit research project).

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification

N/a