module specification

This module extends students' learning experience by providing them with an opportunity to reflect on, and evaluate, their personal experiences of sports science employment related to their area of academic study. Furthermore, this module encourages students to think critically in order to become evidence based practitioners.

ST5001

The aims of this module are aligned with the qualification descriptors within the Quality Assurance Agency’s Framework for Higher Educations Qualifications. This module aims to provide the student with an opportunity to gain applied experience in the field of exercise science. Students are encouraged to evaluate, and critically reflect on the field of exercise science as a whole. An additional aim is to ensure students understand the role of an exercise scientist within the framework of a medical team or profession. Furthermore, it is expected that students will apply previously-learned academic knowledge to employment tasks. This module aims to prepare students for post-graduate study or the sports medicine sector.

1. Testing batteries: sports-specific, assessment of health-related fitness, gender issues.
2. Direct measures of aerobic power/capacity; VO2max, anaerobic/lactate thresholds.
3. Gender in sport.
4. Strength & conditioning.
5. Contemporary issues in sport and exercise science.
6. The contextualisation of sport and exercise science.
7. Data presentation and analysis.

This module should offer students a range of learning opportunities appropriate to their academic level and career aspirations and should be related to their subject specialism.  The module should enable the student to build on previous experiences and learning gained in their academic course and elsewhere, and should have outcomes consistent with those for their course as a whole. The applied experience should be equivalent to approximately 40 hours.

Responsibilities of student:
It is in principle the student's responsibility to identify appointments via an online timetable platform and assign themselves to subsequent bookings. Furthermore, students should ensure they are suitably prepared through discussion with relevant academic staff at an early stage.

Students are also required to:
• Be aware of any health and safety considerations or requirements.
• Adhere to the any legal or ethical obligations stipulated by the work placement provider (e.g. client or patient confidentiality).
• Accept the authority of the academic and workplace supervisors, and take due note of constructive criticisms, advice and ideas generated by colleagues.
• Be aware of their responsibilities towards others in the workplace, including colleagues, clients, customers, patients and employees.
• Work in a co-operative and responsible manner at all times.
• Alert the academic supervisors promptly regarding any ongoing problems with the placement, including any that might prevent its satisfactory completion.

The academic supervisor will:
• Explain the procedures and assessment instruments of the module to the student, and provide a module booklet.
• Answer any queries, and solicit confirmation of the various points detailed above.
Meet with the student periodically to review progress.

On successful completion of this module the student will be able to:

1. Develop knowledge of the extent of the role of the exercise scientist in the sporting field.

2. Engage in consistent and appropriate communication with colleagues, superiors, and supervisors, and adhere to health and safety, legal and ethical obligations.

3. Collect, analyse, and present data in an appropriate manner.

4. Read and evaluate previous research to form conclusions as a sports medicine practitioner.

Assessments will be dispersed across the module enabling students to gain early feedback and reflect on progress in an ongoing basis. The module will be assessed by means of one poster conference (TW 14), one evidence-based advisory piece (TW9), a portfolio of placement hours and attendance (TW15), and practical competencies (TW3). These assessments will focus on the following specific learning outcomes:
-Practical competencies: LO 1, 2 and 3.
-Poster conference: LO 2, 3 and 4
-Advisory piece): LO 3 and 4.

ACSM (2009). Guidelines for Exercise Testing & Prescription. 8th ed. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
Baechle, T.R., & Earle, R.W. (2008). Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning. 3rd ed. Human Kinetics.
Baltzopoulos, V. (2008). Isokinetic dynamometry. In Biomechanical Evaluation of Movement in Sport and Exercise: BASES Guidelines (pp. 103-128), Routledge, London.
Cook, G. (2010) Movement. On Target Publications.
Eston, R., & Reilly, T. (2009) Kinathropometry and exercise physiology laboratory manual. 3rd Ed. Routledge [Core]
George, D., Mallery P. (2010) SPSS for Windows Step by Step: a Simple Guide and Reference.  10th ed.  Allyn & Bacon. [Core]
Ghigiarelli JJ, Sell KM, Raddock JM, Taveras K. Effects of strongman training on salivary testosterone levels in a sample of trained men. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2013, 27(3):738-47. [Core]
Hayes, L. D., Baker, C. E., Bickerstaff, G. F., Baker, J. S. (2013) Resistance training supplements and their potential benefit. Sports Medicine & Doping Studies, 3, pp.3.
Heyward, V.H. (2006) Advanced Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription. 5th ed. Human Kinetics [Core]
Kaminsky, L. (Ed.) (2010) ACSM's Health-related Physical Fitness Assessment Manual. 3rd ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. [Core]
McArdle, WD, Katch, FI & Katch, VL (2007) Exercise Physiology. 6th ed. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.
Maud, P. J. and Foster, C. (2006) Physiological Assessment of Human Fitness. 2nd ed.  Human Kinetics.
Morrow, J.R (2011) Measurement and Evaluation in Human Performance 4th ed. Human Kinetics. [Core]
Willmore, JH & Costill, DL (2008) Physiology of Sport and Exercise. 4th ed. Human Kinetics.
Shephard, R.J. and Åstrand, P.-O. (Eds.) (2000) Endurance in Sport. 2nd ed. Blackwell Scientific Publications. [Core]
Parker, B.A., Kalasky, M.J., Proctor, D.N. (2010). Evidence for sex differences in cardiovascular aging and adaptive responses to physical activity. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 110 (2), pp. 235.
West DJ, Cunningham DJ, Finn C, Scott P, Crewther BT, Cook CJ, et al. The metabolic, hormonal, biochemical and neuromuscular function responses to a backward sled drag training session. Journal of strength and conditioning. 2013 Apr 9.