The Bachelor of Exercise Science, Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology requires 5 years of full-time study. Part-time may be considered under extenuating circumstances, and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
The course is offered by the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
Admission requirements
The minimum requirements for consideration for entry to all undergraduate courses are specified in detail in the University Entry Requirements.
A knowledge of SACE Stage 2 Biology is assumed.
Course aims
Graduates of the double degree program will be able to practice as Accredited Exercise Physiologists (AEP) across a range of settings, including rural and remote areas. The course prepares students to become a contemporary, client-centred health professional, able to work effectively within an interdisciplinary team. Graduates will specialise in the delivery of exercise for the prevention and management of chronic diseases and injuries. It requires students to complete a minimum of 500 practicum hours over the program of study (a minimum of 140 hours of practicum in exercise delivery in the Bachelor of Exercise Science and a minimum of 360 hours of clinical practicum in the Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology). Within the undergraduate Bachelor of Exercise Science,students pursue a major specialisation as part of the program in either Sports Science; Health Promotion; Behavioural Sciences; Business; or Allied Health.
Learning outcomes
Graduates of the double degree will be able to:
- research and apply key theoretical and practice approaches within exercise science and physiology
- interpret and transmit an integrated knowledge of the sub-disciplines of exercise science and exercise physiology
- interpret and apply integrated exercise science and physiology knowledge and skills to manage disorders across the lifespan in a wide variety of settings including rural and remote locations, with both individuals and various populations
- critically evaluate and apply advanced cognitive and technical skills to design, implement and evaluate safe and effective exercise interventions, based on referral information, presenting pathologies and co-morbidities, clinical reasoning, pre-intervention assessments and the analysis, interpretation and application of scientific evidence
- research and apply advanced cognitive and technical skills to select, design or modify and then analyse, interpret and apply assessment protocols and methodologies appropriate to the client and situation for acute, sub-acute and chronic disease and injury management, workplace health and rehabilitation and other clinical exercise services
- critically appraise their practice and plan their ongoing professional development as life-long learners
- critically evaluate and apply well developed cognitive and creative skills to teach, coach and motivate clients to facilitate self-management of exercise and healthy lifestyle, using models of behaviour change, scientific evidence and clinical reasoning, and accounting for sociocultural and individual factors
- interpret and transmit coherent knowledge and understanding of the pathophysiological bases of Accredited Exercise Physiologists target conditions, and the associated medical, surgical and other allied health treatment modalities and interventions for these conditions
- interpret and apply advanced knowledge and capacity to practise according to Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) Scope of Practice for Accredited Exercise Physiologists and the ESSA Code of Professional Conduct and Ethical Practice
- critically evaluate and apply well-developed communications skills for engaging with other health professionals and engage in inter-professional collaboration, including the ability to prepare written reports as required by compensable schemes.
Program of study
To qualify for double degree of Bachelor of Exercise Science, Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology, a student must complete 180 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study below. In the Bachelor of Exercise Science, students need to complete 85.5 units of the specified core topics and 22.5 units from one of the identified specialisations. Students must also achieve a Grade Point Average of 5.0 or better in the 108 units of the Bachelor of Exercise Science in order to progress to the Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology.
Except with the permission of the Dean (Education), a student may not proceed to higher year core topics unless they have satisfactorily completed the previous years core topics.
The award of a grade of Fail (F) in the same topic on more than one occasion or failure to complete the course within eight consecutive years may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University’s Policy on Student Progress.
Core - Year 1 topics
31.5 units comprising:
BIOL1102 Molecular Basis of Life (4.5 units)
EXSC1001 Fundamentals of Exercise Science (4.5 units)
HLPE1552 Human Functional Anatomy in Sport and Exercise (4.5 units)
HLPE2533 Exercise Prescription and Physiology (4.5 units)
HLTH1003 Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Care (4.5 units)
HLTH1004 Human Bioscience (4.5 units)
NUTD1106 Nutrition, Physical Activity and Health (4.5 units)
Plus 4.5 units towards chosen specialisation
Core - Year 2 topics
27 units comprising:
ENGR2862 Sports Biomechanics (4.5 units)
EXSC2002 Exercise Prescription in Motor Control and Learning (4.5 units)
HLPE2530 Physical Activity and Health (4.5 units)
HLTH2105 Health: A Psychological Perspective (4.5 units)
MMED2931 Human Physiology (4.5 units)
NUTD3203 Nutrition for Sports Performance (4.5 units)
Plus 9 units towards chosen specialisation
Core - Year 3 topics
27 units comprising:
EXSC3001 Advanced Topics in Exercise Science (4.5 units)
EXSC3002 Professional Practice in Exercise Science (4.5 units)
EXSC3010 Psychology of Exercise, Health and Behaviour Change (4.5 units)
HLTH3102 Qualitative Methods for Social Health Research (4.5 units)
HLTH3105 Quantitative Methods of Social Health Research (4.5 units)
MMED3932 Body Systems (4.5 units)
Plus 9 units towards chosen specialisation
Specialisations
Specialisation in Sports Science
HLPE1531 Inclusive and Adaptive Practices in Sport and Physical Education (4.5 units)
HLPE2300 Foundations of Sport Psychology (4.5 units)
HLPE3533 Applied Exercise Science (4.5 units)
HLPE3534 Introduction to Sport Coaching, Management and Administration (4.5 units)
HLPE3601 Sport Coaching Science (4.5 units)
Specialisation in Health Promotion
HLTH1101 Health Promotion for Health Professionals (4.5 units)
HLTH1304 Interpersonal and Interprofessional Communication (4.5 units)
HLTH1306 Contemporary Health Issues in Australia (4.5 units)
HLTH2102 Indigenous Health for Health Sciences (4.5 units)
HLTH2106 Project Management for Health Promotion (4.5 units)
Specialisation in Behavioural Science
DSRS1216 Introduction to Principles of Learning (4.5 units)
PSYC1101 Psychology 1A (4.5 units)
PSYC1102 Psychology 1B (4.5 units)
PSYC2019 Personality and Social Psychology (4.5 units)
PSYC2020 Cognition and Learning (4.5 units)
Specialisation in Business
BUSN1011 Accounting For Managers (4.5 units)
BUSN1022 Marketing Principles (4.5 units)
BUSN2020 Consumer Behaviour (4.5 units)
BUSN2038 Human Resource Management (4.5 units)
BUSN3033 Occupational Health and Safety (4.5 units)
Specialisation in Allied Health
DSRS1216 Introduction to Principles of Learning (4.5 units)
HLTH1304 Interpersonal and Interprofessional Communication (4.5 units)
HLTH2102 Indigenous Health for Health Sciences (4.5 units)
MMED3941 Human Musculoskeletal Anatomy (4.5 units)
REHB2001 Neuroscience for Therapists (4.5 units)
Core - Year 4 topics
36 units comprising:
EXSC8001 Clinical Exercise Assessment and Prescription (4.5 units)
EXSC8002 Exercise Physiology Professional Practice (4.5 units)
EXSC8003 Advanced Exercise Prescription and Neuromusculoskeletal Disorders (4.5 units)
EXSC8004 Exercise and Chronic Disease Management (4.5 units)
MHSC8111 Managing Chronic Conditions -Self-Management Support Approaches (4.5 units)
MMED8937 Pathophysiology for Medical Science GE (4.5 units)
REHB9034 Rehabilitation Research Methods (4.5 units)
REHB9101 Clinical Rehabilitation Research Project Design (4.5 units)
Core - Year 5 topics
36 units comprising:
EXSC9001 Exercise and Musculoskeletal Conditions (Practicum 1) (9 units)
EXSC9002 Exercise for Metabolic and Cardiopulmonary Conditions (Practicum 2) (9 units)
EXSC9003 Exercise Management in Special Populations (Practicum 3) (9 units)
REHB9103 Advanced Rehabilitation Project Implementation and Evaluation (9 units)
