The Bachelor of Exercise Science requires three years of full-time study (or the equivalent part-time). The Bachelor of Exercise Science may also be studied in a double degree program with the Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology (five years full-time or the part-time equivalent). The course is offered by the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
An Honours year is also available to eligible students who have completed the Bachelor of Exercise Science and have achieved a GPA of 5.0 or more.
Admission requirements
The minimum requirements for consideration for entry to all undergraduate courses are specified in detail in the University Entry Requirements.
For international students an overall IELTS score of 6.5 (minimum of 6 in each band) or previous tertiary studies where English was the language of instruction would be required for eligibility into the Bachelor of Exercise Science.
A knowledge of SACE Stage 2 Biology is assumed.
Course aims
The Bachelor of Exercise Science is a multidisciplinary scientific program that provides students with the skills and knowledge to practice in a variety of settings concerning exercise, sport and health. Students are provided with core and foundation knowledge of human structure, function and behaviour then apply this knowledge to a variety of exercise based scenarios as a means of improving performance across a variety of interdisciplinary health settings. Students will be required to complete 140 hours of professional placement within the course. There is the opportunity to 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 this program will be able to:
- transmit theoretical knowledge in human structure and function to the study of acute and chronic exercise-induced changes in a variety of sporting and health settings
- analyse and evaluate the benefits of exercise for the purposes of optimal ageing; to promote health or for optimising athletic performance
- analyse and evaluate the relationship between physical activity, sedentary behaviours and chronic immune, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal conditions
- analyse and evaluate the physiological responses to exercise and to use this knowledge to develop individualised exercise approaches for health promotion and athletic performance
- adopt ethical and legal concepts relevant to professional practice
- adopt conduct that is sensitive to client diversity and equity, and is consistent with the Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA) Code of Professional Conduct and Ethical Practice and relevant code of conduct for nutrition-related professionals
- analyse and evaluate the concept of evidence-based practice as it is applied to individual approaches to exercise; physical activity and health or sports performance
- transmit knowledge of the sub-disciplines of exercise science
- analyse and evaluate the psychological, cultural and socioeconomic factors that influence an individual’s exercise capacity and motivation to participate in regular physical activity, and how this can be modified by behaviour change interventions
- adopt practice that is within the scope of exercise science training and within nutrition science and recognition of the need to refer individuals to other related professionals
- evaluate and apply knowledge of interprofessional practice and appropriate communication skills to enable effective collaboration with other professionals across a variety of settings.
Program of study
To qualify for the Bachelor of Exercise Science a student must successfully complete 108 units of study with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic. Students need to complete 85.5 units of the specified core topics and 22.5 units from one of the identified specialisations.
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 five 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)
*Completion of the topics in the Allied Health specialisation does not guarantee entry into the Master of Physiotherapy or the Master of Occupational Therapy. It provides students with the necessary prerequisite topics for admission into either the Master of Physiotherapy or the Master of Occupational Therapy via competitive entry (SATAC).
Honours
Refer to Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours)
Combined degrees
The Bachelor of Exercise Science may also be studied in a combined degrees program with the:
