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Health & Performance Science

BSc (NFQ Level 8)
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This course is available through the following application route(s)

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Health & Performance Science focuses on the scientific principles underlying the promotion and enhancement of sport, physical health and exercise. This BSc degree addresses the application of sport and exercise science to high performance sport and to improving physical health, well-being and fitness across our life span. If you have a particular interest in how sport and exercise science can be applied across numerous disciplines, ranging from adolescents and elite athletes to specific disease populations, then this degree is for you. The programme places a large emphasis on practical skill-based teaching, giving students the opportunity to engage in active learning. This develops critical competencies in analysis, evaluation and testing.

About This Course

Students attend lectures and small group practical classes. Practical classes take place in both the UCD High Performance Gym and an exercise physiology laboratory, which is British Association of Sports and Exercise Sciences (BASES) accredited

Assessment is through a combination of end-of-semester written examinations and continuous assessment. In your final year, you will also undertake a group based research thesis.

When you graduate you will be skilled in the prescription and management of therapeutic exercise interventions in healthcare and sporting settings. You will also be an expert in the analysis and evaluation of human sports and exercise performance.

Graduates can find employment in:

  • Sport and exercise consultancy
  • Health promotion
  • Professional athlete/team support
  • Exercise physiology
  • Strength and conditioning
  • Education and research

    They are also eligible to apply for MSc and PhD programmes in the UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy & Population Science.

    • UCD Sport and Performance,
    UCD Institute for Sport & Health,
    Newstead Block C (Ground Floor),
    Belfield,
    Dublin 4
    +353 1 716 3271
    Email: performance.science@ucd.ie
    Web: www.ucd.ie/sportandperformance

    Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

    Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

    Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
    Stage 1 Core Modules
    		 ANAT10130 Anatomy for Sports Science I Autumn  5
    Stage 1 Core Modules
    		 BIOC00010 Chemistry-Biochemistry Autumn  5
    Stage 1 Core Modules
    		 PERS10120 Science of Human Performance I Autumn  5
    Stage 1 Core Modules
    		 PERS10150 Health, Fitness and Nutrition Autumn  5
    Stage 1 Core Modules
    		 PHTY10080 Applied Physics Principles Autumn  5
    Stage 1 Core Modules
    		 SMGT10100 Theory of Coaching Autumn  5
    Stage 1 Core Modules
    		 ANAT10140 Anatomy for Sports Science II Spring  5
    Stage 1 Core Modules
    		 PERS10010 Fundamentals of Strength & Conditioning Spring  5
    Stage 1 Core Modules
    		 PERS10060 Introduction to Exercise Science Spring  5
    Stage 1 Core Modules
    		 PERS10090 Science of Human Performance II Spring  5
    Stage 1 Core Modules
    		 PHTY10040 Functional Anatomy and Kinesiology Spring  5
    Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
    Please select ONE of the option modules below or, alternatively, select ONE general elective module (5 credits) for the Spring Trimester.
    		 FDSC10010 Food Diet and Health Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
    Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
    Please select ONE of the option modules below or, alternatively, select ONE general elective module (5 credits) for the Spring Trimester.
    		 IA20060 Entrepreneurship for Social Good Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
    Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
    Please select ONE of the option modules below or, alternatively, select ONE general elective module (5 credits) for the Spring Trimester.
    		 PSY10050 Introduction to Psychology Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
    Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
    Please select ONE of the option modules below or, alternatively, select ONE general elective module (5 credits) for the Spring Trimester.
    		 PSY10040 Introduction to the Psychology of Perception and Cognition Spring  5
    Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
    Please select ONE of the option modules below or, alternatively, select ONE general elective module (5 credits) for the Spring Trimester.
    		 PSY10090 Introduction to Applied Psychology Spring  5
    Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
    Please select ONE of the option modules below or, alternatively, select ONE general elective module (5 credits) for the Spring Trimester.
    		 SMGT10060 Sociology of Sport Spring  5
    Stage 2 Core Modules
    		 PERS20010 Advanced Strength & Conditioning Autumn  5
    Stage 2 Core Modules
    		 PERS20020 Introduction to Nutrition for Health and Exercise Autumn  5
    Stage 2 Core Modules
    		 PERS20170 Optimisation of Human Performance Autumn  5
    Stage 2 Core Modules
    		 PERS20200 Exercise and Public Health Autumn  5
    Stage 2 Core Modules
    		 SMGT20250 Psychology of Sport & Exercise Autumn  5
    Stage 2 Core Modules
    		 PERS20190 Testing and Evaluation of Human Performance Spring  5
    Stage 2 Core Modules
    		 PERS20230 Neuromuscular & Biomechanical Laboratory Testing Spring  5
    Stage 2 Core Modules
    		 PHTY20020 Applied Physics and Biomechanics Spring  5
    Stage 2 Core Modules
    		 PHTY30120 Research Methods Spring  5
    Stage 2 Core Modules
    		 SMGT20260 Applied Sport Psychology Spring  5
    Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of:
    Please select the two option modules from the list below (one module for each trimester) OR select two general elective modules (5 credits each), one module for each trimester OR select one option module below and one general elective module (5 credits) ensuring there is one module for each trimester.
    		 PERS10130 Intro to Sports Injuries Autumn  5
    Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of:
    Please select the two option modules from the list below (one module for each trimester) OR select two general elective modules (5 credits each), one module for each trimester OR select one option module below and one general elective module (5 credits) ensuring there is one module for each trimester.
    		 PHTY20250 Tai Chi for Sport and Health II: Qigong Autumn  5
    Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of:
    Please select the two option modules from the list below (one module for each trimester) OR select two general elective modules (5 credits each), one module for each trimester OR select one option module below and one general elective module (5 credits) ensuring there is one module for each trimester.
    		 PHTY20280 Born to Run: The Science of Human Endurance Spring  5
    Stage 3 Core Modules
    		 PERS30060 Research Thesis with Biostatis 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)  20
    Stage 3 Core Modules
    		 PERS30020 Molecular Exercise Science Autumn  5
    Stage 3 Core Modules
    		 PERS30260 Sports Injury Management Autumn  5
    Stage 3 Core Modules
    		 SMGT30270 Changing PA behaviour Autumn  5
    Stage 3 Core Modules
    		 PERS30010 Appl Nutr Health Ex & Sp Perf Spring  5
    Stage 3 Core Modules
    		 PERS30070 Skill Acquisition Spring  5
    Stage 3 Core Modules
    		 PERS30250 Case Study in Sports Science Spring  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 0 of:
    Please select two option modules from the list below, one module for each trimester OR select two general elective modules (5 credits each), one module for each trimester OR select one option module below and one general elective module (5 credits) ensuring there is one module for each trimester.
    		SMGT10070 Sports Management Autumn  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 0 of:
    Please select two option modules from the list below, one module for each trimester OR select two general elective modules (5 credits each), one module for each trimester OR select one option module below and one general elective module (5 credits) ensuring there is one module for each trimester.
    		SMGT10240 Sport Development Autumn  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 0 of:
    Please select two option modules from the list below, one module for each trimester OR select two general elective modules (5 credits each), one module for each trimester OR select one option module below and one general elective module (5 credits) ensuring there is one module for each trimester.
    		BMGT10140 Business Plan Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 0 of:
    Please select two option modules from the list below, one module for each trimester OR select two general elective modules (5 credits each), one module for each trimester OR select one option module below and one general elective module (5 credits) ensuring there is one module for each trimester.
    		FDSC20110 Food Diet and Health II - Making Healthy Food Choices Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
    Stage 3 Options - A) Min 0 of:
    Please select two option modules from the list below, one module for each trimester OR select two general elective modules (5 credits each), one module for each trimester OR select one option module below and one general elective module (5 credits) ensuring there is one module for each trimester.
    		PHTY20280 Born to Run: The Science of Human Endurance Spring  5
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    General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Health & Performance Science:

    ROWCLASS Apply to   Application Type  
    showAudience-audienceInt MDS8
    Health & Performance Science
    Bachelor of Science    		 Commencing 2024/2025 September Undergraduate Degree (Non EU)
    Non EU Undergraduates    		 Apply
    showAudience-audienceEU DN425
    Health & Performance Science
    Bachelor of Science
    Full-Time
    Commencing 2024/2025 September
    		 Application through CAO Apply via CAO
    * you can change options at the top of the page
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