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Health & Performance Science  (MDS8)

BSc (NFQ Level 8) · Academic Year 2024/2025
School
School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science
Attendance
Full Time
Level
Undergraduate
NFQ Level
8
Award
Bachelor of Science
Mode of Delivery
On Campus
Programme Director
Dr Sinead Holden
Overall Programme Credits:
180
Programme Credits:
Stage 1
Core/Option: 55 Electives: 5
Stage 2
Core/Option: 50 Electives: 10
Stage 3
Core/Option: 50 Electives: 10
Major/Minor Core & Option Credits:
Stage 1: 55
Stage 2: 50
Stage 3: 50

Curricular information is subject to change.

This course is suitable for you if you have a strong interest in sport and exercise science and wish to pursue a career in high performance sport, a clinical profession (e.g. physiotherapy, dietetics, medicine) and/or scientific research in sport and health sciences. Led by top industry professionals in state-of-the-art facilities, you will study the scientific principles underlying the promotion and enhancement of sport, physical health and exercise across the lifespan.

This programme is aimed at students who want to study the scientific foundations of sport and exercise across the lifespan, with a view to applying this knowledge in the fields of health science and/or sports performance. We strive to deliver an intellectually stimulating learning experience through excellence and innovation in teaching and learning methodologies. We aim to equip our students with critical and creative thinking skills and a proactive approach to problem-solving that will enhance the work places and communities they connect with as graduates. We provide a rich learning environment where students have access to exercise physiology and biomechanics laboratories of the highest professional standards, in addition to high performance sports facilities. These resources are used for both teaching and student-led research projects throughout the course. Experiential learning with UCD Sport and the wider community, group project work, reflective learning, critical reading and writing and oral presentation are the key learning and assessment approaches of the programme.


1 - Describe key concepts, principles, and overarching themes in exercise physiology and nutrition, biomechanics, sport and health psychology, and strength and conditioning
2 - Critically evaluate, interpret, and use information from the scientific literature in an applied setting
3 - Plan, design, execute and report a piece of independent research of high scientific merit
4 - Design and deliver a tailored training programme in the domain of sport and/or health that adheres to professional standards of safety and established principles of training
5 - Monitor and evaluate sport and exercise performance in laboratory and field settings with due regard of safety and risk assessment
6 - Communicate scientific concepts, experimental results and analytical arguments clearly and concisely, in verbal, written and digital formats
7 - Apply ethical standards in the evaluation and implementation of sport and exercise science and practice
8 - Engage in innovative and integrative thinking and problem solving across various disciplines, both within and outside of health and performance science
9 - Collaborate respectfully and effectively within peer groups, with members of other professions, and with athletes/coaches/clients
10 - Develop a meaningful professional direction for life after graduation through personal professional development activity that can be tracked & assessed throughout the programme.
11 - Demonstrate an understanding of the societal and individual importance of a healthy, active lifestyle and adopt values that can build healthy communities at local, national, and global levels

This new programme aims to provide a foundation of scientific and evidence-based knowledge and skills in the assessment, promotion and enhancement of human performance in health and sport.

This three-year full-time programme has been developed by the UCD School of Physiotherapy & Performance Science in conjunction with the National Institute of Sport and Health and provides a foundation in the scientific principles underlying human performance in everyday life and in sporting activities.

The development of this programme is a reflection of the growing importance of exercise science and therapy in modern society.

STAGE 1
During Stage 1, you will study basic, applied and social sciences as they relate to human function in sport and health and will be introduced to concepts of physical fitness and exercise physiology.

STAGE 2
In Stage 2 you will continue to study social and applied sciences and will build upon your knowledge of exercise science and training and evaluation of human performance.

STAGE 3
In Stage 3 you will complete a research dissertation as well as studying more specialised areas of exercise and sport science (such as injury management, sport nutrition and molecular exercise science).

Sport, Health & Exercise Science students can apply to study abroad for a trimester in the UK, EU, USA, Australia or New Zealand, through one of the Sport & Exercise exchange agreements.

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 of the course work in a variety of settings, including:

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

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

UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science
Belfield,
Dublin 4

Tel: +353 1 716 3271
Email: performance.science@ucd.ie
Web: www.ucd.ie/sportandperformance


Stage 1

Offerings for practicals for Stage 1 students can not be selected as students will be manually registered to them.

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

See the UCD Assessment website for further details

Module Weighting Info
 
  Award GPA
Programme Module Weightings Rule Description Description >= <=
BHLSC003 Stage 3 - 70.00%
Stage 2 - 30.00%
Standard Honours Award First Class Honours

3.68

4.20

Second Class Honours, Grade 1

3.08

3.67

Second Class Honours, Grade 2

2.48

3.07

Pass

2.00

2.47