The aim of this module is to provide knowledge on the fundamental concepts of human anatomy and physiology which underpin the biological sciences. The module will provide a sound knowledge of the mechanisms associated with the control and regulation of the major systems of the body. The material covered, in lectures and practical classes will provide a foundation for more advanced study of exercise physiology or applied biomedicine. This module will also develop independent study skills and the ability to obtain and assess scientific information.
Applied Professional Skills aims to develop a comprehensive suite of academic, scientific, practical, and general transferable skills that are critical for a successful career in sport science. This core module supports the content of other first year modules and prepares you for your second year of study. The module will also enhance your personal development in preparation for work experience, employment opportunities, and future career. You will develop a skills portfolio that evidences and reflects on key transferable skills acquired across all modules, including a CV and personal statement and a LinkedIn profile. Lectures will cover how to find and use information in a scholarly way, develop critical thinking skills, think and work ethically and with academic integrity. Students will learn how to identify important unanswered questions in sports, and then develop the skills needed to address these questions, test theories and improve current practice. In order to develop your research skills and to enable you to understand the evidence base that underpins our existing understanding of sport, you need to be able to analyse the research literature and gain experience in preparing and presenting scientific information. This module will guide students through these processes and equip them with the fundamental practical skills sport scientists need to be able to carry out their own research project, ranging from blood sampling to heart rate monitoring and gas analysis. Students will develop skills in research design, the application of key methods, the statistical analysis of data, and the interpretation and presentation of research findings. Lectures will also cover content on identifying and developing career pathways, employability skills and personal development. Students will learn key practical skills and professional competencies expected of scientists to prepare them for a career in sports science, sports therapy, coaching or in the field of exercise and health.
Psychology is the study of human behaviour, which is diverse and individualised. In seeking to explain behaviour, we must investigate the wide range of psychological aspects that contribute to these behaviours. This module introduces and discusses these fundamental psychological constructs, domains and paradigms. You'll develop an understanding of the historical development of different psychological approaches and key psychological constructs, leading to a critical appraisal of their respective roles in facilitating our understanding of human behaviour. A cornerstone of human behaviour is our individuality. Despite being social animals, and needing to belong, we retain our unique traits and characteristics across all contexts. The module will also focus on the facets of human behaviour that are highly individualised and contextualised within sport and exercise. You will evaluate the extent to which individuality impacts our behaviours in sport and exercise contexts. The module provides an holistic overview of how critical the role of psychology is for anyone involved in sport or exercise.
This module aims to inform you about working with athletes in a field and lab-based setting, carrying out pre-screening and outlining risk assessing and general procedure of working with an athlete from start to finish. This module will also educate you to be able to take data from testing, understand what the data is and be able to synthesise and analyse data from testing in a way that can be reported in a user-friendly style.
This module aims to provide you with the practical knowledge of general procedures to core sport testing methods across racing sports, invasion games, racket and ball sports, target sports and aesthetic and combat sports, which underpin biomechanical and physiological performance. The material covered in lectures and practical classes will provide a foundation for safely conducting testing with athlete safety and well-being at the forefront. This module will also develop independent study skills and the ability to obtain and assess scientific information.
This module develops an understanding of the scientific principles behind physical training and the physiological factors affecting athletic performance. Emphasis is placed on the physiological responses to exercise as well as the adaptations that occur as a result of long-term physical training. The module will look in detail at responses of the individual body systems as well as the athlete as a whole. Methods of both training and performance testing will be covered and the efficacy of specific training techniques discussed. Recent advances and techniques in the preparation for performance will be discussed with regard to the literature.
This module will explore the role of nutrition in sport, health, and exercise, focusing on the specific nutritional needs of both athletes and non-athletes to support physical activity. You'll gain a background knowledge of key nutritional concepts relevant to exercise, including the energy and nutritional demands of exercise and sport. You'll evaluate the potential ergogenic effects of a food first approach, with consideration of the impact of macronutrients, micronutrients and nutritional supplements upon performance. You'll learn the importance of the dietary reference values (DRV’S) in relation to maintaining good health and wellbeing. You'll also learn how to evaluate and adjust these to meet the requirements of exercise and optimal performance. Nutrition is a critical factor for participants across all sport, exercise or health-related activities. It is a fundamental cornerstone of life itself. In this module, you’ll learn the significance of effective nutritional input for both improving sporting performance and for health and wellbeing.
This module is intended to further develop scholarly-, professional-, and research-based skills appropriate to the discipline of sports and exercise performance. It will advance a broader and more detailed investigation into research methods and statistical analysis that was introduced in the first year during the Applied Professional Skills. These include the difference between parametric and non-parametric data, t-tests, ANOVA's, correlations and Chi-square tests. Following this, you will develop your ability to critically analyse and interpret research in sports and exercise performance and produce apposite and detailed experimental work. The development of knowledge, understanding, skills and thought processes necessary for effective original academic and/or work-focused research will make use of real-life techniques and approaches. You'll take a researcher role to pilot a study and develop a research proposal using the skills developed in this module to critically investigate an area relating to sport and exercise science.
This module will place a strong emphasis on learning to coach the fundamental foundation movements safely and effectively to a range of participants, within a professional strength and conditioning environment. It will highlight how a detailed understanding of the physiological and biomechanical components underpinning specific movements and exercises is essential for delivering effective training sessions to elicit desired outcomes. Additionally, the module will demonstrate the importance of developing and reflecting upon our own coaching skills and strategies to continuously improve as practitioners. Module content will align with the principles of the UK Strength & Conditioning Level 3 Trainer's Award.
This module introduces you to the analysis of human movement and performance which is a cornerstone of effective coaching. Using the laws of motion and your understanding of human anatomy you will learn how to analyse and explain human movement and offer feedback to an athlete or individual that can help them to improve function and performance. You will learn about a range of technologies, including their strengths and limitations, that are used to gather different types of performance data in the laboratory and the field. You will develop data processing and reporting skills essential to analysing human performance, including simple statistical analysis. This module is taught in a very applied way with lots of hands-on data collection and an applied project as the final assessment.
Ruskin Modules are designed to prepare our students for a complex, challenging and changing future. These interdisciplinary modules provide the opportunity to further broaden your perspectives, develop your intellectual flexibility and creativity. You will work with others from different disciplines to enable you to reflect critically on the limitations of a single discipline to solve wider societal concerns. You will be supported to create meaningful connections across disciplines to apply new knowledge to tackle complex problems and key challenges. Ruskin Modules are designed to grow your confidence, seek and maximise opportunities to realise your potential to give you a distinctive edge and enhance your success in the workplace.
The purpose of this module is to enable you to develop a detailed understanding of the limitations of human performance during different modes of exercise and under a range of different conditions. You will critically evaluate mechanisms proposed in the literature to explain the developments or decrements as a result of exercise, and apply your knowledge of exercise physiology to analyse methods of training and other interventions to improve physical performance. A core feature of the model is the application of evidence-based science to real world problems in exercise physiology.
Performance and Exercise Nutrition explores contemporary applications of dietary practice for sports performance. The module begins with an introduction and review of the importance of macro/micro-nutrition with a focus on sport and exercise. Using evidence-based research, the impact of nutrition for different sporting contexts will be explored. Lecture-based theoretical considerations will be merged alongside seminar workshops to develop practical protocols for key performance nutrition areas including: nutrition for enhanced strength and power; endurance-based nutrition; weight making sports and weight management; and recovery-based strategies. A central focus of this module includes current research-based awareness of selected ‘ergogenic’ aids, and practical implications for sports performance (eg creatine, beta-alanine, caffeine and sodium bicarbonate). You will develop a critical understanding of applied aspects of nutrition relevant to the demands of a chosen sport. In doing so, this module aims to encourage development of essential employability skills including: advanced dietary assessment, conference style presentation skills, innovative and strategic programme design, and critical thinking skills.
This module allows you to select an area of keen interest within sports and exercise science, sports coaching, exercise referral, physical literacy, or physical education. You'll determine and apply ethical standards, undertake an in-depth review of empirical literature, and create a research question from that review. The module then allows you to develop, conceptualise, execute, analyse and reflect upon your research. The module is supported by 12 hours of taught sessions addressing project management and development. Additionally, a nominal 12 hours are allocated for personal supervision during the module.
This module will provide an in-depth study of how physical activity and exercise (and a reduction in sedentary behaviour) improve health and how it may be promoted. It will expand and develop your knowledge gained at Levels 4 and 5 (Exercise Physiology, testing, research methods, and psychology) and apply this to the physiological and psychological aspects of health and disease. The focus will be on the relationship between physical activity, exercise, sedentary behaviour, and health. The role of exercise prescription will be analysed and discussed in detail, showing how physical exertion can manifest itself in positive psychological, physiological, and metabolic adaptations. From this, it will be possible to make recommendations regarding the key factors required for a healthy lifestyle. The module will develop your theoretical and practical understanding by applying theories to real-life scenarios. The module will help to develop the key employability skills related to IT, numeracy, and communication and will be taught through a combination of lectures and seminars. It will be of particular interest to those who have an interest in health and wish to pursue a career in the exercise sciences.
This module focuses on equipping sport scientists with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively work with diverse and niche athlete populations. Emphasising a holistic and individualized approach, the module covers tailored training methodologies, injury prevention strategies, and psychological support techniques. You will learn to create inclusive, safe, and supportive training environments that cater to the unique physiological and psychological needs of these athletes, ensuring their optimal performance and well-being. Through a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical application, the module prepares future sport scientists to address the challenges and opportunities inherent in working with varied athletic populations.