Objectives
The Bachelor of Exercise Science course aims to provide a strong academic base in the discipline of Exercise Science. The course seeks to develop graduates who will be competent in the application of the principles of exercise science, ethical in their practice and independent learners. The course is designed to enable students to consider a wide variety of career options related to sports science, exercise science, and management in leisure and recreation, community and corporate fitness, and sport. Graduates may find employment in sports institutes, corporate fitness areas, health and fitness centres, as community fitness and as activity leaders as well as within the government and local government sectors. The completion of specialisations is directed towards appropriate national professional recognition.
Entry requirements
New South Wales Recommended studies: English Advanced; Personal Development, Health and Physical Education; Mathematics plus one of Biology, Chemistry, Physics. Victoria Prerequisites: Units 3 and 4 – a study score of at least 25 in English (any) and in one of Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics (any), Outdoor Education, Psychology, Physical Education or Physics.
Course description
Elite Athletes
The University will consider admitting a limited number of students who have been competing in sport at a high level and whose achievements have involved a high level of training demand which has impacted upon their study program. Consideration is designed to assist those who have the potential to successfully combine sporting ambitions with the pursuit of academic qualifications. Please note that previous studies and academic performance are still considered. Applicants in this category should complete an Elite Athlete Applicant form which is available on the ACU National website: http://my.acu.edu.au/student/managing_your_studies/forms or from the Student Centre.
Cognate Sequence - Psychology (Victoria Only)
Students on St Patrick’s Campus may wish to pursue studies that lead to registration as a psychologist. Six units can be completed as part of the Bachelor of Exercise Science course structure with the possibility of completing the other requirements as postgraduate studies. Students are advised to consult with the course coordinator within the School of Psychology.
Industry and Professional Activities (360 hours total)
Consistent with the university’s emphasis on practical work experience as part of a qualification for life, students are required to complete 360 hours of Industry and Professional Activities alongside their academic studies. Students from exercise science increasingly pursue a range of different professional options upon graduation. To cater for the most popular of these options, the Industry and Professional Activities experiences are tailored for the following areas of interest: - Physical Education and Coaching - Wellness, Health and Rehabilitation - Outdoor Recreation Industry and Professional Activities are structured to provide students with relevant individual field experiences and the opportunity to acquire a selection of relevant practical skills and competencies.
Bachelor of Exercise Science (Pass and Honours)
BExSc
240 cp (Pass)
Minimum duration: 3 years full-time or equivalent part-time.
80 cp (Honours)
Minimum duration: 1 year full-time or equivalent part-time.
Course available at:
Melbourne, Victoria
Sydney (Strathfield), NSW
EFTSL value of units: All 10 cp units in this course have an EFTSL value of 0.125. Units with a cp value of a multiple of 10 have corresponding EFTSL values.
1. Requirements for Completion of the Pass Degree
To qualify for the Pass degree, a student must complete:
1. 240 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings, consisting of:
1. 100 cp from Core Units;
2. 80 cp from a Major Specialisation, including 20 cp from Specialisation Common Units;
3. 60 cp from one Cognate Elective Sequence;
2. 3 Industry Experience units; and
3. 10 Professional Activities units from one strand, including:
1. 2 Core Units; and
2. 8 Electives.
2. Progression within the Course
Students normally complete:
1. 100-level units before undertaking related 200-level units, and 200-level units before undertaking 300-level units; and
2. the Core Units in Exercise Science (other than EXSC300 Ethics, Law and Exercise Science Practice) before commencing specialisation sequences.
In all aspects of progress through the course, students will be advised by the Course Co-ordinator and bound by decisions of the School Committee.
3. Requirements for Completion of the Honours Degree
To qualify for the Honours degree a student must, in addition to satisfying the requirements of the Pass degree, complete 80 cp from the Schedule of Honours Units.
Schedule of Unit Offerings
Prerequisite (Pre), co-requisite (Co) and incompatible (Inc) units are indicated in parentheses where applicable.
Core Units
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
EXSC100 10 Introduction to Research Methods in Exercise Science
EXSC110 10 Anatomical Bases of Exercise Science
EXSC120 10 Mechanical Bases of Exercise Science
EXSC130 10 Foundations of Motor Development and Behaviour
EXSC140 10 Physiological Bases of Exercise Science
EXSC210 10 Functional Anatomy (Pre: EXSC110)
EXSC220 10 Biomechanics (Pre: EXSC120)
EXSC230 10 Motor Control and Learning (Pre: EXSC130)
EXSC240 10 Exercise Physiology (Pre: EXSC140)
EXSC300 10 Ethics, Law and Exercise Science Practice
Major Specialisations
Specialisation Common Units
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
EXSC345 10 Exercise Programming
EXSC347 10 Nutrition and Exercise
Exercise Science
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
EXSC235 10 Sport Psychology4
EXSC236 10 Exercise Psychology
EXSC305 10 Directed Research Study in Exercise Science5
EXSC306 10 Independent Study in Exercise Science6
EXSC320 10 Advanced Biomechanics (Pre: EXSC220)
EXSC330 10 Advanced Motor Control and Learning (Pre: EXSC230)
EXSC335 10 Advanced Exercise and Sport Psychology (Pre: EXSC235 or EXSC236)
EXSC340 10 Advanced Exercise Physiology (Pre: EXSC240)
EXSC346 10 Exercise Rehabilitation
EXSC348 10 Exercise, Sport Safety and Injury Management
Sports Management
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
EXSC260 10 Introduction to Sport Management
EXSC261 10 Sport Policy Making and Planning (Pre: EXSC260)
EXSC305 10 Directed Research Study in Exercise Science3
EXSC306 10 Independent Study in Exercise Science4
EXSC360 10 Event Management (Pre: EXSC260 and EXSC261)
EXSC361 10 Human Resources in Sport and Physical Activity Management (Pre: EXSC260 and EXSC261)
EXSC362 10 Financial Management of Sport and Physical Activity (Pre: EXSC260 and EXSC261)
EXSC363 10 Creative Problem Solving for Sports Managers (Pre: EXSC260 and EXSC261)
EXSC364 10 Marketing and Promoting Sport, Leisure and Physical Activity (Pre: EXSC260 and EXSC261)
EXSC365 10 Management Information Systems for Sport and Leisure (Pre: EXSC260 and EXSC261)
Cognate Elective Sequences
Health Promotion for Personal Development, Health and Physical Education7
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
EXSC150 10 HPE 1 – Aquatics and Athletics
EXSC250 10 HPE 2 – Gymnastics and Dance
EXSC350 10 HPE 3 – Games and Sport Skills
EXSC185 10 Social and Emotional Wellbeing for Young People
EXSC285 10 Healthy Relationships for Young People
EXSC385 10 Challenges and Opportunities in the Health of Young People
Health Promotion
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
EXSC180 10 Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles
EXSC181 10 Health Promotion and the Prevention of Human Disease
EXSC182 10 Promotion of Mental Health
EXSC280 10 Drugs and Society: From a Health Promotion Perspective (Pre: EXSC180 and EXSC181)
EXSC281 10 Interpersonal Health (Pre: EXSC280)
EXSC380 10 Foundations of Health Promotion Policy (Pre: EXSC281)
EXSC381 10 Programs and Practices for Health Promotion (Pre: EXSC380)
Outdoor Recreation
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
EXSC190 10 Foundations of Outdoor Experience
EXSC191 10 Journeying in the Natural World
EXSC290 10 The Marine Environment and the Outdoor Experience (Pre: EXSC190 and EXSC191)
EXSC291 10 Alpine Ecology and the Outdoor Experience (Pre: EXSC290)
EXSC390 10 Leadership Practices and the Outdoor Experience (Pre: EXSC290 and EXSC291)
EXSC391 10 Evaluation of Outdoor Experience (Pre: EXSC390)
Coaching and Strength and Conditioning
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
EXSC131 10 Coaching Principles
EXSC141 10 Training and Conditioning Principles
EXSC231 10 Issues in Coaching
EXSC241 10 Programming Resistance Training
20 cp from Exercise Science units or from other disciplines selected in consultation with the Course Co-ordinator.
Psychology (Victoria only)
60 cp from Psychology units selected in consultation with the Course Co-ordinator.
Second teaching area8 (Victoria only)
60 cp from units in a teaching curriculum area selected in consultation with the Course Co-ordinator.
Industry Experience
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
FXIX159 0 Industry Experience 1
FXIX259 0 Industry Experience 2
FXIX359 0 Industry Experience 3
Professional Activities
Physical Education and Coaching9
Core Units
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
FXPA350 0 Personal Challenge 1
FXPA351 0 Personal Challenge 2
Electives10
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
FXPE150 0 Swimming11
FXPE151 0 Personal Fitness
FXPE152 0 Gymnastics12
FXPE154 0 Australian Rules Football
FXPE155 0 Weight Training
FXPE156 0 Hockey
FXPE157 0 Track and Field11
FXPE158 0 Rugby League
FXPE250 0 Softball
FXPE252 0 Volleyball
FXPE253 0 Basketball
FXPE254 0 Cricket
FXPE255 0 Badminton
FXPE256 0 Squash
FXPE257 0 Soccer
FXPE258 0 Touch
FXPE352 0 Dance11
FXPE353 0 Triathlon
FXPE354 0 Rugby Union
FXPE355 0 Netball
FXPE356 0 Water Polo
Wellness, Health and Rehabilitation
Core Units
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
FXPA350 0 Personal Challenge 1
FXPA351 0 Personal Challenge 2
Electives
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
FXWR100 0 Relaxation Massage
FXWR101 0 Injury Strapping and Prevention
FXWR103 0 Level 2 First Aid
FXWR200 0 Personal Trainer
FXWR202 0 Wellness Assessment Competencies
FXWR203 0 Human Performance Batteries
FXWR210 0 Sports Massage
FXWR300 0 Ergonomics
FXWR301 0 Equipment Calibration, Maintenance and Safety
FXWR302 0 Therapeutic Massage
Outdoor Recreation13
Core Units
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
FXOR306 0 Expedition 1
FXOR307 0 Expedition 2
Electives
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
FXOR100 0 Advanced Bushwalking
FXOR101 0 Base Camping
FXOR102 0 Advanced Navigation
FXOR200 0 Advanced Sailing
FXOR201 0 Snorkel Instructor
FXOR202 0 Alpine Pursuits
FXOR300 0 Kayaking Flat Water Guide
FXOR301 0 Canoeing Flat Water Guide
FXOR302 0 Rafting Guide Instructor
FXOR303 0 Rock Climbing Assistant Instructor
FXOR304 0 River Rescue 3
FXOR305 0 Wilderness First Aid
Schedule of Honours Units
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
EXSC402 10 Research Methods for Exercise Science
EXSC403 10 Experimental Design and Statistics for Exercise Science
EXSC404 20 Honours Thesis (Part A)
EXSC405 20 Honours Thesis (Part B)
EXSC406 20 Honours Thesis (Part C)
4 Victoria only.
5 EXSC305 is available to potential honours students who have achieved a grade of Distinction or better in at least half the graded units undertaken. Enrolment is subject to approval of the Head of School, on the recommendation of the Lecturer-in-Charge.
6 Enrolment in EXSC306 is subject to Head of School approval.
7 Students wishing to gain registration as a teacher of PDHPE in NSW must undertake this cognate sequence.
8 Students wishing to gain teacher registration in Victoria must have completed major studies in two school subjects, ie a second teaching discipline (eg Science, English etc) as well as Exercise Science.
9 Students wishing to pursue Physical Education teaching in Victoria are required to choose activities from the Physical Education and Coaching Strand in consultation with the Course Co-ordinator.
10 Electives are subject to enrolment demand of at least 15 students.
11 Not available for NSW students enrolled in the PDHPE Cognate Sequence.
12 Electives are subject to enrolment demand of at least 15 students.
13 Students enrolled in the Outdoor Recreation cognate sequence are strongly advised to enrol in Professional Activities from this strand.
