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 Exercise Physiology (five years full-time or the part-time equivalent). The course is offered by the Faculty of Medicine, 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 120 hours of professional placement within the course. There is the opportunity to pursue a major specialisation as part of the program in either Nutrition; Sports Science; Health Promotion; Behavioural Sciences; Business; or Allied Health. This course will enable students to apply for membership with Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) as an Exercise Scientist.

Learning outcomes 

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  • apply theoretical knowledge in human structure and function to the study of acute and chronic exercise changes in a variety of sporting and health settings;
  • understand the benefits of exercise for the purposes of optimal ageing; to promote health or for optimising athletic performance;
  • understand the relationship between physical activity, sedentary behaviours and chronic immune, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal conditions;
  • understand the physiological responses to exercise and to use this knowledge to develop individualised exercise approaches for health promotion and athletic performance;
  • discuss ethical and legal concepts for, and implications to, professional practice;
  • understand the interdisciplinary nature of health and be provided with the appropriate communication skills to enable collaboration across a variety of settings;
  • understand the concept of evidence-based practice as it is applied to individual approaches to exercise; physical activity and health or sports performance;
  • demonstrate an integrated understanding of the sub-disciplines of exercise science;
  • understand how psychological, cultural and socioeconomic factors influence an individual’s exercise capacity and motivation to participate in regular physical activity, and how this can be modified by behaviour change interventions; and
  • demonstrate conduct that is sensitive to client diversity and equity.

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 81 units of the specified core topics and 27 units from one of the identified specialisations.

Except with the permission of the Faculty Board, 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

27 units comprising:

EXSC1001 Fundamentals of Exercise Science (4.5 units)
HLTH1004 Human Bioscience (4.5 units)
BIOL1102 Molecular Basis of Life (4.5 units)
PHYT2001 Exercise and Muscle Physiology (4.5 units)
NUTD1106 Nutrition, Physical Activity and Health (4.5 units)
HLTH1003 Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Care (4.5 units)

Plus 9 units towards chosen specialisation

Core - Year 2 topics

27 units comprising:

HLTH2101 Critical Social Analysis of Health (4.5 units)
MMED2931 Human Physiology (4.5 units)
EXSC2002 Exercise Prescription and Movement Learning (4.5 units)
HLTH2105 Health: A Psychological Perspective (4.5 units)
ENGR2732 Biomechanics (4.5 units)
MMED2932 Integrative Human Physiology (4.5 units)

Plus 9 units towards chosen specialisation

Core - Year 3 topics

27 units comprising:

MMED3930 Sensory and Motor Systems (4.5 units)
MMED3932 Body Systems (4.5 units)
EXSC3010 Psychology of Exercise, Health and Behaviour Change (4.5 units)
HLTH3105 Quantitative Methods of Social Health Research (4.5 units)
EXSC3001 Advanced Topics in Exercise Science (4.5 units)
EXSC3002 Professional Practice in Exercise Science (4.5 units)

Plus 9 units towards chosen specialisation

Specialisations

Specialisation in Nutrition (competitive entry pathway into the Master of Nutrition and Dietetics)*

CHEM1101 Chemical Structure and Bonding (4.5 units) (S1)
Or
CHEM1201 General Chemistry (4.5 units) (S1)
CHEM1202 Chemistry for the Life Sciences (4.5 units) (S2)
BIOL2771 Biochemistry (4.5 units) (S1)
NUTD2101 Nutrition Across the Lifecycle (4.5 units) (S2)
NUTD3203 Nutrition for Sports Performance (4.5 units) (S2)
MMED3933 Biochemistry of Human Disease (4.5 units) (S2)

Specialisation in Sports Science

HLPE2301 Strength and Conditioning Coaching 1: Resistance Training (4.5 units) (S1)
HLPE2402 Strength and Conditioning Coaching 2: Physiological Testing (4.5 units) (S2)
HLPE2300 Psychology of Sport Participation and Performance (4.5 units) (S1)
HLPE3534 Introduction to Sport Coaching, Management and Administration  (4.5 units) (S2)
NUTD3203 Nutrition for Sports Performance (4.5 units) (S2)
HLPE3533 Applied Exercise Science (4.5 units) (S2)

Specialisation in Health Promotion

HLTH1305 Health Practitioner Practice 1 (4.5 units) (S1)
HLTH1306 Health Practitioner Practice 2 (4.5 units) (S2)
HLTH1304 Communication and Interprofessional Practice (4.5 units) (S1)
HLTH2102 Indigenous Health for Health Sciences (4.5 units) (S2)
HLTH1101 Health Promotion for Health Professionals (4.5 units) (S1)
HLTH2106 Project Management for Health Promotion (4.5 units) (S2)

Specialisation in Behavioural Science

PSYC1101 Psychology 1A (4.5 units) (S1)
PSYC1102 Psychology 1B (4.5 units) (S2)
PSYC1106 Research Methods (4.5 units) (S1)
PSYC2019 Personality and Social Psychology (4.5 units) (S2)
PSYC2020 Cognition and Learning (4.5 units) (S1)
PSYC2021 Human Development (4.5 units) (S2)

Specialisation in Business

BUSN1022 Marketing Principles (4.5 units) (S1)
HLTH2106 Project Management for Health Promotion (4.5 units) (S2)
BUSN1011 Accounting For Managers (4.5 units) (S1)
BUSN2020 Consumer Behaviour (4.5 units) (S2)
BUSN2038 Human Resource Management (4.5 units) (S1)
BUSN3033 Occupational Health and Safety (4.5 units) (S2)

Specialisation in Allied Health (competitive entry pathway into the Master Physiotherapy or the Master Occupational Therapy)**

HLTH1305 Health Practitioner Practice 1 (4.5 units) (S1)
HLTH2102 Indigenous Health for Health Sciences (4.5 units) (S2)
HLTH1304 Communication and Interprofessional Practice (4.5 units) (S1)
DSRS1216 Introduction to Principles of Learning (4.5 units) (S2)
MMED3941 Human Musculoskeletal Anatomy (4.5 units) (S2)
REHB2001 Neuroscience for Therapists (4.5 units) (S2)

* Completion of the topics in the Nutrition specialisation does not guarantee entry into the Master of Nutrition and Dietetics. It provides students with the necessary prerequisite topics for admission into the Master of Nutrition and Dietetics via competitive entry (SATAC).

**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 Exercise Science (Honours)

Combined degrees

 The Bachelor of Exercise Science may also be studied in a combined degrees program with the: