Sports and Exercise Science BSc Hons - 2021 Entry

Course Structure

Lancaster University offers a range of programmes, some of which follow a structured study programme, and others which offer the chance for you to devise a more flexible programme to complement your main specialism. We divide academic study into two sections - Part 1 (Year 1) and Part 2 (Year 2, 3 and sometimes 4). For most programmes Part 1 requires you to study 120 credits spread over at least three modules which, depending upon your programme, will be drawn from one, two or three different academic subjects. A higher degree of specialisation then develops in subsequent years. For more information about our teaching methods at Lancaster please visit our Teaching and Learning section.

The following courses do not offer modules outside of the subject area due to the structured nature of the programmes: Architecture, Law, Physics, Engineering, Medicine, Sports and Exercise Science, Biochemistry, Biology, Biomedicine and Biomedical Science.

Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, and the University will make every reasonable effort to offer modules as advertised. In some cases changes may be necessary and may result in some combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research.

Year 1

Core

• Becoming a Sports and Exercise Scientist

  This wide-ranging module provides an engaging introduction to Sports and Exercise Science, including its history, growth and future. It’s your chance to learn about the overarching role of Sports and Exercise Science in public health, disease management, elite performance, and recreational sports and activities.

  You will gain an awareness of research, professionalism and potential career opportunities as we educate, excite and inspire you. As you embark on your academic and career journey within this exciting field we’ll also ensure that you understand and adhere to professional conduct.

  We will highlight the connections between the Sports and Exercise Science disciplines and modules on offer at the University, helping you to take an integrated but multidisciplinary approach to both your degree and your professional development.

  The lecture series is accompanied by in-depth workshops based around three topics (the role of Sports and Exercise Science, professional training, and research approaches). The combination of lectures, workshops, and Human Performance Lab sessions provides you with your first insight into Lancaster’s various learning environments and to the way we will put theory into practice. The Human Performance Lab sessions will focus on working safely in the Sport and Exercise Sciences.

  Guest speakers will engage in the module delivery and you’ll gain an awareness of professional organisations and training. Keeping up-to-date with developments and research within the field is key, so you will also review current information and engage in evidence-based contemporary debates as you build your academic skills. And you’ll prepare, process, interpret and present findings - all of which helps you to refine your skills in assessing and responding to research.

  Throughout the module you will complete a weekly online test, which will help you to spot any gaps in your learning and to feel good about the knowledge that you’ve already secured.

• Cell Structure and Function

  This module is an introduction to the structure and function of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. The first five lectures of the module will examine the main components of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and the way eukaryotic cells are organized into tissues. The techniques used to study cells will also be reviewed. The next two lectures will look in detail at the structure and function of mitochondria and chloroplasts and the chemiosmotic theory. This will be followed by a lecture on the way cells are organised into tissues. The final four lectures will cover reproduction in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and the eukaryotic cell cycle. The lectures are supplemented by two practical sessions, the first on light microscopic technique and the second covering organelle isolation

• Concepts in Sports and Exercise Psychology

  How does a tennis player who is behind in a match keep focussed and fight back to win the match? Why do 100m sprinters visualise in their mind the race they are about to take part in? Why is breaking a bad habit, perhaps not taking exercise, so difficult?

  These are important questions in Sports and Exercise Science and in this module you’ll get a chance to explore these topics as you examine theories of behaviour change along with studying motivation, visualisation and the effects of pressure on athletic performance.

• Digital Technologies in Sports and Exercise Science

  Technology use in sport, exercise and health has steeply increased in the last few years, aided in particular by technological advancements in software, hardware and data processing power. Indeed, the overall market for wearable technology is expected to grow from 113.2 million units sold in 2017, to 222.3 million in 2021 (IDC, 2017). The benefit such technology development brings can be very useful in providing support to athletes and clients, but it does not come without limitations or aspects that require a deeper understanding of ‘how it works’ to ensure accurate results.

  This module will cover such technologies (e.g. wearables), what the data obtained can tell us and any caveats with it. It will afford students the opportunity to explore relevant technologies and develop an argument for their use.

• Essentials of Sports and Exercise Physiology

  This interactive and engaging module is your chance to get to grips with human physiology in the context of sports and exercise. Combining a lecture series with sessions in the Human Performance Lab, we will balance theory and practice to develop your understanding, and explore the integration of multiple physiological systems in response to exercise.

  During your time in the Human Performance Lab, we will consider the ways in which physiological monitoring and analysis can be used to understand how these systems respond and adapt to the demands of different modes of exercise. You will carry out resting, submaximal and maximal tests using treadmills and static cycle ergometers. You will use heart rate monitors to evaluate workload, gas analysers to determine oxygen uptake, and blood sampling to assess changes in lactate levels to name a few. Your practical skills will be observed and you’ll complete a competency log ahead of a practical assessment.

  By the end of the module you will also know what the requirements are for carrying out physiological measurements and tests, how to record data from those tests, and, how to analyse and present that data in a laboratory report.

  Throughout the module you will complete a weekly online test, which will help you to spot any gaps in your learning and to feel good about the knowledge that you’ve already secured.

• Exercise Prescription

  Driven by practical experience, this module provides an overview of how exercise science contributes to prescription in varying populations. This module will set you up well for sport and exercise related employment throughout your time at Lancaster, and ensure you have exercise training and prescription experience on your CV before graduation. Interactive and highly applied lectures will provide you with the opportunity to learn the underpinning theory and associated research surrounding the key components of exercise programming, training principles and techniques. Each of these will be followed by practical workshops, mostly within the Lancaster University fitness suite alongside qualified fitness professionals to hone your skills in instruction, delivery, adaptability and progression of a programme. This gives you a genuine opportunity to put theory into practice.

  Throughout the module, you will complete a weekly online test, which will help you to spot any gaps in your learning and to feel good about the knowledge that you have already secured. You will also complete a client consultation and practical observation to assess your skills in line with current fitness qualifications. Early in the degree programme you will choose a case study for this module, and design and deliver an individualised, evidence-based exercise programme.

• Experimental Design and Data Analysis

  In this module students will be introduced to the basic principles of experimental research design. We familiarise students with the principals underpinning the statistical analysis of quantitative data using examples from experimental studies in practice. We also offer students the opportunity to use basic statistics to analyse experimental data using statistical software (IBM SPSS). These practical sessions give students an opportunity to acquire data analysis skills. We cover the logic behind generating and testing hypotheses in experimental design and provide students with guidance on how to critically appraise published experimental research.

  Students will gain an appreciation of the importance of experimental design in the study of human health; develop team-working skills; develop skills in self-directed learning using a virtual learning environment; experience the use of statistical software for performing statistical calculations; develop an ability to summarise and critique information from different sources in a coherent manner along with an understanding of how to report statistical results.

• Fundamental Anatomy

  This fascinating module reveals the science behind the structure and function of the human body, which will be related to the contexts of sport, exercise and health, providing the foundation knowledge you need for studying physiology, biomechanics and nutrition.

  Taught sessions will combine a lecture series, interactive workshops and laboratory practicals providing a good balance of theoretical and practical understanding. With access to the Human Performance and Biological Life Science Laboratories you will enjoy an active learning approach to studying the neuro-muscular, musculo-skeletal, cardiovascular and respiratory systems. You will prepare, process, interpret and present data, and you’ll refine your skills in assessing information from a variety of sources.Throughout the module you will complete a weekly online test, which will help you to spot any gaps in your learning and to feel good about the knowledge that you’ve already secured.

• Hormones and Metabolism

  In this module students will learn the functions of several endocrine (hormone-producing) glands in lectures and workshops, such as the pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal glands. Students will then explore the underlying chemistry behind what makes exercise possible, our metabolism. Students will explore the links between nutrition and energy provision, how chemical reactions take place to increase skeletal muscle mass (anabolism), and finally explore how metabolism is linked to health, performance and even the ageing process.

  Students will be assessed through a combination of weekly online multiple choice tests, a piece of coursework on hormonal control, and an exam covering the metabolism aspect of the module.

• Introduction to Nutrition

  This exciting module will get you to grips with the foundations of general and sport nutrition, providing you with the knowledge and skills to analyse and review a real-life diet diary and provide appropriate dietary advice to a self-selected case study.

  Your learning will take place in various environments including lectures; classroom-based workshops where you will discuss dietary assessment methods; computer-based sessions where you will use advanced dietary analysis software; and you will engage in testing blood sugar control in our Human Performance Laboratory. You will learn how to calculate energy requirements and understand how this differs across different activities and populations in both a sport and health context.

  The assessment focal point for this module is the production of a dietary analysis report, where you will produce a diet diaryand you will then accurately input, analyse and interpret the data. You will draw on recommendations and client goals to provide an evidence-based justification for your chosen advice. You will complete a weekly online test, which will help you to spot any gaps in your learning and to feel good about the knowledge that you have already secured, ahead of an end of year exam.

• Molecules of Life

  In this module, students will explore the chemistry of some of the most important molecules to life, including water, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, proteins and lipids. The module begins with an overview of basic chemistry for example atomic structure, bonding, pH and molecular shape. It looks at the properties of water and how these enable water to support life. The structure and bonding within nucleic acids, proteins and carbohydrates are explored with emphasis upon how this is related to function within a cell. Finally, the structure and functions of lipids are described, with emphasis upon the role of lipids, proteins and carbohydrates in biological membranes.

  Workshops on this module enable use of RasMol molecular modelling software, making molecular models and problem-based learning.

• Principles of Biomechanics

  This captivating module provides you with a strong grounding in biomechanics within the context of sports and exercise. Combining a lecture series with sessions in the Human Performance Laboratory, we will balance theory and practice to develop your understanding of one central theme: how and why the human body moves in the way it does and how human movement alters in different sport and exercise activities.

• Professional Practice 1

  Our highly engaging professional practice module is an excellent opportunity to gain the academic knowledge, skills and values to progress in the sports and exercise sector.

  Workshops will be used to gain the key skills required for sound academic practice: effective literature searching, referencing, critical reading, scientific writing, time management, group work, presentation skills and reflection practices. Students will work collaboratively and engage with their peers.

  Throughout the module you will complete tasks to refine your referencing, literature searching skills, write scientifically and concisely, reflect on your presentation skills and reflect on your personal academic development throughout the first year of the degree programme. The professional practice module continues to run throughout your degree and will progress into professional development and public engagement.

• Public Health Challenges

  This contemporary module will engage you in three public health challenges that directly relate to the sport and exercise sciences and complement modules in psychology, nutrition, exercise prescription and digital technology. You will gain a greater awareness and understanding of health inequalities, discussing the challenges faced by obesity, identifying the need to get people active and ensure our ageing population live better for longer.

  Taught sessions will consist of interactive lectures and classroom-based seminars where you will be creative and develop key skills to discuss current and future public health initiatives. You will also enhance your ability to understand epidemiology and interpret statistics, whilst effectively presenting complex information using simple to understand statements - essential for successful public engagement and a valuable employability skill.

  You will be assessed by creatively designing material to inform the public about particular health challenges and solutions, as well as developing your group presentation skills. Throughout the module, you will complete a weekly online test, which will help you to spot any gaps in your learning and to feel good about the knowledge that you’ve already secured.

Year 2

Core

• Biomechanics II

  Biomechanics II builds on previous knowledge and skills developed around the area of Biomechanics. Students will explore in more depth how muscle performance affects our day to day life, whether this is being able to walk to the shops or achieve a personal best in a competition, how to assess that performance in both laboratory and field settings, and how to interpret the data in a meaningful way. The work will be completed in the Human Performance Laboratory as well as in seminars and workshops, while students will get a flavour of how we conduct and present research in Biomechanics. The module provides the perfect stepping stone for getting more excited with Biomechanics and preparing students for further engagement with the area, should they wish to do so.

• Current Debates in Sports and Exercise Science

  This module allows the opportunity for students to engage with hot topics and current debates within the sport and exercise science, across all the core disciplines of physiology, nutrition, psychology and biomechanics. You will develop the skills and confidence to review both sides of a number of controversial topics, build and defend a strong argument in a cohesive learning environment. This provides a dynamic approach to developing the ability read, listen, write and think critically, all of which are key skills for the final year of the degree.

  You may debate on the current athletic doping scandals and build a case for why certain supplements should be removed or added to the banned substance list. You could argue that some Paralympic athletes are at an advantage if they have access to more advanced prosthetic technology. Or, you could get involved in the pros and cons of a new diet craze for rapid weight loss. Although these topics are presented in the media, you will delve into the research that supports different sides to the arguments and be collaborative with your peers for an in-depth learning experience.

  You will be assessed via contributions to an online forum, a short written critical review, and a debate whereby you will present your side of the argument with a partner and participate in some debate activity with your opponent and the audience. A highly valuable and interactive approach that is intended to excite you to want to learn more.

• Physiology and Metabolism

  Following year one modules in physiology and nutrition, this takes your knowledge and application of skills to the next level by focusing on the measurement and evaluation of physiological responses to exercise and related environments. The module will take you beyond stand-alone physiological tests and provide a more experimental approach to your learning and start to apply the content to real-world sport and health scenarios.

  You will delve deeper into energy systems and metabolic processes, find out more about the determinants of exercise performance, fatigue and recover and have fully grasped the integrated nature of exercise physiology to suitably prepare you for final year modules. You will learn how to conduct tests that determine lactate threshold, as well as using multiple different protocols to determine VO2max and investigating the effect of commonly used nutritional supplements. The module will introduce you to a variety of both laboratory and field-based assessments.

  You will further your year one practical skills by continuing to add to your competencies and practical workbook/portfolio and laboratory report writing will have a more experimental focus, showcasing your understanding of protocol selection. The nature of the module will have helped to further develop your ability to analyse data and interpretation, which will feature in the module examination.

• Professional Practice II

  This module focuses on you and your professional development, to ultimately place you in a stronger position upon graduation. We are committed to ensuring you start thinking about and planning your career pathway, which can often be daunting, but it is highly beneficial to make some progress on this during your second year.

  Working alongside a specific job specification, you will set out a professional development plan, engage in professional development opportunities and complete valuable employment-related assessments. Taught sessions are interactive and task-based to ensure you have something tangible to take away each week that moves you one step further towards your ideal job. Professional development opportunities can be advertised to you, but you are equally encouraged to seek your own. Examples include work placements, shadowing opportunities, volunteering, providing sport science support to university sports team, engaging as a research participant or assistant, attending conferences.

  In addition to this, you will form a small group to prepare the initial ideas for a science communication event to be developed and delivered in year 3 (Professional Practice III). This features within this module as it gets you thinking about how your sports and exercise science knowledge can be applied and shared with a range of audiences, focusing on the transferability of skills – a key focus of professional practice.

• Research Methods and Statistics

  This module will include how to identify different types of data and how to select appropriate statistical tests. This valuable experience is essential for a successful career in Sports Science and is highly translational to alternative careers where statistical analysis is required.

  Your learning will take place in the lecture theatre and computer lab. Each lecture is followed by a computer lab session where you will learn how to use each statistical test first-hand using example data from the field of sport and exercise sciences. You will be assessed through a combination of weekly online multiple-choice tests, to check your knowledge, and an end-of-module-test in the computer lab where you will complete statistical tests on model data.

• Sports and Exercise Psychology

  This module will focus on the mental and emotional needs of athletes and participants in all forms of exercise. Students will explore the nature of performance sports stressors and approaches to the management of these along with visualisation and mental rehearsal, and the connection to enhanced performance. Students will examine other psychological models such as Mindfulness-Acceptance-Commitment models and determine their usefulness in the sport and exercise domain. These explorations will allow the examination of the role of the Sports Psychologist and the nature of effective athlete-psychologist relationships.

  Students will explore the nature of individual differences with a focus on personality and its impact on Sports performance and exercise engagement. Furthermore, students will examine the challenges behind the adoption of beneficial health and well-being habits. The topic will continue by examining resilience and motivation, exploring challenges associated with loss or lack of motivation, poor performance, injury and retirement.

Optional

• Exercise Medicine

  This exciting module applies exercise science and exercise prescription to health and medical conditions. With the growing public health challenge associated with physical inactivity, as well as the convincing evidence that exercise is an effective prevention and treatment strategy, this module will appropriately equip students with the knowledge and skills to work towards a career in the health domain. Lancaster Medical School has a focus on improving population health via innovative methods and this allows Sports and Exercise Science to align closely with the wider vision of the Medicine programme.

  You will learn about the role exercise plays in the prevention of risk factors associated with heart disease, as well as the use of exercise rehabilitation for those recovering from a cardiac event. You will discover how exercise can delay issues with bone health such as the importance of load-bearing activities in people with osteoporosis. You will gain in-depth insights into the pathophysiology, medications and exercise prescription across a wide range of conditions that are high on the UK and Global public health agenda, developing an adapted physical activity programme and engaging with real-life patients to raise awareness of the real-life barriers, facilitators and approaches to exercise medicine.

  You will be engaged in lectures, interactive workshops, online forums and even a focus group with patients. Your knowledge and skills will be assessed by online weekly tests, a reflective report, a real-life patient case study and an end of year exam.

• Sports Medicine

  This module will develop knowledge of the injuries and pathologies present within elite Sport and examine prevention and treatment strategies for these conditions.

  This module will include the assessment of sports injuries and how to monitor athletes who may be at risk through overtraining or other underlying pathologies. We will examine the performance benefits, and long-term consequences, of ergogenic aids, and the growing use of therapeutic use exemptions (TUE’s) within Sport.

  Your learning will take place in lectures, workshops, and in the Human Performance Lab. You will be assessed through a combination of weekly online multiple-choice tests, to check your knowledge, a written report in the style of a research paper, and an end-of-year exam.

Year 3

Core

• Professional Practice III

  This highly engaging module is an excellent opportunity to discover and develop skills in science communication: informing, educating and raising awareness of sports and exercise sciences with the public. The skills, knowledge and values gained through this module are directly relevant to applied work as part of a team and interacting with the public, leading directly to enhancing employability.

  This module will provide you the opportunity to work collaboratively to design, critique and deliver a science communication event to a public audience. You will produce a range of resources to communicate a specific area of sports and exercise science effectively and a reflective report to analyse the successes and challenges of the process and event.

• Research Project

  A crucial part of your degree is the final year project during which you’ll have the opportunity to work with staff to undertake your own research project. You’ll be guided in doing this, and you’ll be able to apply all of the knowledge and skills you’ve developed as you undertake your original research project.

  Your project will allow you to develop your research and time-management skills as well as your presentation and team working skills. In addition it will allow you to undertake an investigation into a topic of your choice.

Optional

• Advanced Physiology

  This module will explore how the body responds in challenging environments and in response to other stressors such as disease. We will study how physiology is disrupted in extreme environments which might include thermal stress, altitude, G-force, or during spaceflight. We will examine what can be done to mitigate any effects on exercise performance in extreme environments. We will also explore how exercise can be used as an effective therapy to improve patient prognosis in different disease states.

• Applied Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology

  This module will focus on the diversity of sport, exercise and performance psychology practices and techniques in different applied contexts including sport, business and military environments. The students will gain insights into real-world applications of psychological processes, techniques and tools and consider some of the challenges associated with different psychological skills applications. There will be an opportunity to explore how businesses manage transformational change and adversity, how sporting organisations can improve dynamic pathways for athlete success and how sport psychologists can contribute to tackling ‘mental health’ crises.

• Biology of Ageing

  For 50 years, thanks to evolutionary theory, we’ve known why we are fated to age and die, but our understanding of the mechanisms has been a lengthy evolution in itself. Only relatively recently, with the use of modern molecular biology tools, do we begin to understand the mechanistic basis of the ageing process, from early notions about rates of living to current ideas about modular yet interacting mechanisms including autophagy, protein synthesis, nutrient sensing, insulin-like signalling and disease resistance. Even now we do not clearly know what makes us age. Ageing is perhaps the most multidisciplinary area of study and is certainly one of the last great mysteries in biology.

  This module introduces the area and the methodologies with which ageing is studied. Teaching is through lectures, workshops, practical work, individual and group-based coursework and private study.

• Biomechanics III

  This optional module offers a more in-depth look into the mechanics of force generation and how we can increase the quality of our measurements, as well as a more advanced approach into applied biomechanics work, through e.g. strength diagnosis. Theory and practice will be combined on small-scale research projects that you will design, develop and conduct in our Human Performance Laboratory to answer a burning question on a particular topic, the results of which will be presented in a ‘conference style’ presentation. You will enjoy the ‘hands-on’ approach used, the ability to contribute on aspects of how you will be assessed as well as taking ownership of a project answering an interesting question.

• Maximising Elite Performance

  This optional module has a strong applied, sport performance-related focus. It will cover topics that require the input of multiple sports and exercise science disciplines and afford you the opportunity to obtain an understanding of how a team of professionals work together to achieve maximum performance. You will be assessed via a case study, which will allow you to explore the demands of the sport / position, design an appropriate sport science support plan which you will present to staff and peers. You will enjoy the applied focus of the module as well as the ability to gain an understanding of the more practical challenges facing the sports and exercise scientists working in the field, and will be introduced to innovative ways of communicating with colleagues and athletes.

• Medical Genetics

  This module aims to provide an understanding of the organisation of the human genome, how disease genes are mapped and how mutations are identified leading to the development of diagnostic tests. The impacts of massively parallel next generation DNA sequencing, microarrays and SNP genotyping on gene discovery and disease diagnosis are examined. The application of modern genetic techniques to identifying susceptibility genes for complex, multifactorial traits will also be studied. A range of diseases will be examined in detail both in lectures and in case study workshop sessions. The final lecture looks at gene therapy and considers the future for treatment of genetic disorders. The practical session aims to give students an opportunity to study their own DNA in a forensics scenario, using techniques that are widely applicable in modern molecular genetics.

• Neurobiology

  Nervous system function, from formation in the embryo to sensory systems and the neural control of complex behaviours, is the focus of this module. The emphasis is on model systems and the use of genetic tools to elucidate developmental pathways and neural circuits. Practical exercises are used to illustrate some of the functions of nervous systems and how these can be manipulated by genetic intervention.

  Students are encouraged to access and evaluate information from a variety of sources and to communicate the principles in a way that is well-organised, topical, and recognises the limits of current hypotheses. On completion of the module, students will be equipped with practical techniques including data collection, analysis and interpretation.

• Optimising Health Outcomes

  This insightful module is one of the year 3 options, providing you with the opportunity to continue on a health performance pathway. You will apply aspects of public health and exercise medicine to the design and evaluation of interventions for the general public and patient groups to promote positive changes. It is an applied and real-life module that equips you with the knowledge and skills required in an ever-growing employment field, to optimise health outcomes. Focus is likely to be on population groups where a public health concern exists such as weight management for obesity, and physical activity for mental health. Exciting insights will be shared by those engaged in intervention design and implementation so you will also learn from those "doing" it.

  Taught sessions will consist of interactive lectures and classroom-based seminars where you will be creative and develop key skills to discuss current and future public health initiatives. You will also enhance your ability to understand epidemiology and interpret statistics, whilst effectively presenting complex information using simple to understand statements - essential for successful public engagement and a valuable employability skill.

  You will be assessed by evaluating an existing intervention, then working with a real-life scenario to design an intervention that utilises tools and approaches used in the field, as well as justifying this via a presentation. An excellent set of learning and assessment methods that are transferable into the workplace.