MSc Sports Development and Coaching (with PG Diploma exit award) (Subject to approval)
Sports Development and Coaching [MSc]
Year of Entry: 2010
The Programme
This programme is the first of its kind on the island of Ireland. It combines the opportunity for vocational specialism and preparation for employment, career progression or change, or further study. The course is taught by staff who have considerable, high-level experience in the sports development and coaching fields and who have extensive, international research experience in the social sciences of sport. The course is offered in both full-time and part-time modes in order to appeal to graduates and those currently in employment.
The programme offers students the opportunity to develop and apply social scientific ideas, concepts and knowledge to sports development and coaching and to develop professional practices that are informed by a critical understanding of sport. It is designed to;
• enable students to acquire and apply a body of social scientific theoretical and empirical knowledge to sports development and coaching
• develop in students the ability to understand the ways in which professional practice in sports development and/or sports coaching can be informed by a social scientific understanding of sport
• provide opportunities for students to enhance their abilities in a range of transferable skills required in the fields of sports development and coaching
• produce graduates who have gained experience of an in-depth, independent investigation of current issues in sports development and/or coaching using appropriate research methodology.
• produce graduates who can demonstrate increased capacity for understanding and evaluating the concepts, complexities and current issues in sports development and coaching.
The programme will be of interest to graduates from undergraduate course in sports studies; sports science; sports development or sports coaching as well as those graduating from a range of cognate fields including sociology, history, politics, anthropology, business and management studies.
The programme will also be of interest to practitioners in the fields of sports development and coaching who seek to broaden their knowledge base and skill sets or those in other professions who are seeking career change.
Entry Conditions
Applicants must hold a degree with at least 2ii Honours standard or equivalent in a related discipline (for example – BSc Sports Studies; Sports and Exercise Sciences; Sports Development and/or Coaching; BSc in a social science or humanities discipline [sociology, political science; anthropology; history] or business studies) or demonstrate their ability to undertake the course through the accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL).
Structure and Content
The course content explores the ways in which social scientific approaches to sport allow for an understanding of a range of issues in sports development and coaching. It provides opportunities for critical reflection on existing professional practice in these fields and on the broader policy context within which sport operates. The course is comprised of six modules: Understanding Sport; Issues in Sports Development and Coaching; Professional Practice in Sports Development and Coaching; Policy Analysis for Sport; Research in Sports Development and Coaching; Research Project.
Modules – Full-time
Semester 1
Understanding Sport (15 credits)
Issues in Sports Development and Coaching (30 credits)
Research in Sports Development and Coaching (15 credits worth)
Semester 2
Research in Sports Development and Coaching (15 credits worth)
Professional Practice in Sports Development and Coaching (30 credits)
Policy Analysis for Sport (15 credits)
Semester 3
Research Project (60 credits)
Modules – Part-time
Semester 1
Understanding Sport (15 credits)
Research in Sports Development and Coaching (15 credits worth)
Semester 2
Policy Analysis for Sport (15 credits)
Research in Sports Development and Coaching (15 credits worth)
Semester 3
Issues in Sports Development and Coaching (30 credits)
Semester 4
Professional Practice in Sports Development and Coaching (30 credits)
Semester 5
Research Project (30 credits worth)
Semester 6
Research Project (30 credits worth)
Duration and Mode of Attendance
Full-time
PgDip – two semesters
MSc – One calendar year
Classes run Thursday 2.15 – 9.15 and Friday 9.15 – 12.15
Part-time
PgDip – four semesters
MSc – three calendar years
Classes run Thursday 2.15 – 9.15
Teaching and Learning Methods
Modules are delivered via a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, e-learning and self-directed learning.
Assessment
The programme is accessed via a range of coursework methods that will build the skills required for practitioners in the fields of sports development and coaching. These include: essays; individual/group presentations; policy contextualisation; IT presentations; media commentary; research proposal; action research; monitoring & evaluation presentations; critical reports; and an in-depth, independent project.
Application
www.ulster.ac.uk/applyonline
Application deadline for the course is 13 August.
Fees
Information at: http://prospectus.ulster.ac.uk/geninfo/costs_postgrad.html
Contact Details
For further information contact:
Barbara Gregg
School administrator
Jordanstown
02890368177
bm.gregg@ulster.ac.uk
Dr Paul Darby
Senior Lecturer in Sport & Exercise
028 90366416
p.darby@ulster.ac.uk
