Introduction

Sports Science is a practical and theoretical Bachelor’s degree programme that provides students with many employment opportunities within the field of sport and / or working with various types of groups from a health-related perspective.

Target Group and Admission Requirements

The target group consists of applicants who are seeking a professional education in sports-related subjects, with specialization in various training, mediation and administrative roles in the area of sports and physical activities. The study programme does not have any admission requirements related to an applicant’s physical fitness; nevertheless, we recommend that applicants are in good physical shape because the study programme includes sports activities that require compulsory attendance and are assessed with graded marks.

Aim of the Programme

In the second and third years of the study programme, students may specialize in the Role of the Coach; Administration and Management; or Physical Activity and Health.

Specialization course: The Role of the Coach

This is an interdisciplinary and vocational course that emphasizes knowledge and skills in practical sports, but with close links to various theoretical fields. Teaching and instruction will be given in topics in the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities, all of which are important for coaching as they help contextualise the more practical aspects of sports. The course will also provide students with an opportunity to work with mediation, counselling and coaching aimed at skill development in sports. Combined with teacher training qualifications, the course qualifies successful candidates for work in schools, particularly sports studies in upper secondary schools. In addition, the course provides the necessary basis for further studies in sports science at Master’s degree level.

Specialization course: Administration and Management

This interdisciplinary and vocational course will qualify successful candidates for administrative and management positions in the field of sports in the public, private and voluntary sectors. The aim is for students to become more familiar with the various aspects of the course through practical work and visits, so that the theoretical aspects of the course which will be demonstrated in practical contexts. Students will acquire knowledge of organization and leadership, organizational skills and the planning and implementation of projects, as well as knowledge of sport-related policies. Combined with teacher training qualifications, the course qualifies successful candidates for work in schools. In addition, the course provides the necessary basis for further studies in sports science at Master’s degree level.

Specialization course: Physical Activity and Health

This course focuses on physical training in relation to various groups such as inactive children, adolescents, adults and the elderly, as well as clinical populations where physical activity has been shown to be beneficial in prevention and treatment. Instruction and training will be given in the natural sciences, social sciences and the humanities, which are all relevant to the role of the instructor and tutor in promoting physical activity and health. Successful candidates will be qualified for jobs in fitness centres, rehabilitation institutions, municipal physical training centres and as public health coordinators. Combined with teacher training qualifications, the course qualifies successful candidates for work in schools. In addition, the course provides the necessary basis for further studies in sports science at Master’s degree level.

Learning outcome

After successfully completing the study program, the candidate will have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence.

Specialization course: The Role of the Coach

Knowledge

The candidate:

• Has acquired professional skills and can plan and implement high quality sports instruction, and discuss and reflect on key issues when working with athletes.

Skills

The candidate has:

• The ability to plan and influence the development of skills of various groups in sports activities, aiming for a holistic development of each individual.

General competence:

The candidate has:

• Achieved a thorough understanding of professional and ethical issues related to the role of the coach, and can communicate and reflect on the subject orally and in writing, from practical and theoretical viewpoints.

Specialization course: Administration and Management

Knowledge

The candidate has:

• Professional knowledge of sports policy challenges, and is able to prepare sports and physical activities for all kinds of people.

Skills

The candidate has:

• The ability to plan and implement sports initiatives and events, and collaborate and interact with various stakeholders.

General competence

The candidate has:

• Achieved insight into academic and professional-oriented issues related to leadership and management roles in the public sector, voluntary groups and organizations, and in relation to health-promoting activities.

Specialization course: Physical Activity and Health

Knowledge

The candidate:

• Possesses professional skills and can plan, organize, implement and evaluate activity-promoting measures for different groups. He/she can discuss and reflect on key issues when working with sedentary individuals and groups.

Skills

The candidate has:

• The ability to plan, organize and implement health-promoting activity sessions with specific goals related to relevant groups/individuals. Further, he/she can carry out health-profile assessments including dietary registration, motivation dialogues and physical fitness testing.

General competence

The candidate:

• Possesses a good understanding of professional and ethical issues related to the instructor’s and supervisor’s roles in health-related physical activity, and can communicate and reflect on the subject matter orally and in writing, from practical and theoretical viewpoints.

Curriculum and structure

Specialization course: The Role of the Coach

The first year of the study programme consists of approximately equal amounts of practical and theoretical instruction. Sports will be presented through teaching and learning activities related to various theoretical approaches. During the third and fourth semesters of the study programme, the emphasis will be on social-scientific and natural-scientific approaches including the status of sport in society, the relationship between athletes and coaches, learning and leadership in sports, physical training theory and sports physiology. The final year of the study programme provides students with the opportunity to specialize, through courses which are relevant to the sport which the student has selected to study in depth. The specialization sport will be emphasised in both the second and third years of the study programme, and includes compulsory practical training.

Specialization course: Administration and Management

The first year of the study programme consists of approximately equal amounts of practical and theoretical instruction. In the second and third years, emphasis is placed on providing a broad introduction to the social framework conditions for sports, physical education and outdoor life activities. In addition, the study programme addresses important administrative challenges and tasks associated with this field. Students will gain experience in planning and carrying out sports arrangements and receive an introduction to topics in sports policy related to economics, media, sponsoring, business, marketing etc.

Specialization course: Physical Activity and Health

The first year of the study programme consists of approximately equal amounts of practical and theoretical instruction. Sports, physical activity and exercise will be presented through teaching and learning activities related to various theoretical approaches. During the third and fourth semesters of the study programme, the emphasis will be on approaches drawn from the social and natural sciences, including the social benefits of physical activity, fitness and sports; relationship and communication between the instructor / supervisor and participant; motivation and barriers to participation in physical activity; behavioural change; physiological adaptations to training; and clinical physiology.

The final year of the study programme provides a specialization in courses which are relevant to Physical Activity and Health. The second and third years of the study programme include compulsory practical training.

Limited number of study places available

There are a limited number of study places available on the various specialization courses and specialization courses in sports. Where necessary, selection will be based on a ranking of the grades from the one-year study programme in sports. Students must have passed courses in their first year of study in order to take the corresponding course in the second year.

Internationalization

As part of the study programme it is possible to take at least 30 ECTS credits (one semester) at an educational institution abroad in the fifth semester. The college has entered into agreements and financing arrangements for exchange within Scandinavia via NORDPLUS. The college also has bilateral exchange agreements with Trinity University College in Wales. More information may be found on Telemark University College’s website.

Teaching and Learning Methods

The study programme is interdisciplinary and problem- and project-oriented. The integration of theoretical and practical aspects of activities is an indispensable element of the study programme. Students will be supervised using teaching and learning methods which include practical training, teaching under supervision and report-writing (portfolios), projects, group and seminar meetings, lectures, etc.

Theory and Practical Training

The starting point of the Bachelor’s degree programme is that sport is a practical field, and that theoretical subjects and perspectives may be used to analyse and explain sport’s practical nature. Theoretical and practical teaching is included in each of the three years of the study programme. Second and third year students will also participate in coaching/practical training, administration / practical training, and/or instructor/practical training, depending on which specialization they have chosen.

Assessment Methods

Students will be evaluated through participation, practical/methodological examinations, various written assignments, written final examinations and oral presentations of student work. The type of assessment used in the individual courses is chosen in order to best measure the learning outcomes each course provides.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean