Interested in sport coaching as a form of education? Keen to study a sport degree that will put you on the pathway to a teaching career? Realise your ambitions on this challenging and vibrant new course.
- Choose a four-year course which includes a foundation year for an invaluable introduction to your studies
- Fulfil your potential: the foundation year route is for you if you are pursuing a change of career, exploring a new subject area or don’t quite meet the entry requirements for our honours degree
- Gain an impressive combination of skills relating to sport coaching, teaching and education
- Be inspired by our strong network of contacts including professional coaches, elite athletes and educational leaders
- Build the ideal platform to progress to teacher training opportunities such as a PGCE
- Deliver sports sessions to groups of different ages and abilities to develop your practical skills
- Work with sports clubs, schools and community organisations for vital experience in real-world settings
- Benefit from exceptional facilities including our new multi-purpose Sports Centre and state-of-the-art laboratories
- Learn from staff who are highly experienced in both the sport and educational arenas
Bringing together the art and science of both sport and education, this inspiring degree will build your academic and practical skills in equal measure. It is now available as a four-year course with a foundation year to give you a strong basis for your future studies and career.
A firm foundation for your future
As part of your foundation year, you’ll deepen your understanding of sports coaching and leadership, human performance, psychology and education, and teaching and learning. You’ll also enhance your research and academic skills to aid your progression to honours degree studies.
This makes the foundation year route an excellent option for anyone seeking to change their career plans or choice of study subject. It also opens up alternative opportunities for those who may not have the formal qualifications to join our three-year honours degree directly.
By choosing to start your journey with a foundation year, you will benefit from the University’s exceptional student support so that you gain confidence and motivation as you advance to stage one of the honours degree. You will not need to re-apply for the full BA (Hons): our degrees with foundation year are continuous.
Broaden your perspectives
If you have an interest in sport coaching as a form of education, this innovative and interdisciplinary course is a perfect option for you. It leads to a qualification which will help you stand out in the graduate job market.
While more traditional sport coaching degrees concentrate on the physical training of athletes, our BA (Hons) broadens your perspectives and gives you a deeper understanding of the relationships between the disciplines of sport and education.
Exploring the importance of the sport coach as an educator, you’ll cover the principles of learning and how they can be applied in different educational settings for teaching and coaching practice alike.
Drawing on areas such as educational psychology and human development, you’ll also develop your awareness of contemporary theory which will prove invaluable should you decide to progress to teacher training.
Translate theory into practice
Our close links with both the sports industry and the education sector will open doors for you. Employers have had significant input into the design of this course, so you can be sure that what you are learning will meet their needs and expectations.
It also means you can start to build your professional networks and enjoy opportunities such as work experience, industry-backed research and coaching practice, including delivering sport sessions to groups of different ages and abilities.
By working in real-world settings – such as with sports clubs, schools, colleges, community organisations and local authorities – you will gain a better appreciation of the educational aspects of sport as well as the different career options available.
Make the most of our impressive facilities
You can take full advantage of the facilities at our iconic new £10.8 million Sports Centre, which boasts a main hall, fitness gym, studios, squash and badminton courts, an internal climbing wall, sprint track, changing rooms, treatment rooms and a café.
Our substantial investment in sport has also seen the introduction of bespoke equipment and state-of-the-art laboratories to keep our sports students at the forefront of new developments in testing and measuring the parameters of health and fitness. You will advance your skills in our high-specification sport and exercise physiology laboratory and biomechanics laboratory. You will also become adept in using a range of computer software packages for statistical and movement analysis.
Skills to take you far
We take every opportunity to enrich your learning experience, fostering important transferable skills and intellectual abilities beyond the core content of your degree.
Alongside the course, you will benefit from our Steps to Success programme which promotes your personal and academic development and helps you make more informed decisions about your future career plans.
You’ll develop skills in academic research too, conducting an independent investigation into a theme of your choice – with the chance to showcase your findings to lecturers and fellow students at a University conference. This experience is particularly helpful if you would like to study at postgraduate level.
To add variety and interest to your CV, we support you to pursue additional professional qualifications, including coaching badges and other awards given by the National Governing Bodies for specific sports.
Expertise to inspire you
You’ll be motivated and engaged by expert tutors who know all about combining education and sport: they do so every day in their work. Supportive, encouraging and approachable, they can call upon a wealth of professional as well as academic experience.
Thanks to our flourishing partnerships across the sector, you will also be able to attend inspirational guest lectures and network with professional coaches, elite athletes and education specialists.
You’ll study core modules in Sport and Education, to provide you with a fundamental understanding and the practical skills and experiences to work within a sport and education environment. You will develop research and professional skills throughout the programme, which will enable you to pursue postgraduate study and employment.
You'll study modules such as:
Foundation year
- English
- Maths
- Study Skills in Science
- Research Methods in Data Handling
- Foundation in Sport and Exercise
- Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology
- Sociology
- Psychology of Education
If you already have level 2 English and Maths, you will not be required to take English and Maths core modules
Stage One
- Research and Academic Skills * - Taught in two parts, providing the academic skills required for undergraduate study and the research skills needed to facilitate independent research
- Teaching Learning and Curriculum - Provides insights into how and why the current school curriculum provision in the statutory years has developed over the last three decades
- Psychology and Education Understanding Teaching and Learning - This module is concerned with the contribution psychology has made to the education sector
- Sports Coaching and Leadership - The aim of this module is to introduce and review principles of coaching and leadership
- Coaching and Skill Acquisition * - This module will focus on the application of skill acquisition theories in the coaching practice
- Principles of Sport and Exercise Physiology - Examines various personality and social-psychological factors that impact upon participation and performance
Stage Two
- Research Methods * - Study a variety of research techniques including quantitative and qualitative methods of enquiry
- The Learning Coach: The Learning Approach - Provides students with a sound understanding of sport coaching principles in the context of learning
- Individual Differences and Learning - Explores the psychology of individual differences and will consider two concerns in this area, namely intelligence and personality
- Principles and Practices of Training - Designed to give students an understanding of the concepts and practice of training and fitness
- Sports Performance Analysis * - Aims to develop awareness of the interdisciplinary nature of sports analysis including physiological, biomechanical and psychological perspectives
You'll also choose one from the following optional modules:
- Community Sport and Physical Activity Development - The module focuses on developing the student’s understanding of concepts and issues related to models of athlete development
- Small Business Planning in Sport * - Develops knowledge of the process of entrepreneurship and the environment in which the process takes place when developing a small business
Industrial Placement Year (optional)
This course offers an ‘Industrial Placement Year’ giving you the opportunity to enhance your practical skills by putting theory into practice, network in your industry and stand-out in the graduate job market. The placement year takes place in your third year, once completed, you would return to University to complete your final year of studies.
Stage Three
- Independent Study - Provides students with the opportunity to reflect and build upon their subject knowledge and expertise by conducting an in-depth investigation
- Understanding and Managing the Behaviour of Learners - Provides an opportunity for students to examine theoretical and professional perspectives on managing the behaviours of learners
- Mentoring in Education and Lifelong Learning - Explores a range of mentoring and coaching models used in lifelong learning settings
- Adaptive Coaching Theory and Practice * - Provides students with an opportunity to develop themselves as practitioners progressing their coaching, teaching and communication skills
You'll also choose one from the following optional modules:
- Advanced Coaching Practice - Aims to develop the student’s ability to consider human movement principles, exploring the essence and purpose of movement
- Contemporary Issues in Sports Psychology - This module will provide students with a critical awareness of contemporary issues in sport psychology
This course is delivered using a variety of traditional and contemporary teaching and learning methods. These include lectures, tutorials, and practicals, as well as innovative approaches using information technology. A student-centred approach is adopted throughout and considerable emphasis is put on experiential learning, as well as the practical application of underpinning principles.
Assessment
A variety of assessment methods are used during the course, which include essays, written and practical exams, reports, portfolios, and presentations. In addition to final module assessments, students will receive feedback on their performance throughout the course enabling learning and progression.
September 2019 typical entry requirements
| UCAS points | 72 (up to 16 from AS-levels) |
| Specific requirements at A-level | N/A |
| Specific requirements at GCSE | GCSE Maths and English are preferred, however if you don't have these qualifications you will be able to undertake Maths and English at L2 as part of your course of study. |
| Interview / Audition | N/A |
| Portfolio | N/A |
Alternative entry qualifications:
- BTEC - MPP
- Pass Access to HE Diploma 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 and 15 at Level 2.
We usually consider an A-level in General Studies as a supplementary qualification. A good application/performance will be taken into account if you do not meet the criteria/offer conditions.
An Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service certificate cleared by the University is required for this course. We will contact you with information on how to complete this once you have applied. More information.
Our entry requirements for this course should be read together with the University's general entry requirements, which details subjects we accept, alternative qualifications and what we're looking for at Derby.
One of the major benefits of this degree is that it paves the way to such a wide variety of careers. Your qualification will set you apart as a versatile and resourceful graduate with a strong set of transferable skills.
You could choose to chart your future career in sport coaching, in education or in a combination of both. There are also interesting roles in broader areas such as physical activity co-ordination, sport and health development, fitness and recreation management, and health promotion.
In addition, this degree serves as a springboard to postgraduate education in Sport. You could, for instance, consider masters level courses such as our innovative MRes Sport and Exercise programme.
If your studies have spurred your interest in a teaching career, you will also discover multiple progression routes at the University of Derby. These include our PGCE Primary, PGCE Secondary (School Direct) with Qualified Teacher Status or PGCE Post-14 (Education and Training) programmes, all of which are based at the Derby Campus. Entry to these courses is subject to you meeting initial teacher training entry requirements and DBS clearance.
If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.
Contact us Contact us Download programme specification
Teaching hours
Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.
Additional costs and optional extras
We’re committed to providing you with an outstanding learning experience. Our expert teaching, state-of-the-art facilities and great employability prepare you for your future career. As part of our commitment to you we aim to keep any additional study costs to a minimum. However, there are occasions where students may incur some additional costs.
Included in your fees
- To welcome you to our team, you’ll receive a University of Derby, Sport and Exercise Science t-shirt
- If a DBS check is needed for the purposes of a module or programme related work placement, this is included in your fee if done via the University
- We will contribute to or pay the full cost of additional qualifications which are arranged by us. For other additional qualifications you’re interested in, we may contribute to or fund these but this is at the Sport department’s discretion
Mandatory costs not included in your fees
- If not already owned, appropriate clothing for practical sessions such as tracksuit bottoms and trainers - approximate cost is £50-£100
- Two bound copies of your Independent Study (dissertation) - approximate cost is £12
- Travel to placements - cost varies depending on your placement venue of choice
Optional costs not included in your fees
- You may wish to purchase optional textbooks or e-books to support your studies - costs for these are dependent on your choice
- To support your studies, you may want to invest in additional qualifications such as pitch-side first aid and safeguarding - costs will vary depending on your choice
Please note: Our courses are refreshed and updated on a regular basis. If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.
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