Objectives-Prepare students with the means to enhance their own experience of research in the sport and exercise sciences
-Prepare students for employment in the field of sport and exercise science research
-Prepare students for more general employment through the development of transferable skills
-Prepare students to undertake postgraduate research in the field of sport and exercise sciences
-Enable students to demonstrate an integrated and critical appreciation of conceptual and methodological issues
-Enable students to demonstrate expertise in appropriate research strategies, methods and skills
-Enable students to demonstrate mastery of appropriate conceptual material
Entry requirementsCandidates will be required to have academic qualifications commensurate with entry to postgraduate study, and be able to demonstrate an aptitude for scientific study. Candidates would be expected to have a good Honours degree (upper second or first) in sport science, science or a related discipline.
Academic titleMRes, PgD, PgC Sport and Exercise Sciences
Course descriptionIntroduction
The UK's premier School of Sport and Exercise Science. The School is the only Sports Institution in the UK to achieve maximum external review ratings in teaching (24/24) and research (5*). The School's excellence in teaching is further enhanced by being the only Sport and Exercise Science Department in the UK to be awarded a 'Centre of Excellence in Leadership and Professional Learning'. This Higher Education Funding Council for England award is a £4.5m initiative designed specifically to enhance student employability.
The School of Sport and Exercise Sciences has a long-standing tradition in the field of Sport Science. It initiated the first undergraduate Honours Degree course in Sports Science in 1975, and has developed a worldwide reputation for teaching and research in the subject. It has hosted several international conferences and regularly receives visitors from overseas. It is active in pursuing links with both EC and international institutions with similar teaching and research interests. The research programmes are organized within the School’s Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Science.
The School is regularly used by national and international sportsmen and women. Multi-million pound equipment and world-class laboratories support all our programmes. These facilities have been developed by a commitment to external research funding and collaboration. Our Sports Scholarship Scheme also provides athletes with the specialist support they require during their studies, we currently have several sports scholars including Olympic athletes, studying at the School and across the University. Liverpool has a thriving student
community and is home to many national and international sporting events, all within easy reach of the School of Sports and Exercise Science. The School provides an excellent venue for challenging and innovative teaching and research.
The postgraduate experience is a challenging one, which emphasizes critical reflection on both theory and practice. The Masters in Research (MRes) in Sport and Exercise Sciences provides targeted research training, selected taught postgraduate modules, and the opportunity to undertake a research project. MRes students are expected to enter the programme with a focused area of research already agreed with a member of staff in the School. Consequently, there is a greater emphasis on academic and professional training for the development of this more focused research area. This research is assessed via a research project.
Teaching and learning methods
At MRes level, it is expected that students will be able to demonstrate greater independence in their learning activities. This is encouraged by the diverse pattern of delivery. The School is committed to a self-critical staff ethos and to continuous improvement in order to ensure a challenging and innovative learning environment. In most MRes modules, students have approximately two hours per module per week of taught material and/or seminar work. This schedule may be supplemented by reflective tutorials during the semester. Students will be given an orientation to the topic and are expected to read more widely using primary sources of reference material. Staff members are available for consultation at other times, usually by appointment.
Assessment
All MRes modules of study are assessed by coursework. Normally students will be expected to complete two major assignments per module. These will often be extended essays, literature reviews, oral presentations or laboratory reports as appropriate.
Careers
The main career path of MRes graduates is academic research and teaching. Some students have continued their studies with a Doctoral research programme. Others still, have taken positions in applying their research skills to sports science support programmes within a variety of professional sports clubs, National Governing Bodies of sport, or as strategic sport science officers and consultants in professional sport settings.
Students obtaining an MRes award may also follow a wide variety of career paths including teaching, management and business. Possession of a Masters qualification should enhance career prospects in these spheres of employment.
Course Content
CORE MODULES (120 CREDITS)
· Research Methods I – analytical skills (20)
· Research Methods II – personal skills (20)
· Professional Training for Researchers (20)
· Research Project (60)
OPTION MODULES AVAILABLE (20 M CREDITS EACH UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED)
One of the below:
· Technical Training in Sport Psychology
· Technical Training in Sport Physiology
· Technical Training in Biomechanics
Plus two modules from the range of Masters modules delivered in the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences.