Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science/Bachelor of Nutrition Science

2021 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2021 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]
Year

2021 course information

Award granted Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science / Bachelor of Nutrition Science
Course Map

This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2021.

This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2021.

Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.

CampusOffered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
Cloud CampusNo
Duration4 years full-time or part-time equivalent
CRICOS course code098564J Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
Deakin course codeD333
Approval status

This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework.

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition

The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

This combined degree gives you the opportunity to study two complementary fields and understand how athlete's bodies work, as well as the fuel required to unlock peak performance. You will have the opportunity to participate in a minimum of 220 hours of invaluable practical experience and benefit from career mentoring, setting you apart from other graduates.

Offered by the #1 sport science school in Australia, exercise and sport science at Deakin gives you a nationally recognised, field-leading education in improving the performance, health and participation of individuals and teams. Complementing this, the nutrition science component gives you an understanding of the nature of food and the importance of nutrition for individual and population health. Open the door to a wide range of career opportunities when you combine a drive for exercise and sport with a passion for food and nutrition.

Want to graduate with the knowledge and skills to become an expert in elite athlete preparation?

Exercise and sport science at Deakin gives you the expertise to become a professional leader in the field, and gain a comprehensive understanding of the biology, technology, behaviour and best practices that underpin exercise and sport science.

You will have the opportunity to participate in two sport industry practical experiences during this course. In second year, students complete 80 hours of practical experience in Exercise Programming. The Exercise and Sports Science Practicum in your final year offers a minimum 140 hours of practical experience.

Additionally, you can choose to study the Food and Nutrition Practicum in your final year, giving you a further 100 hours of practical food or nutrition industry experience.

These work-integrated learning experiences allow you to undertake hands-on training in a variety of sporting, exercise or health environments, and set you apart from other graduates. The roles can involve coaching, sport science, sports administration, sport management, exercise research and fitness. Many graduates have even been offered employment based on their excellent fieldwork performance.

You can find work experience with a variety of organisations such as:

  • AFL/VFL football clubs
  • Basketball Victoria
  • Cricket Victoria
  • Cycling Victoria
  • Football Federation Victoria
  • health and fitness providers
  • recreational gyms
  • rehabilitation clinics
  • state and national sporting organisations and clubs
  • state and national institutes of sport
  • Tennis Australia.

The complementary nutrition science component of this course gives you an in-depth understanding of the nature of food and the importance of nutrition for wellbeing. Become career-ready with a comprehensive knowledge of human nutrition, as well as the complexity of current issues relating to food and health including:

  • bone health
  • cardiovascular disease
  • children’s food habits
  • food policy, regulation and sustainability
  • nutrition and ageing
  • social and physiological aspects of food and nutrition.

With an increase in demand for qualified nutrition professionals, you will be in a strong position to pursue diverse career opportunities. Combining studies in exercise and sports and nutrition sciences means you will be ready to take your expertise into the field and find new and innovative ways to promote health across a broad range of organisations and communities.

Indicative student workload

As a student in the Faculty of Health you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include classes, seminars, practicals and on-line interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.

Professional recognition

Current students are eligible to apply for student membership with the Nutrition Society of Australia (NSA), and apply as an ‘ordinary member’ upon graduating.

Graduates are eligible to apply to become a Registered Associate Nutritionist with the:

  • Nutrition Society of Australia
  • Hong Kong Nutrition Association
  • UK Association for Nutrition.

Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA)

D333 Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science / Bachelor of Nutrition Science is currently NOT an accredited course with ESSA. This does not mean that ESSA accreditation is not available to you. What it means is that to apply to become an AES you will need to do so through the non-ESSA-Accredited Course application pathway. Please refer to ESSA webpage for more information.

ESSA has implemented a new English requirement for all individuals seeking initial accreditation or reinstating accreditation to show English language competence, please refer to this webpage for more information:

https://www.essa.org.au/Public/Professional_Standards/English_Language_Requirements.aspx

If you have any questions about this new requirement, please contact ESSA: 07 3171 3335 or emailinfo@essa.org.au

Career opportunities

As well as typical roles in the sport, exercise, coaching and fitness industries, you may pursue employment in:

  • sports administration
  • facility management
  • community health and wellness
  • rehabilitation
  • sport science.

Other employment opportunities include:

  • elite, professional sporting clubs
  • local and state government agencies
  • professional sporting bodies
  • local and community sporting clubs
  • hospital and rehabilitation clinics
  • fitness and aquatic centres
  • private health and recreation centres
  • large business organisations in corporate health.

You will also be well prepared for a nutrition-focused career and can work in areas in the nutrition and food industry such as::

  • food analysis
  • food manufacturing
  • food quality and safety
  • food laboratories and research institutes
  • food policy and regulation
  • food wholesale and retail
  • individual and population health
  • nutrition research and education
  • public health nutrition
  • community nutrition
  • consumer education and awareness campaigns
  • nutrition and agribusiness
  • product development
  • sensory analysis.

More information on nutrition careers.

After successfully completing the Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science/Bachelor of Nutrition Science, you may consider applying for further study to advance your career in the sport science and nutrition industry. We offer:

Participation requirements

The course contains compulsory practicum hours designed to meet the ESSA Accredited Exercise Scientist (AES) professional standards, which comprise a minimum of 80 hours of exercise prescription and 140 hours of work integrated learning in an exercise and sports science directly aligned to their chosen career path.

Upon achievement of the prerequisite requirements, placement can occur at any time, including during standard holiday breaks listed here.

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability (found here) and/or athletes registered with the Elite Athlete Friendly University programme (found here).

Mandatory student checks

Any unit that contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, working with children check or other check. Refer to the relevant unit guide.

Pathways

This course can be a pathway to:

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, the type of fee place you hold, your commencement year and your study load. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit the Current students fees website or our handy Fee estimator to help estimate your tuition fees.

Course Learning Outcomes

Graduate Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes

Discipline Specific knowledge and capabilities

Demonstrate autonomy, responsibility and well-developed theoretical and technical knowledge within the broad disciplines of exercise and sport science and nutrition, food and health.

Communication

Demonstrate clear and accurate communication using a range of modes to select and deliver relevant information.

Digital Literacy

Use a range of digital tools within both exercise and sport science and nutrition, food and health environments to accurately and efficiently locate, evaluate, and disseminate information, including the collection and analysis of data.

Critical thinking

Use information from multiple sources of evidence to inform decision making applied to both exercise and sport science, and nutrition, food and health.

Problem Solving

Independently deconstruct a range of real world and complex problems within both exercise and sport science, and nutrition, food and health environments to formulate, execute and evaluate possible solutions.

Self-management

Demonstrate the capacity to learn and work independently, taking personal responsibility for actions and outcomes commensurate with priorities and timeframes established both personally and by others.

Teamwork

Consistently demonstrate professional behaviours while making effective contributions across a range of roles when undertaking collaborative work within intra- and inter-disciplinary teams.

Global Citizenship

Practise ethical and professional behaviours with an awareness of, and sensitivity to, diverse global and local perspectives in both exercise and sport science, and nutrition, food and health.

Course rules

To complete the Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science/Bachelor of Nutrition Science students must attain 32 credit points which includes 16 exercise core units and 16 core nutrition units (one HSN coded elective unit).

Most units (think of units as 'subjects') are equal to 1 credit point. In order to gain 32 credit points you will need to study 32 units (AKA 'subjects'). Most students choose to study 4 units per trimester and usually undertaken two trimesters each year.

All commencing Faculty of Health Undergraduate and Postgraduate course work students are required to complete HAI010 Academic Integrity, HSE010 Exercise and Sport Laboratory Safety, HSN010 Food and Nutrition Laboratory Safety and SLE010 Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program in their first trimester of study (all 0 credit point compulsory units).

All Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus enrolled students are required to attend seminars and practical laboratory classes (if any) at the Melbourne Burwood Campus for the units marked (#) below.

Geelong students only: HSN104 and HSN106 can be undertaken either via intensives (two x 2 days) or via timetabled practical laboratory classes throughout the trimester (four in Trimester 1 and four in Trimester 2).

Please note: the above 2 day intensives will be offered from 2022 onwards as students will be undertaking these units in their second year; i.e.2022.

Course structure

Core units

Year 1 - Trimester 1

SLE010Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program (0 credit points)

HAI010Academic Integrity (0 credit points)

HBS109Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology *

HSE113Human Growth, Development and Ageing for Exercise Scientists

HSN101Foundations of Food, Nutrition and Health *

SLE133Chemistry in Our World **

Year 1 - Trimester 2

HSE010Exercise and Sport Laboratory Safety (0 credit points)

HSE102Functional Human Anatomy *

HSE104Research Methods and Statistics in Exercise and Sport

HSN107Physiology of Human Growth and Development

SLE155Chemistry for the Professional Sciences ^

Year 2 - Trimester 1

HSE111Physical Activity and Exercise for Health

HSE201Exercise Physiology *

HSN104The Science of Food (#)

SLE212Biochemistry

Year 2 - Trimester 2

HSN010Food and Nutrition Laboratory Safety (0 credit points)

HSE103Essentials of Exercise Delivery

HSE204Motor Learning and Development

HSN106Food Fundamentals (#)

SLE222Biochemical Metabolism

Year 3 - Trimester 1

HSE212Physical Activity Promotion and Evaluation

HSE302Exercise Programming

HSN105Healthy and Sustainable Food Systems

HSN211Nutritional Physiology *

Year 3 - Trimester 2

HSE202Biomechanics

HSE208Integrated Human Physiology *

HSN202Lifespan Nutrition

HSN305Assessing Food Intake and Activity

Year 4 - Trimester 1

HSE312Exercise and Sports Science Practicum

HSE323Clinical and Sport Biomechanics

HSN301Diet and Disease

HSN309Food Policy and Regulation (#)

Year 4 - Trimester 2

HSE309Cognitive and Behavioural Aspects of Sport and Exercise

HSE330Nutrition for Exercise Scientists

HSN302Population Nutrition

plus one nutrition elective unit (must be HSN coded unit from level 3)

* Unit also available in Trimester 3

** Unit also available in Trimester 2

^ Assumed knowledge: SLE133 Chemistry in our World or high achievement in VCE Chemistry 3 and 4 (or equivalent)

Elective units

Select one unit

Trimester 2

HSN308Food, Nutrition and Society

HSN311Food and Nutrition Practicum

Trimester 3

HSN360Unit description is currently unavailable (offered in odd number years, e.g. 2021, 2023 etc)

Work experience

The Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science/Bachelor of Nutrition Science features two compulsory practical experiences through work-based practicum. In third year, students will complete 80 hours of work integrated learning in exercise assessment, prescription and delivery in both third and final year. In their fourth year, students will also complete 140 hours of work integrated learning in an exercise and sport science setting directly related to their career path.

 

These work integrated learning experiences provide you with the opportunity to undertake hands-on experience in a variety of sporting, exercise or health environments. These may vary from local, state or national sporting organisations and professional sporting clubs; state and national institutes of sport; as well as health, and fitness providers. The roles can involve coaching, sport science, sports administration, sport management, exercise research and fitness, while many graduates have been offered subsequent employment based on their excellent practicum/fieldwork performance.


Course duration - additional information

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.