Bachelor of Sport Development

2025 Deakin University Handbook

Year

2025 course information

Award granted Bachelor of Sport Development
Deakin course codeM320
Course version2
Faculty

Faculty of Business and Law

Course Information

For students who commenced from 2020 to 2024

Campus

Burwood (Melbourne) For students who commenced prior to 2025 only.

Duration3 years full-time or part-time equivalent
CRICOS code058665B Burwood (Melbourne)

For continuing students only.

The final intake to this course version was in 2024. Students who commenced after 2024, should refer to the current version.

Students should contact a student advisor for course and enrolment information.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Turn your passion for sport into a rewarding career with Deakin's Bachelor of Sport Development. Ranked 7th in the world for sport-related subjects*, Deakin has world-class academics, facilities and industry connections to teach you the skills to use sport to drive positive change in the community.

You will learn to build the capacity of community sport organisations, clubs, leagues and associations and learn practical methods to guide sport organisations in strategy, governance, policy and risk management.

State-of-the-art sports precincts combined with a long list of sports partners - including the Deakin Melbourne Boomers, Netball Victoria and the Melbourne Vixens, Geelong Football Club, and Cricket Australia - mean you will be studying in elite environments, both on and off campus. With over 100 hours of work placement, you can work alongside established professionals in sport while building industry experience that will prepare you for your future career.

Want to make a difference to the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities through sport?

In the Bachelor of Sport Development, you will learn to develop and manage coaches, officials and other volunteers. We will teach you how to design funding applications and implement the programming that underpins community sport development covering topics such as inclusion, culture and diversity, integrity and safeguarding.

If sport has had a positive impact on your life, you are well placed to enter a career that focuses on ensuring current and future generations experience the benefits of sport. You will develop sport programs that improve health and social outcomes, and harness sport's capacity to bring people together in times of need. In particular, you will learn how sport can be used as a powerful tool to rebuild and re-energise communities that have suffered inequality or social challenges.

The study areas you will cover are relevant to the needs of the industry and give you a deep understanding of:

  • sport systems
  • programs and pathways
  • contemporary health and community development approaches
  • the organisation, management and governance of sport organisations.

Looking for a career that takes you out of the stands and onto the field? The course also trains you in skills related to athlete development and on-field performance. Get practical experience developing coaching programs and sport development philosophies and discover what it takes to prepare individuals and teams for game day.

Your studies will be enriched with real-world experience, and you'll have plenty of opportunities to apply your skills outside of the classroom.

* QS World University Rankings

Indicative student workload

You can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, online interactions, or professional experiences for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) units. 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.

Career opportunities

This course will prepare you for roles in coaching, the leisure industry, and sports science and in the field of community sports development.

Career opportunities include:

  • Community sports development officer
  • Community engagement officer
  • Club development officer
  • Sport and recreation officer/manager
  • Sport program development officer
  • Participation coordinator/manager
  • Sports coach
  • Sport development officer
  • Sport governance official
  • Sport policy officer.

Course learning outcomes

Graduate Learning Outcome Course Learning Outcome
Discipline specific knowledge and capabilities Demonstrate core knowledge of the distinction between the development of and through sport by analysis and application of theory in sport development, coaching, and allied disciplines in order to provide effective management in the development and delivery of sport
Communication Develop written, oral and visual communication skills around complex concepts for diverse stakeholders with interests in sport development and coaching including organisations in government and corporate sectors, and those involved in delivery of sport at community through to elite settings
Digital literacy Select and use a range of digital technologies in appropriate ways to manage and disseminate relevant information to stakeholders engaged in sport development and coaching
Critical thinking Demonstrate the ability to exercise reasoned judgement and reflection in relation to managing sport development and coaching
Problem solving Identify and address issues, formulate solutions related to the development and design of sport policy, systems, pathways and practices to implement efficient strategic and operational outcomes for enhancing the development of and through sport
Self-management Demonstrate skills to work independently and take responsibility for continuing professional development
Teamwork Constructively engage in teams to contribute to collaborative outcomes and be able to take on roles towards demonstration of sound management of sport development and coaching
Global citizenship Engage as a professional in the sport industry with the skills that are applicable to a variety of contexts (sport science, coaching, sport management) and issues (global, social, ethical, cultural) in the development of and through sport

Course rules

To complete the Bachelor of Sport Development, students must pass 24 credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate:

  • DAI001 Academic Integrity Module (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period

  • HSE010 Exercise and Sport Laboratory Safety (0-credit-point compulsory unit) 

  • 3 credit points of Foundation for Sport Development core units

  • 6 credit points of Sport Organisation Development core units
  • 5 credit points of Coaching core units
  • 6 credit points of Community Development core units
  • 2 credit points of Practicum core units
  • 2 credit points of elective units (one from Business and Law and one from Health)

  • maximum of 10 credit points at level 1

Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. See the enrolment codes and terminology to help make sense of the University's vocabulary.

Course structure

Compulsory 0-credit point units

To be completed in the first trimester of study:

DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin

HSE010Exercise and Sport Laboratory Safety

Core Units

Foundation for Sport Development units:

MMM111Managing Self and Others

MMS100Sport Organisation

MMS201Sport in Society


Sport Organisation Development units:

MAA104Financial Literacy

MMK101Marketing Fundamentals

MMM240Organisational Behaviour

MMS307Sport Facility and Event Management

MMS308Sport Marketing

MMS314Sport Policy and Development (Capstone)


Coaching units:

HSE105Principles of Sport Coaching

HSE204Motor Learning and Development

HSE205Advanced Sport Coaching Theory and Practice

HSE305Issues in Sport Coaching

MMS202High Performance Sport Environments


Community Development units:

HSE111Physical Activity and Exercise for Health

HSE112Pathways in the Physical Activity, Exercise and Health Industry

HSE212Physical Activity Promotion and Evaluation

HSE213Children's Physical Activity and Sport

HSE316Physical Activity and Population Health

HSE332Global Perspectives in Physical Activity and Exercise for Health (Capstone)


Practicum units:

HSE321Sport Coaching and Development Practicum

MMS306Sport Industry Experience

Elective units

Completion of 2 credit points:

one credit point from Business and Law

one credit point from Health

Further information

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

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, and their study discipline or your study load.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.

Estimate your fees

For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.