Sport Science and Health Maynooth University

Overview

This  Sport Science and Health programme from Maynooth University focusses on the value of exercise and sport for the enhancement of health, for the high performing athlete and in the case of the general population, to help with specific health concerns for the ill, the aging, or those recovering from injury. With the future of exercise as a clinical intervention, this programme provides a strong scientific foundation for career development in this area.

Why choose this degree?

• Students will develop a strong scientific basis in the area of the life sciences, nutrition, and the sport sciences specifically. Students will also learn the scientific basis of sport performance and how the body reacts and adapts to exercise and physical activity. This will provide students with graduate opportunities in both the sport science sector and in the broader life science sector.

• Data is increasingly being used in sport science, enabling personalized exercise interventions to improve health and performance. This programme provides a strong data science component, including data analytic techniques, to equip the students with the skills needed to use data fully for group training and personalized exercise interventions.

• Work placement: The opportunity to undertake a 6-month work placement (subject to availability), in Ireland or abroad. As an integral part of the degree, this gives students the opportunity to put learning into practice in a professional setting and significantly improves graduate employability.

Career Options

• The sports, exercise and well-being sectors are some of the largest service industries in Ireland and globally - ranging from small to large enterprises. In addition, professional and amateur sporting bodies are some of the largest community-based activities in any region. Each of these activities benefit from professionals who understand the science of sport, exercise, and physical activity to improve health and performance, and develop new products and services to support athletes and the general population.

• Graduates will be suitably qualified to gain employment in the sports, exercise, health, and well-being sectors, which may include:

- High performance coach

- Health promotion

- Product and service development in sports and exercise

- Sport science data analyst

- Community health and fitness professional

- Sports coach with a club or within the community

• Sport Science and Health graduates may also be interested in further study in the area of healthcare, such as physiotherapy and sports psychology.