Master of Applied Sport Science

2024 Deakin University Handbook

Year

2024 course information

Award granted Master of Applied Sport Science
Deakin course codeH707
Faculty

Faculty of Health

Campus

This course is only offered Online with on campus intensives

OnlineYes
Duration

Trimester 1 commencing students: 1 year over 3 consecutive trimesters, or part-time equivalent

Trimester 2 commencing students: 1.5 years over 5 consecutive trimesters, or part-time equivalent

Trimester 3 commencing students: 1.5 years over 4 consecutive trimesters, or part-time equivalent

Course Map - enrolment planning tool

These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2024:

These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2024:

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

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition

The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9

Course sub-headings

Course overview

This industry-leading degree prepares you for the full spectrum of challenges faced by sport scientists and high-performance managers working at all levels of sport, from local to elite level. You will graduate with 220 hours of professional practice, or with the knowledge and skills to pursue entry into a PhD. Through our partnerships and your placements, you will build advanced skills and networks that open the door to senior roles.

If you are looking to elevate your career, why not do it with the number one sport science school in Australia?*

Jobs in the sports industry are set to rise in the next five years.^ But that doesn’t mean sport scientists expecting career growth can afford to be complacent. An industry that demands so much of its athletes also demands practitioners who are committed to self-improvement and finding new ways of optimising performance. Deakin’s Master of Applied Sport Science prepares you for this pursuit. It provides valuable professional development opportunities and trains you in skills that give you an edge in a competitive job market. You’ll study at the cutting-edge of sport science, access world-class facilities and benefit from extensive industry partnerships that help move your career forward.

The course prepares you for both the technical and managerial aspects of high performance sport. Build specialised skills in:

  • high-performance management
  • advanced sport performance analysis
  • strength and conditioning
  • training design and program evaluation
  • scientific processes for sport scientists.

Complement these skills by boosting your management capabilities through studies in leadership, culture development and continuous improvement. These management skills don’t just make you more employable – they give you the ability to implement systems to optimise opportunities for team success and allow you to develop your support staff as well as your athletes. Importantly, you will get to practise your new skills in simulated and real sports science settings. Just a few examples of these practical learning experiences include:

  • 220 hours of professional practice – work at an organisation that matches your career aspirations and see what it’s like to be a leading voice within a high performance team.
  • Research projects – work with a supervisory team to produce a critical review of literature that can be published in a journal relevant to your career path – and be ready for entry into a PhD.
  • Hands-on access to world-class facilities – study, work and play at our new multi-million dollar Specialised Indoor Exercise and Sport Science Teaching Building and Elite Regional Sports Precinct.

The curriculum is underpinned by science and research. You will graduate with the ability to critically evaluate and apply research to make confident, evidence-based decisions in your role. Better still, you will have direct access to academics with expertise in a broad range of sport science and nutrition fields. This includes specialist researchers within Deakin’s multidisciplinary Centre for Sport Research (CSR) and Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN).

These ties to industry extend to our extensive partnerships. We have a network of over 150 industry connections, including Netball Victoria, Geelong Football Club, Deakin Melbourne Boomers, Cricket Australia, Swimming Australia, Tennis Australia and the Victorian Institute of Sport. This gives our sport science students a big advantage. It means that everything you study is closely linked to the state of the industry. It also gives you the opportunity to learn alongside established professionals, building relationships that shape your career.

The Master of Applied Sport Science is available on our premium online learning platform. This gives you the flexibility to study when and where you want, so you can complete your degree on your terms.

*Shanghai Ranking's Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments 2021
^ Australian Government 2018 Occupation Projections

Indicative student workload

As a student in an online course in the Faculty of Health you will be expected to spend at least 11-13 hours per unit every week participating in a range of teaching activities each week. This will include online learning activities and may be inclusive of online discussion boards and seminars. 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. Teaching, placements and assessment tasks may take place outside of Deakin University teaching periods.

Professional recognition

We are recognised as an industry provider for the Australian Strength and Conditioning Association (ASCA).

Upon completion of the Master of Applied Sport Science, you may be eligible to apply for Associate level 2 ASCA accreditation.

In addition to the theoretical and practical skills gained through units HSE724 Strength and Conditioning for High Performing Athletes and HSE725 Advanced Training Design for Sport, you will need to demonstrate to ASCA that you meet the journal article and practical coaching experience that can be gained through HSE728 Sport Science Literature Review and Application and HSE730 Professional Placement and Development respectively.

For more details and to view the application form, visit ASCA.

Career opportunities

The course prepares you for career growth in the sports science industry. Graduate with a sought-after combination of sports science and managerial skills that set you up for success in roles such as:

  • high performance manager
  • sports scientist
  • strength and conditioning coach
  • rehabilitation coach
  • sports performance analyst

Looking to become an Accredited Sports Scientist? This course may enable you to meet the study requirements to become a Level 1 or Level 2 Accredited Sports Scientist. Other requirements, such as work experience, may apply. Visit the Exercise & Sports Science Australia website for more details on gaining accreditation.

Accredited Sports Scientists are becoming more and more highly sought after by national and local sporting organisations across the country, with many organisations now choosing to exclusively hire sports scientists with a minimum level 1 accreditation as an Accredited Sports Scientist.

Participation requirements

HSE721, HSE724, HSE725 and HSE726 have on campus intensives. Intensives are typically delivered up to 5 days.

Domestic students must attend HSE721, HSE724 and HSE725 intensives on-campus at Deakin University. HSE726 can be completed on campus at Deakin University or online.

International students must attend HSE724 and HSE725 intensives on campus at Deakin University, Australia or at Universiti Sains Malaysia. HSE721 and HSE726 intensives must be completed either on-campus at Deakin University, Australia or online (video conferencing). International students who wish to complete intensives in person are recommended to attend all intensives in Trimester 3 and refer to the visa information under 'Additional course information' section.

Mandatory student checks

Applicable only to students undertaking practicum unit as an elective. Not mandatory for all students.

Working with Children Check

Applicants will be required to hold a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) for the relevant state prior to undertaking a optional placement as part of this course. Further information and guidance will be provided to students if they enrol into an optional placement unit. Learn more about the Working with Children Check.

Police record check

Applicants will be required to hold a valid National Police Record Check for any optional placements as part of this course. Further information and guidance will be provided to students if they enrol into an optional placement unit.

Pathways

Students completing the appropriate elective (HSE729) with the appropriate grade (>70%) will be eligible for entry into higher degree by research (i.e., PhD) studies.

Alternative exits

Graduate Certificate of Applied Sport Science (H507)
Graduate Certificate of Sport Performance Analysis (H514)
Graduate Certificate of Strength and Conditioning (H513)
Graduate Diploma of Applied Sport Science (H607)

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, and 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.

Use the Fee estimator to see course and unit fees applicable to your course and type of place. For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.

Course Learning Outcomes

Graduate Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes

Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

Apply expert and integrated knowledge of sport science to sport performance related problems and contribute to the development of new knowledge through use of appropriate research principles and methods of sport sciences.

Communication

Use appropriate modes of communication to interpret, contextualize and transmit evidence based sport science knowledge to specialist and non- specialist audiences. Create, disseminate, and exchange sport science knowledge with a view to inform and effect change at the individual and organisational level.

Digital literacy

Use digital technologies to effectively locate, use, curate and disseminate information and resources relevant to sport science and to connect, engage and share with professional networks and communities.

Critical thinking

Critically analyse, reflect on and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories in sport science.

Problem solving

Investigate complex sports science problems and respond effectively using an evidence-based framework and a range of sources to identify and define problems, locate, analyse and organise information, and generate and evaluate practical solutions, contributing new insights or understanding.

Self-management

Employ high level personal responsibility, accountability and autonomy to demonstrate expert judgement, adaptability to new situations and responsibility as a sport scientist. Plan, implement, evaluate and continually adapt strategies to learn and work effectively, autonomously and responsibly.

Teamwork

Establish, contribute to and maintain a key role in collaborative and interdisciplinary relationships, with a range of stakeholders to achieve successful outcomes to advance sport sciences across the broad spectrum of contexts.

Global citizenship

Engage in professional and ethical practice that demonstrates a high level of personal autonomy, awareness of, and adaptability to, diverse social, cultural and environmental contexts in sport sciences.

Course rules

To complete the Master of Applied Sport Science students must attain 12 credit points.

All commencing Faculty of Health Undergraduate and Postgraduate course work students are required to complete DAI001 Academic Integrity Module (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first trimester of study.

Please refer to the Course Map page for course map information. The course maps will guide the units you need to enrol in each trimester.

Course structure

Core units

Year 1 - Trimester 1

DAI001Academic Integrity Module (0 credit points)

HSE070Exercise and Sport Laboratory Safety (0 credit points)

HSE720Athlete Development and Performance Management

HSE722Evidence Based Practice for Sport Science

HSE724Strength and Conditioning for High Performing Athletes ^

HSE726Notational Analysis of Sport Performance ^

Year 1 - Trimester 2

HSE723Program Evaluation for Sport Science

HSE727Time and Motion Analysis of Sport Performance

HSE728Sport Science Literature Review and Application (2 credit points)

Year 1 - Trimester 3

HSE721Management and Leadership in High Performance Sport ^

HSE725Advanced Training Design for Sport ^

Plus

HSE729Sport Science Research Project (2 credit points) *

Or

HSE730Professional Placement and Development (2 credit points) *

* Unit is offered through start anytime periods - pre-requisites must be met.

^ These units have practical Intensive components. Please refer to ‘Participation requirements’ section for further information.

Students will be able to undertake the research pathway with HSE728 and HSE729 OR the professional pathway with HSE728 and HSE730.

Work experience

Work integrated learning

For those enrolled in HSE730 Professional Placement and Development, a minimum of 220 hours of practical experience in an exercise and sport science work practicum in the final trimester is required.

You have the opportunity to undertake hands-on experience in a variety of sporting environments. These may vary from local, state or national sporting organisations, elite and semi-elite sporting clubs and state and national institutes of sport.

Other course information

Course duration

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.