Program Overview

Learn about the physiological, behavioural and policy-based factors that influence people’s health and wellbeing at both individual and population levels.

This course aims to develop your understanding of the impacts of physical activity, diet and other lifestyle behaviours on people’s lives.

You’ll learn about how the human body responds to changes in physical activity and nutrition; how to positively influence people’s desire to live active, healthy lives; and the wider impacts of governmental policies and initiatives on health and wellbeing across populations.

The course’s interdisciplinary approach allows you to focus on three core themes:

• Exercise Science: this provides you with a fundamental understanding of human function and its role in health and disease
• Behavioural Science: through this, you’ll explore how we can better understand the psychological basis of human behaviour to promote health and treat and prevent disease
• Public Health: this gives you the opportunity to investigate how we measure and determine societal priorities and improve health at a population level

Across your studies, you’ll apply your knowledge to contemporary health and exercise challenges. This will help you to understand their relevance in current practice.

In Year 1, you’ll build on your knowledge of human physiology, biomechanics and psychology, and develop your understanding of the role of health behaviours on public health. You’ll also develop skills in research design and statistics.

In Year 2, you'll gain a more in-depth understanding of exercise, health and nutrition at different stages of life at individual, community and population levels. You’ll explore how we communicate these health messages to different audiences.

In your final year, you’ll carry out a year-long research project and study advanced units in areas such as nutrition, health technologies, sociology and exercise prescription.

This course will prepare you for a range of careers in areas such as public health, health promotion, health policy, healthcare, academic research, community sports, and exercise science.