Postgraduate Course: Physical activity for health (SPRT11005)
Course Outline
| School | Moray House School of Education |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Physical activity benefits physical and mental health. It promotes social connectedness, quality of life, and general well-being. However, in 2012 the Lancet declared a global pandemic in terms of a lack of physical activity. This course will introduce and explore the complex relationship between physical activity, sedentary behaviour and health. It will discuss the evolution of current physical activity recommendations, and examine the current evidence base that has informed these and identified physical activity as a key modifiable lifestyle behaviour that contributes to disease and mortality. The course will be taught by research active members of the Physical Activity for Health Research Centre (PARHC, http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/education/rke/centres-groups/pahrc). |
| Course description |
Drawing from several disciplines this course will consider topical issues relating to physical activity and health. Specifically, this course will consider contemporary definitions of physical activity and sedentary behaviour and current data regarding population levels. The course will also examine in detail the relationship between these behaviours and health with a focus on specific chronic conditions. Drawing from the evidence-base, the course will critically consider the current physical activity and sedentary behaviour recommendations, and examine current policy initiatives.
Likely content will be:
Introduction to Physical Activity for Health, including sedentary behaviour
Physical activity epidemiology; concepts principles and approaches
Physical activity and all cause morbidity and mortality
Physical activity and chronic disease. Coronary heart disease, diabetes, bone health, cancer and obesity
Physical activity and sedentary behaviour recommendations
Population prevalence of physical activity and sedentary behaviour.
Physical activity policies
Students will be encouraged to actively participate in interactive lectures and activities. Students will be set pre-class tasks to guide their reading and engagement with the material. Assignments will further facilitate consideration of the lecture material and how it relates to additional research papers and application. Students will also have the opportunity to engage with PAHRC-led research activities.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | We welcome students from outside the MSc Physical Activity for Health programme, but students should first contact the course organiser to determine suitability. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | We welcome students from outside the MSc Physical Activity for Health programme, but students should first contact the course organiser to determine suitability. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2017/18, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
| Course Start Date |
18/09/2017 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 20,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
176 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
75 %,
Practical Exam
25 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Equivalent to 4000 words. Total mark for the course will be a weighted average of the two pieces of coursework.
Task 1 (25%) Oral presentation
Task 2 (75%) Written assignment (3000 words)
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| Feedback |
Students will receive feedback from two members of staff when they give their oral presentation. This will provide them with a mark (worth 25%) and formative feedback which should be used to inform the second assignment, and students are specifically asked to detail their 'Action on Prior Feedback' on the cover sheet of their second assignment. Individual feedback will be given on the written assignment (75% of mark). Cohort feedback will be available from the previous year and cohort feedback will also be provided for the current year group. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- demonstrate a knowledge of and critical awareness of the role of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in the maintenance of health and the aetiology, prevention and treatment of disease.
- demonstrate a thorough knowledge and critical awareness of current recommendations for physical activity, and current prevalence and trends of physical activity and associated diseases
- demonstrate an awareness of current national and international physical activity policies and how these impact on global challenges
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Learning Resources
Core texts for this course are:
Hardman, A. and Stensel, D. Physical activity and health : the evidence explained. 2nd edition. (2009) UK, Routledge.
Bouchard, C., Blair, S. N., & Haskell, W. L. (Eds.). (2012). Physical activity and health. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Specific readings from various journals including: Journal of Physical Activity and Health, Preventive Medicine, International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity, Lancet and British Medical Journal |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
During this course students will have the opportunity to practice and develop their ability to:
1) Apply critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis to issues relating to physical activity for health.
2) Critically review, consolidate and extend knowledge, skills, practices and thinking in physical activity for health.
3) Communicate with peers, more senior colleagues and specialists.
4) Communicate using powerpoint to tutors and peers
5) Exercise substantial autonomy and initiative in professional and equivalent activities.
6) Take responsibility for own work |
| Special Arrangements |
We welcome students from outside the MSc Physical Activity for Health programme, but students should first contact the course organiser to determine suitability. |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
10X2 hours weekly interactive lectures |
| Keywords | physical activity,public health,disease risk,sedentary behaviour,medicine |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Samantha Fawkner
Tel: (0131 6)50 9778
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Cristina Roman
Tel: (0131 6)51 6265
Email: |
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