Students considering studying for a career in the sports and leisure sector will have their options increased this year with the introduction of two new degree courses by the 黑料网. Former olympic athlete and world record holder, Brendan Foster, will be on hand to launch the courses on Monday , together with Derek Whyte, captain of the Aberdeen football team and Stuart Hogg, Fitness Coach to the team and adviser to international athletes.
For the 2000-2001 session, the University has added two new sports-related honours degrees to its successful BSc in Sports and Exercise Science. Sport and leisure activities play an increasingly important part in modern life and the new BSc in Sports Studies (Sports and Society) and MA in Sports and Leisure Management, will prepare graduates for employment in a highly significant sector of the economy.
Graduates in Sports Studies and in Sport and Leisure Management will be qualified for employment in a wide range of sport and leisure industries and institutions, including sports clubs, leisure centres, tourism, teaching and social work.
Professor Ron Maughan, head of the internationally respected sports and exercise research group with the University鈥檚 Department of Biomedical Sciences, explained: 鈥淭here is a tremendous demand for such courses as a result of the growing trend towards increased available leisure time and an awareness of the strong link between fitness and health. During the past few years, we have been receiving hundreds of enquires about this type of course so we are responding to a clear market demand.
鈥淲e have taken a cross-disciplinary approach to both of the new degree options, guaranteeing that students get a solid basis in all relevant subjects. For instance, when they study biology, they are following exactly the same course as biologists. The new degrees are firmly embedded in academic departments, ensuring that both courses are rigorously underpinned by high quality teaching and science.鈥�
The new courses have been warmly welcomed by professionals in the sports and leisure sector. Brendan Foster who is now Chairman and Managing Director of Nova International, a sports and events agency, said: 鈥淚 am very pleased indeed to see the 黑料网 add these courses to their degree options.
鈥淢ore and more, we are beginning to realise the importance of sports and leisure, not only to our health status but to our wellbeing in general. It is clearly vital that those in charge of policy making, as well as those involved in running sports and leisure facilities of all kinds, have a fundamental understanding of all the issues which are involved.
鈥淎ll the degrees on offer from the 黑料网 will produce graduates who are wholly fitted to making a significant contribution to this valuable and exciting sector.鈥�
Students who opt for the new degree courses will have the benefit of input from staff from the Departments of Sociology, Psychology and Management Studies.
Dr Richard Giulianotti, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Sociology and Degree Scheme Co-ordinator for the MA course outlined what will be involved: 鈥淪tudents on both courses will study the basic themes and principles of sociology. Issues such as the importance of sport and leisure as a major element of today鈥檚 lifestyle and consumer culture will be examined as well as the concept of what constitutes a 鈥渄esirable鈥� body and the body as an object of social control.
鈥淭hose taking the MA and the BSc options will also look at how race and ethnicity, gender, class and regional identity issues are involved in sport and leisure, as well as our established research strengths in sports-related violence and in football studies.鈥�
Those following the MA degree will have access to several courses that draw on strong teaching from a range of departments in the University. Hence students will have the opportunity to gain an understanding of how, for example, history, physical education, economics, management and land economy contribute to the study of sport and leisure activities.
Professor Richard Harris, Head of the Management Studies Department explained his Department鈥檚 role: 鈥淭he sport and leisure sector is one of the most rapidly growing sectors in the economy. As disposable incomes continue to increase there will be additional opportunities for expansion in this area.
鈥淎s part of the MA programme students will benefit from the wide range of expertise available in the Management Studies Department. This will include an introduction to entrepreneurship, new business opportunity identification and business development. It will also include the development of expertise in marketing, business strategy and the management of people and organisations in a national and international contact. Graduates from this programme will be equipped to develop a range of challenging career options in sports and leisure management.鈥�
Lecturer in Psychology, Dr David Carey, described some of the topics the students will consider in his field: 鈥淲e will be investigating a wide range of issues. The concept of the novice versus the expert in sport 鈥� why do experienced sportspeople have the ability to react more effectively in situations than their more inexperienced counterparts? Is it simply that experience brings with it familiarity with a range of options and the ability to choose the best option instantaneously or is the experienced sportsperson鈥檚 instinct honed to a much finer degree?
鈥淲e will also look at team cohesion. Do cohesive teams play better? Although you would expect the answer to be yes, it is just as often no. Why should this be the case?
鈥淚t also appears the larger a team the more the performance level of each team member diminishes. This phenomenon is known as social loafing but what is the explanation? Beyond this, we will also look at how aspects of health, biological and industrial organisational psychology impact on sports and leisure.鈥�
Dr Arthur Stewart, Degree Scheme Co-ordinator for the BSc in Sports Studies, added: 鈥淭he whole question of the functional interface between exercise, health and wellbeing will be closely examined. We will also look at aspects of negative exercising, for example, anorexia athletica which is caused by compulsive exercise behaviour. This is common among female athletes who may mistakenly believe that their light frame enables a superior performance.
鈥淭here is virtually no aspect of health and disease which is unaffected by exercise. Those with a good understanding of the role of exercise will have an increasingly important role to play in future society. An important element of the course work will be the analysis and interpretation of research evidence on matters relating physical activity to health 鈥� for instance how physically active are today鈥檚 children? And how can we persuade young adults to maintain exercising in order to confer the health benefits in later life?
鈥淲e hope that reports which result from work such as this will aid in the development of social and sports policy at both national and local levels.鈥�
Given the tremendous demand for courses in these subjects, the University is confident it will attract some 100 students in the first year.
Director of Student Recruitment and Admissions Services, Lori Manders, added: 鈥淎nyone interested in applying for these exciting new options should ring us on 01224 272090. It is still not too late to apply for September 2000 entry whether potential candidates are at school or FE college. Our advisers are very happy to take calls and answer any questions.鈥�
PHOTO CALL DETAILS: The Degrees will be launched in the Callaghan Room, King鈥檚 Pavilion, 黑料网 on Monday 13 March at 11.15am. In addition to the staff involved in the courses, Brendan Foster, Derek Whyte and Stuart Hogg will also be available for interview. Photo opportunities will be arranged in the adjacent cardio vascular gym. Miss Clare Miller, a fourth year student on the existing Sports and Exercise Science Degree and a cross country, runner will also take part. You are cordially invited to send a reporter/photographer.
The nearest parking for this event is in University Road or Regent Walk. On arrival at King鈥檚 Pavilion, staff at Reception will direct you to the Callaghan Room. Location maps are available by telephoning Angela Mowat on 01224 272014.