Course summary

Do you love sport? Do you dream of a career enhancing the lives of young people? If yes, this course could be the one for you. Our BA (Hons) Sport and Physical Education will set you up for a truly rewarding career working to promote the importance of and embed sport and wellbeing within our communities. Upon graduation you’ll have the CV, knowledge and experience required for a successful application into teacher training. This course includes a Foundation Year, so it is a 4-year course. The additional Foundation Year will allow you to develop your skills and build confidence in your academic abilities, identifying your strengths and weaknesses so you can progress onto the undergraduate programme. Why study this subject? Positive experiences at an early age help build the foundations for an active life. If children and young people have experiences that feel fun, positive and give them a sense of confidence, they’re more likely to want to be active in the future. You could be a part of this in a career delivering sports education to children and young people, either as a PE teacher, sports coach or working in the community. With the right teaching and hands on learning experiences, you could turn your passion for sport education into a rewarding and successful career. Why study at Buckinghamshire New University? This course is aimed at providing exciting career opportunities for those wanting to become a PE teacher. It offers a route towards Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). You’ll develop knowledge of the fundamentals of physical education and youth sport, including applied coaching, child development, sports and education policy and practice, and sport science. We’ll provide you with the knowledge and experience you’ll need to not only successfully apply for teacher training, but you’ll develop transferrable skills to work in the public, private or voluntary sectors. By studying this course at BNU, you’ll be given the opportunity to gain National Governing Body qualifications in a variety of sports as well as apply for work experience within local schools, colleges, sports clubs and societies. What facilities can I use? Our Human Performance, Exercise and Wellbeing Centre includes an indoor three-lane running track that incorporates 3D motion-capture technology. This facility helps to enhance athletes’ performance through improved technique, and also assists with injury prevention and rehabilitation. The Human Performance laboratory is also equipped for assessing a range of physiological, biomechanical and psychological parameters. What will I study? In this course, you’ll explore the national curriculum at primary and secondary school level, including major games, dance, outdoor and adventure activities. You’ll learn how to be a community sports coach, thinking about key youth sports issues like sustaining sports participation into adulthood, the obesity crisis and the need to promote physically active lifestyles. Across your three years here, you’ll study areas like sports coaching, games in sport and education, sports and society, diversity and wellbeing, biomechanics, child development, energy and nutrition, strategies in youth sports and outdoor education. In your final year, you’ll also work with a personal tutor to produce your final dissertation project which will reflect an area within sport and physical education that you’re particularly passionate about. What are my career prospects? Our BA (Hons) Sport and Physical Education course will help prepare you for a range of career possibilities, such as Sports Coach, Teaching Assistant or Sports Teacher.