- guardian.co.uk, Thursday 1 May 2008 01.09 BST
What will I learn?
These courses are not aimed at aspiring David Beckhams or Paula Radcliffes (although it won't do them any harm if they did study this course), but at average folk who want to take a behind the scenes look at sport, exercise and health - coaching, management, and how the body works.
While it could put a more personal spin on your studies, you don't need to be good at sport to take one of these degrees.
Because of the range of courses that come under the sports science banner, a degree can lead to a bachelor of science or bachelor of arts qualification. Course can cover anything from exercise physiology to the relationship between sport and the media.
The ratio of theory and practice will, again, depend on the course you choose to study, so look closely at the degree title. Sports technology, exercise physiology, or sports psychology courses, for example, will have a heavy science emphasis. Those that mention management, sports development or coaching in their titles will have a more vocational leaning.
All courses will, however, have a science bit - expect to study biomechanics, physiology and psychology at least. Coaching degrees, for example, could explore the physiological impact and psychology of training.
Be warned however, that if you have ideas of taking a postgraduate qualification in the sports science arena, you will need to have studied a bachelor of science degree.
Some courses will involve professional placements, which will put some flesh on the bones.
What skills will I get?
This will depend on the course you study, but broadly speaking you should gain an understanding of human responses to sport and exercise. You should know how performance can be enhanced, monitored and analysed.
You should also know the impact prolonged sporting activity and exercise can have on the body - for example, how muscles repair themselves after an athlete runs a marathon or a footballer play a 90-minute game at altitude on a hot day.
You should understand coaching processes and what influences them, and the management and delivery of sports.
As well as these specific skills, you will have also developed your research and analytical skills, be able to critically evaluate data and text and problem solve. You should also be adept at working in a team.
You should graduate a reflective and reflexive thinker, capable of independent judgment, initiative and decision making.
What job can I get?
You will be qualified for a career in sports coaching or management - perhaps working as fitness instructor, personal trainier or leisure centre manager. With the government's commitment to get more people exercising, and with the London Olympics a mere hop, skip and a jump away, many local authorities are looking for people like you to develop their sports facilities.
There is, of course, the option of further study and research. Or you could use your skills to teach sports in schools.
What will look good on the CV?
· The ability to appraise and evaluate the effects of sport and exercise on individuals
· An understanding of the study of the policy, planning, management and delivery of sport
· The ability to develop reasoned argument and challenge assumptions.
· For the full range of skills you can develop through a degree in sports science click here (pdf).
