Exercise and Sport Science

Course overview

Exercise scientists help people prevent and recover from injury and disease, help maximise athlete performance, and promote wellbeing and healthy ageing. They use a person-centred approach to educate individuals and communities about the benefits of exercise and encourage lifelong positive exercise behaviours.

In this course, you will gain the theoretical knowledge and practical skills within each of the foundational pillars of exercise science: biomechanics, physiology, psychology, behaviour change, and motor control and learning.

You’ll build strong interpersonal communication skills, which are key attributes of person-centred care and practice.

This course can be a stepping stone to a Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology and a career as an accredited exercise physiologist.

Career outcomes

Careers

• Fitness and performance consultant 
• Exercise scientist 
• Strength and conditioning coach 
• Corporate health consultant 
• Health and fitness assessor 
• Workplace wellbeing consultant 
• Sport developer 
• Preventative health / early intervention 
• Health promotion consultant 
• Cardiac technician (preventative health and early intervention) 

Industries

• Sport and recreation 
• Healthcare 
• Defence 
• Business 
• Government 
• Education 
• Industrial, resources and mining 
• Research and development

Professional accreditation and recognition

Graduates are eligible to apply for accreditation with Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA).

Hear from our students

"I chose my placement at Mineral Resources for its remote location, challenging environmental conditions, and consequent challenges in delivering health care. I wanted to explore how this kind of organisation focuses on and delivers health care to its employees. I enjoyed the ongoing challenges of ensuring safety in jobs which involve repetitive and physical work over long hours, and in providing motivation to a demographic resistant to exercise. I absolutely recommend this course as it solidified that I am heading towards a career where I can help make a difference in people’s health."

Sava Papos
Bachelor of Science (Exercise and Sport Science)

Further study options

See how you can enhance you studies and accelerate your career in exercise and sport science.

Course structure

What you’ll learn

In your first year, you’ll develop a strong understanding of the human body and human health. You’ll then delve into each pillar of exercise and sport science.

In your final year, you’ll apply your expertise in real-world settings. Your professional experience will include at least 140 hours at our site at Cockburn Aquatic and Recreation Centre, and through one of our industry partnerships. These partnerships span elite sport, strength and conditioning, corporate health, clinical exercise physiology and paediatric exercise.

Please note that this course requires active participation in practical classes, which involve disrobing, and palpation of muscles and bony landmarks for learning anatomy, anthropometry and other skills.

This can be a physically and mentally challenging course. Please familiarise yourself with the inherent requirements before applying.

Detailed course structure and unit information

For detailed information and course structure, visit our Handbook.

Entry requirements

To study this course, you must meet the entry criteria:

• course ATAR, or equivalent, demonstrated via an accepted entry pathway
• any course-specific requirements
• English language requirement.

Minimum ATAR entry required
This course requires you to achieve a minimum ATAR/selection rank to be considered for entry, but does not guarantee selection.

Entry pathways

Course-specific requirements

You’ll also need to meet any specific requirements to be eligible to apply for this course.

Study credit and support

You may be able to receive study credit or support based on your previous experience or personal circumstances.

Get credit towards your degree

You may be able to receive credit for recognised learning (CRL) from past study or professional experience, which could reduce the time it takes to finish your course.

Find specific details about CRL for this course on the Handbook.

Special consideration

If your studies were affected by circumstances beyond your control, you may be eligible for special consideration when applying to Curtin. This process is available to new applicants only and allows your application to be assessed in light of those circumstances.

Check if you’re eligible for special consideration.

Additional information