Strength and Conditioning MSc

The aim of this module is to facilitate students' understanding of the physiological mechanisms and biomechanical principles that govern strength and conditioning training. This will be achieved by developing their ability to critically analyse current practices. Students will also learn to justify their strength and conditioning training programmes while staying up to date with scientific advancements and research. Additionally, the module aims to enhance students' data analysis skills, enabling them to analyse, interpret, and present performance testing information that underpins the interventions being applied.

The aim of the module is to support students to be able to critically assess athlete movement competency, both objectively and subjectively, and use these skills to develop strength and conditioning programming for athlete performance. In addition, this module aims to provide students with the ability to critically demonstrate their knowledge and skills relating to the coach-ability of a range of weightlifting, agility, speed and plyometric exercises.

This module aims to equip students with the relevant knowledge and skills to undertake appropriate individual and group-based research (where applicable) in their subject areas. Students will learn searching strategies to identify relevant literature, how to critically appraise literature and relevant research methods topics such as research design, selecting and using suitable quantitative or qualitative approaches appropriate to the subject area.

This module aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop their skills as a practitioner, specific to their discipline of study, helping to prepare them for the working environment. It aims to provide students with the opportunity to showcase a journey of practitioner development, through critical reflection, whilst concurrently enabling a broader set of skills to be progressed, such as: communication, problem-solving, time management, and collaboration. 

The aim of this module is to guide students through an independent project where they are tasked with selecting and formulating a specific question or challenge that contributes to the generation of original knowledge to their field of study. Students will be required to design and develop a clear hypothesis, justifying their approach through ethical and rigorous methods to collect, analyse, and evaluate relevant data or information. The module also aims to encourage students to critically judge and appraise existing knowledge, identify gaps, and compare and contrast different perspectives to generate new insights. 

The MSc Strength and Conditioning is an Education Recognised Programme (ERP) by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), the leading international accrediting body for the discipline of strength and conditioning. This highlights our commitment to employer engagement and that both the teaching and learning methods utilised are committed to high quality delivery and content, which will assist with employability upon graduation. 

The on-campus programme adopts an on-campus teaching approach, supported with additional online materials.

Teaching

• All of the theory-based content is delivered through pre-recorded lectures to allow you more flexibility to study around your schedule
• This means all on campus days are focused on practical application and applying theoretical knowledge from the lectures
• Additional live, online tutorials will be delivered each week to help further facilitate your learning and preparation for assessments
• During the program you will have the privilege of having guest lectures delivered by leaders in their field that work at some of the world leading institutions and governing bodies that boast developing current premier league players and Olympic medallists. 

Learning structure - typical hourly breakdown:

Definitions of terms

Live in-person on campus learning – This will focus on active and experiential sessions that are both:

• Led by your tutors including seminars, lab sessions and demonstrations We'll schedule all of this for you
• Student-led by you and other students, like small group work and presentations.

Tutor set learning activities – This covers activities which will be set for you by your tutor, but which you will undertake in your own time. Examples of this include watching online materials, participating in an online discussion forum, completing a virtual laboratory or reading specific texts. You may be doing this by yourself of with your course mates depending on your course and assignments. Outside of these hours, you’ll also be expected to do further independent study where you’ll be expected to learn, prepare, revise and reflect in your own time.

Whether studying on Middlesex University London programmes either on-campus at the StoneX campus or in Distance education modes, you will have access to relevant programme-specific software relating to statistical analysis and office-suites.

Academic supervisors from the University are assigned to you to guide you through the shared modules for this programme.

Course content can also be accessed via the University MyMDX learning platform, where all learning materials are available. In addition, University wide services will be available on the same platform.

This programme has been approved by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) through the Education Recognition Program (ERP). The ERP recognises and distinguishes academic institutions that offer a Master’s degree with standardized, approved strength and conditioning curricula that is designed to prepare students for the NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS®) certifications. In addition to this, our program will also provide you with the necessary skills to become an Accredited Strength and Conditioning Coach (ASCC) with the UK Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA).

Your knowledge, understanding and skills is assessed via a range of assessment methods, such as: presentations, practical assessments, and coursework.

You'll evaluate your work, skills and knowledge and identify areas for improvement. Sometimes you'll work in groups and assess each other's progress. Each term, you'll get regular feedback on your learning.