Year

2021

Credit points

20

Campus offering

No unit offerings are currently available for this unit

Prerequisites

ANAT100 Anatomical Foundations of Exercise Science AND EXSC118 Nutrition and Exercise AND (EXSC224 Mechanical Bases of Exercise OR EXSC120 Mechanical Bases of Exercise Science ) AND (EXSC225 Physiological Bases of Exercise OR EXSC198 Physiological Bases of Exercise ) AND EXSC204 Exercise Prescription and Delivery AND EXSC216 Resistance Training: Science and Application AND (EXSC122 Research and Ethics in Exercise Science OR EXSC217 Research and Ethics in Exercise Science ) AND EXSC218 Internship Preparation for Coaching and Prescription

Teaching organisation

150 hours of focused learning.

Unit rationale, description and aim

To be a competent Exercise Scientist and Strength and Conditioning Coach, students must be able to be transfer the knowledge and skills to a professional context with increasing autonomy and confidence. Professional practice is an integral aspect of the transition from learner to practitioner. It provides students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge, understanding and skills in a work context and gain the necessary experience under the supervision of qualified professionals. Experiential learning through industry-based professional experience will enable students to develop expertise relevant to the professional standards for Exercise Scientist and Strength and Conditioning Coach accreditation. Experiential learning through real world professional experience, will enable students to develop expertise measured through professional standards set for accreditation with Exercise Scientist and Australian Strength and Conditioning Association (ASCA) level 2, whereby students as graduates, can apply knowledge and skills to operate effectively in an ethically responsible manner, communicate effectively and be able to integrate and apply learning to help support client’s/athlete’s needs. By undertaking this practicum, students will critically reflect upon your professional practice through feedback from your supervisor. The aim of the unit is to provide an authentic learning experience in which students can integrate evidence-based learnings in an applied professional setting, in order to reflect on career paths, and meet the ESSA Professional Practice graduate outcomes required for Exercise Science Accreditation and Strength and Conditioning accreditation (ASCA level 2).

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

LO1 - Demonstrate professional practice knowledge, skills and attributes for employment opportunities in exercise science and strength and conditioning (GA3, GA4, GA5, GA9).

LO2 - Integrate and communicate knowledge, skills and attributes of exercise science sub-disciplines through professional practice experiences (GA1, GA3, GA4, GA5, GA7, GA9).

LO3 - Critically reflect on feedback from placement supervisor(s) and evaluate professional development areas to improve professional practice in a work context (GA3, GA4, GA7, GA9, GA10).

LO4 - Demonstrate competency of professional practice as an exercise scientist and strength and conditioning coach in a work context.(GA1, GA2, GA3, GA5, GA7, GA10).

Graduate attributes

GA1 - demonstrate respect for the dignity of each individual and for human diversity 

GA2 - recognise their responsibility to the common good, the environment and society 

GA3 - apply ethical perspectives in informed decision making

GA4 - think critically and reflectively 

GA5 - demonstrate values, knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession 

GA7 - work both autonomously and collaboratively 

GA9 - demonstrate effective communication in oral and written English language and visual media 

GA10 - utilise information and communication and other relevant technologies effectively.

Content

This unit requires the completion of 200 hours of internship placements. Additional content that will be delivered to support the internships include: 

  • Exercise science practice  
  • Professional development planning 
  • Critically reflection of competency, based on a variety of feedback 
  • Preparing for job applications 
  • How to record placement hours
  • Professional conduct 
  • Scope of practice

During internships, both learning and performance will be directed by the university and the appointed placement supervisor at the host organisation, through a pre-defined and constantly monitored set of criteria which encompass:  

  • skills to be learned whilst undertaking the experience 
  • overall student performance throughout the placement 

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

EXSC309 Internship in Coaching and Prescription comprises:

  • Authentic learning and case-based learning through application of knowledge, understanding and skills of course learnings under the supervision of a qualified professional in a professional workplace environment for a minimum of 200 hours 
  • Active learning will allow students to develop effective professional verbal and nonverbal communication skills by interaction with both clients and professionals in the exercise science and strength and conditioning field. 
  • Critical reflective thinking activities which will give a greater awareness of the scope of practice of an Exercise Scientist and strength and conditioning coach within ESSA’s Code of professional Conduct and Ethical Practice and ASCA

These strategies will allow students to meet the aim, learning outcomes and graduate attributes of the unit. Learning and teaching strategies will reflect respect for the individual as an independent learner. Students are expected to take responsibility for their learning and to participate actively including face-to-face activities, work integrated learning and during practicum placements.  

In addition, completion of this unit, will allow students to meet mandatory Professional Practice outcomes required for Accreditation through ESSA as an Exercise Scientist and ASCA on the completion of their degree.  

Assessment strategy and rationale

Students will have a variety of assessment activities to demonstrate completion and achievement of the learning outcomes for the unit. This unit draws upon placement experiences, on campus experiences and requires you to continually reflect upon your practice and skills. Competency as an exercise scientist is evaluated by supervisors while on placement. The supervisors will provide feedback on professional practice skills and attributes. Students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their professional practice skills through recorded and simulated experiences. Critical reflection and integration of feedback will allow students to plan their professional development activities towards graduation.  

Overview of assessments

Brief Description of Kind and Purpose of Assessment TasksWeightingLearning OutcomesGraduate Attributes

Written assessment

Enables students to develop a professional application for a mock industry-specific job in a competitive opportunity, demonstrating knowledge of the skills and understanding required for a job in the field of exercise science.

20% 

LO1, LO3

GA3, GA4, GA5, GA9

Professional Practice

Integrate and communicate knowledge of Exercise science and strength and conditioning coach

Enables the student to demonstrate their professional practice skills relevant for their scope of practice through simulated and practicum experiences and reflect upon their performance.

40% 

LO2, LO3 

GA1, GA3, GA4, GA5, GA7, GA9 GA10

Written Assessment -Learning Plan

Allows students to identify aspects of their professional practice which they determine require improvement and plan professional development activities to improve their practice.

40% 

LO43

GA3, GA4, GA7, GA9, GA10

Case Conference Presentation 

Present a case conference from professional experience and reflect upon your knowledge, skills and attributes.

Hurdle 

LO2, LO3

GA1, GA3, GA4, GA5, GA7, GA9

Competency as an Exercise Scientist and Strength and Conditioning coach

Enables students to demonstrate the application of discipline-specific knowledge, understanding and skills within the scope of practice for an accredited exercise scientist. Supervisors will complete online evaluation of student’s performance while undertaking practicum.

Hurdle 

LO4

GA1, GA2, GA3, GA5, GA7, GA10 

Representative texts and references

Australian Strength and Conditioning Association.  https://www.strengthandconditioning.org/ 

Australian Strength and Conditioning Association Scope of Practice https://www.strengthandconditioning.org/scope-of-practice  

Exercise and Sports Science Australia.  http://www.essa.org.au/ 

Exercise and Sports Science Australia Code of Professional Conduct and Ethical Practicehttps://www.essa.org.au/Public/Professional_Standards/ESSA_Code_of_Professional_Conduct___Ethical_Practice.aspx  

Have a question?

We're available 9am–5pm AEDT,
Monday to Friday

If you’ve got a question, our AskACU team has you covered. You can search FAQs, text us, email, live chat, call – whatever works for you.

Live chat with us now

Chat to our team for real-time
answers to your questions.

Launch live chat

Visit our FAQs page

Find answers to some commonly
asked questions.

See our FAQs