Students learn to use exercise as a means of prevention and treatment for chronic diseases and conditions such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, osteoporosis, and arthritis.
Students learn to use exercise as a means of prevention and treatment for chronic diseases and conditions such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, osteoporosis, and arthritis.
Exercise is one of the most powerful tools we have available to us to prevent disease, treat acute injuries, and manage long term diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Exercise physiologists work within our health system, making important contributions to health care at relatively low cost. This program is a professionally focussed degree to educate clinical exercise physiologists and prepare them for employment in the Australian health system. Studies include anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathophysiology, biomechanics, psychology, motor learning, and sports nutrition. Advanced courses focus on professional practice in clinical and community environments, followed by industry placements and workplace learning.
Post-admission requirements
Students must complete 500 hours of supervised placement. Students may be required to undertake some clinical placement hours outside the Sunshine Coast region in metropolitan and regional / rural areas. Before undertaking placements (ie: by year 3), students must provide evidence of immunisations, first aid training, satisfactory criminal history check, and hold a current Suitability Card.
Career opportunities
Accredited exercise physiology (exercise as medicine for chronic conditions), cardiac and pulmonary testing and rehabilitation, musculoskeletal and neurological rehabilitation, occupational rehabilitation, case management, community exercise and health interventions and research.
Accreditation and Memberships
This degree is professionally accredited at the levels of Exercise Science and Exercise Physiology with Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA). Graduates from this program may practise as exercise physiologists and seek provider status with Medicare. Also, graduates may apply to become members of Sports Medicine Australia. Note: ESSA will allow recognition of prior learning (RPL) for non-university studies to a maximum of 12.5% of program load. USC recommends, therefore, that students holding TAFE studies in fitness seek RPL for not more than four courses upon entering the Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology.
Program structure
Introductory courses (8) 96 units
COR109
HLT140
LFS100 Introduction to Creative Entrepreneurship*
LFS112 Contemporary Communication Theory and Trends*
LFS122 Introduction to Journalism
PUB104 Visual Journalism
SCI110 Communication and Thought
SPX121 Introduction to Marketing
Developing and Graduate courses (21) 288 units
HLT221 Introduction to Marketing
NUT203 Media Publishing: Law & Ethics
PUB351 News Writing and Reporting
SPX201 Online Journalism
SPX202 Feature Writing
SPX203 Broadcast Journalism
SPX211 Investigative and Data Journalism
SPX221 News Rounds
SPX222 Industry Project 2: CommunicationΔ
SPX231 Creativity, Design and Communication Project*
SPX300 Human Physiology
SPX301 Human Anatomy
SPX302 Introduction to Behavioural Health
SPX306 Science Research MethodsΔ
SPX322 Exercise Prescription and Programming I
SPX331 Human Pathophysiology
SPX410 Active Lifestyle Nutrition
SPX411 Health Promotion Implementation and Evaluation
SPX412 Functional Anatomy
SPX413 Biomechanics I
SPX401A Exercise Prescription and Programming II *
SPX401B Exercise Physiology I *
SPX401C Introduction to Sports Medicine *
SPX401D Sport and Exercise Psychology *
* Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) requires students to complete 500 hours of supervised practice comprising of a minimum of 140 hours for apparently healthy clients, 140 hours for neuromuscular/musculoskeletal clients and 140 hours for metabolic/cardiopulmonary clients. These hours will be completed as part of SPX300 and SPX401 courses.
Δ refer to Program notes
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.