Physical Education BA(Hons)

International equivalencies

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Course structure 

Year 1 provides the foundation for years 2 and 3, during which you can tailor your degree according to your individual career goals and interests by selecting from a wide range of optional modules.

A variety of teaching methods are used including lectures, first-hand teaching experience, seminars, group tasks and practical performance.

These approaches to your studies will help you to develop both specific skills related to physical education and a set of transferable skills that can be used in a variety of jobs.

The course also offers you opportunities to undertake work-related placements in years 2 and 3. An opportunity to study abroad at one of our partner universities is also an option.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, we will inform you of any improvements or innovations to the curriculum through our admissions portal.

Areas of study

The course enables you to study practical activity areas within physical education, along with sport-science and social-scientific aspects of physical education and sport.

In addition you are able to choose modules from areas such as leisure and recreation, competitive sport, dance performance and choreography, special needs, and gender issues in physical education and sport.

The study of physical education is underpinned by understanding how learning occurs and the factors that determine how individuals engage with and experience physical activity cognitively, emotionally, socially and the impact of culture, environment and politics.

Fundamental concepts of physical education are explored including physical literacy, pedagogy, motor development and skill acquisition.

Year 1

Modules

• Performance in Physical Education: OAA, Gymnastics and Swimming
• Performance in Physical Education: Games, Dance and Athletics
• Nature and Values of Physical Education
• Health, Physical Education and Sport
• Applied Pedagogy in Physical Education
• Science of Movement

Year 2

Modules

• Reflection and Research in Physical Education
• People, Place and Pedagogy: The Practice of Teaching Physical Education
• Pedagogy and Practice in Physical Education and Sport

Options*

• Biomechanics of Sport and Exercise
• Learning and Teaching Through Athletic and Adventurous Activities
• Primary Physical Education: Theory and Practice of Teaching KS1 and KS2 PE
• Healthy Mind, Healthy Body: Physical Education and Wellbeing
• Games
• Creating a Positive Teaching and Learning Environment
• Learning and Teaching Through Gymnastics and Swimming
• Accredited Physical Education
• Learning and Teaching Through Games and Dance
• Young People and Youth Subcultures
• Sport Psychology in Action
• Exercise Referral and Rehabilitation
• Nutrition for Physical Activity
• Strength and Conditioning
• Performance Analysis
• Outdoor Adventurous Activities
• Marketing Communications and Advertising
• Sport for Development and Peace
• Sport and Exercise Psychology  

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Final year

Modules

• Professional Work-based Experience
• Dissertation
• Contemporary Issues in Physical Education and Sport

Options*

• Physiological Aspects of Exercise, Nutrition and Health
• Science of Physical Training
• Advanced Strength and Conditioning
• Advanced Performance Analysis
• Sports Nutrition
• Martial Arts and Combat Sports: Theory and Practice
• Primary Physical Education: Active Learning in the Primary Setting
• Physical Education and the National Agenda
• Level 6 Practical Activity
• Practical Aspects of the Law and Regulation of Sport
• Gender, Sexuality and Physical Culture
• Theory, Sport and the Future
• Racism in Sport and Popular Culture
• Sport and Deviancy
• Education Studies 3: Inclusive Practice
• Community Sport Development: Policy and Practice
• Physical Education in the 14–19 Curriculum
• Injury and Rehabilitation in Sport and Exercise
• Sport for International Development and Peace
• Applied Sport Psychology
• Applied Exercise and Health Psychology
• Enterprise and Innovation

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Facilities

Sport and fitness
The Eastbourne campus has excellent sport and fitness facilities on site which include:

• large six court sports hall
• artificial ¾ length training pitch
• climbing wall
• 25m swimming pool
• two gymnasiums
• 36 station fitness suite with a designated cardiovascular area packed with bikes, treadmills, and rowers, cross-trainers and steppers
• two dance studios.

Laboratories
Accredited by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES). our laboratories are equipped with the latest modern facilities.

You will have access to a -10 to +50°C hot-cold chamber, an altitude/hypoxic chamber that rises to the equivalent of 5500m, 3D motion analysis, ground reaction force plates, a DXA bone scanner, exercise physiology laboratories, biomechanics laboratories and three biochemistry laboratories.

Placements

Placements are arranged under the guidance of the course leader or academic tutor with the assistance of the careers and employability team who will help ensure the placement location fits your professional development needs and career aspirations.

Placements our students have undertaken include:

• primary, secondary, pupil referral and SEND schools for those interested in a career in education
• outdoor and adventurous activity centres such as Bewl Water and Blacklands Farm – some have travelled to Snowdonia or Devon to specialist camps and activity centres.
• with cadet training centres and St John’s Ambulance Service for those interested in public or military service
• in public and private health and leisure facilities.

We also arrange bespoke placements: recent examples include with Sky Sports (Soccer AM), Fulham Football Club (links to player nutrition, training and HR departments), NHS Cardiac Rehabilitation and East London Community Boxing Development Programme (engaging Asian females in physical activity through boxing).

Placements are undertaken in your final year. The benefits of placements include:

• enhancing your CV
• informing with final year projects
• allowing you to explore a potential specialism
• giving you an opportunity to make professional contacts
• giving you practical experience, increasingly vital in today's competitive graduate jobs market
• developing your personal skills including communication, problem solving and confidence.

Some students are offered a job in their placement company after graduation, or find that their applications are prioritised.

 Staff profiles 

Location

Campus where this course is taught

Accommodation

Maps

Accommodation

University building

Eastbourne campus map