Overview 2021
This course may not be available to international students. Please see the International Online Course Guide (PDF 809KB) for courses that are offered to international students
Develop an understanding of the basic concepts and sciences of the role physical activity plays in the health of individuals and communities. This course will prepare you to work as exercise scientists, sport scientists or to pursue research or professional/allied health with postgraduate studies.
You learn a wide range of human life sciences, including biology, biochemistry, anatomy, physiology and psychology as well as their practical application.
Practical placements will help you gain the knowledge and skills to provide assessment, monitoring and program prescription for fitness and exercise in a diverse range of populations from healthy adults to elite athletes.
As a graduate you may find employment in the private and public sectors or you may also be able to pursue research in exercise science and apply for post-graduate study in areas such as sports science, clinical exercise physiology, physiotherapy, and medicine.
This is a 3 year course based in Launceston, Tasmania.
Learning outcomes
The Bachelor of Health Science (Exercise Science) prepares students to work as exercise scientists, sport scientists or to pursue research or professional/allied health focussed postgraduate studies.
Practical experience
The Exercise Physiology Clinic in Launceston provides practical educational experiences for our students. Under professional supervision, students undertake exercise assessment, prescription and counselling services to individuals who have been referred by their General Practitioner under a Chronic Disease Management Plan.
The Clinic also runs group classes in Cardiac Rehabilitation, Pulmonary Rehabilitation, and Therapeutic Pilates.
Safety in Practice
All students enrolling in College of Health and Medicine programs which include a professional experience placement component, laboratory and/or field activity are required to establish and maintain their capacity to practice safely via Safety in Practice Requirements documentation.
Please visit http://www.utas.edu.au/health/professional-experience-placement/safety-in-practice-requirements to see what's required.
Work placement
Practical placements help you gain the knowledge and skills to provide assessment, monitoring and program prescription for fitness and exercise.
You will work under professional supervision with experienced industry partners including gyms, sporting organisations, private practice clinics, hospitals, local health districts and aged care facilities. This gives you the hands-on practice that employers value and actively look for in graduates.
Career outcomes
"Exercise Science is perfect for people who want to work with athletes and to learn about how the world of sports is evolving with new research and technologies, which will help an athlete reach higher levels of performance."
Career outcomes for graduates may include:
- State and national sporting academies and institutes
- Fitness centres or gymnasiums
- Hospitals or private health practices
- Allied health assistant
- Respiratory or sleep technician
- Medical Sales representative
- Health/education project officer
- Sports development officer
Graduates may also be able to pursue research in Exercise Science or apply for post-graduate study in areas such as sports science, exercise physiology, physiotherapy, and medicine.
Students interested in pursuing a career in teaching may continue their studies with a Master of Teaching.
Course structure
Year 1
Semester 1
This unit is designed to introduce you to foundation knowledge relevant to the structure and function of the human body. Concepts in biological chemistry, cell metabolism, microscopy, cell biology and molecular and descriptive genetics will be covered in the unit,…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 1 | ||||
This unit is designed to introduce students to human cells and tissues and the anatomy and physiology of the integumentary, defence, musculoskeletal and neuroendocrine systems in the human body. The unit will include: (a) the basic facts and concepts relating…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 1 | ||||
| Launceston | Semester 1 | ||||
This unit introduces the determinants of health and wellbeing including lifestyle factors. Students are introduced to the types of measures that are used in reporting health information and the ways in which this information is presented and utilised. Students will…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 1 | ||||
View all details for CXA103 Health: Determinants and Analysis
Choice of Breadth unit or elective from the list below
Semester 2
This unit is designed to introduce you to the anatomy and physiology of the reproductive, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, and digestive systems of the human body. The regulation of body temperature will also be studied in the unit. The unit will…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 2 | ||||
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
Biochemistry is an important biological science, often referred to as the chemistry of life, because biochemical processes are essential in order for all living organisms (e.g. humans, fish and plants) to exist. It is biochemistry that allows the mechanisms behind…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
This unit sets the foundation for the study of food and its components. It will describe the role and function of macro and micronutrients essential for human health, their digestion and absorption, and relevance for the health of populations and…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
Choice of Breadth unit or elective from the list below
Year 2
Semester 1
This unit introduces students to the pathological processes underlying various human diseases. Students learn about common pathological conditions, their causes, including environmental factors and their consequences. A group project and presentation allows in-depth study of one disease process, its causes…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
This unit introduces students to the importance of physical activity for good health across the lifespan. Students will learn about the far-reaching effect of various types of physical activity on personal health, and the connection between inactivity and diseases and…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
This unit examines the physiological responses to exercise, the physiological adaptations to exercise training and the regulation of exercise performance. Topics covered in this unit include respiratory, cardiac and muscle physiology, the role of the central nervous system in exercise,…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
This unit provides an introduction to analysis of human movement. The focus is on functional musculoskeletal anatomy and the physical laws that control motion. The unit focuses both on the application of kinesiology to physical activities of daily living and…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 1 | ||||
Semester 2
This unit provides an overview of the origins and principles of health promotion. Students will develop an understanding of the strategies, methods and theories used in health promotion, to meet the needs of diverse population groups in different social contexts.…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
View all details for CXA213 Health Promotion: Principles and Planning
Biomechanics is the study of internal and external forces acting on the human body and the movements produced by these forces. This unit examines basic principles of mechanics applicable to the study of human movement and selected biomechanical techniques available…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
Upon successful completion of health, exercise and sports prescription the graduate can design, and modify as necessary, safe, appropriate and effective exercise programs, based on best practice, for the apparently healthy population, in a variety of environments that are aligned…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
View all details for CXA233 Health, Exercise and Sport Prescription and Delivery
This unit teaches students how to competently and safely plan, conduct and adapt, where necessary, health and exercise assessments based on best practice criteria. Students will also learn how to interpret the results of assessments and communicate findings to the…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
View all details for CXA234 Health, Exercise and Sport Assessment
Year 3
Semester 1
A cornerstone to the profession of human movement is an understanding of how people move. The ability to understand and explain how people learn motor skills is at the core of successful physical activity program design. An understanding of the…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
Psychological factors are recognised as having an important part to play in the attainment of success in all achievement contexts. Increasingly, there is a demand for health professionals to deliver non-clinical programmes designed to complement and integrate with other health…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
Choice of Breadth unit or elective from the list below
Semester 2
This unit extends knowledge related to musculoskeletal anatomy and physiology, and neuroscience. Students apply bioscientific understandings, neuroanatomy and motor development to pathological and clinical conditions to examine the use of pain science and movement analysis in exercise science. Students will…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 1 | ||||
View all details for CXA307 Applied Anatomy and Neurosciences
Injury Management and Prevention will be studied from anatomical, biomechanical and patho-physiological perspectives, building upon knowledge from previous units, including anatomy, kinesiology, biomechanics, pathology of common disease, exercise physiology, and assessment and prescription for strength and conditioning. The emphasis is…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
Choice of Breadth unit or elective from the list below
Recommended Electives
The aim of this unit is to equip you with the knowledge and ability todesign and implement training programs for a range of populationswith varying health and fitness goals. This unit will cover modulesincorporating professionalism and safety in educationalenvironments, fitness…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
This introductory unit prepares educators from a variety of disciplines to meet the maturational needs of diverse learners by providing a foundational base of knowledge regarding physical and cognitive development from conception through adulthood, with an emphasis on early childhood…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
View all details for ESP160 Growth and Motor Development Across the Lifespan
An introductory physics course for health science professionals. This subject provides an introduction to the topics of mechanics, waves, fluids and thermodynamics, sound, optics, atomic and nuclear physics. CXA115 aims to provide a basic understanding of physical processes and physical…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
This unit provides an introduction to major areas in psychology and to basic techniques for psychological investigations. The online material covered includes the historical context of psychology, research ethics, lifespan development, abnormal psychology and learning. Students are required to undertake…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
KHA112 Psychology B provides a further introduction to major areas in Psychology and to basic techniques for psychological investigations. Online material covered includesresearch methods, intelligence, social psychology and cross-cultural psychology. Students are required to undertake additional reading to extend their…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
This unit explores the basic chemical concepts with a particular focus on biological systems and processes such as bonding and structure of organic molecules, aerobic respiration, ions in physiological systems, nutrient cycles and photosynthesis.Topics include fundamental chemical bonding theory, molecular…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
This unit is designed to provide you with an overview of the nutrient needs of individuals for each of the major stages through the lifecycle. By examining the recommended dietary intakes for each stage, common nutritional problems will be explored.…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 1 | ||||
This unit covers assessment of the nutritional status of individuals, groups, communities and populations using anthropometric, biochemical, clinical, dietary and ecological methods. In this unit students have the opportunity to examine a variety of approaches to measuring food and nutrition…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
This introductory course in inclusive physical activity prepares pre-service educators to meet the needs of diverse learners by requiring candidates to effectively demonstrate the application of pedagogical strategies to teach individuals with disabilities physical activity, the use of appropriate assessment…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
This unit develops knowledge and skills in the area of sports coaching, with a large emphasis placed on coaching pedagogy highlighting the social, cultural and pedagogical concepts underpinning good coaching practice. It touches on the application of sports science principles…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
The benefits of being physically active are significant for both individuals and the whole community. It is critical, therefore, that a concerted effort is made to increase the physical activity levels and to provide opportunities for all Tasmanians to be…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
View all details for ESP322 Organisation in Community Sport and Recreation
This unit is a practically based unit and is designed to develop your ability to teach dance, gymnastics and sport education. An emphasis is also placed on the ability to analyse and identify areas of difficulty in skill development for…
Credit Points: 12.5
This unit is currently unavailable.
This unit provides you with an understanding of health information, knowledge of the nature of health and a positive attitude towards being healthy. This unit is essential for teacher education graduates who will be promoting health, both directly in health…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
View all details for ESP340 Health Promotion and Behaviour Change: Perspectives and Practice
This unit investigates the components of a healthy and sustainable food system (production to consumption) from a multidisciplinary perspective, focusing on the domains of health, environment, economy and society. Students will critically analyse the concept of the ‘Sustainable Diet’ and…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 1 | ||||
In this unit you will learn how to provide evidenced-based nutritional advice in relation toexercise, fitness and sporting endeavours. You will learn how and why nutrients andnutritional ergogenics are utilised, including what type, how much, and when they should beconsumed…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
CXA324 Advanced Concepts in Nutrition is designed to provide you with extended knowledge by investigating current developments in the knowledge base for nutrition science and extending upon the information that you have acquired throughout your degree. The unit is designed…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 2 | ||||
CXA385 Nutrition and Disease is designed to provide you with an increased understanding of metabolism in the human body and the role of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals in both health and under physiological stress of disease. The unit…
Credit Points: 12.5
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston | Semester 1 | ||||
Need help choosing your first year units? Try the Unit Selection Guide.
Entry requirements
Entry Requirements
If you're interested in studying the Bachelor of Health Science (Exercise Science) you’ll need to meet the following requirements:
If you've just finished school
An ATAR score of 65 or higher, and have completed one of the following pre-requisite science or mathematics subjects (or equivalent) at AQF level 3:
- Biology TQA3 (BIO315109)
- Chemistry TQA3 (CHM315109)
- Mathematics Applied TQC3 (MTA315109)
- Mathematics Methods TQA3 (MTM315109)
- Mathematics Specialised TQA3 (MTS315109)
- Physics TQA3 (PHY315109)
- Physical Sciences (PSC315114)
- Sports Science TQA3(SPT315108)
If you're a mature age student
You will need to meet the following:
- University general entry requirements
- Plus tertiary or TAFE science qualifications (minimum AQF level 3) considered, case-by-case, by Course Coordinator.
Safety in Practice Compliance
All students enrolling in Faculty of Health programs which include a professional experience placement (PEP) component, laboratory and/or field activity are required to establish and maintain their capacity to practice safely via Safety in Practice Requirements compliance documentation.
This includes completing/providing:
- national criminal history check;
- working with children registration;
- medical, physical and psychological capacity to safely undertake the Faculty of Health Mandatory Functional Requirements; and
- infectious disease and immunisation status.
The Faculty of Health assesses student compliance in accordance with the Safety in Practice Compliance and Risk Assessment Procedure. Without this documentation, students may be excluded from participating in their course.
Students must submit documentation complying with the Safety in Practice Requirements before:
- semester one census date annually; or
- in case of late enrolment, prior to beginning study.
The exceptions are the Working with Children Registration and Immunisation Record Card check, which must be completed 4 weeks prior to first PEP.
Credit transfer
Advanced Standing for appropriate studies completed at TAFE and/or other university courses may be granted. You can apply for advanced standing as part of the application process, or it can be assessed independently via a separate application.
Please contact us for further information.
Articulation from
This course articulates from the Bachelor of General Studies (Health Science Pathway) (X3H)
Articulation to
This course articulates to M4K Bachelor of Exercise Physiology (Professional Honours), and M4H Bachelor of Health Science with Honours.
Alternative entry pathways
If you meet the minimum ATAR but haven't completed the required prerequisite unit(s), we offer Foundation Units to help you bridge the gap. These are offered at no cost to you (HECS-waived) and many run in spring and summer school so you can meet a prerequisite and not delay the start of your Bachelor level studies.
- Chemistry Foundation Unit (KRA001)
- Physics Foundation Unit (KYA004)
- Mathematics Foundation Unit (KMA003)
If you do not meet the ATAR, or you are a mature age student and do not meet the General Entry Requirements, you could consider enrolment in the Bachelor of Health and Community Care. This degree offers pathways to becoming an employable graduate in various health related fields or as a pathway to access other health courses. Please contact us for further information.
Detailed Admissions Information
Detailed admissions information and advice for all undergraduate courses, including comprehensive, course-level student profiles, is available from UTAS Admissions.
Fees & scholarships
Domestic students
Domestic students enrolled in a full fee paying place are charged the Student Services and Amenities Fee but this fee is incorporated in the fees you pay for each unit you enrol in. Full fee paying domestic students do not have to make any additional SSAF payments.
Detailed tuition fee information for domestic students is available at the Domestic Student Fees website, including additional information in relation to a compulsory Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).
International students
2021 Total Course Fee (international students): $0 AUD*.
Course cost based on a rate of $32,450 AUD per standard, full-time year of study (100 credit points).
* Please note that this is an indicative fee only.
Scholarships
For information on general scholarships available at the University of Tasmania, please visit the scholarships website.
How can we help?
Do you have any questions about choosing a course or applying? Get in touch.
- Domestic
- 1300 363 864
- International
- +61 3 6226 6200
- Course.Info@utas.edu.au
- Online
- Online enquiries