Sports Science - Master's Programme

With a master’s degree in sports science, you can work as a coach, manager, or advisor in health-promoting and preventive work. Provided that one has practical pedagogical education (PPU), the program also offers opportunities to work as a teacher. The master’s program in sports science provides a basis for admission to PhD programs at various institutions. The master’s program is session-based, usually with six physical sessions per semester distributed across two subjects.

The master’s degree in sports science will provide students with increased theoretical and research-based knowledge in sports and physical activity. The main focus is on key factors related to learning and performance development in sports activities, and facilitating physical activity throughout life. Students receive training in relevant sports science methods and analyses, and the program aims to enhance students’ ability for critical academic reflection. The master’s thesis is an independent scientific work within a chosen area of specialization.

The master’s program in sports science equips students with the tools to create lasting enjoyment of movement in sports and physical activity for various population groups.

Learning outcomes

Upon the successful completion of the programme, the candidate should exhibit the following learning outcomes, categorized into knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge

• Possess advanced knowledge about central concepts, theories and different scientific areas within the field of sport sciences
• Possess specialized knowledge on factors affecting physiological, psychological and pedagogical processes within the field of sport sciences and physical activity
• Possess in depth knowledge about research designs, methods and the research process comprising quantitative and qualitative methods related to sports science

Skills

• Can analyze and apply a critical approach to diverse sources of information and apply these in structuring and formulating, written and oral, sport science discourse
• Can employ sports science knowledge to promote mastery, improve performance, enhance physical capacity and promote good health in a lifelong perspective
• Be able to adapt knowledge about sport sciences in an innovative manner within the discipline
• Can work independently with practical and theoretical problem solving and conduct a supervised research-based study within the field of sport sciences
• Can address scientific questions in an academic and research-based manner and contribute to the development of new research-based knowledge in the field of sport sciences

General competence

• Be able to relate to and analyze relevant scientific and ethical research topics, assess the need for new knowledge, and apply knowledge with professional integrity and ethical awareness
• Be able to impart, both written and orally, substantial independent work utilizing sports science terminology, towards both specialists and the general public
• Be able to contribute to development of research-based sport practice and innovational processes within the field of sport sciences

Syllabus

The first year include 4 subjects while the last year consists of the master thesis.

Subjects 1. semester:

High performance in Sports - physical training and coaching (15 stp)

Physical activity and health (15 stp)

Subjects 2. semester: (exchange semester)

Pedagogical perspectives i sport science (15 stp)

Forskningsmetode og vitenskapsteori (15 stp)

Semester 3 og 4:

Master thesis (60 stp)

Teaching methods
The first year, the study is structured to require in-person attendance for up to 6 sessions, totaling no more than 18 lecture days throughout a semester. The module incorporates diverse instructional methods, including lectures, group activities, seminars, presentations, own intervention, and hands-on tasks, own study and digital support.

A full year worth 60 credits is estimated to demand 1600-1800 hours of work from the student.

Career prospects

The structure of the master's program promotes both a broad competence in sports science and an in-depth study in a chosen research area. The students will therefore qualify for various professional roles after graduation.

Examples of employers and jobs:

• organizations in "Norges Idrettsforbund" - in roles such as coach, sport manager or CEO at various levels (clubs, regional or national associations).
  
• public sector - Teacher in sports for upper secondary school or physical education in school (assuming teaching competence), advisor for health promotion at municipal and county level.
  
• private sector - commercial teaching/consulting related to the fitness industry, tourism or other health promotion and preventive measures.

Remember that the program does not provide teaching skills! Students who do not already have teaching competence and who wish to do so must take practical pedagogy (PPU) to gain competence to teach physical education in primary school and sports/physical education in upper secondary school.

Completed master program can qualify cadidates for various doctoral programmes.

This program does not provide certified teaching competence. Students who do not already have teaching competence must take practical pedagogy (PPU) to gain competence to teach physical education in primary school and sports/physical education in upper secondary school.

Completing this MA-programme can also qualify cadidates for various doctoral programmes, including the PhD-programme at the faculty.

Course assessment

The University of Stavanger has the goal and the strategic guidelines to be an attractive university of high international quality, with study-programs that are adapted to the future`s working life. UiS has developed a dialogue-based quality system, and the courses and the studyprogram are evaluated in line with the faculty's guidelines for course and program evaluations.

The study program is led by a study program coordintaor, who is responsible for ongoing coordination and quality work for the study program. The study program coordinator is also responsible for establishing the necessary arenas for knowledge exchange about continuous quality work in the study program's professional environment.

The Master's program is administered by a study coordinator, who plays an important role in the day-to-day quality assurance of the course. There is close contact between students, study coordinator and teachers. A study program council (SPR) has been established for the study. The study program council enables dialogue between representatives of all parties in the study (academic staff, administrative staff and students) and is important in the work with quality assurance of the study.