Foundation Degree (FdSc) Sport Science (Outdoor Recreation)
Key Details
- Available at:Dolgellau
- Study Mode:Full-time
- Course Length:
Full-Time: 2 years
Dolgellau: Monday & Tuesday, 9am-5pm
- UCAS Codes:41J1
Foundation Degree (FdSc) Sport Science (Outdoor Recreation)Degrees (Higher Education)
Part Time
If you are applying to study part-time you can apply directly to the campus of your choice.
Course Description
The Foundation Degree in Outdoor Recreation is aimed at anyone with a keen interest to prepare for a range of careers in the outdoor, sports, leisure and adventure tourism sectors.
The course will build up your knowledge and skills and provide specialist studies which are directly relevant to individual vocations and professions in which learners are currently working or in which they intend to seek employment.
The modular programme provides continuity and depth over the two years and you will study a full range of interrelated modules.
The course is assessed through practical's, written assessments, projects, case studies and presentations.
The course also provides the opportunity to work towards nationally recognised qualifications in water and land-based activities.
Modules include:
Year 1 (Level 4)
- Behavioural Science and Skill Acquisition
- Working with Employers and Sports Event Coordination
- Functional Anatomy
- Practical Sports Coaching
- Outdoor Activities – Foundation Skills
- Working with Employers and Sports Event Coordination
Year 2 (Level 5)
- Development of Health and Wellbeing
- Expeditions and Explorations
- Outdoor Activities – Skill Development, Coaching and Leadership
- Outdoor Activity and Sports Nutrition
Entry Criteria
Language requirements:
- Welsh or English with equivalent GCSE grade C/4, or above
- Any degrees, diplomas or certificates eligible above should have been taught and assessed in Welsh or English
- For overseas applicants, for entry onto Level 4, English fluency to IELTS 5.5 or higher (with no element less than 5.0)
- For overseas applicants, for entry onto Levels 5, English fluency to IELTS 6.0 or higher (with no element less than 5.5)
Academic requirements:
- A minimum of 64 UCAS tariff points in main qualification, normally gaining at least one relevant A2 subject; or a BTEC National Certificate/Diploma (MP) or above, or an AVCE, GNVQ, International Baccalaureate, Welsh Baccalaureate, in a relevant subject; or a Pass in approved ACCESS; or NVQ/VRQ Level 3
- A pass at grade C/4 or above in GCSE Mathematics (or equivalent), Physical Education / Science would be advantageous. Alternatively, evidence of the ability to study at this level in terms of numeracy and scientific skills will need to be evaluated.
Equivalent international qualifications are acceptable
Entry onto Level 5 will be considered on an individual basis in line with GLLM credit transfer policy
For individuals with no formal qualifications, or have not reached the required UCAS points, offer will be based on but not exclusive to:
- A personal statement or CV, assessment at interview, performance in tasks set specifically for admission purposes, relevant work experience and employment references
- Satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
Satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance is required for all learners prior to undertaking the employability modules.
If your qualifications do not meet the entry requirements listed above, we would still encourage you to apply for the course you're interested in, as many of our courses will consider learners based on their previous work and skills experience rather than their qualifications.
Delivery
You study a total of 120 credits in each year. The modular programme provides continuity and depth over the two years and you will study a full range of inter-related modules. A part-time or modular route is also optional.
Learning and teaching strategies used on the programme vary according to the subject matter and level of the module as outlined in each module specification, under the learning and teaching strategy heading. They include a blend of activities such as interactive lectures, seminars, workshops, guest speakers, web-based learning, problem solving exercises, individual and group activities as described in the student information book available on the programme Moodle and college website. This enables a supportive platform for students to develop the tools, knowledge and skills to further their understanding of the subject, with opportunities for discussion and to ask questions and explore answers both as a group and an individual.
Apart from these formal activities, independent study is also outlined in the learning and teaching strategy of each module as an indication of student effort needed for their own learning outside formal sessions. Students need to plan and organise time efficiently to committee to personal development of their knowledge and skills. Each programme has materials on Moodle, the virtual learning environment (VLE), to support independent work outside scheduled classes, and provides students with a reading list for core and recommended texts to guide personal development.
Where appropriate a blended learning model will be used, supported by electronic distance learning tools such as Google Classroom. These will be used if needed but a traditional face to face interaction will be our main teaching method.
We work closely with Urdd/Glanllyn to deliver outdoor practical activities, whilst the assessment for modules remains with the course tutors. The outdoor learning strategy offers a varied programme of land based and water based activities to develop leadership, team and personal skills and techniques.
Students are responsible for organising their own work experience if it is a requirement on their programme, and they will be supported by the course team.
Timetable
- Full-time: 2 years, 2 days per week (typically 9am – 5pm)
Fees
Visit our course fees page for information on full and part-time degree course fees.
Financial Support
Visit our financial support page for information on the range of support available.
Additional costs
Additional costs may be associated with the following:
During the programme there may be additional costs that are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies. This could include DBS requirement for work experience, childcare costs, travel associated with attending the programme and work experience, outside visits, field trips, suitable clothing for work / placement, additional printing above allowance (this could be associated with dissertation and binding requirements), memory sticks, other stationery related costs and graduation ceremony.
Students have access to the college libraries, book loan services, which have potential overdue fines and cost of lost books, and study areas. Students will need to consider resources and materials needed for independent study away from college such as PC/laptop, internet access, software, materials needed for practical development, and if you wish to purchase books/Journals etc rather than borrow or ad hoc publications requests not available through the services .
In particular, for this programme additional cost may be associated with:
⦁ DBS certificate if required
⦁ Suitable outdoor kit and footwear
⦁ Trips and expedition
⦁ Additional outdoor qualifications to support future career paths.
Some activities will require learners to dress appropriately for health and safety reasons and to conduct themselves in a professional manner. Learners will require suitable clothing and footwear to partake in a wide range of land and water based activities. A suitable kit and footwear list will be provided at interview/induction and also a list of outdoor retailers with discounts for our learners.
A contribution to costs of no more than £600 over two years is expected to contribute towards the expedition module ,additional qualifications, trips and expeditions. Students are expected to purchase suitable clothing and footwear which is the appropriate to the outdoor activity.
Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol Incentive Scholarship 2022-2023
Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor, Dolgellau: For more information on the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol's Scholarships, or for assistance in completing the application, please contact Grŵp Llandrillo Menai's Branch Officers on colegcymraeg@glllm.ac.uk.
Module information
More detailed information on modules is to be found in the ‘Additional Campus / Course Information’ section.
Start Date
September
Contact:
For specific course enquiries, please contact:
Delyth Jones (Programme Leader): jones16d@gllm.ac.uk
Iola Jones (Administration): jones9i@gllm.ac.uk
For general enquiries about our degrees, please contact: degrees@gllm.ac.uk
Assessment
This course is assessed on a continuous basis throughout the year by the use of a range of activities:
- Essay
- Report
- Case study
- Portfolio
- Presentation (Individual and Group)
- Exam (MCQ)
- Practical/training assessments
- Coaching Observations
Feedback
Where relevant, assessments will be marked and returned to students with constructive and developmental feedback. Effective feedback combines information which enables students to understand the strengths and limitations of their past performance, and information which enables them to recognise how future performance can be improved. Students will be provided with feedback in a timely manner and this feedback will justify how the grade has been awarded. Students will have the opportunity to reflect on the feedback given and identify their strengths, things they found challenging and areas for development that they will feed forward to their next assessment. Feedback will include linking evidence to assessment criteria to demonstrate how the student will have met the learning outcomes.
Progression
This programme meets the needs of potential learner employment which offer attractive and accessible routes into the outdoor recreation and outdoor adventure tourism industry.
Learners will build upon previous experiences gained from working in the industry or to gain the experience/knowledge needed to pursue a career within the outdoor/leisure industry. The course offers a unique and multidisciplinary approach to outdoor recreation, outdoor adventure tourism and fundamental elements within sport science.
Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor’s strong engagement with the outdoor sector employers, ensures that local knowledge of the programme is highlighted to relevant and wider sector contacts, which will in turn promote the provision widely across the region and nationally.
On successful completion of the Foundation Degree, graduates will be in a position to enter a variety of working environments or continue their studies to top-up to a full honours Degree, by undertaking level 6 study at an alternative institution.
Each institution will have admissions regulations towards credit transfer, and will be able to offer guidance on the compatibility of the qualification to their institutions programmes.
Successful completion of the programme will enable you to enter one of a range of degree courses within the School of Psychology and Sports Sciences at Bangor University.
There is also the option to complete a one year top-up degree, dependent upon grades achieved.
Examples of destinations of previous graduates include:
- Sport, leisure or outdoors facilities as teachers, coaches, instructors, supervisors and managers
- Development Officer
- The Police, Armed Force
- Coaching/Teaching
- Continued studies at Higher Education providers eg Bangor University: BSc Sports Science, BSc Outdoor Recreation, BA (Hons) Education, Coleg Llandrillo BSc Sports Science (Sports Coaching)
Campus Information Dolgellau
Additional Course Information
The course is aimed at anyone with an interest in the outdoors and will prepare you for a range of careers in the outdoor, leisure, countryside and tourism industries. We will build up your knowledge and skills, providing specialised studies which are directly relevant to your current workplace or for those seeking a change in career to work in the outdoor recreation sector.
For every 10 credits, students should engage with around 100 notional hours of learning. This will be approximately 30% direct learning contact and 70% independent student learning.
Year 1 (Level 4)
Research and Study Skills (10 credits, compulsory)
The module aims to develop the student’s capacity to apply a range of academic skills appropriately within a chosen discipline. (Portfolio 100%)
Functional Anatomy (20 credits, compulsory)
This module allows the learner to develop an enquiring approach to the anatomical principles underpinning human functioning in Sport and Exercise. (Multiple Choice Question Exam 50%, Presentation 50%)
Behavioural Science and Skill Acquisition (20 credits, compulsory)
The overall aim of this module is to introduce concepts of skill, ability, behaviour, performance and learning as they relate to physical activities. (Essay 25%, Presentation 25%, Case Study 50%)
Working with Employers and Sports Event Coordination (10 credits, compulsory)
This module will develop an understanding of the factors which go into the safe and successful organisation of an event (e.g. Health and Safety, marketing, financial considerations etc). Students will begin to develop essential skills required for effective event management and will reflect and evaluate their own skills in relation to event coordination. ( Presentation 40%, Portfolio 60%)
Employability-Based Learning 1: Applying Theory in Practice (20 credits, compulsory)
This module aims to enable students to carry out a number of employment-related tasks, negotiated jointly with employers/industry representatives and Grŵp-based staff. (Portfolio 100%)
Outdoor Activities – Foundation Skills (20 credits, core)
This module provides a foundation of practical and theoretical knowledge in two key Outdoor Activities and related skills. (Practical 65%, Portfolio 35%)
Practical Sports Coaching (20 credits, compulsory)
This module provides students with the practical skills and knowledge required to plan, deliver and evaluate coaching sessions, taking into consideration the differing needs of individuals. (Report 30%, Practical Delivery with Report 70%)
Year 2 (Level 5)
Sport Psychology (20 credits, compulsory)
Sport psychology is a discipline which seeks to define motivational bases for individual and group behaviour in a sports/outdoor activities and leisure context. This module explores mechanisms of raising the level of individual and group performance and identifies strategies for this purpose. (Report x 2 75%, Academic Poster 25%)
Expedition and Exploration (20 credits, compulsory)
This module develops the team work, planning and leadership skills required to deliver a successful five-day expedition. This module will be the main link of the second year programme. (Report 25%, Portfolio 50%, Presentation 25%)
Employability-based Learning 2: Professional Reflection and Personal Development (20 credits, compulsory)
This module aims to provide students with the opportunity to analyse the value of their skills and learning as applied to vocational and work-specific contexts. In doing so, the module will require students to organise a sporting event, building on their work in Year 1 Employability-based Learning 1. (Portfolio 60%, Personal and Professional Development Plan 40%)
Outdoor Activities – Skill Development, Coaching and Leadership (20 credits, core)
This module develops the practical skills and theoretical knowledge gained in the Outdoor Activities module: Foundation Skills and Practical Sports Coaching. (Practical 70%, Portfolio 30%)
Research Project (20 credits, compulsory)
This module is designed to complement and extend the research skills learned in Year 1. The research project will be a feature of the second year of the course and will allow students to carry out an in-depth study of an area of interest within the context of Sport Science. (Report 75%, Presentation 25%)
Exercise Physiology (20 credits, compulsory) This builds upon and reviews knowledge acquired in the Functional Anatomy modules with progression towards deeper understanding of the relationship between the different physiological systems. (Presentation 35%, Report 35%, Portfolio 30%)
Other details
Course type: Degrees (Higher Education)
Level:
4+5
Awarding Body: Bangor University
Bilingual:
Depending on the campus, students may be able to access elements of the programme in both English and Welsh through some programme learning materials being made available bilingually. Details will be provided to you at interview.
Possible to complete 33% of the course through the medium of Welsh and receive a scholarship.
Awarding Body
