Sports & Exercise Nutrition - Sligo

The aim of the course is to produce sports nutritionists who are strongly focused on the science behind the subject, and who also have experience of the practicalities of delivering the latest evidence based guidance to individuals and teams who are looking to maximise the sports performance benefits of nutrition to complement their training programmes.

This course covers the key principles of exercise physiology and sports nutrition and aims to develop critical awareness of topics across these areas of study. It also explores important issues within sports nutrition such as the use of supplements and ergogenic aids and critically analyses the key evidence for and against their use and reported implications for exercise performance.

Nutrition plays a key role in an athletes training and preparation for competition and most sports now recognise the integral role that nutrition plays in achieving success. This online programme provides graduates with the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and competencies required to work in this exciting and evolving area at an advanced level. The course is ideally suited to exercise professionals wishing to complement their exercise practice with applied nutrition skills, as well as those interested in using exercise nutrition to improve the health of the general public.

Key Course Information
For online courses, it is very important that you allocate enough study time to your online course to stay focused, reduce stress and achieve your goals. For part-time online or blended learning, it is recommended that you should try to allow for 5-6 hours per week per 5 credit module to your studies.

Our online courses have about 2-3 hours of live lectures per week (but this can vary per programme). The rest of your study time consists of independent learning, communicating with your lecturers and classmates and carrying out assignments.

Live lectures normally take place between 6pm and 10pm, Monday to Thursday but this may vary depending on the availability of specific lecturers. If the Live Classroom scheduled times for the live online lectures do not suit you, recordings will be made available through Moodle.

Semester 1
Title, Credits
Nutrition, health and fitness assessment 10
Exercise Physiology & Metabolism [E] 10
Essentials in human nutrition [E] 10
Human Nutrition and Exercise Physiology and Metabolism [E] 10

Semester 2
Title, Credits
Nutrition and Performance 10
Professional Skills for Sports Nutritionists 10

Semester 3
Title, Credits
Advanced Performance Nutrition 10
Research Methods for Sports Nutrition 05
Statistical Analysis for Nutritional Research 05

Semester 4
Title, Credits
Sports and Exercise Nutrition thesis 30

[E] = Elective Module. Modules subject to availability.

Applications with a 2.2 Honours award in a relevant discipline (Nutrition, Dietetics, Sport Science, Health, Public Health, Allied Health or a cognate area as deemed suitable by the programme committee) may apply.

Applicants who do not meet this entry criterion may be considered through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). RPL is a process that may allow you to gain admission to a programme or to receive exemptions / credit from some parts of a programme based on demonstrated learning that you may have achieved through another programme of study or through your work and career. Further information is available through www.myexperience.ie which is our dedicated RPL portal or by contacting our admissions team at admissions@itsligo.ie.

Application Closing Date : 31st August 2022

2 years part-time, online.

The fees for this masters programme are €5,500.

Contact the college for the next start date.

Career Opportunities
The aim of this course is to enable students to develop an advanced level of subject knowledge and research experience, as well as a comprehensive range of transferable academic and practical skills. Career choices for qualified Sport and Exercise Nutritionists can include leading sports nutrition programmes for individual athletes, sports teams and recreational athletes, providing nutritional support for physical activity or weight management initiatives, working with local, national or international sporting bodies or nutrition companies, leading research into specific areas which utilise nutrition to improve performance, food product development as well as nutritional support to national governing bodies and sports organisations.

Accreditation

This MSc in Sport and Exercise Nutrition has been developed to fulfil requirements for Sports and Exercise Nutrition Register (SENr) accreditation.

This MSc in Sport and Exercise Nutrition will also provide students the opportunity to fulfil the initial requirements for Association for Nutrition (AfN) Accreditation as an Associate/Registered Nutritionist.

Further Study
Graduates will be well placed to pursue doctorates in the area of Sports and Exercise Nutrition. Graduates will be supported in pursuit of PhD programmes of relevant research.