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Overview

Course Prescription

Introduction to the principles of physical exercise, how the body moves and responds to exercise, how sports performance can be measured, and how fitness can be developed and maintained to optimise health. Application of theory about the benefits and risks of exercise, self-assessments of physical fitness and mental preparedness, exercise test administration, and prescribing exercise in practical settings.

Course Overview

What should my heart rate be when exercising? How do you measure someone's fitness or strength? How can exercise improve fitness or performance? If you are asking yourself these types of questions, then you will benefit from EXERSCI 102. This course is designed for anyone with an interest in learning how to prescribe exercise and physical activity for healthy adults. In this course, you will learn how to implement pre-exercise evaluation and screening processes, directly assess fitness, and prescribe training to improve health and performance in healthy adults. 

This course provides the essential theoretical and practical foundations for all future studies in exercise and sport sciences, and is a compulsory course in the Exercise Sciences undergraduate major and specialisation. 

Main Programme

Key Topics

This course is divided into two key modules: Exercise Assessment, and Exercise Prescription.

Workload Expectations

This is a standard 15-point course, and students are expected to spend 10-12 hours per week involved in each 15-point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, on average, each week, you can expect 2-3 hours of online material, 2-3 hours of in-class work, 2-3 hours of reading and thinking about the content, and 2-3 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

If your ability to participate in coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances, contact the teaching staff as soon as possible.

Locations and Semesters Offered

LocationSemester
City

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

Campus Experience

  • Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including labs and tutorials to complete components of the course.
  • Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including labs and tutorials will not be available as recordings.
  • The course will not include live online events.
  • Attendance on campus is required for the mid-term test and final exam.
  • The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Teaching and Learning Methods

The course will be delivered using a blended learning and teaching model. Students will engage with material via online lectures, case studies, learning resources, and hands-on practical laboratories.

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Additional Information on Learning Resources


Canvas Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). You are expected to check Canvas regularly (multiple times per week) to check for messages and new material. Please also ensure that all your personal details (phone numbers, email addresses, and street address) are correct and kept up-to-date on Canvas and Student Services Online.

Textbook and ReadingsStudents are encouraged to read widely on the topics covered. Several textbooks (available in the library) are recommended but not compulsory.

Highly Recommended: ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription

Recommended: ACSM's Resources for the Personal Trainer Advanced Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license. You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Health and Safety

Laboratory experience in this course may require participation in physical activity/exercise that has risks of potential adverse events. Students will be advised on the specific risks of participating in lab activities and will be directed on appropriate risk mitigation strategies.

Students will be required to complete pre-screening before participating in physical activity to the satisfaction of the lab supervisor. Students will be required to wear appropriate exercise clothing (if participating) and closed toed shoes (all students in the lab).

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Other Information

During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.

At the end of the course, students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course coordinators will consider all feedback.

Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Special Requirements

The lab component of the course involves taking measurements of individuals participating in exercise. Students have the choice, in each lab, to act as either the participant or researcher. All students are encouraged to act as participants at some point during the course.

Laboratory work for this course may sometimes be held in the Health and Rehabilitation Clinic (HRC). The HRC is a clinical training facility, and patients may be using the equipment during lab times. Students must behave professionally and attempt not to interfere with these activities. Proper exercise attire must be worn during labs.

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type123

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Additional Information on Tuākana

Tuākana Science is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at

https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/pacific-in-our-faculty.html

https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/maori-in-our-faculty.html

Regular Tuākana tutorials are provided for Māori and Pacific students. These are optional small group sessions providing study support and cover content from the course that students bring to the session.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor. Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.