Study location	Ireland, ATU Galway City
Type	Postgraduate, full-time
Nominal duration	1.5 years (90 ECTS)
Study language	English
Awards	MSc (Master of Science in Strength and Conditioning)
Course code	0125/0234

Tuition fee	€14,000 per year
Application fee	€20 one-time

Entry qualification

Undergraduate diploma (or higher) Qualifications must meet the equivalent of the Undergraduate Bachelors degree level 6 NFQ The entry qualification documents are accepted in the following languages: English. This includes a suitable transcript from your school. If this is not the case, you will need official translations along with verified copies of the original. If your Documents are not in English, please upload a translated version

Language requirements	English Accepted proof of proficiency: FCE or CAE, IELTS 6+, TOEFL 79+ or Duolingo English Test 100+ More Information

More information	gmit.ie/..nce-in-strength-and-conditioning

Overview

Strength and conditioning is the application of scientific principles in order to understand and enhance sport and exercise performance and health and well-being.

The course is designed to provide students with an evidence-based understanding of the scientific method in the context of strength and conditioning.
Key areas of study include physiology, coaching, psychology, nutrition and metabolism with a focus on the practical application of strength and conditioning.

In the past decade, there has been a marked growth in the career opportunities available for sport and exercise scientists, S&C coaches and individuals who are multi-disciplined in health, fitness and well-being.

In combination with a growing demand for S&C coaches, there is a demand for providing appropriately qualified and accredited individuals to undertake such roles.

The Master of Science in Strength & Conditioning, therefore, seeks to provide students with an opportunity to study at postgraduate level, to develop their knowledge of sport and exercise science and to increase their skills in applying such knowledge in a sport and exercise setting.

ATU Galway has recently been recognised as a National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA) Education Recognised Program (ERP 2020-2023).

The ERP recognises and distinguishes schools with standardised, approved strength and conditioning or personal training curricula in undergraduate and graduate settings designed to prepare students for the NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer® (NSCA-CPT®) and NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS®) certifications.

Career opportunities

Specific job opportunities for graduates have included:

Strength and conditioning coaches with amateur or elite teams
Performance analysis
Athlete development programmes
Public health improvement
Addressing inequalities in health
Developing/commissioning and implementing policies and programs
Monitoring, evaluation and assessment of training needs in individuals/teams
Education and generating research evidence linking training regimes and sport and exercise performance across a range of employers
Professional sports clubs and organisations (nationally and globally)
National sporting associations, governing bodies and other related sporting agencies
Private health and fitness clubs and public sports and recreation facilities
Entrepreneurial projects and product development (e.g. biofeedback technology)
Local authorities (e.g. local sports partnerships)
Schools, further education and higher education institutions
The health sector (e.g. Healthy Ireland)
Performance optimisation (preventative health and post-rehabilitative)
Advisory positions in weight management, physical activity or similar
Broader roles in health promotion and health improvement
Project delivery or advisory work with government agencies, e.g. HSE, local authorities
Research and data analysis at various higher education institutes
National health assessment groups

The career opportunities available to strength and conditioning experts in Europe are expanding all the time, and this expansion appears likely to continue for the foreseeable future.

Most sports now recognise strength and conditioning as an integral part of their sport’s development, and success and most athletes consider the application of strength and conditioning as an important part of everyday preparation for training and competition.