Why Study/Key Benefits

• The Bachelor of Sport and Exercise (Physical Education) develops knowledge and practical skills for teaching, leading and inspiring physical activity and sport in schools and communities.
• The Physical Education major focuses on engaging movement experiences, lifelong physical literacy, health, hauora and the role of physical education in society.
• Students gain practical competency in a range of physical activities while developing critical-thinking skills and understanding movement education from both socio-cultural and biophysical perspectives.
• The programme includes a sport and exercise practicum, providing real-world experience. The practicum can be completed anywhere in New Zealand and may also be undertaken overseas.
• The qualification provides a pathway into Massey’s Graduate Diploma of Learning and Teaching. Completing the relevant further teaching qualification can lead to eligibility to teach health, physical education and hauora in secondary schools or teach in primary schools, subject to the applicable Teaching Council requirements.
• The interdisciplinary structure allows students to select electives that can support a second teaching subject for those intending to enter secondary teaching.

Programme Structure and Subjects/Topics

The first year is common across the Bachelor of Sport and Exercise majors. Current core study includes:

• 234111 Introduction to Exercise and Training – 15 credits
  • Health and performance outcomes of exercise and training.
• 234121 Functional Anatomy – 15 credits
  • Musculoskeletal, neuromuscular and cardiopulmonary systems and their relationship to health, movement and exercise.
• 234131 Introduction to Sport Organisations and Development – 15 credits
  • Sport, fitness and physical-activity organisations and agencies.
• 234135 Sociology of Sport and Exercise – 15 credits
  • Sociological concepts and theories applied to sport and exercise.
• 234140 Introduction to Physical Education – 15 credits
  • Teaching models, management techniques, contemporary issues, diversity and the Treaty of Waitangi.
• 234141 Introduction to Human Movement and Hauora – 15 credits
  • Human movement, Te Ao Kori and holistic health and wellbeing.
• 234150 Study Skills for Sport and Exercise – 15 credits
  • Academic writing, research and study skills in a sport and exercise context.

The core schedule requires 105 credits selected from the approved core courses.

Physical Education major courses include:

• 151131 Introduction to Food and Nutrition – 15 credits
  • Social, cultural and psychological influences on food habits and fundamental nutrition.
• 234215 Fitness and Athletic Conditioning – 15 credits
  • Exercise techniques and fitness/conditioning programme development.
• 234222 Sport Biomechanics – 15 credits
  • Kinematics, dynamics, movement efficiency and qualitative analysis of sporting skills.
• 234223 Exercise Physiology – 15 credits
  • Human biological systems, energetics, muscular, cardiovascular and respiratory responses to exercise.
• 234236 Applied Sport Coaching – 15 credits
  • Contemporary coaching, long-term athletic development and youth sport.
• 234242 Motor Learning and Control – 15 credits
  • Principles and theories of motor control and their practical applications.
• 234243 Sport Pedagogy – 15 credits
  • Learning and teaching methodologies for physical activities and sports in educational settings.
• 234331 Sport and Physical Activity in the Social Context – 15 credits
  • Social, cultural, political, economic and educational contexts of sport and physical activity.
• 234338 Sport and Exercise Practicum – 30 credits
  • Practical experience in sport and exercise environments.
• 234343 Sport Pedagogy II – 15 credits
  • Effective sport pedagogy, particularly game instruction in school and sport contexts.
• 234346 Te Ao Kori and Health Promotion – 15 credits
  • Physical activity and health promotion in school, workplace and community settings and Te Ao Kori.

Disciplines/Specialisations

The Bachelor of Sport and Exercise currently offers these main specialisations:

• Exercise Science
• Physical Education
• Sport Development
• Without Specialisation

Programme Highlights

• NZQF level 7 bachelor's degree.
• 360 credits.
• Three years full-time.
• Manawat? campus and distance/online options.
• Blended learning model.
• 180-credit Physical Education major.
• Interdisciplinary study covering physical education, human movement, exercise, sport, health and social contexts.
• Practical sport and exercise experience through the practicum.
• Practicum can potentially be completed overseas.
• Strong pathway towards further teacher education.
• Opportunity to add a minor or electives.
• Massey reports that it is ranked among the top 150 globally for sports-related subjects in the QS World University Rankings. This is a university-level subject ranking rather than a ranking specifically for the Physical Education major.

Career Outcomes

Massey specifically identifies the following potential outcomes for Physical Education graduates:

• Physical education teacher, following additional teacher education.
• Primary school teacher, following the relevant teaching qualification.
• Secondary school health, hauora and physical education teacher, following the relevant teaching qualification.
• Sports coordinator in schools.
• Sports coordinator with local sports organisations.

Latest Updates/Special Requirements

• The current programme is a 360-credit Bachelor of Sport and Exercise with a 180-credit Physical Education major.
• It is available at Manawat? and through distance/online study.
• International students can study on campus in New Zealand or online from outside New Zealand.
• There are no additional programme-specific admission requirements beyond Massey’s university admission regulations.
• The programme includes practical learning and a 30-credit Sport and Exercise Practicum.
• The practicum can be undertaken in New Zealand or potentially overseas.
• Course prerequisites and restrictions apply to several higher-level courses.
• Students should plan prerequisite courses carefully before enrolment in later-level subjects.
• Returning students may be affected by changes to available majors, minors and courses under Massey’s transitional provisions.
• Exact availability of individual courses in a particular semester: Not publicly specified – please confirm with IPU.

International Student Visa Requirements

The visa position depends on the student's study mode.

For an international student studying entirely online from outside New Zealand, a New Zealand student visa is generally not required because the student is not entering New Zealand to undertake the programme.

For an international student studying at the Manawat? campus in New Zealand, the relevant visa is normally the New Zealand Fee Paying Student Visa.

Immigration New Zealand currently states that this visa:

• Costs from NZD 850.
• Can be granted for up to 4 years.
• Has an 80% processing timeframe of within 8 weeks.
• Requires an offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Requires evidence of sufficient tuition funding or an applicable scholarship.
• Requires evidence of sufficient living funds or an acceptable sponsor.
• Requires acceptable insurance.
• Requires applicants to meet health, character and genuine-intention requirements.
• Must be applied for online.
• Should be applied for at least 3 months before planned travel.

Living-cost funds:

• NZD 20,000 per year for tertiary study lasting one year or more.
• For study shorter than one year, the current requirement is NZD 1,667 per month.

Work rights:

• Eligible student-visa holders may be permitted to work up to 25 hours per week while studying.
• Full-time work may be permitted during scheduled holidays, depending on the conditions of the individual visa.
• Practical work experience that is a compulsory part of the course is treated separately from ordinary student employment hours when the provider confirms that it is a course requirement. This is particularly relevant because the BSpEx includes a practicum.