Trinity College Dublin - Clinical Exercise (Online)

Course Overview/Contact:

The aim of this course is to enable health care clinicians to prescribe exercise as a disease preventative and treatment modality in a safe, effective and scientific manner. This course will provide students with an evidence-based, clinically focussed online learning experience. The course will be structured, yet flexible in order to be accessible and relevant globally.

Course Structure:

The Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Exercise is offered as a one-year online course with students taking four core modules totalling 30 ECTS as follows:

 

Module Title	ECTS
The cardiovascular and respiratory system	10
Physical activity and exercise	5
Exercise in the prevention and treatment of disease	10
Exercise prescription for clinical populations	5

 

Assessment:

Students will be assessed through the timely submission of essays, case scenarios, reflections and through the completion of multiple choice quizzes. Marks will also be awarded for substantial relevant contributions to discussion boards and for engagement with online learning resources. The final mark awarded is based on a credit-weighted average of the mark awarded in each module.  The final mark for each module will be the weighted average mark derived from a combination of all the assessment elements. Students must observe all published deadline dates, which are final and have the status of examination dates. The pass mark is 50%.  Compensation between modules is not allowed. Students who fail to achieve a minimum of 50% in a written assessment element may resubmit with a deadline for resubmission of one month from the publication of the initial results. Only one resubmission will be allowed, and the maximum mark awarded for the resubmitted assignment is 50%.

A student who fails the overall module but who has not taken the opportunity to resubmit any failed elements will have one opportunity to resubmit failed written elements before the supplemental examination board.

Students who have successfully passed all the required modules and accumulated 30 ECTS will be considered for a Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Exercise.  Students who have achieved an overall credit-weighted average mark of at least 70% will be eligible for consideration for the award of Distinction in Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Exercise. A distinction cannot be awarded if a candidate has failed any credit during the period of study.

Course Options:

1 Year Part Time

Course Url

http://www.tcd.ie/online/clinicalexercise

Course Director

Dr John Gormley

Course Coordinator

TBC

Telephone Number

(01) 896 2128

Course Email

clinicalexercise@tcd.ie

Next Intake

September 2017

Closing Date

30 June 2017

The Online Learning Experience:

The online learning experience will be inherently different to that of face-to-face teaching. Advantages are that students can participate from anywhere in the world as long as they have the required qualifications and sufficient Internet access and technology to participate in the course. The online nature of this course affords flexibility to students whereby they can choose when and where to engage with the course material. With this flexibility however come challenges. The drop out rate of online courses is known to be higher than regular face-to-face courses. To encourage continued effective engagement with the course, and to get the most from this course, we would advise all students to set aside time each week to complete learning tasks assigned. For successful completion of this course, it is important to align your schedule with your motivation, and to contribute regularly to the online class community through discussion boards and participation in webinars. Communicating regularly with your classmates and academic staff can help you to benchmark your progress, and overcome any difficulties you encounter.

As the proposed course is at a postgraduate level, it is expected that much of the learning will be self directed, however guidance and support will be offered by the course coordinator in the form of open office hours, feedback on assignments and moderation of online discussions.

Testimonial

Having completed a BSc. (Hons) in Sport and Exercise Sciences, I was fortunate enough to be accepted to participate in the first Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Exercise course. This, for me, was an ideal choice that aptly linked my personal interests and current job responsibilities. Furthermore, the flexibility offered by online distance learning meant that I was able to study and take part in lectures from as far away as the Middle East while holding full-time employment.

Overall, the course was an enjoyable experience. Lectures were informative, thorough and delivered by friendly and knowledgeable individuals, while discussion forums often covered current and relevant topics. A particular highlight for me was the diverse range of backgrounds and experiences that each classmate brought with them. This facilitated a positive learning environment and allowed me to learn from a range of different views shared on a regular basis.

The in-depth knowledge I have gained while completing this course has provided me with confidence to safely assess and prescribe exercise to individuals who suffer from conditions that I had limited previous experience with.

Entry Requirements:

The programme will be open to graduates from medicine, nursing, dietetics and nutrition, medicine, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and physiology. Graduates from other degree courses will be assessed on an individual basis. Those with clinical experience will be prioritised. Successful applicants will hold a level 8 degree or equivalent professional degree at 2.1 level or equivalent.  Applicants who do not fit these criteria, but who have clinical experience will be assessed on an individual basis by the Dean of Graduate Studies.