EXERSCI 105 : Exercise Prescription

Science

2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

An introduction to the risks and benefits of exercise, exercise policy and safety, physical fitness testing, guidelines for exercise test administration, principles of exercise prescription, cardiorespiratory and neuromuscular training.

Course Overview

What should my heart rate be when exercising? How do you measure someone's fitness? How can exercise improve fitness? If you are asking yourself these types of questions then you will benefit from this course. This course is designed for anyone with an interest in learning how to prescribe exercise and physical activity for healthy people. In this course, you will learn how to implement pre-exercise evaluation and screening processes, exercise assessment, and exercise prescription principles for the purposes of measuring a healthy person's exercise ability. 

EXERSCI 105 is an compulsory course in the Exercise Sciences undergraduate major.

Course Requirements

Restriction: SPORTSCI 105, 205

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Science

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Screen apparently healthy individuals to determine readiness for exercise. (Capability 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8)
  2. Describe guidelines for pre-exercise screening, exercise assessment and exercise prescription in apparently healthy adults. (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 6)
  3. Discuss methods for the assessment of body composition, cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness in apparently healthy adults. (Capability 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8)
  4. Use current evidence based guidelines to prescribe appropriate exercise interventions for apparently healthy adults. (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 6)
  5. Distinguish roles of exercise and health professionals within exercise science settings and judge when to refer. (Capability 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Final Exam 50% Individual Examination
Test 20% Individual Test
Lab Assessments 30% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Final Exam
Test
Lab Assessments

Key Topics

This course is divided into three modules: screening and supervision, exercise assessment, and exercise prescription.

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.

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.   

Workload Expectations

This is a standard 15-point course, and students are expected to spend 10 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 hours of online material, 2 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. 

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

A remote version of the course can be made available to students located overseas because of border restrictions, or those with an exemption to study remotely.

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including labs/tutorials to receive credit for components of the course.

Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials/labs will not be available as recordings.

The course will not include live online events.

Attendance on campus is required for the test/exam.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes 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.

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 Readings
Students 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

Health & 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).

Student Feedback

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 co-ordinators will consider all feedback.

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

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, tests and examinations 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. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

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.

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.

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 http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework 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 https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

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 your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

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 https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 13/11/2024 08:02 a.m.