Life at the Department of Sport and Exercise Science

Sport and Exercise Science is a discipline that focuses on how and why humans move. Through Sport and Exercise Science we study the mind, muscle, mechanics and metabolism to understand human health and performance in, young and old; the injured and elite performers.

Sport and Exercise Science includes four inter-related areas:

• human physiology – how the body works and responds to exercise, from cell to behaviour
• biomechanics – the quantitative analysis and simulation of movement performance
• sport psychology - understanding why we act and move the way we do
• movement neuroscience – exploring the role of the brain in sensing and moving

The disciplines are built upon foundations of:

• anatomy
• physiology
• biology
• chemistry
• mathematics
• psychology
• physics

Sport and Exercise Science uses sport and physical activity as vehicles to study human performance and health. It is a unique subject with close relationships to several other disciplines in sciences, health sciences and bioengineering. Graduates in Sport and Exercise Science contribute to science and evidence-based practice in health, sport, education and rehabilitation professions.

• Curiosity and excitement. Sport and Exercise Science digs below the skin to study physical activity and sport from cell to behaviour
• Career prospects. Wide and varied opportunities in health care, sport science, human performance, education, personal training, clinical research, exercise rehabilitation, cardiac rehabilitation, sports coordinator, medical products representative
• Postgraduate opportunities. Increased understanding of exercises science leads to specialisation in cardiac rehabilitation, exercise rehabilitation and exercise prescription
• Essential transferable skill-set. Problem solving, life-long learning, logical thinking, research informed, computational knowledge, analytical, laboratory competent, enhanced physical activity and health awareness, evidence-based practice
• Practical opportunities. Sport and Exercise Science is an integral part of the University of Auckland Clinics with service contributions to cardiac rehabilitation, exercise rehabilitation, performance assessment and training.