Master of Advanced Clinical Physiotherapy in Sports

at University of South Australia - City East Campus Australia

This Australian Physiotherapy Association accredited master’s degree is for qualified Physiotherapists who want to gain advanced clinical skills and knowledge in musculoskeletal physiotherapy. This is a critical specialisation within physiotherapy, as the skeleton provides a framework for the muscles and other soft tissues. Together, they support the body’s weight, maintain posture, and help a person to move freely.

What you'll learn

Musculoskeletal Physiotherapists assess and manage a wide range of patient problems within a biopsychosocial framework. With your master’s degree, you'll gain advanced biomedical and psychosocial knowledge, advanced physical and psychosocial examination skills, and advanced clinical reasoning.

You'll learn to communicate effectively with clients, community and industry partners to provide advanced physiotherapy management. This incorporates an appreciation of cultural diversity in promoting health and well-being in diverse clinical environments and among diverse populations – across both patients and peers.

Start your unstoppable career supporting people's health and wellbeing, with a double degree in exercise and sport science, combined with counselling and interpersonal skills.

This unique double degree – the only one of its kind in South Australia – will develop your expertise in physical, social and psychological science. You'll be prepared for work providing counselling to athletes, enhanced rehabilitation services and enhancing the physical health and mental wellbeing of the population.

This double degree can form the first part of a pathway to becoming a practising Psychologist (including sports psychologist) with further study in the Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), and the first part of a pathway to teaching with further study in the Master of Teaching (Secondary).

What you'll learn

This unique double degree will provide you with expertise in the science of exercise and sport, human thought and behaviour. You’ll develop cognitive and creative skills to solve real-world scientific problems and apply your knowledge in diverse contexts such as sports and mental health.  

You'll learn how to provide exercise advice, deliver strength and conditioning services, do biomechanical analyses, and share skill acquisition knowledge to enhance people's physical and mental wellbeing from children, to elite athletes, to older people. 

Your courses in psychology theory and counselling will help you enter the workforce with a strong understanding of the analytical, communication and interpersonal skills needed to work with individuals, groups and communities.

In the first two years, you’ll study exercise and sport science courses, with an introduction to psychology, which will give you a solid understanding of:

• Human anatomy and physiology
• Fundamental movement skills
• Skill acquisition
• Physical activity and health

The third and fourth years have a strong practical focus. You’ll develop critical thinking and practice-based skills to:

• Develop influencing skills and intervention strategies
• Gain knowledge of psychological disorders, including their causes and range of treatments
• Study the relationship between psychology and physical activity

The Graduate Diploma in Health Services Management will extend your skills to excel in leadership and management roles.

In just one year of full-time study, (or two years part-time equivalent) you’ll develop the skills and knowledge to make informed decisions in a managerial capacity in the health and aged care sectors.

What you'll learn
You'll develop the skills and knowledge to:

• Understand theoretical and practical knowledge of organisational behaviour and the psychology of individuals and groups, including motivation and leadership.
• Lead a multi-stakeholder environment and handle social leadership challenges responsibly.
• Learn what it means to be an effective and responsible leader.
• Provide planning, budgeting and identify cost efficiencies to contribute in financial decision-making.
• Effectively plan, manage, execute and deliver projects to completion.
• Develop and enhance your understanding of the quality, safety, and risk management standards which apply in health and aged care.
• Prepare for leadership roles in health within Australia and internationally.

This is the only degree of its kind in South Australia, preparing you for a rewarding career in the highly specialised field of medical imaging.

Start your unstoppable career as a professional diagnostic radiographer, responsible for producing high quality medical images using various technologies and types of radiation to monitor and help diagnose injuries and illnesses.

What you'll learn

Medical imaging professionals are responsible for producing high quality medical images using various technologies and types of radiation to monitor and help diagnose injuries and illnesses. Their work includes general radiography such as x-rays, fluoroscopy, theatre or emergency imaging.

Throughout your degree, you’ll learn how to produce optimal images using complex equipment while caring for patients. You’ll also complement your clinical skills with valuable interpersonal skills, such as communication and collaboration.

During your first year, you’ll focus on basic sciences at the core of the study and practice of medical radiation science. You’ll cover a range of topics, including anatomy, physiology, pathology and radiation physics. These core subjects introduce you to the scientific principles surrounding medical radiation.

You’ll apply these concepts to professional practice through clinical placements, which begin in your second year and continue through third and fourth years.

Throughout your degree you’ll take part in regular pre-clinical preparation workshops to further extend your skills as you move into advanced areas of practice.

This unique double degree combines a deep understanding of the human body’s physicality with business skills in sports performance, marketing and leadership.

Through theoretical and practical learning, you’ll be ready to make an impact on the nutritional and physical health, fitness and wellbeing of the community, sporting professionals and sporting organisations alike. Further study opportunities may include a Master of Health Services Management.

What you'll learn

Through this four-year double degree, you’ll complete core courses across both human movement and sport and recreation management.

Your first year will give you foundational knowledge in human anatomy, as well as the evolving discipline of human movement, exercise and sport science, health and physical activity, physiology and leisure concepts in modern Australian society. You’ll develop mathematical and statistical skills for business and management, learn about group and team psychology, and gain an understanding of motor development.

From your second year, you’ll get to broaden your knowledge in exercise physiology, marketing and economics principles, and develop a sound understanding of sport and recreation governance, structure, legislation and policy frameworks.

You can choose to study a sub-major (six courses) in Sports Coaching or you can complete four electives across a range of complementary areas including Exercise and Sports Science, Health, Physical and Outdoor Education or Nutrition.

Your third year of study will give you advanced skills in motor control and learning, nutrition, business intelligence and management, the sociology of health, physical activity and sport, sport governance, and entrepreneurship for social and market impact. You can also choose an advanced health elective or study the psychology of health, exercise and sport.

Your final year will develop your professional practice skills through an industry placement in either Human Movement or in Sport and Recreation Management. You’ll further develop your skills in strategic management, leadership in recreation and sport, recreation planning in the urban environment, and international business environments.

As the only degree of its kind in South Australia, the Bachelor of Outdoor and Environmental Leadership combines foundational environmental science and outdoor leadership concepts to equip future outdoor education professionals with a unique set of skills and knowledge.

This industry-relevant degree provides the foundational skills and knowledge for a rewarding career in nature-based tourism, environmental interpretation, education, adventure therapy or adventure-based leadership. Develop the reflective, evaluative and critical-thinking skills required to implement and lead culturally aware and environmentally sustainable outdoor experiences.

What you'll learn
This degree explores an integrated range of industry-relevant topics balancing core concepts of bioscience and social science. Through your studies, you’ll develop core knowledge and skills in biodiversity, ecology, coastal environments, earth systems, sustainable ecosystems and caring for Country.

Your final year will strengthen your understanding of professional practice and advanced environmental science, as well as develop your specialised management skills to transition you into the workforce.

As well as placement opportunities within leading industry environments, you can apply your learned skills through intensive fieldwork including:

• Leading an introductory kayaking or canoeing experience for UniSA students
• Planning and implementing a four-day experiential learning program
• Conducting interpretive experiences such as a ‘Water Workshop’ at a primary school
• Undertaking a week-long immersive field trip including a day of service learning in areas such as the Nantawarrina Indigenous Protected Area

What you'll learn

The Master of Physiotherapy (Graduate Entry) will teach you to assess, treat and prevent human movement disorders across various areas of practice, including sport, musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory, and neurological conditions in people of all ages.

The beginning of the degree will cover topics in evidence-based practice, clinical reasoning skills, professional practice skills, the mechanisms and management of pain; and the theory, assessment, and management for cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and neurological conditions. A central component of this master’s degree in clinical placements, which commence in the second half of your first year of study, in the area of acute care.

What you'll learn

The Bachelor of Human Movement offers an exciting combination of theoretical, conceptual and hands on learning. From your first year, you can select from primary streams in either Exercise and Sport Science or Health and Physical Education. If you choose to study the Exercise and Sport Science stream, you can also study a secondary stream in Advanced Exercise and Sport Science, Rehabilitation Sciences, Sports Coaching, Health Promotion or Nutrition. If you pursue the Health and Physical Education Stream, you can study a second learning area chosen from a wide range of options including Outdoor Education, Mathematics, Science, English and Nutrition. Visit the Health and Physical Education (H&PE) teacher page to find out more.

During your first year of study, you'll develop a strong foundation in:

• Human anatomy and physiology
• Human movement
• Health and physical activity
• Motor development and ageing
• Group and team psychology

Second year studies will focus on:

• Motor learning and control
• Human nutrition
• Exercise physiology
• Biomechanics

This degree teaches you practical skills and effective communication techniques to interact confidently with clients and peers, complete client screenings, conduct laboratory and field testing, interpret scientific research, and design and implement exercise and training programs.

This unique degree offers practice-based and theoretical learning to ensure you’re primed for a healthy career.

During the first two years you’ll explore both nutrition and food science topics, gaining a strong understanding of the key elements of each. You’ll complete group work and research on topics, including environmentally sustainable food practice, in the sensory lab. You’ll get to analyse micro-organisms and explore key topics like food contamination in the microbiology lab. 

Your knowledge will be developed in:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Health in our society
• Human and lifespan nutrition
• Biochemistry
• Physiology
• The chemistry of food
• Food quality and safety
• Relationships between food bioactives and health
• Consumer education
• Influences of the senses on consumer food choice
• Food sustainability

In your third year you’ll specialise in either a nutrition or food science stream.

If you choose nutrition, you’ll get to develop:

• Essential communication skills across a variety of platforms
• Skills to promote good health through food and nutrition in the community
• Dietary and exercise plans to manage weight
• Nutrition for sports, exercise and activity
• Sustainable nutrition choices

If you choose food science, you’ll focus on:

• Food microbiology
• Quality assurance in food processing and manufacturing
• Developing safe, nutritionally and environmentally sound foods for the marketplace
• Food and beverage fermentation

Project management is a highly regarded discipline, with demand increasing for individuals with project management skills in the Australian workforce1. Many industries rely on specialist project and program professionals with excellent practical skills and essential knowledge to plan and deliver projects on time, within budget, objectives, specifications, and outcomes that ultimately deliver value to their organisation and stakeholders.

This Graduate Diploma will equip you with advanced knowledge, tools and techniques in project management to manage complex projects and apply them across a broad range of industries.

This degree utilises the Standard for Project Management and A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) as a learning framework as well as relevant other industry standards in the field that are widely recognised and applied across different industries, businesses and government institutions.

This postgraduate qualification is offered as part of a suite of four programs (Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and Master(s)). Each qualification extends to the next, so you can easily transition to a master level qualification.

What you'll Learn
Throughout this program, you will learn advanced knowledge in project management, its widely applicable tools and techniques, and attain a versatile range of skill sets that you can apply to any complex project.

Our lecturers and facilitators come from both academia and industry. They are project management experts and practising industry professionals with extensive knowledge and experience.

You’ll get unconventional teaching and industry-relevant materials that support learning and upskilling needs.