See Also

Bachelor of Sport Coaching BSpC

Introduction

The Bachelor of Sport Coaching (BSpC) is an internationally recognised three-year full-time qualification for people who wish to enhance their coaching knowledge and practice. The BSpC prepares you for a career in sport coaching and related fields.

The Bachelor of Sport Coaching is only available on campus and there is one intake in February each year. Numbers are limited to 35 students.

Features of the BSpC at UC

• Unique three-year professional degree
• Internationally recognised sport coaching qualification
• Small, friendly classes
• Strong practical element
• Leads to a range of sport-related careers

Entry requirements

Selection for entry is competitive and places are limited. A separate Application for Programme Entry (APE) to the College of Education is required.

Selection is based on academic ability, interest and involvement in sport coaching, community involvement, communication skills and other personal qualities. Most candidates will be interviewed. Applicants under 20 must have University Entrance. Applicants over 20 must provide evidence of recent, successful tertiary study.

The selection process includes a police check.

Students for whom English is an additional language must provide evidence of their English language ability as follows:

• IELTS (Academic) 7.0, with no individual score below 7.0; or
• At least two years of successful study in a New Zealand secondary school, with at least eight Level 2 NCEA credits in English (four reading and four writing).

We strongly recommend that you apply for programme entry as early as possible (applications open in July). Applications close four weeks prior to the commencement of the programme in February, or when places are filled (whichever comes first).

Apply for programme entry

Download an Application for Programme Entry (PDF, 321KB) or phone the Contact Centre on 0800 VARSITY (827 748). This includes the Application to Enrol. If your application is approved you will receive an offer of place letter.

Degree structure

The Bachelor of Sport Coaching requires the completion of courses to a total of 360 points. These are grouped into three main strands:

• Pedagogy (the theory and application of coaching and learning)
• Sport and exercise sciences
• Sociology of sport.

The first year of the degree provides foundation study in sport science, sport sociology and an introduction to coaching practice.

The second year focuses on the development of coaching/teaching skills, further development of sport and sociological knowledge, and the practical application of both in coaching practicum.

The final year of the degree continues to focus on ensuring that professional development and practice of coaching skills are established.

Subjects covered include sport physiology, biomechanics, sport psychology, social history of sport, sociology of sport, learning theory, sport management, communication skills, leadership, practicums and an internship.

For the full degree requirements see the Regulations for the Bachelor of Sport Coaching (University Regulations website).

Practical component

In each year students are required to undertake a practicum including coaching in a variety of contexts. In their first year students coach in a primary school. In the second year students are expected to coach an under-15-year-old team in a sport of their choice. Third-year students will be required to coach a team of their choice, either with a mentor coach as an ‘expert’ or under the supervision of the College tutor.

In their final year students have a workplace internship to apply their skills and learning. This internship is designed to assist students to enter the sport-related work environment.

Further study

Postgraduate opportunities exist here in New Zealand and overseas in areas such as pedagogy, sociology of sport and sport sciences.

Following the BSpC one further year of study towards a Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning (Secondary) enables you to become a secondary school physical education teacher.

Career opportunities

In addition to preparing students for sport coaching positions, the BSpC allows students to develops skills which can be useful in sport related fields and roles beyond coaching. These include roles as coach educators and sport development officers in national organisations, community groups and sporting federations, managerial and development roles in regional and national sporting organisations, sport co-ordinators in schools, mental skills trainers, exercise scientists, and recreation officers. Graduates are eligible to apply for further study in order to teach physical education in secondary schools. UC also offers postgraduate opportunities in areas of sport related study.

Contact

For more information email info@canterbury.ac.nz or freephone in NZ 0800 VARSITY (827 748).

For assistance with planning your programme of study contact a College of Education Student Advisor (advancing students) Student Liaison (new students) or visit Student Liaison’s course planning page (new students).