BSc (Hons) Sport and Mathematics with Foundation Year

This module will include a study of the nature of sport in education and will provide an introduction to the application of Physical Education (PE) in a variety of educational settings. You will be introduced to key issues in PE such as inclusion, assessment, cross-curricular learning, citizenship and lifelong learning.

During this module, you will gain theoretical and practical understanding of the physical, social and psychological benefits of physical activity for young people. Through investigating physical activity prescriptions, levels and key exercise interventions, you will also gain a breadth and depth of understanding of the barriers young people face towards exercise and physical activity.

Complex Numbers and Matrices are introduced in this module and a study of their basic algebraic and geometric properties follows. The existence of complex numbers is first established via the solution of quadratic equations, where no real solution can exist, and this study is extended to apply the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra in the more general solution of polynomial equations.

This module focuses on developing your knowledge and understanding of algebra and graphs through various applications of ICT. Studies of algebraic sequences and inequalities are used to introduce you to abstract notation and to facilitate practice with core algebraic skills, and this is then used to inform a study of infinite series and to establish the notion of “convergence”.

You will learn about the evolution and development of the PE National Curriculum, lesson planning, practical organisation and differentiation in the physical environment. The module aims to introduce a range of teaching strategies, which can be used in PE and will provide the opportunity for you to create an appropriate teaching environment for learners to acquire physical, emotional and social skills.

During the course of this module, you will learn about the theories of sports development and will explore and evaluate policies that guide its direction. Leadership within local authorities, governing bodies and voluntary organisations will be examined alongside the practicalities of policy implementation at a national, regional and local level.

This module is deliberately structured in an open-ended way to allow placements and/or projects to be developed which are most suited to your potential future career. Working with your appointed tutor, you will be allocated an appropriate placement or project which will enable you to meet the learning outcomes and to have a valuable experience of a real-life work-related situation.

This module seeks to extend your knowledge and understanding of differential calculus into two and three-dimensional space. The basic notions of rate-of-change, derivative and integral are revisited algebraically from first principles, and various key results are then extended to apply in two and three dimensions to provide you with a visual awareness of how these concepts apply to the physical world.

General concepts of mathematical modelling are introduced, which enables you to construct appropriate empirical models and to make predictions about real world phenomena. Fundamental laws of conditional probability are applied to appropriate probabilistic modelling situations, including Bayesian processes and Markov chains.

Core lectures and the seminar/workshop sessions will examine different aspects of quantitative enquiry, including, for example: the meaning of statistical data, raw data extraction and manipulation, correlation and deviation, inference and interpretation and graphic representation. You will consider the design, relevance, application and value of particular quantitative and statistical methods in relation to applied, global issue study contexts.

Through analysing different types of sport and exercise activities, you will be able to apply physiological and psychological principles to practical situations ranging from exercising for health to physical training for enhanced athletic performance. You will have opportunity to work in groups and will conduct an investigative project to examine the reliability and validity of a specific measurement protocol or technique.

This module will include a study of the contemporary social, cultural, political and ethical issues in sport and physical education. The focus of the module will vary according to changing issues in the sporting world, and you will be given the opportunity to explore, research, discuss and critically evaluate a particular contemporary issue from within your chosen theme.

The module will focus on equipping you to undertake an ethically approved research project. During this module you will follow your methodology, carrying out data collection before performing the analysis and discussion of results, resulting in a sustained piece of work.

This module continues the theme of applying mathematics to real world phenomena, but extends the models to employ more advanced mathematical methods of Differential Equations. You will engage in various individual or group projects, where appropriate models are designed and applied in a number of physical situations.

You will research a number of current issues in mathematics education, including the appropriate application of ICT, common mathematical errors and misconceptions, active engagement strategies, developing programmes for learning, on-line resources and up-to-date curricular influences. Research findings are imparted to the main student group through student-led seminars, and for the purposes of practical work, you will critically analyse your own teaching and that of peers in practical teaching situations, as appropriate.

This module will focus on equipping you to undertake a small–scale research project. The specific topic is chosen in consultation with your supervisor; this is usually an aspect of the historical development of mathematics or some modern application.