4 - Sport, Health and Exercise Science SL

Course summary

Why study Sport, Exercise and Health Science? The IB DP course in Sport, Exercise and Health Science is offered at both standard and higher level. The course involves the study of the science that underpins physical performance. The course incorporates the traditional disciplines of anatomy and physiology, biomechanics, psychology and nutrition. Students cover a range of topics and carry out practical (experimental) investigations in both laboratory and field settings. This provides an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and understanding necessary to apply scientific principles and critically analyse human performance. Where relevant, the course will address issues of international dimensions and ethics by considering sport, exercise and health relative to the individual in a global context. Sport, Exercise and Health Science links to a variety of different professions and career pathways, including the study of Sports Science itself, where the completion of a research project is a real strength of the IB course. Sport, Exercise and Health Science can also be beneficial to a range of other fields, including, but not limited to; Education, Medicine, Psychology, Prosthetics, Elite Sports Services such as physiological and psychological analysis, physiotherapy. The students will be taught the following aspects: 1. Anatomy – The skeletal system and the muscular system 2. Exercise Physiology – Structure and function of the ventilator system and the structure and function of the cardiovascular system. 3. Energy Systems – Nutrition, Carbohydrate and fat metabolism and nutrition and energy systems. 4. Movement Analysis – Neuromuscular function, joint and movement types and the fundamentals of biomechanics. 5. Skills in Sport – The characteristics and classification of skill, information processing and the principles of skill learning. 6. Measurement and evaluation of human performance – Statistical analysis, study design, components of fitness and the principles of training programme design.