Yearbooks

Programme: Higher Certificate in Sports Sciences

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Code Faculty Department
09110001 Faculty of Education Department: Humanities Education
Credits Duration NQF level
Minimum duration of study: 1 year Total credits: 122 NQF level:  05

Programme information

This programme provides a basis for knowledge and skills development to improve athlete performance by means of physical assessment, exercise and conditioning prescription, and research. It aims to develop coaches who can function successfully in an interdisciplinary environment in order to improve athletes’ and sports teams’ performances using the latest techniques and research. It will therefore strive towards internationally recognised academic excellence, but with local relevance. The programme will create an ideal learning environment incorporating lectures, tutorials, practical sessions, and problem solving. Students will receive teaching and training by leaders in the field of Sports Science and coaching. Students will get the opportunity to work with various sporting codes and athletes of various skill levels. Upon completion, it will provide students wanting to further their studies with the opportunity to apply for the BEd degree in the Faculty of Education, provided that a student is in possession of an NSC and complies with the minimum requirements for admission to a bachelor's degree.

Admission requirements

Important information for all prospective students for 2022

  • The admission requirements apply to students who apply for admission to the University of Pretoria with a National Senior Certificate (NSC) and Independent Examination Board (IEB) qualifications.
  • Applicants with qualifications other than the abovementioned should refer to:
    • Brochure: Undergraduate Programme Information 2022: Qualifications other than the NSC and IEB, available at click here.
  • Citizens from countries other than South Africa (applicants who are not South African citizens) should also refer to:
  • School of Tomorrow (SOT), Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) and General Education Development Test (GED): The University of Pretoria no longer accepts qualifications awarded by these institutions.
  • National Certificate (Vocational) (NCV) Level 4: The University of Pretoria may consider NCV candidates, provided they meet the exemption for bachelor’s status criteria and the programme requirements.

Transferring students

A transferring student is a student who, at the time of application for a degree programme at the University of Pretoria (UP) –

  • is a registered student at another tertiary institution, or was previously registered at another tertiary institution and did not complete the programme enrolled for at that institution, and is not currently enrolled at a tertiary institution, or has completed studies at another tertiary institution, but is not currently enrolled at a tertiary institution, or has started with tertiary studies at UP, then moved to another tertiary institution and wants to be readmitted at UP.

A transferring student will be considered for admission based on

  • an NSC or equivalent qualification with exemption to bachelor’s or diploma studies (whichever is applicable); and meeting the minimum faculty-specific subject requirements at NSC or tertiary level; or having completed a higher certificate at a tertiary institution with faculty-specific subjects/modules passed (equal to or more than 50%), as well as complying with faculty rules on admission;
  • previous academic performance (must have passed all modules registered for up to the closing date of application ) or as per faculty regulation/promotion requirements;
  • a certificate of good conduct.

Note: Students who have been dismissed at the previous institution due to poor academic performance, will not be considered for admission to UP.

Returning students

A returning student is a student who, at the time of application for a degree programme –

  • is a registered student at UP, and wants to transfer to another degree at UP, or was previously registered at UP and did not complete the programme enrolled for, and did not enrol at another tertiary institution in the meantime (including students who applied for leave of absence), or has completed studies at UP, but is not currently enrolled or was not enrolled at another tertiary institution after graduation.

A returning student will be considered for admission based on

  • an NSC or equivalent qualification with exemption to bachelor’s or diploma studies (whichever is applicable); and meeting the minimum faculty-specific subject requirements at NSC or tertiary level; or previous academic performance (should have a cumulative weighted average of at least 50% for the programme enrolled for);
  • having applied for and was granted leave of absence.

Note: Students who have been excluded/dismissed from a faculty due to poor academic performance may be considered for admission to another programme at UP.  The Admissions Committee may consider such students if they were not dismissed more than twice. Only ONE transfer between UP faculties will be allowed, and a maximum of two (2) transfers within a faculty.

Important faculty-specific information on undergraduate programmes for 2022

  • The closing date is an administrative admission guideline for non-selection programmes. Once a non-selection programme is full and has reached the institutional targets, then that programme will be closed for further admissions, irrespective of the closing date. However, if the institutional targets have not been met by the closing date, then that programme will remain open for admissions until the institutional targets are met.
  • The following persons will be considered for admission to the Higher Certificate in Sports Science Education: Candidates who are in possession of a certificate that is deemed by the University to be equivalent to the required National Senior Certificate with university or diploma endorsement; candidates who are graduates from another tertiary institution or have been granted the status of a graduate of such an institution; and candidates who are graduates of another faculty at the University of Pretoria.
  • Applicants who only obtained an admission to diploma studies endorsement for the NSC and who comply with all other admission requirements for this programme, may be considered for admission to the Higher Certificate only.
  • Life Orientation is excluded when calculating the APS. 
  • As soon as candidates are admitted, they will be informed that they must register at the University in January of the following year. It is in the interest of prospective students, in particular those who need financial support and/or placement in a residence, to apply as soon as possible.
  • All modules will be presented in English, as English is the language of tuition, communication and correspondence.

University of Pretoria website: click here

Minimum requirements

Achievement level

English Home Language or English First Additional Language

APS

NSC/IEB

4

20

*Admission to BEd with a Higher Certificate in in Sports Science Education 

Applicants who only obtained an Admission to diploma studies endorsement after the final NSC or equivalent qualification, may be considered for admission to the BEd Senior Phase and FET Teaching degree (09133031), with specialisation in the elective combination of Human Movement Studies and Sport Management, if they complete the Higher Certificate in Sports Science Education successfully with a minimum cumulative weighted average of 60% (excluding JRC 150 (Sports Practical 150)). These applications will have to be approved Senate’s discretionary via the Faculty Board.

 

 

Minimum credits: 120

Fundamental modules

Core modules

  • Module content:

    The main focus of this module is on personal development and therefore the question: “Who am I?” is posed. The content is designed to focus on the student as individual and on the various factors that influence individual development. Students are guided to develop relevant knowledge, intrapersonal skills and attitudes to display resilient behaviour.

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  • Module content:

    The module focuses on producing academic texts. Students learn how to use different modes of writing, including description, discussion, cause and effect, explanation and argumentation. They learn how to plan, write and edit an academic essay using a process approach. Specific attention is paid to engaging with other authors, and referencing appropriately. The module also pays attention to formatting academic work and representing verbal information visually.

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  • Module content:

    The module focuses on producing academic texts. Students learn how to use different modes of writing, including description, discussion, cause and effect, explanation and argumentation. They learn how to plan, write and edit an academic essay, using a process approach. Specific attention is paid to engaging with other authors, and referencing appropriately. The module also pays attention to formatting academic work and representing verbal information visually. Additional support is provided through practical tasks and discussions.

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  • Module content:

    The purposes of physical activities as well as theories and philosophies of movement are studied.  In addition, the coaching of young athletes and the challenges facing the teacher as coach receive attention. The importance of planning as the first phase of sports management is emphasised.

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  • Module content:

    This module introduces the student to basic knowledge and understanding of motor development. Attention is also paid to the analysis of human motor growth and development in regular populations. Growth, maturation, physical activity and performance of children and adolescents as they progress from birth to young adulthood are included.

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  • Module content:

    In this module students are introduced to the structure and functions of systems in the human body.  The skeletal system and the muscular system receive primary attention. Additionally, students acquire knowledge and skills in management – particularly organizational skills in the sports context.

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  • Module content:

    Sport-specific skills, team situation; rules and regulations, refereeing; game analysis; coaching. The main focus of this practical module is to provide students with exposure to exercise delivery techniques as well as provide valuable experience in the administrative duties for their selected sport. This will help the student to better understand the physical demands and the administrative responsibilities for their selected sport. Community Engagement / Service Learning.

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  • Module content:

    This module is a broad introduction to sport and recreation as products in the market. Students discover the nature of sport and recreation, the difference between the concepts and policies, plans, strategies and structures of sport and recreation in South Africa and Zone VI in Africa. The dynamic scope and nature of recreation and sports management are introduced and discussed. Emphasis is placed on basic management tasks and functions in sport and recreation contexts, interpersonal skills, leadership and control systems and techniques in sport and recreation. The module establishes a foundation of management knowledge and skills on which subsequent sport and recreation management modules are built.

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  • Module content:

    Bio-mechanic factors, causes of injuries, soft-tissue injuries, podiatry, first aid, massage, strapping and CPR. Supervised practice of 20 hours.The main focus of this module is on principles of first aid, causes of injuries, soft-tissue injuries,sport massage and fundamentals of strapping. Students must acquire a recognised first aid certificate before the end of their first year.

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  • Module content:

    This module introduces the student to the field of basic nutrition. The module addresses key concepts related to nutrients and their work in the body and describes the role of foods and nutrients in energy balance and physical activity. The module will cover various aspects of self-evaluation of the student athlete. It will take the student on a learning experience by application of sound nutrition principles: from assessment of current intake, correction of quantity of food, quality of food sources and meal planning to integrate theoretical aspects.  

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  • Module content:

    The main focus of this practical module is to introduce students to coaching and adjudication. Students must acquire a recognised sport coaching, refereeing and umpiring certificate in their selected sport. Students will also be introduced to fundamentals of developing a sport conditioning programme.

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  • Module content:

    This module aims to introduce students to the principles that underpin coaching practices. The module will cover the importance of developing coaching philosophies, roles undertaken by a coach and skills needed in order to coach effectively. The aim of this module is further to equip students with skills of coaching holistically, on the sports field, during practice sessions, competitions and beyond for life.

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The regulations and rules for the degrees published here are subject to change and may be amended after the publication of this information.

The General Academic Regulations (G Regulations) and General Student Rules apply to all faculties and registered students of the University, as well as all prospective students who have accepted an offer of a place at the University of Pretoria. On registering for a programme, the student bears the responsibility of ensuring that they familiarise themselves with the General Academic Regulations applicable to their registration, as well as the relevant faculty-specific and programme-specific regulations and information as stipulated in the relevant yearbook. Ignorance concerning these regulations will not be accepted as an excuse for any transgression, or basis for an exception to any of the aforementioned regulations.

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