Objectives and competences

The master's degree in Physical Activity and Health, organized by the National Institute of Physical Education of Catalonia (INEFC), trains professionals specialized in the prescription of physical exercise for improved health and the prevention of injury among athletes and the general population.

This 60-credit master's degree covers two areas of specialization, designed to provide professionals and researchers with advanced knowledge of the prescription of physical activity (PEF) and sport rehabilitation and readaptation (RRE). The programme is intended for graduates in physical activity and sport sciences and similar disciplines (medicine, physiotherapy, nursing, psychology, etc.) who are interested in the field as a scientific or professional pursuit.

Basic information

TypeMaster's degree
Faculty or schoolNational Institute of Physical Education - INEFC
Branch of knowledge
Mode of delivery
  • Face-to-face
Credits60
Number of places available35
Length of course1 academic year
Language(s) of instruction45 % Catalan - 45 % Spanish - 10 % English
CoordinationINEF INEF
E-mailsuportmasters.inefcbcn@gencat.cat
Course detailsIndicators
Open pre-enrolmentNo
Open enrolmentNo
Lead to doctoral studiesYes
Admission for applicants not holding a degree qualificationNo
Bridging coursesYes
Specializations
  • Prescription of Physical Activity
  • Sport Rehabilitation and Readaptation

Objectives and competences

Objectives

This course aim to train high-level experts in the areas of physical activity and health, with either a scientific or professional focus. Therefore, students who successfully complete the programme will be able to:
  • Apply the latest scientific knowledge and methodological resources to design and direct physical activities that prevent or improve illness and minimize health risks through physical exercise, tailored to the requirements of each individual.
  • Prevent the risk of injury and improve physical recovery, taking into consideration the specific characteristics of different sports and sportspeople.
  • Demonstrate the level of general scientific training required to enrol in a doctoral programme in the field of physical activity and health.

Competences

Upon completion of the degree, students will be able to:
  • Plan the prescription of physical activity for healthy people, people with illnesses and people with sport-related injuries, designing and applying different physical exercise protocols adapted to the specific requirements of each individual.
  • Identify and use tools for assessing physical condition and the degree of physical activity of individual sportspeople, monitoring development and understanding the psychological strategies suitable for use in specific cases.
  • Integrate and apply general scientific knowledge related to physical activity and health, using advanced information and communication tools to review and interpret scientific advances and to interpret medical reports.
  • Develop habits of excellence in the performance of scientific and/or professional tasks, incorporating critical and self-critical thinking and multidisciplinary teamwork.
  • Design advanced research methods in the field of physical activity and health.
  • Apply the knowledge acquired to current problems in the field.

Access and admission

Applicant profile and access requirements

Recommended applicant profile

This master's degree is intended for any graduate in a discipline related to physical activity and health who is interested in learning more about designing and implementing exercise and/or training programmes for the maintenance or improvement of health and sport rehabilitation.
All candidates should be proficient users of standard computer software, have a basic understanding of statistical software, and be able to demonstrate a sufficient level of English to understand original scientific documentation. Additionally, candidates must have prior knowledge of anatomy, kinesiology, the physiology of exercise, biomechanics and sport training theory.

Access requirements and conditions

General requirements
In accordance with Article 16 of Royal Decree 1393/2007, of 29 October, students wishing to be admitted to a university master's degree must hold one of the following qualifications:

  • Official Spanish university degree.

  • A degree issued by a higher education institution within the European Higher Education Area framework that authorizes the holder to access university master's degree courses in the country of issue.

  • A qualification issued by an institution outside the framework of the European Higher Education Area. In this case, applicants must request homologation of the degree to its equivalent official Spanish university qualification or obtain express approval from the University of Barcelona, which will conduct a study of equivalence to ensure that the degree is of a comparable level to an official Spanish university qualification and that it grants access to university master's degree study in the country of issue. Admission shall not, in any case, imply that prior qualifications have been recognized as equivalent to a Spanish master's degree and does not confer recognition for any purposes other than that of admission to the master's degree course.

Specific requirements
  • Profile A. Candidates who hold an undergraduate degree in physical activity and sport sciences, medicine, physiotherapy or occupation therapy must complete 60 credits to obtain the master's degree.
  • Profile B. Candidates who hold an undergraduate degree in biomedical sciences, nursing, psychology or human nutrition and dietetics must complete 30 credits of bridging subjects before moving on to the first 30 credits of the master's degree programme. These bridging subjects are taken from the bachelor's degree in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences offered by the INEFC and are intended to provide the basic training that all students need in order to tackle the more specialized content of the master's degree programme.
  • In addition to the general requirements established in the UB regulations, candidates must be able to demonstrate a level of English equivalent to B1 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, or higher.

Pre-enrolment

Calendar

Course calendar, documentation and enrolment

Required documentation

Selection criteria

If the number of candidates exceeds the maximum number of places offered, the order of acceptance will be based on the following criteria:
  • Grade point average for the degree programme used for the purposes of access to the master's degree (40 %).
  • Professional experience and experience of volunteering (20 %). The number of years of experience in positions related to physical conditioning, sport rehabilitation and health will be taken into account.
  • Scientific background in the field of physical activity and health (20 %). Special consideration will be given to candidates who have published articles, presented at conferences and attended courses and seminars.
  • Suitability of the chosen area of specialization to the candidate's professional career (as documented in the CV submitted for pre-enrolment) and research background (attendance of and participation in conferences, publications, collaboration in research projects, etc.) (20 %).

Candidates with disabilities will receive additional credit of 5 %. Official documentation accrediting the stated disability must be provided.

Elite national athletes in sports related to nature will receive additional credit of 5 %. Official documentation accrediting elite status must be provided.

Notification

The Coordination Committee is responsible for decisions on admission to the programme and notifies all candidates of the outcome of their application by e-mail or telephone within fifteen days of the close of the pre-enrolment period.
Candidates can request a review of the decision or lodge a complaint about the selection procedure within ten working days of the announcement of results.

Enrolment

As a general rule, at the UB you will be required to enrol online. Remember that you can lose your place if you do not enrol on the day you have been assigned

Course curriculum

Subjects and course plans

Distribution of credits

Type ECTS
Compulsory 25
Optional 20
Compulsory placements 0
Compulsory final project 15
TOTAL 60

List of subjects

Subject Type Language Credits
Specialization: BC for admission to the Master's Degree in Physical Activity and Health
Kinesiology and Technology of Physical Exercise Optional 6
Physical Activity and Sports Biomechanics Optional 6
Theory of Physical Training I Optional 6
Theory of Physical Training II Optional 6
Theory of Physical Training III Optional 6

Bridging courses

Subject Type Language Credits
Specialization: Prescription of Physical Activity
Advanced Biomechanics of Physical Activity and Sport Compulsory 2.5
Advanced Physiology of Physical Activity and Sport Compulsory 2.5
Advanced Technologies for Measuring Strength, Balance and Muscle Tone Compulsory 2.5
Conditioning and Emotional Control in Physical Activity and Sport Optional 2.5
Data and Document Processing Techniques Compulsory 2.5
Development of Good Educational Practices in the Areas of Values, Integration and Diversity Optional 2.5
Matlab Programming Optional 2.5
Neuropsychology in Physical Activity and Sport Mental Disorders and Addictive-Compulsive Behaviour Optional 2.5
New Perspectives of Physical Exercise and Psychological Well-Being Compulsory 2.5
Nutrition and Dietary Supplements Optional 2.5
Physical Activity and Diseases of the Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems Optional 2.5
Physical Activity and the Musculoskeletal System Optional 2.5
Physical Activity in Oncology, Rheumatology, Endocrine and Digestive Systems Optional 2.5
Physical Activity, Emotional Disorders, Addictive Behaviour Compulsory 2.5
Principles of Computer Programming Optional 2.5
Professional cases in Physical Exercise Prescription Optional 5
Professional Placement Optional 5
Psychobiology Optional 2.5
Research Methodology in Physical Activity and Sports Compulsory 5
Scientific Communication Optional 2.5
Specific Techniques of Functional Assessment in Physical Activity, Sport and Health Optional 2.5
Specific Training Methods for Health Optional 2.5
Statistics for Experimental Designs in Physical Activity and Sport Compulsory 5
TFM Compulsory 15
Specialization: Sport Rehabilitation and Readaptation
Advanced Biomechanics of Physical Activity and Sport Compulsory 2.5
Advanced Physiology of Physical Activity and Sport Compulsory 2.5
Advanced Technologies for Measuring Strength, Balance and Muscle Tone Compulsory 2.5
Biomarkers: Adaptation to Exercise, Injury and Fatigue Optional 2.5
Conditioning and Emotional Control in Physical Activity and Sport Optional 2.5
Data and Document Processing Techniques Compulsory 2.5
Development of Good Educational Practices in the Areas of Values, Integration and Diversity Optional 2.5
Functional Rehabilitation for Sports Injuries Optional 2.5
Matlab Programming Optional 2.5
Neuropsychology in Physical Activity and Sport Mental Disorders and Addictive-Compulsive Behaviour Optional 2.5
New Perspectives of Physical Exercise and Psychological Well-Being Compulsory 2.5
Nutrition and Dietary Supplements Optional 2.5
Physical Activity, Emotional Disorders, Addictive Behaviour Compulsory 2.5
Principles of Computer Programming Optional 2.5
Professional Cases relating to Royal Decrees Optional 5
Professional Placement Optional 5
Psychobiology Optional 2.5
Research Methodology in Physical Activity and Sports Compulsory 5
Risk Factors and Prevention of Sports Injuries Optional 2.5
Scientific Communication Optional 2.5
Specific Techniques of Functional Assessment in Physical Activity, Sport and Health Optional 2.5
Specific Training Methods for Health Optional 2.5
Statistics for Experimental Designs in Physical Activity and Sport Compulsory 5
TFM Compulsory 15

Previous years

Placements

Placements in a company or another type of organization are an integral part of university studies, providing first-hand experience of working methodologies in students' chosen professional fields. They offer invaluable practical experience for the transition into work after graduation.



Placements are supervised by tutors and subject to assessment. They are therefore included in the academic record.  There is also an option to complete non-curricular placements of up to 500 hours, which can be extended to 900 hours. For both curricular and non-curricular placements, an educational cooperation agreement is signed between the UB and the company, institution or other organization at which the placement will be carried out.



Institutional information


Career opportunities

What can you work on ?

  • Health promotion in a variety of professional areas.
  • Management of physical activity services through highly-specialized rehabilitation or prevention actions tailored to the needs of individuals, groups or communities.
  • Positions in sports clubs.
  • Positions at companies in the leisure and recreation sector.
  • Positions in care homes for the elderly.
  • Positions in rehabilitation centres.
  • Research.

Access to the labour market

Data from the university system in Catalonia

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