The aim of this module is to introduce the student to various systems of the human body and provide a foundation for more specific studies in Exercise Physiology, Human Nutrition and Physical Activity modules. The module places particular emphasis on specialised knowledge and theoretical concepts in physiological systems including the Nervous system, Sense Organs, Excretory, Endocrine, and Reproductive systems . Skills sets in basic laboratory procedures and human health testing relating to the aforementioned physiological systems are developed in parallel.

1. Demonstrate knowledge and relate concepts of various human physiological systems to health; namely nervous, excretory, endocrine, reproductive and sensory systems.
2. Demonstrate a range of laboratory skills in physiological laboratory experimentation.
3. Research, devise and conduct physiological experiments to self defined problems relevant to systems covered
4. Work individually or as part of a team to record and present physiological data in a variety of formats

This module will further explore the determinants of health with greater emphasis on the socio-ecological and environmental determinants of health and the interactions between the various determinants.

1. Justify why one would take a determinants of health approach to promoting both individual and population health.
2. Explain the mechanisms through which the major socio-ecological and environmental determinants of health impact on the health of the individual and population.
3. Identify howhealth inequalities impact the health of populations – locally, nationally and globally.
4. Apply the determinants approach to various public health issues

Health Biochemistry 1 enables students to explain the functions, structures and properties of some macromolecules associated with living organisms namely, proteins, lipids and carbohydrates. Students also become proficient at related laboratory analysis.

1. Describe the structure, function and characteristics of proteins, lipids and carbohydrates
2. Perform calculations pertaining to solution preparation and accurately prepare such solutions
3. Describe the fundamental characteristics of buffers and experimentally determine some of those characteristics
4. Demonstrate proficiency in the performance of a variety of laboratory techniques
5. Utilize scientific knowledge and technical procedure to analyse, evaluate and explain specific experimental outcomes through oral and written communication

The module allows students to gain an understanding of the structure and function of normal human anatomy while providing a basis for the understanding and analysis of posture and normal human movement. It encourages students to apply their knowledge of anatomy in a practical setting. Topics covered include but not limited to: Universally accepted anatomical terminology and assessment of human movement with reference to such terminology. Assessment and analysis of human posture e.g. normal and abnormal postures, postural types. Introduction to the assessment of functional movement and training approaches. Identification and accurate palpation of upper and lower limb osseous, ligamentous, joint and muscular structures. Review and present common musculoskeletal injury mechanisms, assessment and treatments.

1. Demonstrate a good level of knowledge of principles of functional anatomy, normal human movement patterns, and postural alignment assessment.
2. Describe and apply appropriate tests to measure functional movement patterns that may contribute to injuries in the spine and peripheral joints or affect performance of sporting/daily activities.

3. In groups, plan and design a presentation of the injury mechanism, and treatment techniques; for a specific soft tissue injury.

4. Demonstrate an ability to identify functional anatomy and demonstrate joint range of movement.

This module aims to enable learners to identify the relevance of psychology to health and illness and related behaviours.

The module will introduce principles, theories and salient issues in health psychology and discuss the application of health psychology to health and health promotion practice.

1. Demonstrate knowledge of psychological theoryrelated to various aspects of health, illness and related behaviours.

2. Interact and participate effectively within a group environment.
3. Communicate health and psychological information effectively in a variety of forms.

The Making Every Contact Count training programme is available to all healthcare professionals in Ireland. It was developed in consultation with healthcare professionals and patients in order to provide effective tools and knowledge to carry out a brief intervention with patients or service users.

The Making Every Contact Count training modules include: Introduction to behaviour change – providing a foundation in behaviour change theory and techniques including the underlying principles of a patient centred approach. Four topic modules on smoking, alcohol and drugs, healthy eating and active living. A skills into practice module – demonstrates the skills of how to carry out a brief intervention across a range of topics through a suite of video scenarios using real life healthcare professionals

1. To demonstrate an understanding and awareness of health, lifestyle influences on health and key health recommendations

2. To demonstrate an understanding and awareness of health behaviour and process of health behaviour change

3. To communicate in a supportive, encouraging manner forhealth behaviour change

4. To optimise every opportunity for brief advice and brief interventions for healthy lifestyle behaviour for chronic disease prevention and management

5. To demonstrate effective integration of knowledge, skills and attitudes in the delivery of brief interventions

This module will enable the learner to study how the body responds to the acute and chronic stress of exercise or physical activity. It will discuss the various concepts associated with bioenergetics and muscle metabolism, energy expenditure and fatigue and the structure and function of exercising muscle. This module will also give the learner the opportunity to conduct relevant physiological field and lab based tests.

1. Demonstrate and utilise knowledge of the principle energy systems and sources and the interrelationship between systems at rest and during exercise.
2. Measure and interpret the capacity of the energy systems and energy expenditure at rest and during exercise..

3. Conduct tests to demonstrate the physiological principles affecting force production.
4. Examine the structure and function of skeletal muscle and force production.

This module will further develop the student's skills in the area of exercise science, equipping the learner with the theoretical concepts and practical skills to obtain, record and present health and fitness data from clients. The module will enable the learner to conduct and interpret flexibility, strength, local muscular endurance, body composition and field-based aerobic tests, and make subsequent activity recommendations. Health, safety, confidentiality and legislative considerations relevant to the exercise professional in undertaking these processes are also incorporated.

1. Conduct a risk assessment of an exercise setting and apply knowledge of risk management in an exercise setting and apply appropriate health and safety procedures in conducting safe, valid, and reliable health and fitness assessments.

2. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of general principles and concepts relevant to human health & fitness testing and those relevant to specific tests.

3. Select and implement health and fitness assessments appropriate for various individuals (measuring cardiovascular and muscular fitness, body composition and flexibility), interpret the information gathered and use it to inform subsequent recommendations for effective exercise programming for the individual.

4. Demonstrate the ability to gather, record, store and present health and fitness information related to the components of fitness as part of conducting the clients needs analysis, communicating appropriately with the client throughout.

The module will enable the student to explain the structures, characteristics, activities and health impact of specific molecular components and cellular metabolic processes.

1. Explain key characteristics of enzymes and demonstrate knowledge of enzymes of importance to human health. Experimentally determine enzymeactivity and some key properties.

2. Outline the characteristics of some important metabolic processes.
3. Review the fundamental characteristics of body defence systems including antibodies and experimentally determine the presence of antigen using immunoassays.
4. Detail and experimetally determine relevant characteristics of nucleic acids

5. Utilize scientific knowledge and demonstrate technical proficiency to procedure, analyse, evaluate and explain specific experimental outcomes.

This module builds on the structural kinesiology knowledge gained in 'Introduction to Kinesiology and Exercise Instruction' and 'Functional Anatomy and Kinesiology' modules by further developing neuromuscular fundamentals and basic biomechanical factors and concepts. This module will focus on evaluating, improving, and maintaining the muscular strength, endurance, flexibility, and overall health of individuals. It addresses musculoskeletal concerns of the physically active. The module will specifically address; the neuromuscular system and its motor control, methodologies and systems of measurement, biomechanics in sport, injury, and rehabilitation.

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the foundations of structural kinesiology, neuromuscular fundamentals, and basic biomechanical factors and concepts.

2. Explain and apply basic principles of the neuromuscular system and its motor control .

3. Outline methodologies and systems of measurement for analysis of kinematics and kinetics of upper and lower extremity function.

4. Work individually or as part of a team to identify individual biomechanics in sport, and injury.

This module aims to introduce students to the current risks posed to human health by a variety of viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens and to explain the modes and routes of transmission of pathogenic micro-organisms. The basic aspects of microbial pathogenesis will be described as will the role of the immune response in defence against, and response to, infection. The nature, prevalence and importance of the normal human microflora will be discussed. The transmission and control of zoonotic and hospital acquired infections will be described.

1. Explain the aetiology of selected microbial diseases.
2. Understand pathogenicity and virulence mechanisms of microorganisms.
3. Appreciate the relevance of epidemiology in predicting, controlling and identifyingdisease.
4. Demonstrate an appreciation of zoonotic, nosocomial and emerging pathogens and the issues surrounding their control.
5. Have a specialised knowledge of the impact of micro-organisms on human health and wellbeing.
6. Troubleshoot and propose solutions to defined problems.
7. Develop an autonomous personal view derived from debate and consultation with others.

This module will enable the learners to explain and demonstrate principles, concepts and inter-relationships between the circulatory, respiratory and endocrine systems at rest and during exercise.

1. Describe Cardiovascular and Respiratory control and regulation at rest and during exercise.

2. Describe the hormonal regulation of metabolism, fluid and electrolytes during exercise.

3. Use relevant scientific skills to perform measurements in ECG and Blood pressure at rest and in response to exercise.
4. Define, collect and analyse spirometry data (static and dynamic lung volumes and capacities).

This subject reviews relevant characteristics of various components of foods and their ability to fulfill the nutrient requirements of humans.

1. Explain the components of the diet and their relationships to health

2. Explain and differentiate key principles in relation to energy; intake and expenditure

3. Identify sources of and explain the role of macro-, micro-nutrients and other dietary components in the healthy diet

4. Discuss the relationship between the diet, digestion and health

5. Conduct practical work, interpret and evaluate the outcomes and communicate these effectively

Learners will become equipped with the core skills to develop a research design/methodology proposal for their research question. They will be able to plan a research project to be conducted in the following semester, and develop an ability to summarise, integrate and identify strengths, weaknesses and limitations of scientific writing. Learners will contrast various observational epidemiological designs and identify the appropriate use of each design, while developing basic skills in the use of bibliography software.

1. Describe the steps in undertaking research and develop a research design/methodology proposal for their research question.
2. Develop and review the appropriate literature for their research proposal and submit a generic assignment to improve scientific writing.
3. Summarise, integrate, compare and show evidence of critical analysis of scientific papers.
4. Compare and contrast various observational epidemiological designs and identify the appropriate use of each design.
5. Use bibliography software (Endnote) to improve writing skills.

Public health is identified as both the 'science and art of preventing disease, promoting and protecting and improving well-being through the organised efforts of society'. This module aims to give students the skills necessary for effective public health practice. These include assessing health problems, developing healthy public policies and effective health care systems. It involves working collaboratively across a variety of disciplines and researching and implementing evidence based practice to promote the health of the population.

1. Identify the core functions of public health and analyse current public health practice

2. Asses current public health problems and identify means of prioritising actions.
3. Analyse health policies and their development in Ireland and debate current health policy issues in relation to the provision of healthcare.
4. Develop an advocacy plan for developing or changing policy in Ireland showing an understanding of various mechanism for policy change.

5. Debate current policy and ethical issues in public health.

This module is designed for health science and nutrition students to provide them with, the knowledge of how to summarise and analyse data, to provide an insight into the concepts of probability and probability distributions, understanding of statistical methods for testing hypotheses, and to provide skills in using statistical software to analyse datasets.

1. Describe the rationale for and methods of selecting appropriate samples for a study
2. Graphically display and numerically summarise data using appropriate descriptive statistics
3. Apply probability and probability distributions to data analysis
4. Choose and apply appropriate tests of hypotheses based on a research problem and the characteristics of a dataset
5. Model the relationships between variables using linear regression analysis
6. Use an appropriate statistical software package to perform statistical analysis of data

This module will build on Health Promotion Practice I by aiming to give learners an understanding of the key principles and approaches to health promotion and the competencies and skills required to engage in the field of health promotion. Learners will be encouraged to analyse health promotion practice in terms of health promotion principles, competencies for health promotion and effectiveness of interventions.

1. Critically appraise differentapproaches to health promotion and assess how they impact on practice.

2. Identify appropriate strategies for health promotion at individual, community, organizational and policy level
3. Review the literature identifying different approaches and competencies necessary foreffective intervention implementation.

4. Describe the various competencies which health promotion practitionersuse in a variety of settings.

This module will enable the learner to apply various concepts and theories in exercise physiology and exercise prescription to practical settings involving specific populations. This application will equip learners with skills and competencies to plan, devise and lead physical activity programmes with various population groups.

1. Examine the physiologyand subsequent guidelines for a variety of specific and age defined populations.

2. Integrate theory into professional practice by designing physical activity programmes, considering the client’s competencies and requirements and identifying special considerations pertaining to the specific population group.
3. Be self-aware, open, appreciative and sensitive to others in a group environment working within allocated responsibility.
4. Work as part of a team to plan, prepare, deliver and evaluate physical activity sessionsfor group instruction to specific populations.

The module will enable the learner to review various positive and negative impacts that diet has on human health.

1. Discuss the nature, causes, influencing factors and treatment of cardiovascular disease, cancer, protein-energy malnutrition.
2. Explain the nature, sources and characteristics of microorganism groups , biological toxins and non-biological toxins which present food poisoning risks and state scenarios which result in increased risk of such disease transmission
3. Review the role of diet in maintenance of good health during various stages of life including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, adolescence, and old age.
4. Describe the role of nutrition in the achievement of optimal performance during sporting activities.