Dear Student,
Congratulations on your admission to the Masters of Science in Exercise & Sports Science (ESS) at MCAST. For nearly 20 years, MCAST has proudly welcomed new students, and we are excited for you to be part of this growing tradition. As a member of this class, you will join a dynamic learner community in a place of endless opportunities. MCAST offers an unparalleled setting for the next chapter of your life. The MCAST family welcomes you, and I personally look forward to working with you throughout your time with us.
Dr Mario Caruana PhD
MSc ESS Programme Coordinator
This Masters of Science in ESS presents a multidisciplinary focus to help learners understand the relationship between health and human performance. As an academic program, this programme will introduce translational research and provide essential foundations from the basis of physiology, biomechanics, motor behaviour, and psychology. Using the social ecological approach to addressing the needs for health and human performance for the workforce in Malta, the programme recognises societal needs, introduces evidence-based strategies for intervention, and evaluates the impact of these services on health outcomes and productivity. Integration of these concepts will be expected as learners apply their skills to serve a broad clientele. In addition, the programme provides the practitioner with knowledge and skills to plan, implement, and evaluate activities in industry, sport performance centres, fitness centres, and health related agencies to enhance human performance and encourage adoption of health-promoting behaviours. This practitioner provides an essential service as to facilitate organisational and community efforts, which can impact a variety of client populations. This in turn will develop competencies for programme directors/coordinators to facilitate organisational and community initiatives that will impact individuals and groups. In summary, programme graduates will benefit the Malta workforce through various activities designed to enhance human performance while reducing health issues.
Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this Master’s Programme, the learner will be able to:
1. Conduct a needs analysis to identify areas for improvement, which benefit the individual, groups, and organisations seeking to promote improved human performance;
2. Understand advanced concepts of exercise physiology and exercise / sport psychology, as it pertains to applied science;
3. Read and interpret research, which supports “best practices” in Exercise and Sports Science;
4. Design, write and orally present a plan for an exercise /wellness intervention;
5. Evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention using sound assessment principles;
6. Analyse individual and group sport training and physical activity programs to ensure that recognised standards of practice for exercise testing, exercise prescription and exercise leadership are followed.
First Year (Semester 1 & 2: 30 ECTS) – Exit Point: Post Graduate Certificate
1. Fundamentals of Exercise and Sports Science
2. Applied Psychology in Fitness, Exercise and Health
3. Exercise Physiology: Applications for Health and Human Performance
4. Research Methods in Exercise and Sports Science
5. Principles of Wellness Coaching
Second Year (Semester 3 & 4: 30 ECTS) – Exit Point: Post Graduate Diploma
6. Exercise Prescription and Therapy for Non-Communicable Diseases
7. Advanced Assessment and Interpretation for Human Performance
8. Advanced Sport Performance Training Techniques
9. Planning for Community-Level Interventions
10. Multidisciplinary Work in Exercise and Sports Science
Third Year (Semester 5: 30 ECTS) – Final Exit: Masters
Dissertation