Skip to menu Skip to content Skip to footer
Course profile

Major Practicum (Exercise and Sports Science) (HMST4314)

Study period
Summer 2024
Location
St Lucia
Attendance mode
In Person

Course overview

Study period
Summer Semester, 2024 (04/11/2024 - 09/03/2025)
Study level
Undergraduate
Location
St Lucia
Attendance mode
In Person
Units
8
Administrative campus
St Lucia
Coordinating unit
Human Movement & Nutrition Sci

Minimum of 400 hours of field experience related to exercise science in community, corporate, fitness, health or sport setting.

HMST4314 is a core course in the Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Sciences (Hons) program and allows student to engage in work integrated learning that is relevant for gaining Accreditation as an Exercise Scientist and/or a Level 1 Sport Scientist.

Students complete a minimum of 400 hours of practicum experience in any of (but not limited to) the following settings:

  • Clinical measurements
  • Sports performance
  • Strength & conditioning
  • Community and/or corporate fitness & health
  • Exercise and sport science disciplines (e.g. biomechanics, physiology, skill acquisition, analytics)
  • Sport science research

It is your responsibility to source and organise an appropriate placement site for HMST4314ᅠwith the assistance of the practicum provider spreadsheet. This spreadsheetᅠis located in the online dropbox with the link provided in EXMD3372.ᅠUpon confirming this placement, you must communicate this with the prac team and upload a prac plan to InPlace before week 1 of semester.ᅠ

Note: In conjunction with meeting the course pre-requisites of EXMD3372 , students must demonstrate evidence the following requirements:

  1. Current and valid First Aid certificate,
  2. Current and valid CPR certificate,
  3. Successful completion of HaBS modules - defined as a pass rate above 80%.

Depending on your allocated placement you may be required to provide evidence of further requirements (for example, current and valid Blue Card) before you are able to attend your placement site.

First Aid, CPR certificates, and HaBs modules must be completed and uploaded to InPlace by the 14th of November 2024: Further information and support can be found here: Prepare for your HMST3001 placement.

Course requirements

Assumed background

In order to enroll in HMST4314, students must be enrolled in the BExSS or BExSS (Hons) program and have received a grade of >4 for EXMD3372.

Prerequisites

You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:

[HMST3372 or EXMD3372] + EXMD2382 + valid Apply First Aid (CPR). *Refer to section 1.2 of Course Profile for further compliance requirements

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

EXMD4700

Restrictions

BExSS(Hons) and BClinExP(Hons); Summer Semester has limited capacity - priority for places will be given to students expecting to graduate within 6 months.

Course contact

Course staff

Lecturer

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

Contact Hours/ Locations: Students will have regular contact with a nominated supervisor at the site of their practicum. Contact with course staff will occur at the introductory lecture and professional development workshop. For assessment purposes or as-needed basis please make an appointment with the appropriate course staff member.ᅠFor logistical reasons, face-to-faceᅠattendance at interim assessments may not be possible for all students enrolled in the course.

HMST4314 Lecture Times & venues: As per Si-Net Timetable

Aims and outcomes

Provide students the opportunity:

  • To gain 400 hours work experience in an appropriate setting and develop an integrated understanding of the sub-disciplines of exercise and sport science;
  • To plan and facilitate safe and effective assessment, client centered interventions and/or education services as relevant for the prac site and the Exercise Science discipline;
  • To help students expand their awareness of the range of professional roles and relationships for Exercise Science and the contexts of practice in the community; and
  • Overall, this course aims to provide students the opportunity to apply their knowledge of exercise science principles and develop their professional skills to a standard sufficient to graduate from the program and enter the workforce.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

LO1.

Demonstrate the skills and competencies required to work competently and confidently with low to moderate risk clients; and recognise the need for referral to other related professionals when appropriate. As described within the scope of practice by Exercise and Sport Science Australia (ESSA) for Exercise Science (400 hours minimum)

LO2.

Demonstrate professional conduct that is sensitive to client diversity and equity and is consistent with the ESSA Code of Professional Conduct and Ethical Practice

LO3.

Develop scientific rationale for professional decision making and service delivery, appropriate time management and ability to work collaboratively, and independently (as appropriate)

LO4.

Demonstrate the ability to use research skills to critically evaluate specific areas of assessment, client centered interventions and/or education to determine whether research evidence indicates that current practice should be maintained or modified

LO5.

Demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills relevant to the profession

Assessment

Assessment summary

Category Assessment task Weight Due date
Notebook/ Logbook Logbooks PASS/FAIL

5:00pm Monday following each week of placement

Performance Professional Attributes Self-Assessment PASS/FAIL

Upon accrual of 96 placement hours

Reflection Critical Reflections PASS/FAIL

Upon accrual of 150, 300 & 400 placement hours

Performance Professional Attributes Intermediate Assessment PASS/FAIL

Upon accrual of 200 placement hours

Performance Professional Attributes Final Assessment
  • Hurdle
PASS/FAIL

Upon accrual of 400 placement hours

Project Practicum Project PASS/FAIL

Upon Accrual of 400 placement hours

Portfolio Students as Practitioners Documentation
  • Hurdle
PASS/FAIL

Record of Student Engagement (ROSE) form:

  • Without supervisor signature: Complete and submit your ROSE form via ePortfolio without your supervisor's signature within 10 business days after completion of your placement. Your clinical educator will review and provide feedback before you obtain the signature.
  • With supervisor signature: Following feedback from your clinical educator, obtain your placement supervisors signature and submit to ePortfolio within 20 business days after the completion of your placement. Your ROSE form cannot be finalised without a valid placement supervisor signature

A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.

Assessment details

Logbooks

Mode
Written
Category
Notebook/ Logbook
Weight
PASS/FAIL
Due date

5:00pm Monday following each week of placement

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

  • In order to demonstrate that students meet ESSA Practicum Standards during their placement, a record of activities or 'logbook' must be kept, detailing all relevant practicum hours. Think of your 'logbooks' as a series of 'clinical notes' similar to your experience with SOAP notes.
  • For HMST4314, a minimum of 400 hours of practicum is required to be undertaken in a variety of activities to demonstrate competency across three exercise domains (exercise assessment, exercise prescription, and exercise delivery).
  • Logbooks must be submitted weekly via InPlace and will be assessed your clinical educator.
  • Feedback from your clinical educator must be addressed in a timely manner, before the end of semester, in order to receive a passing grade for the assessment, and for the course overall.

A note on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

  • The Logbooks evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
  • Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Submission guidelines

Submission via InPlace.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.

As this task is Pass / Fail, students who submit beyond the specified due date/time without an approved extension, will fail this task.

Professional Attributes Self-Assessment

Mode
Activity/ Performance
Category
Performance
Weight
PASS/FAIL
Due date

Upon accrual of 96 placement hours

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

As a student practitioner embarking on your final placement, you are required (and very strongly encouraged) to reflect on your own performance at the end of your second week of placement (approximately 96 hours into your placement). If you are attending two placement sites for your HMST4314 placement, you will need to complete one self-assessment for each site that you are attending, please see the ‘Due Date/s’ section below for further information.

During your reflections you are required to ‘self-assess’ and provide a rating of your performance, graded on a Likert scale (‘Not Meeting Expectations’, ‘On Track to Meet Expectations’, ‘Meeting Expectations’, and ‘Exceeds Expectations’). Your reflections are based on the following eight Professional Attributes:

  1. Professional conduct
  2. Client interaction/rapport (Client facing skills)
  3. Collaborative practice
  4. Communication
  5. Awareness of limitations and work-readiness
  6. Exercise prescription
  7. Exercise assessment, and
  8. Exercise delivery

Following this, student practitioners are required to develop three ‘SMART’ learning goals appropriate to their placement. These SMART goals will be tracked throughout your placement with your clinical educator often returning to these goals during your professional attribute’s intermediate assessment and your professional attributes final assessment.

You are encouraged to develop your critical reflective ability through this task. To support your self-assessment, your clinical educator will encourage deeper reflection on a range of professional attributes by providing excerpts derived from your logbook entries. Using these excerpts, questions will be posed to you to assist you in deeper exploration the selected professional attributes.

A note on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

  • TheProfessional Attributes Self-Assessment evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
  • Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Submission guidelines

Submission via ePortfolio.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.

As this task is Pass / Fail, students who submit beyond the specified due date/time without an approved extension, will fail this task.

Critical Reflections

Mode
Written
Category
Reflection
Weight
PASS/FAIL
Due date

Upon accrual of 150, 300 & 400 placement hours

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L04, L05

Task description

Self-reflection is a vital skill to develop for understanding and evaluating experiences. This assessment piece is designed to support student's transition from theory to practice by promoting critical self-reflection. Students are required to analytically reflect upon a real-life ‘critical’ event, incident, activity or task that you experience on placement. A critical incident can be positive or negative. These are events or ‘light bulb moments’ which occurred during (or as a result of) your practical development and have impacted you in an important (critical) way. A total of 3 reflections need to be submitted throughout HMST4314, irrespective of the number of placement sites attended. They should provide insight into how your professional skills and attributes improve, the challenges you overcome and identify, and the new training methods you’ve added to your professional ‘toolbox’. Content should follow the SEALER reflection structure. 

A note on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

  • The Critical Reflections evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
  • Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Submission guidelines

Submission via ePortfolio.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.

As this task is Pass / Fail, students who submit beyond the specified due date/time without an approved extension, will fail this task.

Professional Attributes Intermediate Assessment

Mode
Activity/ Performance
Category
Performance
Weight
PASS/FAIL
Due date

Upon accrual of 200 placement hours

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

Student practitioners will have their placement performance assessed by their practicum supervisor and their clinical educator when they have accrued between 200 to 240 placement hours. If you are attending two placement sites for your HMST4314 placement, you will need to complete one intermediate assessment for each site that you are attending, please see the ‘Due Date/s’ section below for further information.

Performance is graded on a Likert scale ('Not Meeting Expectations’, 'On Track to Meet Expectations', 'Meeting Expectations', and 'Exceeds Expectations') and is based on eight professional attributes:

  1. Professional conduct
  2. Client interaction/rapport (Client facing skills)
  3. Collaborative practice
  4. Communication
  5. Awareness of limitations and work-readiness
  6. Exercise prescription
  7. Exercise assessment, and
  8. Exercise delivery.

Your clinical educator has provided you with excerpts pulled from your logbooks that match sub-skills listed in either the “Awareness of Limitations”, “Exercise Assessment”, “Exercise Prescription”, and or “Exercise Delivery” Professional Attributes. These can be found in your logbook feedback under “Exercising Insights: Intermediate Assessment”. You are strongly encouraged to reflect on these excerpts to better prepare yourself for the intermediate assessment.

The purpose of the intermediate assessment is to provide students with an early indication of how they are performing, make sure they feel properly oriented and supported, and re-evaluate 'SMART' learning goals set during their self-assessment. In the case of any early difficulties, strategies for improvement can be implemented.

A note on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

  • The Professional Attributes Intermediate Assessment evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
  • Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
  • The Professional Attributes Intermediate Assessment is to be completed in-person. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Submission guidelines

  • Intermediate assessments are conducted by the student's clinical educator and no submission is required from the student.
  • Students are required to initiate communication with their practicum supervisor and clinical educator to ensure that this assessment is scheduled in week three of their placement.
  • It is strongly encouraged that students email their clinical educator by the end of their first week of placement to arrange and book the intermediate assessment.
  • Intermediate assessments will be conducted with all three parties (i.e. student, practicum supervisor and clinical educator) either face-to-face at the placement site or online via Zoom or Teams where appropriate.
Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Professional Attributes Final Assessment

  • Hurdle
Mode
Activity/ Performance
Category
Performance
Weight
PASS/FAIL
Due date

Upon accrual of 400 placement hours

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

Students will have their performance on placement assessed by their practicum supervisor on their last day of placement (or as close to this as possible, considering scheduling requirements). Performance is graded on a scale ('Not Meeting Expectations’, 'Meeting Expectations', and 'Exceeds Expectations') and is based on eight professional attributes:

1.    Professional conduct

2.    Client interaction/rapport (Client facing skills)

3.    Collaborative practice

4.    Communication

5.    Awareness of limitations and work-readiness

6.    Exercise prescription

7.    Exercise assessment, and

8.    Exercise delivery

The purpose of the final assessment is to provide students with an indication of how they performed on placement to inform future placements and/or practice.  

Final assessments are conducted by the practicum supervisor (clinical educator’s or the student are not required to be present).

Students will be required to send the ‘final assessment’ link to their practicum supervisor.

The final assessment link should be sent at least 7 business days prior to the students last day of placement. Students are required to request one specific professional attribute to receive further feedback for.

Students are required to communicate with their practicum supervisor to ensure that the final assessment is completed before the end of their last day of placement. A “How-To” video has been made to guide you in sending the ‘final assessment link’ to your placement supervisor.

A note on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

  • The Professional Attributes Final Assessment evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
  • Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Hurdle requirements

Any grade of "Not Meeting Expectations" in any of the eight professional attributes will result in a fail grade.

Submission guidelines

  • Students are required to send the final assessment link to their placement supervisors at least 7 business days prior to the end of their placement.
  • Students are required to communicate with their practicum supervisors to ensure that the final assessment is competed before the end of their placement.
  • Practicum supervisor will receive a link to complete the final supervisor assessment.
  • Practicum supervisors will complete the final supervisor assessment and submit via ePortfolio.
Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Practicum Project

Mode
Activity/ Performance, Oral, Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written
Category
Project
Weight
PASS/FAIL
Due date

Upon Accrual of 400 placement hours

Learning outcomes
L01, L03, L04, L05

Task description

Students should liaise closely with their practicum supervisors to identify a project advantageous to both their practicum site and themselves. Topics must be relevant to the scope of practice of exercise scientists and the discipline with which you are undertaking practicum (e.g. cardiac science, strength & conditioning, neurophysiology, health promotion). Projects can take a multitude of forms and be written or presentations. All projects must include a review of relevant literature and be a topic relevant to the student’s practicum experience.

NOTE: Regardless of the number of placement sites that you choose to undertake, students will be required to submit ONE project for formal assessment. In the case where additional site(s) require you undertake a ‘project’ in order to complete their experience, these projects will not be assessed as part of HMST4314.

Projects must be approved by your clinical educator (Ali):

Please submit your intended project topic to your clinical educator for approval. Please have your intended project topic submitted for review at accrual of 250 placement hours. Within the email please include:

a.    The project title

b.    Presentation method (i.e. written report, case study, poster presentation etc.)

c.    A description of the project (less than 50 words)

NOTE: Regardless of the number of sites with which you undertake placement, students will be required to submit ONE project for formal assessment. In the case where additional site(s) require you undertake a ‘project’ in order to complete their experience, these projects will not be assessed as part of HMST4314.

A note on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

  • The Practicum Project evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
  • Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Submission guidelines

Submission via ePortfolio.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.

As this task is Pass / Fail, students who submit beyond the specified due date/time without an approved extension, will fail this task.

Students as Practitioners Documentation

  • Hurdle
Mode
Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
Category
Portfolio
Weight
PASS/FAIL
Due date

Record of Student Engagement (ROSE) form:

  • Without supervisor signature: Complete and submit your ROSE form via ePortfolio without your supervisor's signature within 10 business days after completion of your placement. Your clinical educator will review and provide feedback before you obtain the signature.
  • With supervisor signature: Following feedback from your clinical educator, obtain your placement supervisors signature and submit to ePortfolio within 20 business days after the completion of your placement. Your ROSE form cannot be finalised without a valid placement supervisor signature
Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L05

Task description

The ROSE form provides a summary of the activities you undertook on your HMST4314 placement (i.e. a summary of what was included in your logbooks) and a reflection on how this placement assisted you to develop the ESSA exercise science or sport science level 1 professional attributes (different to the ‘Professional Attributes’ used in your self-assessment, intermediate assessment, and final supervisor assessment) required for an Accredited Exercise Scientist or Accredited Sport Scientist Level 1. A copy of the ESSA exercise science and sport science level 1 professional attributes has been made available on Blackboard.

You must take into your consideration the following points when completing the ROSE form:

·      If you are intending on applying for accreditation as a Sport Scientist with ESSA, then you are required to use the sport science level 1 professional attributes.

·      If you are not intending of applying for accreditation as a Sport Scientist with ESSA, then you are required to use ESSA exercise science professional attributes.

A note on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

  • The Students as Practitioner Documentation evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
  • Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Hurdle requirements

Submission of a ROSE form after 20 business days (one month) after the completion of placement will result in a fail grade

Submission guidelines

Submission via ePortfolio.

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

Late submission

You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.

As this task is Pass / Fail, students who submit beyond the specified due date/time without an approved extension, will fail this task.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Pass/Fails Description
P

Course grade description: Completes all requirements to a satisfactory level.

F

Course grade description: Fails to completeᅠone of the requirements to a satisfactory level.

Additional course grading information

This course contains two hurdle assessment items, specifically:

  • Any grade of "Not Meeting Expectations" in any of the eight professional attributes will result in a fail grade.
  • The ROSE form. Submission of a ROSE form after 20 business days after the completion of placement will result in a fail grade.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Additional assessment information

1. Missed attendance for compulsory workshop, seminar or placement:

Students must complete theᅠSchool of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciencesᅠabsentee formᅠavailable from the HMNS website (or see link below) and submit via email to their course coordinatorᅠno later than five (5) business days after the date the original class was held. Students whom for medical reasons are unable to attend prac for 2 or more consecutive days and/or single days more than twice during the scheduled practicum, must provide certification as per below and organise directly with their supervisor to make-up these hours where convenient for the site.ᅠStudents are expected to communicate any unavailabilityᅠwith their prac siteᅠin a timely manner, at least 24 hours in advance of any absence (or as otherwise requested by their practicum site).

  • Absences on medical grounds:ᅠ The absentee form must be accompanied by a medical certificate signed by a medical practitioner or registered nurse and stating that the student was unfit to attend on the relevant day. Students are required to confirm, by signing the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences – absentee form, that the medical practitioner is NOT a near relative or close associate. (Examples of near relatives are partner, child, brother, sister, or parent. Examples of close associates are close friends, neighbours and partners or children of colleagues.)
  • Absences on non-medical grounds: The absentee form must be accompanied by a signed document (Statutory Declaration) detailing the grounds for the application supported by any corroborating information.
  • Absentee Form:ᅠhttps://hmns.uq.edu.au/current-students/undergraduate-support

2. Assessment Re-sit/Re-submission

Students must complete all items of assessment to a satisfactory level, to the discretion of the course coordinatorᅠto be eligible to pass the course overall. There is noᅠre-sit or re-mark available for placement.ᅠStudents who fail this component are at risk of failing the course. Students who perform unsatisfactorily on any other components of course assessment may be given the opportunity to resubmit the assessment item once as per the marking rubrics (excluding logbooks, which may be resubmitted multiple times, at the discretion of the course coordinator).

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.

Additional learning resources information

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Filter activity type by

Please select
Clear filters
Learning period Activity type Topic
Multiple weeks
Placement

400-Hour Practicum

Students complete a minimum of 400 placement hours in an appropriate setting to develop an integrated understanding of the of exercise science OR sports science scopes of practice, their domains, and sub-disciplines.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Lecture

Orientation to Major Practicum

-Course Content
-Assessment overview
-Overview of logbook feedback
-How to express interest in accreditation
-eLearning update and systems navigation help

Learning outcomes: L02, L05

Workshop

Professional Development - Employablity Workshop

- Held online via zoom.
- Transition from Graduate to Employee. Transferable skills, Job application and Successful Interviewing
- Attendance compulsory

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L05

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.

School guidelines

Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course: