Master of Health Care DP in Sport and Exercise Physiotherapy

As a specialist in sport and exercise physiotherapy you develop knowledge and skills to apply research-based methods to enhance advanced sport performance and prevent injuries as well as to use exercise as means to promote health and wellbeing. The focus of the programme is the specialization to manage prevention, gain expertise in clinical reasoning and decision making, and manage rehabilitation processes including collaboration with athletes, coaches and other sport professionals in multidisciplinary teams.

The Focus of the Programme

The focus of the programme is the specialization to manage prevention, gain expertise in clinical reasoning and decision making, and manage rehabilitation processes including collaboration with athletes, coaches and other sport professionals in multidisciplinary teams. In addition to competitive sports you will be able to promote the physically active lifestyle among people representing different age groups and levels of functioning and ensure their safe participation in recreational sport and exercise.

Study Mode

The study mode is part-time studies. The courses take place both on-campus in JAMK’s facilities in Jyväskylä and online. In order to apply for the program the students are required to have at least two years of working experience in the relevant field.

Work and Study

The studies are designed as part-time (around 3 years) or full time (around 1,5 years) programme. The study programme concists both on-campus and online learning methods. On-campus days are planned to serve also students with full-time jobs. Lectures are held at JAMK’s campus in Jyväskylä. Students are expected to accomplish the programme in three years (approximately 30 ECTS per year).

Flexible Studies

Students have a choice of alternative or elective studies offered by partner universities, such as other universities of applied sciences (CampusOnline), universities and educational institutions involved in the EduFutura collaboration (University of Jyväskylä and Gradia). Higher level studies completed elsewhere may be accredited as part of your degree. The student must have a certificate or some other document to prove that they have completed the studies. Skills acquired elsewhere can also be described and demonstrated to enable accreditation. Further information is available in the Study Guide.

Working Life Oriented Learning

The development assignments included in the study modules and courses are integrated with working life. The studies make use of the competencies and expertise of the study group members. The thesis focuses on working life research and development.

Further Studies

The graduate may apply to continue on to postgraduate studies in science or arts at universities (Act 558/2009, Section 37) as well as in vocational teacher studies at teacher education colleges. Studies can be continued by applying for corresponding post-degree education at universities abroad, for example. A university of applied sciences also provides opportunities for continuing education in the form of specialisation studies, open studies, an online study portal (CampusOnline) and working life based continuing education.

Education Planning

The planning phase of the degree programme has involved working life representatives and experts from the sports sciences field as well as lecturers and experts at JAMK, University of Jyväskylä, Finnish Research Institute for Olympic Sports and the Finnish Sports Physiotherapists Association. The planning of the goals and content of the degree programme are based on the knowledge of current and future know-how and skills through research and working life. Also the publication of European Sports Physiotherapy competence and standards has been reviewed during the planning process.

The professional growth of students is led by a tutoring process which starts at the very beginning of the studies and continues until graduation. In this process students complete personal learning plans and discuss with their tutors about their needs for developing their target competences. The 90 ECTS programme is designed as obligatory core studies and optional studies. The tutoring discussion leads to making appropriate choices in optional studies. The studies include the 5 ECTS management module, the 10 ECTS research and development module, and the 20 ECTS sport and exercise physiotherapy module. Courses in the management module and the research and development module aim to develop students' shared master competences, while courses in the sport and exercise physiotherapy module develop students' expertise in the sport and exercise sciences. In addition, students can take 25 ECTS of elective studies from other available master level courses and develop their complementary competence, and they can choose their topics for their 30 ECTS master thesis. Students are provided with personal supervision and guidance at master thesis seminars in making their theses.

As a specialist in sport and exercise physiotherapy you develop knowledge and skills to apply research-based methods to enhance advanced sport performance and prevent injuries as well as to use exercise as means to promote health and wellbeing. The focus of the programme is the specialization to manage prevention, gain expertise in clinical reasoning and decision making, and manage rehabilitation processes including collaboration with athletes, coaches and other sport professionals in multidisciplinary teams. In addition to competitive sports you will be able to promote the physically active lifestyle among people representing different age groups and levels of functioning and ensure their safe participation in recreational sport and exercise.

The Degree Program is intended for students who aim for a specialist qualification in sport and exercise physiotherapy. The program will enable students to develop their knowledge of sport sciences, rehabilitation and injury prevention, as well as their critical thinking skills, in order to further their careers within one's specialist profession. During the studies one can network with experts from different fields and organizations. Career opportunities and employment possibilities include a wide variety of organisations from sport clubs and athletic teams to private clinics and companies and acting as an enterpreuner.