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SES2203 Physical Activity and Health

Semester 2, 2020 On-campus Toowoomba
Short Description: Physical Activity and Health
Units : 1
Faculty or Section : Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences
School or Department : School of Health and Wellbeing
Student contribution band : Band 1
ASCED code : 069903 - Human Movement
Grading basis : Graded

Staffing

Examiner:

Rationale

This course will focus on physical activity as a health issue to enable students to extend their understanding of health and wellbeing issues. The connection between the health of the population and levels of physical activity has been a topic of intense discussion and research over the past two decades. Students undertaking this course will develop an understanding of a range of issues related to the connection between health and physical activity levels of the population. Students will explore information on the increase in obesity levels across the lifespan and how this has had a significant impact on the health status of the population. Students undertaking this course will appreciate how professionals in areas of health, fitness and sport have challenges and responsibilities in addressing the issue. Because of the importance of being proactive students in this course will design a basic population intervention – based on best practice – in order to increase physical activity levels and reduce sedentary behaviour of the population across the lifespan (including for those people with special needs such as disability and chronic disease).

Synopsis

This course outlines contemporary thinking with regard to health promotion, particularly as it relates to the levels of physical activity of the population. The course will examine a range of health programs and agencies and analyse the various issues involving them. Physical activity levels across the lifespan and within special populations will be presented and interventions to improve health and fitness (and associated psychological aspects) will be examined. Procedures to review the health of the population and recommendations for programs to improve physical activity levels will be outlined and applied to practical contexts where possible. Research and other information from other areas of health, sport and exercise will be outlined and related to the course as a way of improving the health status of the population.

Objectives

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

  1. Describe the structure of the health system in Australia, the various types and levels of health intervention programs available and evaluate the purpose and effectiveness of these programs.
  2. Evaluate the physical activity levels, patterns and trends across the lifespan and with recognition of various population groups and their special requirements and predict the future health status of Australians.
  3. Explain effects of the lack of physical activity of the population as it relates to health and fitness across the lifespan and within special populations and propose and justify recommendations and guidelines to optimise levels of physical activity.
  4. Screen and report the health and physical activity levels of clients and apply knowledge and skills to recommend appropriate interventions.
  5. Integrate knowledge and skills from various disciplines to identify issues related to physical activity and health and its relevance to other areas of sport and exercise.

Topics

Description Weighting(%)
1. Health in Australia. Global and national health overview. Health system in Australia and issues. Public health prevention programs (primary, secondary and tertiary levels). Public policy and funding. Government and non-government funding agencies. Health needs across the lifespan. Physical and mental health needs in special populations. Social and ethical responsibilities. Cultural perspectives and problems (e.g., Indigenous Australians). Health issues for refugees etc. 30.00
2. Health and physical activity levels. Health status of the population - epidemiology. Sedentary behaviour and physical activity – insufficiently active. Lifespan and special populations and physical activity. Recommendations and guidelines for physical activity – best practice. Social determinants of health and special requirements and considerations for various groups. Health and quality of life – health related fitness. 30.00
3. Health assessment and plans. Health tests and physical activity research data collection and analysis. Design of basic population intervention to increase physical activity – health and fitness outcomes. Recommendations for the healthy populations (including sports performers) and various groups. Recording and monitoring – external or self. Principles of screening and considering influence of other factors such as diet, work environment and psychological issues. Assess behavioural influences on physical activity across the lifespan. Health behaviour: self-esteem, motivation and social support to increase confidence and commitment. 20.00
4. Research inter-relationships: Interaction of research and information from various disciplines, including psychology and human physiology (body functioning, energy systems etc). Research partnerships with other areas of health and other than disciplines (especially to cater for specific population needs). Research projections and plans to promoted physical activity – e.g., design and provision of facilities and opportunities to safely undertake physical activity in the community. 20.00

Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from (unless otherwise stated). (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/textbooks/?year=2020&sem=02&subject1=SES2203)

Please for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/info/contact/)

Harold Kohl III, Tinker Murray, Deborah Salvo 2020, Foundations of Physical Activity and Public Health, 2nd edn, Human Kinetics.

Reference materials

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.
Bouchard, C, Blair, S.N. & Haskell, W.L 2012, Physical Activity and Health, 2nd edn, Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL.
Dishman, R., Heath, G. & Lee, I-M 2013, Physical Activity Epidemiology, 2nd edn, Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL.

Student workload expectations

Activity Hours
Assessments 62.00
Lectures 24.00
Private ¾«¶«´«Ã½app 67.00
Tutorials 12.00

Assessment details

Description Marks out of Wtg (%) Due Date Notes
Assessment 1 50 50 09 Sep 2020
Assessment 2 50 50 14 Oct 2020

Important assessment information

  1. Attendance requirements:
    It is the students' responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities (such as lectures and tutorials) scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.

  2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
    To satisfactorily complete an assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks available for that item.

  3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
    Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4)

  4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
    To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.

  5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
    The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the aggregate of the weighted marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.

  6. Examination information:
    There is no examination for this course.

  7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
    There is no examination in this course, there will be no deferred or supplementary examinations.

  8. ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Student Policies:
    Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene ¾«¶«´«Ã½app policies and practices. These policies can be found at .

Assessment notes

  1. If electronic submission is specified for a course assessment, students will be notified of this on the Course ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Desk. The due date for an electronically submitted assessment is the date by which a student must electronically submit the assignment irrespective of holidays. The assignment files must be submitted by 11.55pm on the due date using USQ time (as displayed on the clock on the course home page; that is, Australian Eastern Standard Time).

  2. If hardcopy submission is specified for a course assessment students will be notified of this on the Course ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Desk. The due date for a hardcopy assignment is the date by which a student must submit at USQ or despatch the assignment to USQ irrespective of holidays.
    USQ will NOT accept submission of assignments by facsimile or email unless expressly requested by the course examiner.

  3. Referencing in Assignments must comply with the APA referencing system. This system should be used by students to format details of the information sources they have cited in their work. The APA style to be used is defined by the USQ library’s referencing guide. These policies can be found at

Evaluation and benchmarking

In meeting the ¾«¶«´«Ã½app’s aims to establish quality learning and teaching for all programs, this course monitors and ensures quality assurance and improvements in at least two ways. This course:

1. conforms to the USQ Policy on Evaluation of Teaching, Courses and Programs to ensure ongoing monitoring and systematic improvement.

2 forms part of the Bachelor of Sport and Exercise program and is benchmarked against the
• internal USQ accreditation/reaccreditation processes which include (i) stringent standards in the independent accreditation of its academic programs, (ii) close integration between business and academic planning, and (iii) regular and rigorous review.
• professional accreditation standards of Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA).

Other requirements

  1. Computer, e-mail and Internet access:
    Students are required to have access to a personal computer, e-mail capabilities and Internet access to UConnect. Current details of computer requirements can be found at .

  2. Students can expect that questions in assessment items in this course may draw upon knowledge and skills that they can reasonably be expected to have acquired before enrolling in this course. This includes knowledge contained in pre-requisite courses and appropriate communication, information literacy, analytical, critical thinking, problem solving or numeracy skills. Students who do not possess such knowledge and skills should not expect the same grades as those students who do possess them.

Date printed 6 November 2020