Curricula

Key learning outcomes

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. You strengthen your expertise to use exercise to promote health and wellbeing in a sustainable and responsible way.

The focus of the programme is the specialisation of managing prevention, gaining skills in clinical reasoning and decision making. In addition to competitive sports, you can promote a physically active lifestyle among people representing different age groups and levels of functioning. You also develop collaboration in multidisciplinary teams to ensure safe participation in both competitive and recreational sport and exercise. In addition, you will gain the ability for continuous learning and communicate effectively as part of a multinational student group.

Education content and professional growth and know-how

The 90 ECTS programme is designed as obligatory core sport and exercise physiotherapy studies, management studies, research and development studies, master’s thesis and elective studies. The curriculum of the programme is competence-based and student-centric. You will build your expertise in sport and exercise physiotherapy to manage and develop rehabilitation processes and critically review and apply new methods. In your master’s thesis, you can choose a topic to further develop a specific focus area of your own interest.

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 how they will develop their competences with their tutors. The tutoring discussion leads to making appropriate choices in elective studies.

Flexible studies

Students can carry out the studies part-time (in three years) or full-time (in two years) based on their preference. Most of the courses are implemented by blending learning in virtual environments with a few in-class seminars.

You can choose your alternative or elective studies from EduFutura partner institutions (University of Jyväskylä and Gradia) and international studies from European EUDRES higher education institutions. You can also choose from Finnish and foreign partner universities, such as other universities of applied sciences and universities. You can apply for accreditation of higher education studies that you have completed elsewhere.

Working life oriented learning

The assignments included in the study modules and courses are integrated into working life. The studies make use of the competencies and expertise of the study group members. Students continuously reflect on their learning in light of their current and previous experiences at their work experiences. Interaction with working life is intensified during the master thesis stage when students aim to develop practices at their workplaces or other sport and rehabilitation organisations. Guest lecturing by external professionals and international specialists further enhances working life contact and multicultural cooperation.

Career opportunities and employment

The degree programme is intended for students who aim for a specialist qualification in sport and exercise physiotherapy. The programme will enable you to develop your knowledge of sport sciences, rehabilitation and injury prevention, as well as your critical thinking skills, in order to further your career within your specialist area in the field of sport and exercise physiotherapy. During the studies, you can network with experts from different fields and organisations. 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 entrepreneur. Also, the programme will enhance your opportunities to build an international career.

Qualifications

There are no specific degree-related or statutory qualification requirements in the field.

Further studies

You may, after graduating, apply for postgraduate studies at universities or studies at the School of Professional Teacher Education. You can also continue your studies by applying for corresponding further education programmes in foreign higher education institutions, such as EUDRES higher education institutions. The university of applied sciences offers opportunities for competence development in various institutes, such as the open university of applied sciences, specialisation training and work-oriented 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, experts, and alumni of Jamk, the Finnish Institute of High Performance Sport (KIHU) and the Finnish Sports Physiotherapists Association (SUFT). The development proposals and course feedback submitted by the students of the degree programme have been considered in the development of the curriculum. 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.

Contact Information

Sanna Sihvonen
Principal Lecturer
School of Health and Social Studies
+358407274085
firstname.lastname@jamk.fi