Module: Applied Health Related Fitness

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Applied Health Related Fitness
Module Code	SPO1014 (ITS: SS127)
Faculty	Health & Human Performance	School	Science & Health
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

The module explores the principles of assessment of clients ranging from athletes to elderly with a view to informing the prescription an exercise programme. The key areas of body composition, cardiovascular fitness, and muscle strength and power are detailed. Other topics covered throughout the module include: assessing the health status of the client including measurement of blood pressure, resting heart rate, height, weight, BMI, body fat, blood glucose, blood cholesterol, spirometry and other condition specific measurements; safe prescription of exercise for category a and b patients based upon assessment results including calculation of safe and effective exercise intensity; identification of appropriate modes, frequencies, duration for condition-specific exercise prescription; identification of contraindications to exercise for specific conditions; indirect and direct assessment of fitness parameters for monitoring and evaluating exercise prescription. Students will get hands-on experience of performing fitness testing and compile a portfolio of data collected during these practical sessions.

Learning Outcomes

1. Appraise the value of needs analysis and pre-participation screening in sport and health-related fitness testing
2. Translate the concepts of health- and skill-related components of physical fitness into assessments of physical fitness
3. Execute a range of sport and health-related fitness tests
4. Design a sport and health-related fitness test battery specific to a client of interest

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	12	Weekly synchronous lectures
Laboratory	36	Practical classes on methods of fitness assessment
Independent Study	77	No Description
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	21055	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	David Nolan	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Laboratory Portfolio	End of year portfolio consisting of i) A 500 word reflection on the value of needs analysis; ii) A report of data collected; iii) Rationale for and detail of a fitness testing battery.	100%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Components of fitness

Needs analysis of client in sport and health-related fitness assessment

Pre-participation screening and risk assessment

Assessments of body composition

Assessments of cardiovascular fitness

Assessment of strength and power

Assessment of sports-related fitness

Indicative Reading List

Books:
None

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None