Sport Development – Bachelor of Sport and Exercise

With Massey’s Bachelor of Sport and Exercise (Sport Development) you’ll be prepared for the important roles sport development plays in the health, wellbeing, and economy of our society.

Where you can study

Distance and online

International students

International students are not New Zealand citizens or residents.

Definition of New Zealand citizens and residents

Open to international students studying online from outside New Zealand
Note: All courses are available online. Some courses are supported by non-compulsory face-to-face workshops on the Manawatū campus.

Specialise in Sport Development for your Bachelor of Sport and Exercise at Massey

The Bachelor of Sport and Exercise (Sport Development) will prepare you for work in this varied and fast-growing area of the sport industry, whether you are looking at sport from the perspective of:

  • increasing participation,
  • developing athlete career pathways,
  • establishing corporate social responsibility initiatives that lead to social change, or,
  • enhancing the function of sport organisations.

This qualification will provide knowledge in topics such as sport sociology, sport event management, coaching and the effective coordination of sport organisations. It will also teach you about the application and importance of sport and physical activity to health and the community. You will be further prepared for a career in sport development through a customised ‘Professional Development for the Sport Industry’ course, followed by a guided industry-based practicum. This practicum course can be based anywhere around the country, or even overseas.

You will take a set of compulsory courses, common to all the BSpEx majors, followed by a set of prescribed courses specific to sport development.

Real-world experience

Our strong connections within the sport industry, including a number of national and regional sport and recreation organisations, provide opportunities for you to gain valuable experience. You will apply your knowledge while placed at one of these organisations during your sport and exercise practicum.

Further study

If you successfully complete this qualification, you could go on to further study, for instance the Master of Health Science.

A Bachelor of Sport and Exercise in Sport Development is a good fit if you:

  • want to help promote sport participation
  • want to work with community partners to extend the outcomes sport has to offer
  • see the potential for sport and physical activity to positively influence society.

Planning information

If you study full-time, in your first year, you’ll take eight 15-credit courses, making a total of 120 credits.

If you wish to study over two semesters, you should aim for 60 credits per semester. You may be able to take some courses at summer school. Make sure you include courses that are prerequisites for the next level of courses you wish to study.

Minors

Completing a minor is optional. Minors increase the breadth of your degree and give you extra knowledge, attributes and capabilities.

A minor must be in a different subject from your major.

You may choose a minor from any University undergraduate degree that has recognised minors. If the minor is from another degree the regulations of that qualification will apply.

Official regulations

To understand what you need to study and must complete to graduate read the official rules and regulations for this qualification.

You should read these together with all other relevant Statutes and Regulations of the University including the General Regulations for Undergraduate Degrees, Undergraduate Diplomas, Undergraduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas and Graduate Certificates.

Returning students

For returning students, there may be changes to the majors and minors available and the courses you need to take. Go to the section called ‘Transitional Provisions’ in the Regulations to find out more.

In some cases the qualification or specialisation you enrolled in may no longer be taking new enrolments, so may not appear on these web pages. To find information on the regulations for these qualifications go to the Massey University Calendar.

Please contact us through the Get advice button on this page if you have any questions.

Courses you can enrol in

Course planning key

Prerequisites
Courses that need to be completed before moving onto a course at the next level. For example, a lot of 200-level courses have 100-level prerequisite courses.
Corequisites
Courses that must be completed at the same time as another course are known as corequisite courses.
Restrictions
Some courses are restricted against each other because their content is similar. This means you can only choose one of the offered courses to study and credit to your qualification.

Core courses for the Bachelor of Sport and Exercise

As well as the specialisation courses listed below, this qualification has core courses that you will need to complete.

Bachelor of Sport and Exercise core courses

Sport Development courses

Compulsory courses

Course code: 151131 Introduction to Food and Nutrition 15 credits

An examination of the effect of social, cultural and psychological factors on food habits; a brief study of the composition of foodstuffs and the basic principles of human nutrition. Emphasis will be given to topics of current interest.

Restrictions: 141101, 151232, 151344, 214131

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Course code: 152236 Sport Business 15 credits

This course explores the theories, concepts and practices relating to strategic management, governance, organisational behaviour, and human resource management in sport organisations.

Restrictions: 152211, 234232

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Course code: 152237 Sport Event Management 15 credits

This course examines specific management aspects of sport events.

Restrictions: 152215, 234233

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Course code: 152238 Professional Development for the Sport Industry 15 credits

A preparation for the Sport Practicum through field experience and critical reflection.

Restrictions: 234238

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Course code: 234216 Sport and Community Development 15 credits

This course explores the different meanings and objectives of sport development and the variety of contexts and settings in which it takes place. Particular focus is placed on the role of sport in the community, including sport/health initiatives, policy implications, the use of sport for social, economic, and urban development, and the key skills required for grant-writing and funding applications.

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Course code: 234236 Applied Sport Coaching 15 credits

This course examines aspects of contemporary sport coaching through concepts of long-term athletic development and youth sport.

Restrictions: 152214

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Course code: 234243 Sport Pedagogy 15 credits

A critical examination that extends students' knowledge of the skills and methodologies relating to the learning and instruction of a range of physical activities and sports within educational contexts.

Prerequisites: 234140

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Course code: 234331 Sport and Physical Activity in the Social Context 15 credits

An examination of the social, cultural, political, economic and educational contexts of sport and physical activity.

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Course code: 234338 Sport and Exercise Practicum 30 credits

The practicum is designed to provide practical experience in sport and exercise areas according to individual interests and experience. Students may choose to undertake a practicum in areas including, but not limited to, sport event management, sport coaching, sport coordination, sport performance, exercise prescription and athlete conditioning.

Prerequisites: One of 234214, 234215, 234236, 234243, 152237 or 234233, 152238, 234315 Restrictions: 152371, 152372, 152376, 234316

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Course code: 234346 Te Ao Kori and Health Promotion 15 credits

Explores the development of physical activity and health promotion initiatives in school, workplace and community settings, and the practices of Te Ao Kori (The World of Movement).

Restrictions: 274370, 234345

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Course code: 234360 Sport Psychology 15 credits

This course examines theory, research and practice in aspects of sport psychology.

Restrictions: 152318

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Entry requirements

Admission to Massey

All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.

Specific requirements

There are no specific entry requirements for this qualification, outside of university admission regulations.

English language requirements

To study this qualification you must meet Massey University's English language standards.

English language skills

If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, see our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses.

Fees and scholarships

Fees, student loans and free fees scheme

Your tuition fees may be different depending on the courses you choose. Your exact fees will show once you have chosen your courses.

There will also be some compulsory non-tuition fees and for some courses, there may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.

Already know which courses you're going to choose?

You can view fees for the courses that make up your qualification on the course details pages.

Student loans (StudyLink) and Fees Free scheme

You may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying your fees.

The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students. Find out more about the scheme and your eligibility on the Fees Free website. To use the site's eligibility checking tool, you will need your National Student Number.

Current and returning Massey students can find their National Student Number in the student portal.

Scholarship and award opportunities

Search our scholarships and awards

Fees disclaimer

This information is for estimation purposes only. Actual fees payable will be finalised on confirmation of enrolment. Unless otherwise stated, all fees shown are quoted in New Zealand dollars and include Goods and Services Tax, if any. Before relying on any information on these pages you should also read the University's Disclaimer Notice.

Careers and job opportunities

The Bachelor of Sport and Exercise (Sport Development) will equip you for work in the varied and growing, world of sport development. Potential careers and fields of employment include:

  • local, regional and national sport organisations
  • community outreach and corporate social responsibility
  • sport partnership manager
  • physical activity and health promotion
  • sport volunteer  coordinator
  • sporting activity, event and programme coordinator
  • coaching capability advisor.

What our students say

“I thoroughly enjoyed studying at Massey University via distance. It allowed me to live the lifestyle that I wanted due to its flexibility.”
Jamie Middleton

Snow Sports NZ

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