BSc Hons. Athletic Therapy and Exercise Rehabilitation

The BSc (Hons) Athletic Therapy and Exercise Rehabilitation at Atlantic Technological University is a four-year honours undergraduate degree that trains students in the scientific assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of sports-related and musculoskeletal injuries across athletes and the general population. It suits students interested in sports science, injury management, clinical rehabilitation, and performance enhancement, combining academic coursework with practical clinic experience and placements.

Curriculum structure

First Year:

In the first year, students build foundational knowledge in human physiology, anatomy, and clinical skills with modules such as Health Related Physical Activity, Introduction to Human Physiology, Clinical Anatomy 1 and 2, and Clinical Skills 1 and 2. These units introduce essential concepts of how the body moves, responds to exercise, and adapts to training or injury, while practical labs develop basic therapeutic and assessment techniques. Students also begin to understand how to prescribe exercise programmes and design safe activity plans through Exercise Prescription and Programme Design.

Second Year:

In the second year, learners focus on movement analysis and deeper clinical competencies through modules including Biomechanics and Movement Analysis, Sports and Exercise Physiology, Injury Diagnostics 1 and 2, and Soft Tissue Manual Therapy. These subjects help students analyse functional motion, evaluate exercise response, and begin practical rehabilitation techniques for soft tissue injuries. Sports and Exercise Nutrition and Foundations of Strength and Conditioning complement clinical skills with performance-oriented knowledge, preparing learners for higher-level rehabilitation work.

Third Year:

During the third year, students progress into advanced therapeutic and clinical practice with modules such as Therapeutic Modalities 1 and 2, Rehabilitation, Clinical Rehabilitation, and Student-Led Clinic 1 and 2. This stage emphasises hands-on application in real or simulated clinical environments, strengthening decision-making and direct treatment skills. Research Methods and Psychology of Injury and Rehabilitation equip students with an understanding of evidence-based practice and the psychological aspects of injury and recovery.

Fourth Year:

In the final year, students consolidate their clinical and professional capabilities through extended Clinical Work Placement, a Research Project, and higher-level modules such as Differential Diagnosis and further Student-Led Clinic experience. These components allow learners to operate in authentic healthcare settings, synthesise diagnostic and therapeutic knowledge, and complete a substantive research or practice-based project. Graduates finish with the confidence to work independently or as part of multidisciplinary health teams.

Focus areas (in a string):
Musculoskeletal injury assessment, clinical rehabilitation, exercise prescription, biomechanics, therapeutic modalities, anatomy & physiology, sports nutrition, strength & conditioning.

Learning outcomes (in a string):
Demonstrate injury diagnosis and management; apply therapeutic and rehabilitation techniques; conduct movement and biomechanical analysis; design evidence-based exercise programmes; integrate clinical and psychological approaches to rehabilitation.

Professional alignment (accreditation):
The programme is accredited by Athletic Rehabilitation Therapy Ireland (ARTI), enabling graduates to pursue certification as Certified Athletic Therapists (CAT) and meet professional competency standards in Ireland’s sports medicine and rehabilitation fields.

Reputation (employability rankings):
Atlantic Technological University is recognised for strong applied and professional science education in Ireland; while specific global rankings for this degree are not published, graduates are well positioned for roles in sports medicine clinics, health services, and performance centres due to the programme’s practical focus and industry connections.