BSc Athletic Therapy and Training / Athletic Therapy and Strength and Conditioning

The BSc (Hons) Athletic Therapy and Training at Dublin City University is a four-year honours undergraduate degree that trains students to become skilled clinicians in the prevention, assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries associated with physical activity and sport, combining science, practical skills, and clinical placements. It suits students who want to work in sports medicine, musculoskeletal clinics, high-performance teams, or related health environments, with an emphasis on evidence-based practice and hands-on experience from early in the programme.

Curriculum structure

First Year:

In the first year, students build foundational knowledge in human movement and health sciences through modules such as Anatomy, Strength and Conditioning 1: Introduction to Exercise Science, Sport and Exercise Physiology, Motor Control and Learning, and Physics for Health Science, alongside Introduction to Athletic Therapy and Training. They learn how the body moves, how injuries can affect musculoskeletal function, and begin to develop the practical assessment and therapeutic skills that underpin the profession. Classwork and labs focus on understanding normal function and preparing students to recognise and evaluate injury mechanisms.

Second Year:

In the second year, students deepen their clinical understanding with subjects such as Injuries, Injury Prevention, Emergency Care, Sport and Exercise Biomechanics, Integrated Sport and Exercise Physiology, Ethics, Medicolegal and Consultation Skills, and Psychology of Injury. These modules explore the mechanisms and prevention strategies for common sports-related injuries, develop competent emergency response skills, and integrate psychosocial and ethical perspectives into clinical practice. Students also begin introductory clinical placement experiences.

Third Year:

Third-year study advances therapeutic and rehabilitation skills through modules like Rehabilitation and Chronic Illness Rehabilitation, Soft Tissue Therapies, Applied Modalities and Clinical Practice, Injury, Exercise and Sport Biomechanics, Nutrition, Clinical Reasoning in Practice, and Research Methods. This stage emphasises evidence-based approaches to rehabilitation, hands-on clinical techniques, and the integration of nutrition and biomechanics in treatment planning. Students strengthen clinical reasoning and prepare for more independent practice settings.

Fourth Year:

In the final year, students focus on Clinical Experience, Independent Clinical Practice, Medicine in Sport, Strength and Conditioning 3, Developing the Clinician and the Strength and Conditioning Professional, and a Research Project, consolidating their professional skills with extended placements and advanced clinical training. The year ensures graduates can apply theory in real-world practice, work autonomously within multidisciplinary teams, and contribute to research and evidence-informed care. A semester-long immersive placement, often with professional sports teams or clinics abroad, further strengthens employability.

Focus areas (in a string):
Musculoskeletal injury prevention, assessment and rehabilitation, anatomy & physiology, sport and exercise physiology, biomechanics, clinical reasoning, emergency care, nutrition & therapeutic modalities.

Learning outcomes (in a string):
Apply scientific knowledge to injury assessment; deliver evidence-based therapeutic and rehabilitation interventions; integrate biomechanical and physiological principles; manage emergency care; conduct research and communicate clinically.

Professional alignment (accreditation):
The course is accredited by Athletic Rehabilitation Therapy Ireland (ARTI), enabling graduates to demonstrate required professional competencies and qualify for full membership of ARTI as Certified Athletic Therapists.

Reputation (employability rankings):
Dublin City University is ranked among the top universities in Ireland and recognised globally for high graduate employment rates — including being ranked No 1 in Ireland for graduate employment and 19th globally for graduate employment rate in QS rankings — supporting strong employability for graduates of health and sport professions.