The challenge that faces students in physical education in their future careers is to formulate an expert response to the huge needs of our society as far as physical movement is concerned. The objective of the training in physical education is therefore to become a professional in movement.
Physical education professionals maximize the movement potential of human beings to benefit their health. To do this they must fully understand the characteristics of movement and its effects and use them in education. They know their target audiences in terms of age and their motor, physiological, psychological or sociological features. They can organize, communicate and use their skills and knowledge appropriately. They are anxious to assess their practices and update them.
While all these objectives are shared with the 60 credit Master, students on the 120 credit course may specialize by taking focuses and optional subjects.
Having gained a bachelor’s degree, students can continue their training on the programme for the Master in Motor Skills: Physical Education. This takes two years and comprises core subjects, a focus and an option course.
For this Master, 120 credits are required which are usually spread over two years of study. It comprises the production of a dissertation and provides an opportunity for advanced studies and specialization. There are three possible focuses, the choice of which depends on whether students wish to go on to teaching, research, or another profession in the world of sport.
- teaching focus,
- research focus,
- professional focus.
Practical training
Centred on physical and sports activities adapted for different groups, the practical training comprises physical and sports activities adapted for different age groups and training for sedentary adults. Students can also do advanced training in three sports of their choice (athletic training, team games, acrobatic sports, swimming, dance and expression).
- the teaching takes different forms : lectures, practical courses in small groups, individual work and projects, placements;
- training in biomedical science : sports pathology, prevention of illness through physical and sports activities;
- training for research which, irrespective of the specialization that students choose, develops their skills in investigating a new subject in a scientific way and interpreting the results in scientific literature ;
- a dissertation which gives students experience of a specialized field, either through bibliographic research or experimental work in or outside the laboratory as a result of close collaboration and a privileged learning relationship with their supervisor ;
- training in human sciences : history, ethics, sports psychology.
Professional training
The Master in Motor Skills : Physical Education offers a wide range of specializations directly connected with the professional world. Students must choose one [30 credits] of the three available focuses.
Teaching
If students wish to make a career in secondary education, they should choose the teaching focus which will enable them to develop
- broad teaching skills adapted to the teaching of physical education,
- personal skills in group management, through practical work,
- a good knowledge of the school environment and the physical education programme in secondary education
At the end of the Master programme with a teaching focus, students are awarded the professional status as a higher secondary education teacher.
Management of sports organizations
The professional focus in management of sports organizations, linked with the option course in management of physical and sports activities (cf. below), prepares students to manage clubs, federations, sports centres etc. Through courses in the organization of national sports systems, the management and strategy of sports organizations, business management and other courses that may be chosen from the economics and management programmes, students acquire the professional skills necessary for this profession :managing, directing, planning, making strategic plans etc.
The programme contains a significant number of work placements, done in different professional environments so that students can acquire practical experience of management.
Research
The aim of this focus is to introduce students to the profession of a researcher by joining a research team within a laboratory at the Institute of Physical Education and Rehabilitation. As a first step, students must review the scientific literature which relates to their research subject. They learn the basis of experimental techniques and approaches and are introduced to scientific communication. The research subject may also be reflected in the final dissertation.
Advanced studies in specialization
The focuses are supplemented by a group of option courses offering more advanced studies in each specialization.
- Management of physical and sports activities
This option course enables students to understand how businesses in the physical activity sector work (sports centres, clubs, fitness centres, the economic sector etc). Training in this area is supplemented by theoretical courses as well as practical experience of business.
- Sports training
This option course is designed for trainers of high level athletes in the context of performance improvement. Students are in direct contact with athletes during this training, which is centred on the principles of physical and psychological training of athletes as well as evaluation.
- Motor skills education
In this option course, students study the psycho-socio-motor development of children to bring out the principles for interventions in motor skills education. They learn how to take appropriate action in motor skills education mainly through work placements.
- Motor skills and pathology
The option course in motor skills and pathology enables the course in motor skills to include the field of pathology. Students make up their programme by choosing courses from the physiotherapy and rehabilitation programme. Should they wish to continue training in physiotherapy and rehabilitation, this option course will count as part of the programme.
- Interdisciplinary training in business creation The interdisciplinary module in business creation is a programme which features in the Master programmes of various faculties [Law, Economic, Socials and Political Sciences, Agronomy, Louvain Polytechnic School, Medicine (Institute of Physical Education and Rehabilitation]. It is designed to provide training in business creation and entrepreneurship in the widest sense of the term.
Advanced Masters : none
Doctoral programmes : doctorate in motor skills
