With the current popularity of exercise and sport-related careers, Central Queensland University has reported a dramatic increase in interest for both its Human Movement Science and Occupational, Health and Safety programs.

In fact letters of offer sent out for the Human Movement Science undergraduate and postgraduate programs this year rose 300% from last year, which according to the CQU’s Head of the School of Health and Human Performance, Dr Peter Reaburn is largely due to the programs being offered through distance education.

CQU is the only Australian university that offers an exercise and sport science program by this mode of education.

“We have gradually introduced each year of the program by distance education with this year the first time all three years of the bachelor degree offered by distance,” Dr Reaburn said.

“Most of the courses are now also offered online.” The Human Movement Science program covers four streams of study: exercise physiology; biomechanics; sports marketing; and exercise and sport psychology.

Offers in CQU’s Occupational Health and Safety has also risen by over 100% with most of the interest in the Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety.

“These external programs attract mature-age students wanting to increase their accreditations,” Dr Reaburn explained.

Setting itself apart from the pack, CQU employs an industry liaison officer who links students with industry through industry-based accreditations and a formal link with Central Queensland Institute of TAFE.

“CQU not only gives its students a highly sought after degree, but a list of formal industry-related accreditations.” Within the structure of both these programs is a career education program which includes nine modules aimed at improving the employability of its graduates. The program focuses on generic skills including teamwork, problem solving, information literacy, oral and written communication and critical thinking.

The Occupational Health and Safety undergraduate degree has a 100% employment rate for its graduates, while more than 80% of Human Movement Science graduates are offered employment in their field of study, higher than the University average.

Careers from these two programs include recreation officer, injury/rehabilitation officers and case managers, conditioners with sports clubs, administrators with sports clubs, fitness centre managers and sports journalists.

The University also offers a combined Bachelor of Human Movement Science/Bachelor of Learning Management degree producing highly sought after health and physical education teachers.

For further information contact the program advisor Phil Field on (07) 4930 9253 or e-mail: p.field@cqu.edu.au.