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SCU Sport training program wins US approval

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Published
23 May 2001
The educational program in strength and conditioning offered by Southern Cross University's School of Exercise Science and Sport Management program has become the first such tertiary course in Australia to receive internationally recognised certification.

The newly developed Educational Recognition Program of the US-based National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) has acknowledged the SCU course as successfully meeting their stringent criteria in the field of strength and conditioning, a subsequent career specialisation for many graduates of the Bachelor of Human Movement Science degree.

The recognition is good for three years and provides recognition from the NSCA that the institution has met, and continues to meet, minimal requirements and emphasises anaerobic conditioning and training within the specified curriculum.

"The NSCA is the world's number one professional body in sports training and conditioning and has some 20,000 members worldwide," according to the Head of School, Mr. Terry Woods. "It provides a wide range of educational and accreditation services to its members, specifically in the field of sports conditioning and training. This is an important area of our undergraduate program and we are very pleased to have this recognised by the world leader in this area".

In order to gain the NSCA's certificate of recognition the School's Human Movement Science program was required to present evidence of its course content along with a complete overview of all the undergraduate units and the qualifications and industry experience of its entire staff.

"Part of this process required that we have a full-time staff member who holds the NSCA's Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) accreditation," Mr. Woods explained. "Fortunately, lecturer Rudi Meir holds this highly regarded graduate certification and was able to sponsor the School's application."

The School of Exercise Science and Sport Management has staff with a wide range of industry experience working with local, state, national and international sporting organisations and has established a strong reputation for its expertise in team sport preparation.

"Sports conditioning and training is one of the growth employment areas of the past decade for our graduates," Mr. Woods said. "Other programs in Australia include studies in this area but ours is the first to be acknowledged in this way, which helps to once again differentiate what we do at Southern Cross from other programs on offer."