Grad Cert in Women's Health (Sport & Exercise)
The Graduate Certificate in Women’s Health (Sport and Exercise) (Level 9 NFQ, 30 ECTS) is a one year part-time, online programme. It is designed for those wanting to engage in education while working full-time and is suitable for any healthcare professional or sports practitioner who works with active women. Suitable professions include: physiotherapists, athletic therapists, public health nurses, practice nurses, and other specialist nurses or midwives, general practitioners, sport and exercise medicine physicians, osteopaths, chiropractors, sports scientists, strength and conditioning coaches, athletic development coaches, exercise physiologists, Pilates instructors, and coaches.
This Graduate Certificate facilitates learners to gain advanced knowledge and skills related to women’s health and wellbeing across the lifespan. It focuses on advancing learners’ knowledge, skills and critical awareness into current issues, new insights and advanced concepts in women’s health including how women’s bodies, hormones and physiology changes across the lifespan (puberty, pregnancy, postpartum and menopause), pelvic floor function and dysfunction and advanced rehabilitation on how to support, maintain and adapt exercise in women across the lifespan.
Embedded within the Graduate Certificate in Women’s Health are three Micro-Credentials and further information on these can be found here: https://www.dcu.ie/shhp/professional-development-modules-and-stand-alone-modules
The Graduate Certificate in Women’s Health (Sport and Exercise) comprises of three individual modules (10 ECTS credits each) that focus on women’s health and female athlete health in a cohesive holistic manner throughout their lifespan.
They include The Active Female: Through the Lifespan module, which is a year-long module and covers the significant physiological events that can occur throughout the female lifespan, from teenager to post-menopause. It will provide an insight into the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, postnatal, and menopause discussing clinically applicable physiology and demands and how each stage impacts rehabilitation and exercise in active women. The Active Female: Pelvic Floor Function and Dysfunction module takes place in semester 1 and presents and discusses advanced current concepts and practical skills relating to pelvic floor muscle anatomy, function and dysfunction within female sports and exercise. It will teach the learner how to enable their clients/patients to prevent, navigate, and manage pelvic floor dysfunction (such as prolapse, hypertonic pelvic floor, incontinence, etc) and related musculoskeletal complaints within a context of keeping physically active and achieving high performance in sport and exercise. Finally, the Rehabilitation of the Active Female and the Pelvic Floor module takes place in semester 2 and provides practitioners with advanced rehabilitation knowledge and applied skills on how to support, maintain and adapt exercise in active females and in those with a dysfunctional pelvic floor.
This programme will provide in-depth knowledge of women’s health through the lifespan and provide practitioners with the skills to understand and adapt exercise in women who exercise.
The Graduate Certificate in Women’s Health (Sport and Exercise) is an online learning programme designed for those working full-time. There is an approximate 5 hour per week commitment with a mix of live classes (live on Zoom but will be recorded), tutorials, and online content. Learners should also allow for additional time for independent tasks and assignments. Learners will be assessed via continuous assessment (e.g. through assignments and projects but not through a written exam). All registered learners will have access to DCU’s eLibrary and DCU’s student portal, Loop. Applications from international learners is also welcomed.
Requirements
Candidates will be expected to hold a primary Level 8 (NFQ or equivalent, minimum 2.2) in an area of sport, healthcare profession, health sciences or cognate area e.g. health or science teacher. Those who do not meet this entry requirement will be considered on a case by case basis.
In line with DCU policy, students who do not have the appropriate level of academic attainment for direct entry may apply for access via the Recognition of Prior Learning process (RPL). RPL applicants will be required to demonstrate that their learning is comparable in terms of academic level training and assessment (all decisions will be consistent with DCU PG regulattions) - Please find more information here: Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) | Dublin City University | recognition-prior-learning (dcu.ie)
Candidates applying through RPL will be shortlisted for interview.