Presentation

Educational aims

Specific Learning Outcomes: The Interclass Degree Programme in Exercise and Sport Sciences for Prevention and Adapted Physical Activity (LM-67/68) aims to train specialists in preventive and adapted physical activity and in sport sciences and techniques, providing advanced cultural, methodological and technical-practical skills for the delivery and management of preventive, adapted, recreational, school-based and competitive sports activities. The programme lasts two years and awards 120 ECTS across the fields of motor and sport sciences, biomedical disciplines, psychology, pedagogy, and socio-legal studies, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the General Assembly of the Conference of Degree Programmes in Sport Sciences (minutes of 5 July 2024) and following the adjustments required by Ministerial Decrees no. 1648 and 1649 of 19 December 2023. Upon completion of the programme, graduates will develop: Knowledge of techniques and methodologies for assessing physical fitness and for planning adapted exercise programmes for healthy individuals, persons with stable and controlled medical conditions, and individuals with disabilities or various functional limitations. Advanced understanding of the physiological changes and functional adaptations resulting from physical exercise and adapted sport activities in both healthy individuals and those with controlled and stabilised pathologies. In-depth knowledge of educational, communicative and psychomotor methodologies and techniques, applicable to healthy individuals as well as to those with medical conditions or special needs engaged in physical exercise. Specialised and advanced competencies in designing, prescribing, monitoring and evaluating training loads in competitive sport as well as in recreational physical and sport activities, ensuring full protection of the athlete’s physical and psychological well-being, taking into account age, maturation, gender, socio-cultural context and level of ability, including for athletes with disabilities.

work perspectives

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES Profile: Technical Manager of Exercise Facilities; Specialist in Exercise for Wellbeing; Kinesiologist. Functions: This professional is responsible for planning and implementing motor activity programmes for healthy individuals across different ages and physical conditions, as well as for people with disabilities or clinically stable conditions who may benefit from structured physical exercise. They design and deliver motor and sport activity programmes aimed at: disease prevention and improved quality of life; post-rehabilitation motor recovery to maintain physical efficiency; promoting active lifestyles to support physical and mental wellbeing, taking into account age, gender, and individual physical conditions; prevention and functional recovery of postural disorders; planning, coordinating, and supervising motor and sport activities aimed at promoting community health; designing, coordinating, and evaluating adapted physical activity programmes for people with disabilities or individuals with clinically controlled health conditions. Graduates will also possess the foundational knowledge required to access second-level university master’s programmes and PhD programmes. Skills: The competences associated with this role include specialist knowledge, abilities, and skills in both biomedical fields and the technical-training areas of motor education. Graduates develop in-depth expertise in various professional domains, such as working with elderly individuals, persons with disabilities, and subjects with stable chronic conditions who can benefit from physical exercise. They possess transversal interpersonal and communication skills needed to train individuals engaged in physical activity programmes, organisational and managerial competences for supervising groups and facilities where motor activities take place, and the ability to plan structured exercise programmes in line with assigned levels of autonomy and responsibility, organisational procedures, and interactions with key stakeholders (colleagues, medical doctors, other health professionals, and public or private clients). Career Paths: Technical Manager of exercise facilities; Specialist in physical activity for wellbeing; Kinesiologist in public and private organisations. Physical Education Teacher in schools. Profile: Technical Manager of Sports Facilities; Coach and Strength & Conditioning Trainer, including in preventive and adapted physical activity; Operator in preparatory recreational activities for sport initiation within motor and sports facilities. Functions: This professional is capable of planning training programmes and sport-specific activities by sport discipline and gender, across all performance levels—from introductory sport to elite competition. They design, coordinate, and lead technical-sport activities in competitive sport at all levels, including elite competition, within sports associations, sports promotion bodies, institutions, and specialised centres. They design, coordinate, and lead physical and athletic preparation programmes across different sports and performance levels, including professional sport. They design, coordinate, and lead physical preparation activities within training centres of the Armed Forces and other bodies responsible for national security and defence. They perform sport-specific assessments to define performance models, manage training content and programme planning, coordinate teams of trainers, evaluators, and scouting professionals, and collaborate with sports physicians and psychologists for athlete assessment, injury prevention, healthy lifestyle promotion, and efficient recovery from injury. With the acquisition of scientific competences, these professionals achieve high levels of autonomy and responsibility—particularly in evidence-based sport training design and in coordinating groups of experts. They will also have the foundational knowledge required to access second-level sport-oriented master’s programmes and PhD programmes. Skills: The functions require advanced specialist knowledge, abilities, and skills in technical-scientific domains. Key competences include: assessment of athletes’ physical and technical–tactical performance using cutting-edge technologies; planning gender-specific and sport-specific training based on performance category and type of sport; design of specialised and functional training protocols for individual, team, aquatic, and Paralympic sports; biomechanical performance analysis and match analysis; autonomous learning and continuous professional development, with strong transversal communication, organisational, management, and planning skills for sports organisations and multidisciplinary teams of experts. Career Paths: public and private organisations in grassroots sport, competitive sport (federations), and sport for individuals with disabilities; gyms, swimming pools, sports facilities, multi-purpose sports centres, holiday villages, and tourism organisations offering sport activities; centres for Paralympic sport preparation; training centres of the Armed Forces and bodies responsible for national security and defence; sports facilities and institutions offering sport activities sanctioned by national sports federations and sports promotion organisations recognised by CONI.

Characteristics of the final exam

At the end of the programme, students must complete and defend a final thesis (7 ECTS), which must be original in nature and may be experimental, theoretical, or project-based. Alternatively, it may take the form of a short essay on a mono- or multidisciplinary topic, and may also include a multimedia component. The thesis may be written in either Italian or English. The final project, or part of it, may also be carried out at other institutions or in public and/or private companies, in Italy or abroad, provided they are accredited by the University of Palermo. The thesis supervisor must be a lecturer—tenured or adjunct—who is a member of the Degree Programme Board to which the student is enrolled, or a lecturer from one of the courses chosen by the student within the student-selected elective course section.