Doctorate in Professional Practice (Sport and Exercise)

University of Derby

Undertake research that will enhance your professional practice, benefiting you, your clients and others in the profession Our expert teaching team are either personally engaged in professional practice or actively researching how it may be enhanced and our ongoing research in professional practice means we bring cutting-edge knowledge to the delivery of the programme Benefit from our extensive industry links in both professional and publicly funded areas of practice. Our knowledge and expertise ranges from the boardroom to the changing room or clinic and our industry awareness shows through in the material delivered in the programme and our individual support for each student Members of the teaching team have undertaken a professional doctorate themselves. They have first-hand experience of the journey you will go on and can provide relevant and effective support for you throughout the programme The Doctorate in Professional Practice (Sport and Exercise) aims to develop your ability to use applied research methods helping you to explore key aspects of your professional experience and current practice in meaningful and relevant ways. We all know that professional practice can be a complex, messy and nuanced experience for sport and exercise practitioners. We have designed the programme to explore innovative research methods that recognise and work with the complexity of practice. We aim to equip you to be able to undertake projects such as: Exploring and critiquing the culture in a specific sport or exercise environment to better understand how it might be enhanced (ethnography) Exploring how different forms of personal development (e.g., reflective practice) can enhance practitioner philosophies, knowledge and skills Going through cycles of intervention, reflection and planning to improve practice with a specific group of athletes or patients (action research) Following, critically examining and understanding the experiences of groups of athletes or patients (case-studies) Examining the impact of new practice methods on client outcomes Completion of the doctorate will set you apart from other professionals in your area. On the programme, you will develop critical expertise that can enhance your career and sharpen your professional practice. It will enhance your ability to influence thought and practice in your field and prepare you for more senior professional roles in sport or exercise. The programme will also equip you to step across into a role within higher education.