GUARANTOR OF THE STUDY PROGRAMME:

PhDr. et Mgr. Renata Větrovská, Ph.D.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE STUDY PROGRAMME

The aim of the bachelor's degree programme "Nutritional Counselling and Sports Diagnostics" is to prepare professionals who understand the relationship between nutrition, physical activity and civilisation diseases. At the same time, they are proficient in modern diagnostic methods used in nutritional counselling, sports practice and musculoskeletal assessment.

Based on the previous experience of more than ten years of teaching, the study programme is newly accredited as professionally oriented from 2025. It has been updated to respond to current needs in the labour market, higher education and societal changes in health and lifestyle. The curriculum emphasizes the acquisition of professional competencies in nutrition counseling for diverse populations and in musculoskeletal diagnostics in professional, performance and recreational sport and sport for health settings.

The philosophical and psychophysiological conception of health, which today represents an important value both in the labour market and in the personal life of individuals, is the starting point for the preparation of the Bachelor's programme. Not only services, but also tools aimed at preventing illness, promoting health and improving overall physical, mental and social well-being are gaining in importance. Increasingly, the need for active health care is being emphasised, with a clear focus on primary prevention and the promotion of healthy lifestyles.

With regard to the current social perception of the value of health and health care, the Bachelor's programme "Nutrition Counselling and Sports Diagnostics" places great emphasis on understanding the links between nutrition, exercise and health. Graduates are expected to have the knowledge and professional skills to enable them to expertly analyse a client's dietary habits and assess the state of their musculoskeletal system and overall physical fitness. Based on the data obtained, they will then be able to suggest adjustments to their lifestyle taking into account the client's age, health and individual needs.

Another specificity of the study programme is the emphasis on acquiring basic knowledge in the field of musculoskeletal diagnostics, body morphology and functional abilities in relation to physical and sport activities. Students will also acquire practical skills in somatometry of athletes, including the ability to recommend appropriate sporting activities with regard to individual physical characteristics.

The programme also supports the personal development of the university student. It offers space to find one's own direction of motivation and balance between studies, healthy lifestyle and personal goals. It helps students understand the principles of taking care of their own health and develop an active approach to maintaining it.

Practice is a key part of the study. In accordance with the requirements of professionally oriented study programmes, students complete a total of 480 hours of professional practice, both in full-time and combined forms of study.

STUDY PLAN

Curriculum of Nutritional Counselling and Sports Diagnostics

The educational programme of the field of "Nutritional Counselling and Sports Diagnostics is designed as a three-year bachelor's degree. The school uses the ECTS credit system.

The curriculum consists of modules of compulsory, optional and elective courses. Compulsory subjects are those that form the basis of the training and the entire study programme.

Compulsory electives are those that students are required to choose based on their intended major. Optional subjects Students choose based on professional and personal interests. Successful completion of the course is conditional on fulfilling all its components (participation, continuous and final evaluation). Emphasis is placed not only on theoretical knowledge, but also on practical teaching and preparation for the future profession.

In developing the content of the programme and individual courses, we have worked closely with experts from practice who are also involved in teaching. We have already identified suitable workplaces for professional practice during the preparation of the accreditation and we are continuously expanding this list. Examples of cooperating organisations include Beachklub Ládví, Prague; BKS Hotels, Bad Gastein (Austria); CASRI - Scientific and Service Workplace of Physical Education and Sport, p.o., Prague; Czech Union of Sport - Podolí Swimming Stadium, Prague; FIT4FUN, z.s, Mladá Boleslav; Grandhotel Pupp, Karlovy Vary; MEDISPO, Prague; Rehabilitation and Fitness Poděbrady s.r.o., Poděbrady; Prague 9 - Kbely Primary School, Prague and other facilities in the field of sport, education, health and wellness.

The study is completed by a state final examination, which includes the defence of the bachelor's thesis. Students may apply for the examination after obtaining a minimum of 180 ETCS credits and completing the prescribed structure of compulsory and optional courses.   

Graduates of the bachelor's degree can continue their studies in the follow-up master's degree programme "Wellness Specialist".

EMPLOYMENT OF GRADUATES

Within the framework of the "Nutritional Counselling and Sports Diagnostics" programme, students will acquire both basic and advanced knowledge and practical skills that will enable them to design and implement educational and sports-educational programmes adapted to the needs of different client groups. They will learn how to promote a positive attitude towards health, motivate clients to take active care of their physical and mental fitness and guide them to maintain or improve their quality of life through good nutrition, exercise and regeneration.

Graduates of this programme will be able to design a nutrition and drinking regime, recommend an appropriate exercise plan and work with clients in primary and secondary prevention. The study programme is aimed at graduates' employment in the state, public and private sectors, for example in the environment of fitness centres, sports clubs and associations, in hotel and wellness services, in convalescent and rehabilitation centres.

In practice, they can be specifically used as nutritional advisors for athletes and the general population in all age groups. They can work as healthy lifestyle specialists in schools, businesses or community programs. They can also find employment in the field of regenerative and restorative care for clients. They can also be consultants in the field of musculoskeletal diagnosis and subsequent appropriate selection of physical activities. They will also find employment as trainers and instructors with the skills of basic musculoskeletal diagnosis and assessment of the client's current physical and motor abilities. They are able to assess sports performance and, on this basis, adjust the training plan and suggest appropriate movement intervention.

PALESTRA Diagnostic Centre

As part of their studies, students have the opportunity to visit the PALESTRA Diagnostic Centre. The Diagnostic Centre offers students direct work with modern instruments and technologies such as bioimpedance analysis or spiroergometry. This hands-on experience allows students to apply theoretical knowledge in practice and prepare for the real needs of clients. https://palestra.cz/diagnosticke-centrum-palestra/

Technologies that you normally find in practice and are a common part of teaching here - for example: