GUARANTOR OF THE STUDY PROGRAMME:

Prof. PaedDr. Milada Krejčí, CSc.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE STUDY PROGRAMME

The aim of the study programme is to prepare academically erudite professionals for the field of wellness who are able to orient themselves in the basic professional issues of the rapidly developing field of human care, especially for their personal well-being as a significant component of health, fitness and healthy lifestyle.

Students will acquire basic professional skills that will enable them to apply themselves in facilities that provide not only classical physical activities, but a whole range of new forms of care for the body, spirit and healthy lifestyle, leading to a reduction of health-risk behaviour and compensation for the negative effects of civilization on the health of the population, including the need for high environmental protection.

Students build on the basic knowledge in the field of pedagogical-psychological, biomedical, managerial-economic, which they have acquired in their bachelor's degree programmes. Primarily they are prepared for managerial positions in the field of wellness, but they can also work in other positions.

The study is delivered within a balanced, structured and consistent curriculum, focused on the theoretical study of the transfer and implementation of movement, health promotion and wellness into real life along with the scientifically validated empirics of an active lifestyle. The application of modern methods of study, leading to the effective achievement of learning outcomes and the development of academic and professional competencies, will provide students with the necessary prerequisites to pursue the ever-growing field of the wellness professional.

Wellness as a field of study at Palestra based on his experience, the Rector Emeritus, Prof. PhDr. Václav Hošek, DrSc.

PROFILE OF THE GRADUATE OF THE STUDY PROGRAMME

The graduate profile is prepared in accordance with Government Regulation No. 275/2016 Coll. on the definition of the field of education (Part 28, Physical Education and Sport; Kinanthropology)

At the same time, we fulfil the Characteristics and Work Activities of the profession "Wellness Specialist", which are specified in the National Occupational System according to the Employment Act No. 435/2004 Coll., Section 6.

GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT

Graduates of the study programme will gain qualifications for the profession of Wellness Specialist, and thanks to the demanding and focused content of the study programme, they will be suitably prepared for the concept of comprehensive care for different groups of clients, as well as for the management of wellness centres.

Graduates of the follow-up master's degree with the qualification of Wellness Specialist will find employment in wellness centres, including hotel, balneo or spa operations. They will also find further employment in institutions focusing on wellness services in tourism (travel agencies, event agencies, professional associations, etc.) or in the field of sports and leisure (sports clubs, physical education unions, associations and unions, fitness centres). They can provide advice on healthy lifestyles, prepare differently oriented wellness programmes for different groups of clients and individuals. Primarily they are prepared for managerial positions in the field of wellness.

The graduate has the following professional skills and competences:

Expertise

• The graduate will explain the theoretical concepts of education in kinanthropology, especially the correlations with didactics and pedagogy of sport, including intercultural and global aspects of wellness.
• The graduate will explain the basic philosophical categories in the context of the bio-psycho-social dimensions of physical activity and wellness.
• The graduate applies the knowledge of biomedical disciplines in relation to physical and sporting activities, to an adequate exercise regime in different target groups.
• The graduate knows the principles of basic diagnostics of the musculoskeletal system.
• The graduate combines expertise in exercise physiology, kinesiology, biomechanics, environmental hygiene and regenerative procedures.
• The graduate will define the importance of nutrition, sleep and circadian preferences for an active lifestyle.
• The graduate will explain the principles of management, economics and marketing in the wellness environment - organizations, centers, clubs, including donation and sponsorship.
• The graduate will evaluate the importance of physical activities for individuals and society, health, physical fitness and regeneration, social inclusion and human resource development in wellness in a national, European and global context, including knowledge of the environmental context.

 

 Professional skills

• The graduate completes a theory and research-based curriculum of modern movement intervention programs.
• The graduate is able to plan, implement and evaluate teaching, training and fitness programmes and activities, taking into account the possibilities and limits of target groups of people.
• The graduate will be able to conduct and evaluate testing of motor skills and abilities.
• Graduates can diagnose the human musculoskeletal system, especially measure anthropometric parameters of the human body, and master professional skills related to functional examination.
• Graduates can independently design wellness programs in nature with respect to the principles of environmental science, they can find suitable locations for their implementation.
• The graduate will be able to design strategies and practices aimed at developing health-oriented fitness, including effective communication, motivation and consideration of intercultural aspects.
• Graduates will be able to apply the principles of management and marketing in the creation, organization and management of programs, projects and events.
• The graduate will be able to conceive and elaborate a research project on a selected current topic in the field of kinanthropology focused on the promotion of health and healthy lifestyle.
• Graduates will be able to conceive a research design, analyse data, apply appropriate statistical methods and interpret results. The student will be able to formulate a hypothesis and verify it. The student will be able to conduct a discussion with appropriate comparison with Czech and foreign research. Can formulate conclusions and recommendations.
• The graduate will be able to independently solve partial action research investigations using scientific theory and methodology of scientific work. The student will be able to prepare a written research task, present and defend it, or prepare it for publication.

 

General eligibility

• The graduate independently acquires updated professional knowledge and skills related to the professional focus.
• The graduate is able to independently manage, plan, coordinate, control his/her professional activities so that professional goals are successfully and effectively implemented.
• Graduates make independent and responsible decisions in new or changing contexts, taking into account the wider societal implications of their decisions.
• The graduate professionally plans, supports, motivates and manages members of the work team with responsible use of the acquired professional knowledge, professional skills and general competences.
• The graduate respects professional and ethical principles.
• The graduate coordinates his/her professional activity and bears the final responsibility for its results.
• The graduate uses evaluation and self-evaluation.
• The graduate is independently and responsibly oriented in the world trends of wellness activities and can competently assess the possibility of their application in specific conditions on the basis of an evaluation analysis.
• The graduate communicates professionally in a foreign language. He/she is able to communicate his/her professional messages to professionals in a clear and convincing manner.
• The graduate uses professional knowledge, professional skills and general competences in English, in the context of professional professional development, and in the sense of seeking knowledge from foreign language, especially English scientific sources.
• The graduate is optimally qualified to expand his/her professional competences.

The professional knowledge, skills and competences of the graduate of the programme build on the competences acquired within the Bachelor's study programme "Physical Education and Sport" and "Health Education", in case of continuity with other programmes on the completion of a CŽV course (see "Conditions for admission to study").

STUDY PROGRAMME

It is an academically oriented follow-up master's degree programme. The curriculum is designed to respect the objectives of the study programme in accordance with the profile and application of the graduate and to create a logical whole corresponding to the type and profile of the study programme. The curriculum is designed to enable students to achieve the professional knowledge, professional skills and general competences declared in the graduate profile in the context of the current state of knowledge.

The study programme is designed with a standard study period of two academic years, divided into four semesters.

The curriculum consists of modules of compulsory, compulsory elective, elective courses and a module of the state examination and is designed for full-time and combined form of study. PALESTRA College of Physical Education and Sport uses the ECTS credit system.

The objects are defined as follows:

• compulsory courses - 93 credits;
• compulsory elective courses - 20 credits;
• elective courses - 7 credits.

The compulsory subjects consist of 18 subjects of profiling basis ("PZ"), 7 of which are basic theoretical study subjects ("ZT"). The compulsory elective subjects are those which the student chooses on a compulsory basis on the basis of his/her professional orientation in the minimum scope defined above. Elective subjects are chosen by the student according to his/her interest within the framework of his/her professional orientation within the minimum scope defined above.

The study is completed with a state master's examination. The MA has two components - the thesis defence and the state examination, which consists of the following components:

• Theory and didactics of wellness
• Biomedical issues of wellness
• Creation and submission of a "Portfolio of completed work experience" at the state final examination.

STUDY PLAN

CONDITIONS FOR ADMISSION TO STUDY

The conditions for admission to the study of the follow-up Master's programme "Wellness Specialist" result from Article 7 of the Statutes. Graduates of the bachelor's degree programme of the PALESTRA University of Technology will be admitted without an admission procedure. Applicants from other universities will be admitted on the basis of an admission procedure which will include an oral interview to determine both the level of general awareness of the study programme and the quality of communication skills.

In the case of major differences in the curriculum of the previous bachelor's degree, students take a compensatory course according to the previous programme studied. The course will take place within the framework of lifelong learning and will enable the admitted students to complete the necessary knowledge of the basic subject areas of the Bachelor's degree programme implemented at VŠTVS PALESTRA before starting the course.

Relationship to other types of study programmes - Physical Education and Sport, Health Education.