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Accessibility statement
An image to illustrate Contemporary sport and exercise issues module
In this engaging module, you’ll explore the research behind a range of interesting contemporary sport and exercise issues. Through critical analysis of the interaction between academic and media sources you will investigate fascinating questions within topics such as nutrition, gender, recovery and youth sport. You’ll also undertake a detailed investigation on one contemporary issue that you will select from a range of options. This module is suitable if you have a broad interest and an inquisitive nature regarding contemporary issues in sport, or work practices in the sector.
The module comprises seven study topics:
Setting the scene using the doping issue
This introduction to the module explains the module framework, and you begin to see how a contemporary issue can be explored. You'll focus on the example of doping in sport to better understand how to approach discussing an issue and how it can be argued from different perspectives.
Chasing the evidence: nutrition for health and performance
You’ll explore the evidence and arguments relating to the development of healthy eating guidelines, common diets and myths, and the advances in personalised nutrition. An introductory nutrition ‘primer’ chapter is used for those new to this subject.
Inequality in sport: what’s gender got to do with it?
You'll investigate how gender inequalities across sport arise both in the past and the present. You’ll explore how inequality can be viewed through a feminist lens and how this is applied to issues such as media coverage, power relations and your own experiences within sport and exercise.
Recovery or Youth Sport options
You’ll also have the choice to investigate either:
Project topic overviews
You’ll now begin working on your independent final project, focusing on a specific contemporary issue. This project could explore topics such as high-intensity interval training, body image, concussion, nutrition, or sleep. This study topic introduces you to a range of engaging contemporary topics and helps you to respond to an intriguing question using academic and media sources.
Becoming a proficient presenter
This will help you develop your presentation skills in preparation for a one-to-one presentation with your tutor about your independent final project. The skills you learn will also be useful in a wide range of professional roles in sport and fitness.
Completing your final Project
This final study topic is designed to help you complete your final Project on your chosen topic. Whilst this largely involves independent study, you’ll be supported by activities to keep you on track and online tutorials from subject specialists.
The content of this module will help build your knowledge of contemporary issues in sport and exercise that are relevant to practitioners in the field and will help you to develop your critical analysis skills.
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They’ll help by:
There is a range of online tutorials that run throughout the module, including live topic-based tutorials, short pre-recorded podcasts to explore contemporary research, and supportive one-to-one check-ins with your tutor. While they’re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate as they will contribute to your success on this module.
Course work includes:
You’ll have access to a module website, which includes:
You can study this module on its own or use the credits you gain towards an Open University qualification.
E315 is a compulsory module in our:
E315 is an option module in our:
Contemporary sport and exercise issues (E315) starts once a year – in October.
This page describes the module that will start in October 2026.
We expect it to start for the last time in October 2031.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations, which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
There are no formal qualification requirements for this module. However, as it is an OU level 3 module it is recommended that you have completed at least one sport and fitness module before embarking on study in this area.
You will be required to read and interpret detailed research articles so your academic skills should reflect these expectations.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.
The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone, and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying E315 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.
To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our Disability support website.
StartEndRegister byEngland fee
03 Oct 202630 Jun 202710 Sep 2026£4,088
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