Social and physical bases of mauri ora or flourishing wellness.
Physical education with physical activity and health have been combined to provide students with a well-rounded understanding of the theory and practices of health, wellness and well-being for individuals, communities and populations, whatever their health status.
Physical education, activity and health captures the reasons why we should all be physically active, the physiology behind how physical activity works to influence health, and how to prescribe exercise.
It includes how we can encourage people to be more active, as well as coaching, teaching and instructing about the relevance of physical activity. We focus on the importance of communities, including Māori communities, as well as understanding how the environment relates to being active.
Physical education, activity and health will also appeal to those interested in teaching or coaching sport and exercise. It is designed to equip students with a strong background in the biophysical and socio-cultural sub-disciplines of human movement.
In addition, there is a strong emphasis on applied practice and theory.
Physical education and physical activity influences all areas of a person's health and wellbeing. Physical education, or how we learn, teach, coach and instruct, is critical for positive health and wellbeing.
You can learn how to prescribe exercise for healthy individuals and for sedentary populations. You will appreciate and learn how to utilise the strength of wider communities to promote physical activity. You will have the opportunity to engage in practical learning inside and outside of the classroom and exercise laboratories including our specially designed practicum paper.
The course offers a strong Māori physical education and health focus.
Learn about studying Physical Education, Activity and Health as an undergraduate at Otago.
Our graduate qualifications are crafted to transition students from foundational studies to advanced, specialised knowledge.
View a list of all related papers below.
Paper Code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
---|---|---|---|---|
SPEX101 | 2025 | Sport, Science and Society | 18 points | Semester 1 |
SPEX102 | 2025 | Principles of Exercise for Health and Performance | 18 points | Semester 2 |
SPEX201 | 2025 | Biomechanics | 18 points | Semester 2 |
SPEX202 | 2025 | Motor Behaviour | 18 points | Semester 1 |
SPEX203 | 2025 | Exercise Physiology | 18 points | Semester 1 |
SPEX204 | 2025 | Psychology of Sport and Exercise | 18 points | Semester 2 |
SPEX205 | 2025 | Physical Activity and Health | 18 points | Semester 2 |
SPEX206 | 2025 | Te Pū o te Ora Māori Physical Education and Health | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
SPEX207 | 2025 | Understanding Sports Coaching | 18 points | Semester 1 |
SPEX208 | 2025 | Sociology of Sport and Exercise | 18 points | Semester 2 |
SPEX209 | 2025 | Sport Development and Management | 18 points | Semester 1 |
SPEX301 | 2025 | Performance Analysis | 18 points | Semester 1 |
SPEX303 | 2025 | Exercise Energetics and Physiology | 18 points | Semester 2 |
SPEX304 | 2025 | Sport Psychology | 18 points | Semester 1 |
SPEX305 | 2025 | Athletic Conditioning and Rehabilitation | 18 points | Semester 1 |
SPEX306 | 2025 | Te Pou o Te Koronga Advanced Māori Physical Education and Health | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
SPEX307 | 2025 | Coaching, Leadership and Mentoring | 18 points | Semester 2 |
SPEX308 | 2025 | Psychology of Physical Activity | 18 points | Semester 1 |
SPEX309 | 2025 | Active Living and Environment | 18 points | Semester 1 |
SPEX310 | 2025 | Exercise for Clinical Populations | 18 points | Semester 1 |
SPEX311 | 2025 | Sports Technology | 18 points | Semester 2 |
SPEX312 | 2025 | Advanced Sociology of Sport | 18 points | Semester 1 |
SPEX313 | 2025 | Sport and Health Policy | 18 points | Semester 2 |
SPEX314 | 2025 | Advanced Sport Management | 18 points | Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
SPEX315 | 2025 | Sport Media | 18 points | Semester 2 |
SPEX316 | 2025 | Practicum | 18 points | Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year, 1st Non standard period (10 November 2025 - 20 February 2026) |
SPEX317 | 2025 | Neural Control of Movement | 18 points | Semester 2 |
SPEX380 | 2025 | Special Topic | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
SPEX401 | 2025 | Research Methods in Sport, Exercise and Health | 20 points | Semester 1 |
SPEX440 | 2025 | Advanced Topics in Physical Education, Activity and Health | 20 points | Semester 1 |
SPEX441 | 2025 | Advanced Topics in Physical Education, Activity and Health | 20 points | Semester 2 |
SPEX450 | 2025 | Advanced Topics in Exercise and Sport Science | 20 points | Semester 1 |
SPEX451 | 2025 | Advanced Topics in Exercise and Sport Science | 20 points | Semester 2 |
SPEX460 | 2025 | Advanced Topics in Sport Development | 20 points | Semester 1 |
SPEX461 | 2025 | Advanced Topics in Sport Management and Policy | 20 points | Semester 2 |
SPEX480 | 2025 | Independent Project | 40 points | Full Year |
SPEX481 | 2025 | Independent Study | 20 points | Semester 1, Semester 2 |
SPEX490 | 2025 | Dissertation | 60 points | Full Year |
SPEX495 | 2025 | Master's Thesis Preparation | 40 points | Full Year, 1st Non standard period (3 March 2025 - 27 February 2026), 2nd Non standard period (1 July 2025 - 26 June 2026) |
SPEX516 | 2025 | Practicum | 30 points | Full Year, 1st Non standard period |
SPEX517 | 2025 | Practicum Report | 30 points | Full Year, 1st Non standard period |
School of Physical Education Sport & Exercise Sciences
Tel +64 3 479 8991
Email physical-education@otago.ac.nz
Website otago.ac.nz/sopeses
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Regulations on this page are taken from the 2025 Calendar and supplementary material.
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