Program Presentation
The Master’s Degree in Sports Performance Optimization is a postgraduate academic program with a well-defined approach: providing the necessary tools to become more competitive within the field of sports performance.
The Master's Degree in Sports Performance Optimization was created with the aim of facing our current market needs. Students will be nourished with key knowledge in all the central points of sports performance, from the latest trends in training and improvement in physical conditioning, as well as in the transversal elements that complement training (technologies, nutrition, and psychology). Students will also be provided with dynamic environments in the e-learning modality to assimilate the contents, with the added enrichment of meeting and debating with first rate professionals.
The purpose of the Master's Degree is to provide the concepts, skills, strategies, and tools for professionals in physical activity and sports to adequately plan, develop and evaluate those training proposals that guarantee the final quality of professional tasks within the field of sports performance and assume the ethical commitments and responsibility required of the profession.
Who is the programme for?
Accompanied by the clarity, comprehensiveness and didactics of the content design, the proposed training methodology enables directing the Master's Degree in Sports Performance Optimization to:
- Graduates in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences or related degrees interested in complementary and specific training that allows them to deepen, refresh or update their professional skills and perform more efficiently within their job. Or for said studies to broaden their possibilities of employment, or offer a qualitative distinction given the competitive nature of the professional environment.
- Graduates in education or other health science degrees who, in addition to their basic education, desire a practical specialization in sports performance.
- Other university graduates with professional experience in physical activity and sports interested in becoming up to date, consolidating, or acquiring knowledge in the optimization and improvement of sports performance.
Diploma
Successfully completing the program will enable the student to obtain the Master’s Degree in Sports Performance Optimization.
After the program has been successfully completed, the student will receive the degree as issued by the University where they are enrolled.
Program Structure
The estimated time for completing the Master’s Degree in Sports Performance Optimization is 24 Months.
The credit structure for the Master’s Degree in Sports Performance Optimization is as follows:
| CREDITSa | LENGTHb | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Part: Mandatory Subjects | 75 | 21 |
| 2nd Part: Final Master's Project | 12 | 3 |
| TOTAL | 87 | 24 |
a. One ECTS credit (European Credit Transfer System) equals 10 + 15 hours. The relationship between credits and hours may vary for those students in the Program who are enrolled in a University not belonging to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).
b. Length in months.
Objectives
General objective
- To plan, develop and properly evaluate strategies to guarantee the final quality of professional tasks in the field of sports performance and assume the ethical commitments and responsibility required by the profession.
Specific objectives
- Identify the roles of the different physiological systems of the human body.
- Design the proper programming and periodization of high-performance training in sports, as well as quantify the training load in a detailed manner.
- Select effective, valid, and reliable methods for the athlete’s functional evaluation.
- Analyze new technologies for the collection, analysis, and evaluation of the athlete’s physical condition and performance.
- Establish the methods of psychological evaluation as applied to high performance in sports.
- Analyze nutritional and dietary strategies adapted to the sports modality, the competitive period, and each athlete’s individual characteristics.
Career Opportunities
The following are some of the career opportunities of the Master’s Degree in Sports Performance Optimization:
- Physical trainer for high performance athletes
- Specialist in strength and fitness training in high performance sports
- Expert in the assessment, optimization and control of the high performance athlete
- Physical-sports performance analyst for individuals and sport teams
- Technical analyst in sports competitions.
- Personal trainer in fitness and wellness centers, aimed at the optimization of sports performance.
- Physical trainer and physical-sports therapist in multidisciplinary centers.
- Scientific-technical advisor for the performance optimization of individuals and sport teams.
Note: Professional practice is subject to each country’s legislations.
Study Plan
The Master’s Degree in Sports Performance Optimization consists of 2 parts as described below:
- 1st PART: MANDATORY SUBJECTS
The first part consists of 14 subjects in which the Sports Training Fundamentals are described, and those subjects composing Sports Performance Optimization are also explained.
The Mandatory Subjects are listed in the following table:
| INITIAL PHASE: FUNDAMENTALS OF SPORTS TRAINING | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | SUBJECTS | CREDITS |
| 1 | Human Anatomy | 6 |
| 2 | Human Physiology | 6 |
| 3 | Biomechanics of Human Movement | 6 |
| 4 | Fundamentals of Training | 6 |
| 5 | High Performance Planning and Physical Training | 6 |
| TOTAL | 30 | |
| ADVANCED PHASE: SPORTS PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | SUBJECTS | CREDITS |
| 1 | Training Theory and Practice | 5 |
| 2 | Physiology of High-level Sports Training | 5 |
| 3 | Monitoring and Quantifying the Training Load in High Performance | 5 |
| 4 | Planning and Periodization Models of Training in Sports | 5 |
| 5 | Functional Assessment of the Elite Athlete | 5 |
| 6 | Strategies for the Prevention and Rehabilitation of Sports Injuries | 5 |
| 7 | Technological Tools Applied to Training | 5 |
| 8 | Psychology in High Performance | 5 |
| 9 | Nutrition and Sports Performance | 5 |
| TOTAL | 45 | |
- 2nd PART: FINAL MASTER'S PROJECT
The last part of the Master’s Degree is aimed at carrying out the Final Master's Project, which the student may begin prior to completing the 1st Part: Mandatory Subjects, since the student will have studied the necessary elements to begin the Final Master's Project.
The objective is to present a complete document that shows the total development of the proposed project, including the possibility of its practical implementation in accordance with the guidelines and details of the Final Master's Project.
The Project must be a contribution to some of the studied fields or a relationship to it, both theoretical and applied, in accordance with the doctrines, theories, and related disciplines.
It should also be based on the document “Guidelines for the Final Master’s Project’s Development” that the student will be provided in the first delivery of their didactic material.
| 2nd PART: FINAL MASTER’S PROJECT | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | SUBJECTS | CREDITS |
| 1 | Final Master’s Project | 12 |
| TOTAL | 12 | |
Note: The contents of the academic program may be subject to slight modifications, depending on the updates or the improvements made.
Management
Academic management
- Dr. Maurizio Antonio Battino. Director of the Health and Nutrition Area of the Iberoamerican University Foundation. Researcher in Biochemistry and professor at the Scuola di Specializzazione in Scienza dell'Alimentazione. Professor at the Università Politecnica delle Marche.
General Academic Coordination
- Dr. Álvaro Velarde Sotres. International Coordinator of the Sports Area.
- Dr. Irma Domínguez Azpíroz. International Coordinator of Health Areas.
Teaching staff and Authors
- Dr. Antonio Jesús Bores. Doctorate in Sport and Physical Activity Sciences. Professional physical trainer and professor at the European University of the Atlantic.
- Dr. Archit Navandar. Doctor in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences from the Polytechnic University of Madrid. Professor at the European University of Madrid.
- Dr. Álvaro Velarde Sotres. Doctor in Health Projects from the International Iberoamerican University. Professor at the European University of the Atlantic.
- Dr. Carlos Lago Fuentes. Doctor in Sports Science, Physical Education and Healthy Physical Activity from the University of Vigo. Academic Director of the Degree in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences at the European University of the Atlantic.
- Dr. Felipe García Pinillos. International Doctorate in Sport and Physical Activity Sciences, University of Jaen. Professor at the European University of the Atlantic.
- Dr. Iker Muñoz. Doctor in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences from the European University of Madrid. Training and research specialized in analysis and performance optimization in long distance athletes.
- Dra. Priscilla Almeida. Doctor in Biomedicine, University of Zaragoza. Professor at the International Iberoamerican University.
- Dra. Susana Martínez. Doctor in Biology from the University of León. Professor at the European University of the Atlantic.
- Dr. Jerónimo Aragón. Doctor in Human Nutrition. Master of Research in Physical Activity and Sport. Research on the physiological impact of oxidative stress, sport, physical activity, and health.
- Dr. Jose Antonio de Paz Fernández. Doctorate in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Salamanca. Head Professor at the University of Leon.
- Dr. Juan Francisco Mielgo. Doctor in Biomedical Research and a Master in Nutrition and Health from the University of the Basque Country.
- Dra. Amélia Cristina Stein. Doctorate in Sport and Physical Activity Sciences, University of León. Professor at the International Iberoamerican University.
- Dra. Eva Montero. Doctor in Clinical Psychology and Health from the Autonomous University in Madrid. Experience as a clinical-health and sports psychologist.
- Dr. Mario David Cordero Morales. Doctor by the University of Seville. Researcher at the Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation of Cadiz.
- Dra. María José Cuervas González. Doctor in Biology from the University of León. Professor at the University of Leon.
- Dra. María Victoria García Mediavilla. Doctor in Biology from the University of León. Professor at the University of Leon.
- Dr. Osvaldo Costa Moreira. Doctorate in Sport and Physical Activity Sciences, University of León. Professor at the Federal de Viçosa University.
- Dra. Claudia Eliza Patrocinio. Doctorate in Sport and Physical Activity Sciences, University of León. Professor at the University of Federal de Viçosa.
- Dr. Valentín Emilio Fernández. Doctorate in Sport and Physical Activity Sciences. Professor at the European University of Madrid.
- Dr. (c) Juan Jesús Salinero. D. candidate in Sports Performance at the University of Castilla-La Mancha. Professor at SEK Educational Institution.
- Dr. (c) Víctor Luis Escamilla Galindo. University Master in Evaluation and Physical Training for Health, University of Zaragoza. Graduated in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences.
- Dra. (c) María Soledad Arribalzaga. D. candidate in Health, Disability, Dependency and Welfare at the University of León. Master's Degree in Sports Training and Nutrition from the European University of Madrid.
- Dr. (c) Martín Barcala Furelos. Doctoral student in Physical Activity, Physical Education, and Sports at the Pontifical University of Salamanca. Professor at the International Iberoamerican University.
- Dr. (c) Leonardo de Jesús Hernández Cruz. Doctoral student in Education at the International Iberoamerican University. Master’s Degree in Physical Activity. Professor at the International University do Cuanza.
- Dr. (c) Josep Alemany Iturriaga. Doctoral candidate in Education. Extensive professional experience as a basketball coach. Professor of the Technical Committee of the Catalan Basketball Federation.
FUNIBER Training Scholarships
The Iberoamerican University Foundation (FUNIBER) allocates periodically an extraordinary economic item for FUNIBER Training Scholarships.
To apply, please fill out the information request form that appears in the web of FUNIBER or contact directly the Foundation’s headquarters in your country that will inform you if you need to provide some additional information.
Once the documentation is received, the Evaluation Committee will determine your application's eligibility for the FUNIBER Training Scholarship.