A Narrative Review of Undergraduate and Postgraduate Strength and Conditioning Course Recognitions and Accreditations in the United Kingdom

Abstract

An increased number of strength and conditioning (S&C) degrees are now offered in the United Kingdom, given the growing interest in S&C. These degrees can be recognized and accredited by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity in collaboration with the United Kingdom Strength and Conditioning Association (CIMSPA-UKSCA), and the International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association (IUSCA), with each association requiring different and specific criteria to be met. Consequently, when course representatives apply for one or more awards, this can become a complicated task. Therefore, this paper aimed to consolidate recognition and accreditation criteria for each awarding association and present the number of S&C degrees recognized and accredited. Criteria for each awarding association were obtained and summarized into a user-friendly format. The number of courses recognized and accredited by each awarding association was obtained by reviewing the websites of each S&C degree, which were sourced from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), NSCA, UKSCA, and IUSCA directories. As of July 2023, 20 undergraduate and 29 postgraduate courses were identified. The NSCA recognized 10 undergraduate and 12 postgraduate courses, CIMSPA-UKSCA accredited 11 undergraduate and 7 postgraduate courses, and IUSCA accredited 5 undergraduate and 2 postgraduate courses. Recognitions are inexpensive compared to accreditations due to fewer criteria to be met. Most undergraduate degrees held 1-2 recognitions or accreditations, which was 0-1 for postgraduate degrees. All recognitions require specific module, practical, and assessment content to be covered, which in part should be delivered by staff holding a discipline-specific undergraduate or postgraduate degree accompanied with a professional S&C certification. All accreditations require courses to include supervised practical experience and evidence suitable learning environments. The NSCA and IUSCA accreditations require degree titles to indicate the course specialization (e.g., BSc in S&C) and include a site visit to validate and accredit each course. The CIMSPA-UKSCA and IUSCA accreditations require courses to evidence that transferable graduate knowledge and skills are being developed. This paper can inform (a) course representatives of the criteria to obtain each recognition or accreditation; (b) prospective students to understand and distinguish between each recognition and accreditation, and observe which degrees have received each award; (c) potential employers to tailor job profiles to align with graduate capabilities; and (d) awarding associations to compare and review their recognitions and accreditations with other awarding associations, to support their continued enhancement or diversification.