ACADEMIC YEAR 2025-2026

30  Ects. 

Teaching Period - 2024-2026 Cohort

May – December 2025 (Academic Year 2025-2026)

Specific Condition

This module is entirely in English. The module is structured as two separate curricular intensive courses (15 Ects/each) combining theoretical and practical skills chosen by the student among the following offerings:

• Exercise and performance in the growing child (Odense, 22 April - 9 May 2025, in-campus activities)
• Movement therapy for special populations (Cologne, 5 - 16 May 2025, in-campus activities)  
• Physical activity and disease prevention in adults (Vienna, 19 May - 6 June 2025, in-campus activities) 
• Psychology and Ethics of Sport and Physical Activity (Oslo, 2-week in-campus activities (29/09 - 10/10, 2025, plus online teaching and examination, Fall/Winter 2025)*  
• Ageing, Physical Activity and Health: From Theory to Practice (Odense, 3-week in-campus activities, week 46 - week 49, 2025, specific starting and ending dates to be defined)*
• Movement therapy in orthopedic rehabilitation (Rome, 3-week in-campus activities, Summer/Fall 2025)*

*No overlapping with other in-campus courses' activities is granted 

Objectives of the intensive courses (Individual sections below and in the Program Handbook)

1)       Exercise and performance in the growing child  (University of Southern Denmark, Odense)

• This course aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the physiology of growth and maturation in children and adolescents, and how these processes influence athletic performance, the response to regular engagement in physical activity, different types of training, and injury risk across gender. Students will explore assessment methods used to evaluate and monitor maturation, body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity, and training intensity. The course will also cover the most common injuries in youth sports during growth and maturation, how these injuries are assessed and managed, as well as strategies for injury prevention.
• The course includes lectures, group work, and practical exercises that link theory with hands-on skills. This structure aims to develop students’ competences to evaluate and apply evidence-based knowledge and methods related to training, injuries, growth, maturation, and performance in children and adolescents. Through presentations and the written assignment, students can demonstrate their theoretical and practical skills, allowing an evaluation of how well they have met the learning objectives.

 2)       Psychology and Ethics of Sport and Physical Activity (MA531 and SPM120, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo)

• Motivational, cognitive, organismic, and social-ecological theories & models relevant for understanding participation in and learning, performance, and health/wellbeing effects of sport, exercise, and physical activity;
• The role of social influence (such as group dynamics, social support, modeling, and relatedness) in facilitating learning, performance, well-being/mental health for different age groups in sport, exercise, and physical activity;
• The role of adaptive and maladaptive self-regulation (such as planning, monitoring, goal setting, self-handicapping, etc.) that may facilitate or prevent learning, performance development, and mental health/well-being in sport, exercise, and physical activity;
• Explanations based on the social science of the prevalence of the use of various performance-enhancing means and methods in sports;
• The ethics of using performance-enhancing means and methods and anti-doping in sport and the contribution to evidence-based and informed anti-doping policies in sport.

3) Physical activity and disease prevention in adults (University of Vienna, Vienna)

• Expand the knowledge of exercise physiology, motor analysis, and biomechanics to acquire practical principles of fitness assessment.
• Expand the knowledge of theories and practical applications of a) fitness and wellness principles, b) principles of cardiovascular pathophysiology, and c) fitness assessment and exercise prescription in cardiovascular rehabilitation.
• Integrate knowledge of exercise physiology and cognitive model theories in exercise training plans finalized for healthy development and disease prevention in special populations.
• Integrate the knowledge of the role of exercise on health with those on motor intervention in adults to correctly plan a personalized training program.

4) Ageing, Physical Activity and Health: from theory to practice (UNiversity of Southern Denmark, Odense)

• Expand the knowledge of exercise physiology and theories of exercise training in the elderly.
• Integrate knowledge of biology and physiology of ageing with exercise physiology and cognitive models theories in exercise training plans finalized to healthy ageing and disease prevention.

5) Movement therapy for special populations (German Sport University, Cologne)

• Expand the knowledge on theories and practical applications of: a) movement therapy and physical activity for special populations; b) movement therapy in the rehabilitation chain; c) coordination training for special populations; d) aqua therapy; e) strength training in special populations.
• Integrate knowledge of exercise physiology and cognitive model theories in exercise training plans finalized for healthy development and disease prevention in special populations.

6) Movement therapy in orthopedic rehabilitation (University of Rome Foro Italico/Villa Stuart Clinic/Rome)

• Expand the knowledge of theories and practical applications of orthopedic rehabilitation.
• Integrate knowledge of exercise physiology and cognitive model theories in exercise training plans finalized for healthy development and disease prevention in special populations.

Competencies:
When finalizing each internship, the students will be able to:
Professional competencies:
• Utilize the conceptual and practical tools to design, conduct, and monitor exercise programs finalized for health maintenance and disease prevention in various conditions and ages.
• Integrate the methodological tools to deepen one's understanding of a motor intervention protocol, detect problems, and find solutions.
• Be able to work in a team, interact with other professionals, and critically evaluate the emerging technologies in each disciplinary sector.

Theoretical and Academic Competencies:
• Starting from the critical literature reading, identify best practice knowledge to develop novel solutions and protocols of motor intervention.

Exam
The exam schedules will be defined by the university hosting the internship.

Exam Format:
The exam consists of an individual written essay and/or individual oral presentation on theoretical and/or practical aspects covered during the intensive course. It will be evaluated and organized by the faculty of the university hosting the internship. 

Study Abroad
The Program Handbook (Program General Information) provides detailed information on each intensive course. Before starting the fourth module of the first year, essential information will be provided to help students prepare for their internship period.
The University of Rome Foro Italico grants a scholarship of € 200,00 to all students attending at least 15 ECTS in a different country from the one of his/her own nationality, given that his/her have not benefited from any scholarship, grant, or reimbursement (either from national, European Union or home institution funds) for the mobility mentioned above periods. The scholarship will be assigned on June 2025 (1st-year mobility) and February 2026 (2nd-year mobility), after formally registering the relevant academic activity. 

Students, in addition to the possibility of participating in Erasmus+ Calls (Study and/or Traineeship), will benefit from additional funding issued by the Italian Ministry of Education to support their curricular internship/s abroad (Fondo Giovani), whose amount (up to € 500/month) is determined based on the student’s ISEE/family income and assigned upon formal registration of the relevant academic activity. Erasmus and Fondo Giovani grants are under the responsibility of the International Relations office.