Master's degree program “SPORT, FITNESS, HEALTH”
Field of Higher Education: Healthcare and Sports Professional Field: Sports Specialty: Sports, Fitness, Health Form of Education: Full-time, Part-time, Distance Learning Duration of Education: Two semesters Program Director – Prof. Valentin Panayotov, PhD The main goal of mass sports is to improve the health status of the population, its physical and intellectual capacity, and to achieve occupational and creative longevity. The primary means of achieving this goal are maintaining optimal physical activity and a balanced diet across all social groups. This goal aligns with the World Health Organization's definition of health: “Health should not only be understood as the absence of disease but as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being.” In recent decades, there has been a significant shift in people's understanding of a healthy lifestyle, with increasing attention being paid to optimal physical activity and proper nutrition. This trend is typical for developed countries but is gradually becoming established in Bulgaria as part of the European community. A healthy lifestyle should be considered and promoted as a national value. It includes, as a key element, optimal physical activity aimed at increasing physical working capacity and maintaining it at a high level with age, developing stress resistance, preventing socially significant diseases, improving the quality of life for people with chronic conditions, satisfying aesthetic needs, and more. The development and promotion of mass sports as a national priority are connected to the preparation of relevant specialists. These professionals must possess the knowledge and skills to work with representatives of various population groups, who make up the majority of the population and are not part of competitive sports or kinesitherapy. After completing the master’s program “Sports, Fitness, Health,” specialists gain interdisciplinary knowledge and specialized scientific training on fitness issues, as follows:
Field and Scope of Acquired Skills The education in the master’s program “Sports, Fitness, Health” equips students with the following practical skills:
Graduates of the master’s program “Sports, Fitness, Health” have the opportunity to work in national organizations (state, public, and private sports structures – ministries, federations, municipal councils, sports associations, and clubs) as well as in international ones. They can be appointed as coaches, instructors, methodologists, and managers in sports clubs and schools. They may also work as scientific leaders of research teams, laboratories, and other units in the system of club and national sports. |