The Diploma in Sport and Recreation is a hands-on, practical course where students can specialise in either sports development/personal training or outdoor recreation leadership. The theoretical and practical skills taught in this qualification reflect the diverse range of skills required to work in the sector. Students will develop pathway specialisation in either sports development /personal training or outdoor recreation leadership. On completion, students will be equipped to seek career opportunities in a variety of areas, including fitness training and leisure centres, regional and local authorities, sporting bodies and outdoor recreation providers. Many students use the diploma as a means to further study or in preparation for a career in the police, teacher training, fire service and armed services. An increasing number of students have used the diploma as a pathway into the Bachelor of Sport and Exercise at SIT. Students who successfully pass the diploma will have gained a year (or more) of credits within the Bachelor course. This is a real feature of the diploma course, and the step is highly recommended. Students may choose to exit after successful completion of Year One (8 modules/120 credits) and be awarded the Certificate in Sport and Recreation. Southland is the ideal place to study Sport and Recreation. Our world-class sporting facilities include NZ’s first indoor cycling velodrome, water-based hockey turfs on a par with the Beijing Olympics, an Olympic-size pool, and a brand-new indoor stadium. There are endless sports clubs to join and easy access to outdoor activities in nearby Fiordland, the Catlins and Central Otago. Career Opportunities Depending upon choice of electives, graduates can provide advice and education to the public on healthy eating habits and exercise perform fitness assessments and develop exercise programmes plan, manage and evaluate leisure and recreation events teach and coach selected sports such as rugby, tennis, hockey, golf or a sport of choice. Graduates can perform academic writing and can staircase into higher level study such as the Bachelor of Sport and Exercise. Employment opportunities may be found in sports and fitness centres and as fitness trainers or sports coaches or small business owners of fitness centres or as outdoor recreation leadership assistants. Satisfactory Completion For students to be considered to have satisfactorily completed the Diploma in Sport and Recreation they should have: Attended not less than 80% of the timetabled class hours and other activities for each year of the programme. Successfully completed all assessments of all modules in the diploma programme amounting to a total of 240 credits for the SIT Diploma in Sport and Recreation. Students studying in the Diploma of Sport and Recreation part time must complete all assessment requirements for the diploma within four years of the start of study. Credit Requirements Diploma in Sport and Recreation credit requirements Students must complete a total of 240 credits as follows, with a maximum of 135 credits at level 4, in accordance with Schedule 1 for the Diploma in Sport and Recreation a minimum of 105 credits at Level 5 Certificate in Sport and Recreation credit requirements A minimum of 120 credits at level 4 or 5 in accordance with Schedule 1 for the Diploma in Sport and Recreation.