School: Medical and Health Sciences

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Biomechanics
  • Unit Code

    SPS1502
  • Year

    2025
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    2
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Shayne VIAL

Description

This unit introduces students to the major biomechanical factors that underpin human movement. Students will learn how to describe, analyse and evaluate human movement using basic biomechanical principles.

Non Standard Timetable Requirements

Online Students will be required to participate in 2 x laboratory sessions conducted at the Joondalup Campus during the semester. Please see timetable for dates and times.

Co-Requisite Rule

Students must be concurrently enrolled in OR have passed MHS1101

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded SPS1102, SPS1113, SPS2103, SPS1116

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Describe the biomechanical principles as they apply to various forms of human movement.
  2. Interpret and communicate the information gained from qualitative and quantitative analysis to improve human performance in physical activities.
  3. Demonstrate skill in conducting and interpreting basic biomechanical measurements.
  4. Apply the principles of the biomechanical analysis of human movement in the context of health, exercise, sport and activities of daily living in a variety of populations.
  5. Demonstrate group work/teamwork.

Unit Content

  1. Biomechanical principles and their application to human movement
  2. Linear and angular kinematics and kinetics
  3. Stability, mobility and balance
  4. The kinetic chain, work energy, power, friction and collisions
  5. Fluid dynamics
  6. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of human movement.

Learning Experience

ON-CAMPUS

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 113 x 1.5 hour labNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 113 x 2 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

ONLINE

Students will engage in learning experiences via ECU’s LMS as well as additional ECU learning technologies

Additional Learning Experience Information

Laboratory work is interactive, and students work in groups to consolidate material learnt. Students undertake activities involving the use of biomechanical concepts, equipment and software to critically analyse, interpret and solve complex movement situations. Students work with peers, anticipating challenges and generating solutions in exercise and sport science contexts, whilst developing teamwork skills. Activities are designed to prepare students for further study and future work in the area of exercise and sport science. Active participation in these laboratory activities is required to meet the participation criteria.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Due to the professional competency skill development associated with this Unit, student attendance/participation within listed in-class activities and/or online activities including discussion boards is compulsory. Students failing to meet participation standards as outlined in the unit information may be awarded an I Grade (Fail - incomplete). Students who are unable to meet this requirement for medical or other reasons must seek the approval of the unit coordinator.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentMovement Analysis Group Project30%
TestMid Semester Test35%
ExaminationFinal Exam35%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentMovement Analysis Group Project30%
TestMid Semester Test35%
ExaminationFinal Exam35%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

SPS1502|2|1