SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
| Master in Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation The Master's program in Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation is a two-year degree that will equip the graduates with theoretical as well as hands-on knowledge in the said field. The program’s focus on research will help the graduates to develop analytical skills, promoting excellence as well as innovation in healthcare practice. The long-term goal of this initiative is to promote the evidence-based practice of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in Kazakhstan. |
General information
Campus: Astana, Kazakhstan, NU School of Medicine building
Language: English
Delivery mode: Full-time, on-campus
Duration: 2 years
Total ECTS credit: 120
The focus of the Master's program in Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation will be to deliver a curriculum that is compliant with international standards and trains health professionals in evidence-based practice. The program will therefore produce graduates who will be able to deliver services in diverse areas of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation at par with international standards of care.
The Master's program in Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation is designed for those who have completed an undergraduate degree in clinical or basic science (with a minimum grade point average of 2.75 based on a 4.0 scale or equivalent).
The structure of the Master in Sports and Rehabilitation program is set out to begin with the basics of human body functions, including metabolism and nutrition, as it related to exercise and fitness. The program imparts knowledge about the mechanics of the human body during exercise and injury. Students will be stimulated to think about the application of this knowledge towards improving athletic performance and rehabilitating an injury.
Program aims
Program aims:
- Using world-class facilities in NU Athletic Center, train skilled academics and professionals in the field of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation at a level of competence at par with international standards;
- With the help of a research-focused curriculum, promote critical and innovative thinking in the areas of exercise technology and injury rehabilitation;
- Elevate the professional standard of care in Sports Medicine and Injury Rehabilitation in Kazakhstan.
Career opportunities
The Sports and Rehabilitation program graduates will be eligible to apply for a Ph.D. in Kazakhstan or abroad. The graduates will be able to work in the following areas:
- Rehabilitation
- Physiotherapy
- Sports training
- Fitness and strength consultation
- Physical education
Program learning outcomes
On successful completion of the program, graduates will be able to:
- Apply knowledge of musculoskeletal physiology, metabolism, biomechanics, exercise physiology, injury prevention, psychology, and nutrition to Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation.
- Apply this knowledge to design exercise regimes to achieve optimal athletic performance.
- Strategize the best methods for the rehabilitation of injuries.
- Apply critical and analytical skills to research problems in Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation.
- Analyze and communicate complex scientific information as it relates to Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation.
- Conduct scientific research in full accordance with ethical and professional standards.
Career opportunities
Our program provides the graduates with many options either to continue their education both locally and internationally or get employed at different biomedical institutions:
- Research – Work in international laboratories and translational research centers studying molecular medicine.
- Health Service – Work in diagnostic laboratories and research units in hospitals or work as research associates developing biomedical innovations.
- Education – enter relevant PhD programs both at local universities in Kazakhstan and worldwide.
For example, graduates of the MMM program historically are very successful in entering PhD programs at various universities in Germany, Switzerland, the UK, Australia, South Korea, Japan, Canada, and the US.
Possible future employers are:
- Universities and Research Institutes around the world
- Pharmaceutical and Biomedical industry (Pfizer, Merck, Sanofi, Roche, etc.)
- Translational centres
- Government
- Diagnostic laboratories
How to apply
STEP 1. Create your personal account
Register on www.admissions.nu.edu.kz portal to create a Personal Account. Please select the «Master's degree/Residency» program during choosing the Academic level.
After completing the application, confirm it by clicking on the link sent to your email.
Be sure to read the Instructions about the application procedure given in your Personal account.
STEP 2. Complete your Application Form and attach the required documents
Fill out the application form and attach the required documents:
- Scanned copy of a National ID card or passport;
- Scanned copy of secondary school or higher education institution certificate (attestat/diploma) with final academic performance or certificate from the school (spravka) according to the sample in the personal account;
- Motivation letter in English;
- Valid copies of certificates. The results of standardized tests must be sent directly to the University through test administrators.
STEP 3. Pay an application fee and finish the registration process
To finalize the application process, please click on the "PAY AND SUBMIT APPLICATION" button on your Personal account under the "My Application Forms" section. The application fee shall be paid online through the payment options available in the Personal account. The use of other payment methods for the application fee is not acceptable.
Applicants can apply for no more than 2 Master's / PhD programs at NU. In case of admission to both programs, the applicant must choose only one.
The application fee is 15 000 tenge. The application fee is increased 3 times when paid within the last two weeks before the first approved deadline and during the extension period for accepting applications for participation in the admission process (except for the Graduate School of Business). The application fee is non-refundable, irrespective of the application outcome or payment errors.
After submitting the online application, an applicant will not be able to make changes in the actions described in Step 2.
Step 4. Provide results of IELTS/TOEFL/GRE/GMAT
In order to provide IELTS/TOEFL/GRE/GMAT certificates, applicants should fulfill the following requirements:
- Send the electronic results of valid IELTS/TOEFL/GRE/GMAT certificate via the Test Administrator directly to NU;
- Upload a scanned copy of the IELTS/TOEFL certificate to the «Upload IELTS/TOEFL results» section of a Personal account and indicate its unique number. Applicants can submit any number of certificates for the competition, but the last certificate uploaded to the Personal account will be considered.
- Upload a scanned copy of the GRE/GMAT certificate in the «My Application Forms» section (Step 2) when uploading the required documents (if available or as required by the program).
Please pay attention to important information regarding the codes for providing test results through the Test Administrator:
- Code for IELTS: NU
- Code for TOEFL iBT: 6762
- Code for GRE: 6496
- Code for GMAT: H6m-R7-93
Please note that issuance and submission of IELTS/TOEFL/GRE/GMAT results in the electronic database of NU is not within the competence of the University. You should independently contact the Test Administrator (Test Center) and make sure that your certificate has been sent. Please note that this action takes at least 7-10 working days. If the certificate is received after the deadline specified by the Admissions Department, results will not be considered in the competition
All certificates provided must be valid at the time of submission of application.
Detailed Instruction on the provision of IELTS/TOEFL certificates is available in the applicant's Personal account. IELTS Online, TOEFL iBT Home Edition and TOEFL PDT results are not considered in the competition and selection process.
Applicants, at the discretion of the Admissions Committee, can be exempted from submitting the language proficiency test report in one of the following documented cases:
- an academic degree was earned in a country with English as the language of official communication and academic instruction;
- an undergraduate and/or graduate degree was earned in a program which was officially taught in English;
- if an applicant is a graduate of NU.
Further steps
After submission of the online Application Form, an automatic email notification will be sent to your referees with a request to submit a recommendation letter to NU in accordance with the provided online form. Detailed Instruction on providing recommendation letters is available in the Personal account.
Check your email for notifications from NU and your Personal account to stay informed about the status of your application. Please keep in mind that sometimes letters from the University may go to the spam box.
Participate in the interview with the Admissions Committee in case of being invited. Interviews are conducted in English.
If you experience any difficulties with the registration or online application, please contact info_admissions@nu.edu.kz. Refer to your IIN and/or Applicant ID while sending us your requests.
Entry requirements
Candidates applying to the Master in Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation program are expected to have:
- an undergraduate degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) and a/or graduate degree (if applicable) in a relevant discipline. During the application period, final year students may submit official current transcripts for consideration. Applicants recommended for admission must provide final transcripts and diplomas before the end of the Programs’ enrollment term. Graduates of the University are enrolled based on the evidence of the final transcript confirming the degree completion followed by diploma submission within a month;
- Applicants may be enrolled conditionally based on evidence from graduating university that the applicants have completed the educational program and the applicant expects formal issuance of final transcript and/or diploma by a certain date. In that case, the decision on enrollment shall prescribe the period of time within which the applicant shall provide the necessary documents to the University;
- a minimum CGPA of 2.5 out of 4.0 or equivalent on the applicant’s degree (bachelor's, master or Ph.D. (if masters and Ph.D. have adopted a GPA approach);
- the required level of English language proficiency;
- strong reading, analytical and mathematical skills as demonstrated by GRE or GMAT test (optional). Although an official GRE/GMAT score is not an essential requirement, an applicant can enhance his/her application with a competitive GRE/GMAT score;
- high level of motivation and a strong interest in the Program outlined in the statement of purpose;
- 2 (two) confidential letters of recommendation;
- For Master of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Master in Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation programs only: Evidence of any professional and/or voluntary experiences related to biological and/or medical research (optional). Although this is not an essential requirement, an applicant can enhance his/her application with such evidence.
The required level of English proficiency:
1. The absolute minimum requirement for English language proficiency test reports for admission to the Program is an Academic IELTS – overall 6.0 (writing 6.0, reading 5.5, listening 5.5, speaking 5.5) or the equivalent TOEFL score (except Home edition) as posted on the ETS website;
2. Applicants to the Program, at the discretion of the Admissions Committee, can be exempted from submitting the language proficiency test report if:
- one of their earlier academic degrees was earned in a country with English as the language of official communication, academic instruction, and daily life;
- an undergraduate or graduate degree was earned in a program that was officially taught in English;
- the applicant is a graduate of NU.
List of documents to be submitted by the applicants
All submitted documents shall be in English or with notarized English translation:
- Complete application form;
- National ID or passport;
- Official document confirming name changes (if applicable);
- Degree diplomas with transcripts;
- An official electronic IELTS/TOEFL certificate (except Home edition) (valid at the time of document submission) sent to the University through IELTS/TOEFL VERIFICATION SERVICES. Code for IELTS: NU. Code for TOEFL: 6762
- Document confirming English as the language of instruction (only for applicants who earned their degree in a program which was taught in English and request an exemption from submitting IELTS or TOEFL);
- GRE/GMAT test certificates valid as of the date of online documents submission (optional);
- Two confidential letters of recommendation written within the last 12 month (to be provided by referees electronically or in hard copy). You can find the Instruction for submission of recommendation letters here;
- Statement of purpose of 500 words or less;
- 075у medical certificate (for Kazakhstani applicants) or a similar medical certificate with indication of general health (for international applicants);
- A document stating the presence or absence of a criminal record;
- Consent of the applicant/student to the processing of personal data;
- For Master of Pharmacology and Toxicology program only: Evidence of any professional and/or voluntary experiences related to biological and/or medical research shown in a CV, recommendation letter or in any other document (optional).
- The Admissions Committee and/or Admissions Department may request additional documents when necessary.
Important dates
Online application deadlines for Masters programs:
For all types of grants: the application deadline is December 23, 2024, 14:00 (Astana time) for international applicants and citizens of Kazakhstan.
For full tuition fee-paying category:
- International applicants: available until March 17, 2025, 14:00 (Astana time).
- Citizens of Kazakhstan: available until June 25, 2025, 14:00 (Astana time).
Deadline for submission of IELTS/TOEFL, GRE/GMAT certificates:
For all types of grants: the application deadline is January 5, 2025 for international applicants and citizens of Kazakhstan.
For full tuition fee-paying category:
- International applicants: available until April 30, 2025.
- Citizens of Kazakhstan: available until July 31, 2025.
The start of orientation week (for newly enrolled students): August 2025
First day of classes: August 2025
Status assigned to the candidate
All registered candidates can check the status of their application in the Personal account. Description of the status below is presented in the order of assignment to the candidate in the Personal account.
Application in processing. This is interim status, which means that the application is being processed. Admissions Committee will evaluate the application and inform the candidate on further steps/stages. Notification on final results will be sent to your email address.
Does not meet entry requirements. The status is assigned to the candidates who do not meet the minimum entry requirements. It is given after checking the application forms and the documents by the Admissions Department.
Disqualified. The status is assigned to candidates who are disqualified for gross violations of the conditions of the competition. For example, provided deliberately false information.
Rejected by Admissions Committee. At one of the competition stages, the Admissions Committee decided to reject the candidate’s application.
Transfer to another program. At the stage of an application screening the Admissions Committee has decided to recommend the candidate for consideration by the Admissions Committee of another program within the same School.
Pending. Candidate’s application is pending.
Waiting list. The Admissions Committee has finished reviewing the candidate’s application and made a decision to put you on a waiting list. Such candidates should expect notification from the University, as there is a possibility that if other candidates reject to study, they may be sent an invitation letter to study.
Recommended for admission to Zero Year of Graduate programs. The Admissions Committee has decided to recommend the candidate for the Zero Year of Graduate program. “Zero Year of Graduate programs” is a two-semester full-time program for candidates, who do not meet the language requirements for direct admission to Master’s programs, with intensive language, academic and research preparation for Master’s programs.
Recommended for admission to program. Admissions Committee has decided to recommend candidate for the program without going through the Zero Year of Graduate programs.
Recommended for conditional admission. The Admissions Committee has decided to recommend a candidate for the conditional admission with a requirement to fulfill the condition by the deadline specified in the notification.
Withdrawn. Candidate decided to withdraw from the competition.
Accepted Program admission offer. The status is assigned to candidates who received offer letter, signed Enrollment confirmation form and fulfilled all the сonditions of the University indicated in the offer letter.
Accepted Zero Year of Graduate programs admission offer. The status is assigned to candidates who received offer letter to Zero Year of Graduate program, signed Enrollment confirmation form and fulfilled all the сonditions of the University indicated in the offer letter.
Refused admission offer. The candidate was recommended for admission, but refused to study.
Refused in favor of another NU program. The status is applicable for those candidates, who applied for several graduate programs at NU. The status is assigned when the candidate chooses another program.
Deferred. The status is assigned to candidates who were accepted for the program, but decided to postpone their studies until the next year.
Did not submit the documents/Refused. The status assigned to candidates who did not provide originals of the documents by the stated deadline, which means that the candidate refuses to study at University.
Did not come to Orientation week/Refused. The status is assigned to candidates who accepted the offer letter, provided hard copies of documents, but did not participate in Orientation week. The vacant place, if available, can be offered to the candidates in the Waiting list.
Enrolled to program. The status is assigned to candidates who enrolled to the main program by the Decision of the Provost. Candidate officially became a student.
Enrolled to Zero Year of Graduate programs. The status is assigned to candidates who enrolled to the Zero Year of Graduate program by the Decision of the Provost. Candidate officially became a student.
Curriculum
The program in Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation is a two-year master’s degree program, with 123 total ECTS credits, that will equip the graduates with theoretical as well as hands-on knowledge in the said field. The program’s focus on research will help the graduates to develop analytical skills, promoting excellence as well as innovation in healthcare practice. Long-term goal of this initiative is to promote evidence-based practice of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in Kazakhstan.
Semester 1:
- MSMR 501: Musculoskeletal System;
- MSMR 503: Exercise Genetics, Physiology and Endocrinology;
- MSMR 504: Pharmacology in Sports and Rehabilitation;
- MSMR 505: Exercise and Biomechanics;
- MSMR 510: Biostatistics and Epidemiology;
- MSMR 701: Ethics and Professionalism
Semester 2:
- MSMR 502: Nutrition in Sports and Exercise;
- MSMR 506: Seminar in Sports Medicine;
- MSMR 508: Health Fitness and Wellbeing;
- MSMR 509: Robots for Rehabilitation;
- MSMR 511: Introduction to Research Project;
- MSMR 514: Adaptive Physical Activity;
- MSMR 515: Nutrition for Life;
- MSMR 516: Clinical and Motivational Interviewing;
- Electives;
Summer Semester:
- MSMR 513: Internship in Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation;
Semester 3:
- MSMR 507: Management and Rehabilitation of Injury;
- MSMR 514: Adaptive Physical Activities;
- MSMR 601: Psychology of Sports and Rehabilitation;
- MSMR 603: Master Research Project;
Semester 4:
- MSMR 602: Advances in Sports and Rehabilitation;
- MSMR 702: Master Research Project Thesis.
Course descriptions
MSMR 501: Musculoskeletal System
This course introduces the human anatomy to the prospective sports medicine graduates. The components of the course include detailed description of musculoskeletal anatomy and arthrology of human body to understand their significance in the sports and warming up activities. This knowledge also forms a basis to understand the musculoskeletal injuries in sports and related activities. Along with the identification of the structures in the musculoskeletal system, movements produced by the musculature at different joints will be studied.
MSMR 503: Exercise Genetics, Physiology and Endocrinology
In this course, we will first look at the foundations of genetics starting with the human genome architecture, the role of coding and non-coding genes such as miRNA and ncRNA, we will examine the various types of mutations, discuss using examples, the differences between single gene and multifactorial disorders and the various modes of genetic inheritance. We will examine the strategies a cell regulates its gene expression and how when these strategies are disrupted, a disease state can arise. We will explore the growing field of epigenetics which bridges the external environment and its impact on cellular gene expression regulation through CpG island methylation and histone modification and using key examples illustrate its impact on human health and disease. This course will also teach the students about how performance in sports and exercise is impacted by not only physical factors but also by genetic, metabolic, and hormonal factors. Students will learn how exercise and dietary regimes may be modified to address the limitations imposed by genetic and metabolic factors.
We will discuss how performance in sports and exercise has been found to be associated with specific genetic variants impacting an athlete’s physical endurance, power and recovery and susceptibility to ligament, tendon and muscle injury.
Physiological, metabolite and hormonal changes that occurs in response to the physical stress during and after exercise will be addressed. Understanding how the body respond and recover form such stress is critical to enabling improvement in physical health and performance.
MSMR 503: Pharmacology in Sports and Rehabilitation
In this course, Masters of Sports Medicine students will attend the majority of the classes given in the Masters of Pharmacology and Toxicology (MPTox) course MPHT503, concurrently with the MPTox students. MPTox students will take this course in their 1st year, 1st semester. Masters of Sports Medicine students will take the course in their 2nd year, 1st semester. After completing approximately ¾ of the classes in the MPHT503 class, Masters of Sports Medicine students will continue this course separately until the end of the semester and this last portion of the course will focus on pharmacological issues unique to Sports Medicine. The course is designed this way so that the Masters of Sports Medicine students will develop a fundamental knowledge of pharmacology in order to move to more specific applications of pharmacology in the realm of sports medicine.
This first part of the course will focus on the basic principles and mechanisms of commonly used
drugs and how they exert their actions. Students will learn about drug Absorption, Distribution,
Metabolism and Excretion (ADME) and drug pharmacodynamics including drug-receptor
dynamics. Students will learn and apply commonly used pharmacological and toxicological
terminologies including agonist, antagonist (reversible, irreversible, competitive etc.), drug half-
life, volume of distribution, bioavailability, elimination rate, area under the curve and many other
relevant terms. These facets are an essential component of the students’ learning as they will enable them to assess pharmacological applications in the context of sports medicine.
The second part of the course will focus on specific applications of pharmacology in Sports Medicine. Students will learn about drugs and drug classes used to treat sports-related diseases and injuries. Students will learn about the risks of inadvertently using banned pharmacological agents and also the deliberate use of pharmacological agents to enhance performance in sport.
MSMR 505: Exercise and Biomechanics
This course will enable the students to understand how different muscles, bones, and tendons work together to produce motion. The course will cover how an understanding of Biomechanics can help in refining mobility techniques during sports and exercise.
This course will consist of lectures designed to use the knowledge of biomechanics to physical activities such as locomotion, exercise, sports. In practical sessions, students will be familiar and capable with the biomechanical methods and tool for evaluation of human movement performance features with the following aims: preventing injuries, improving movement efficacy, and measuring rehabilitation progress.
During the course, students: will acquire biomechanical skills to assess physical activities and sports performance; will be able to interpret biomechanistic information towards enhancing athletic performance and rehabilitation of athletes and non-athletes; will be capable to carry out quantitative and qualitative biomechanical analysis; will be to apply biomechanical skills on how to maximize performance, prevent injury, and evaluate new methods and training regimens.
Lectures and practical lessons will be accompanied by slides, models, videos, handouts prepared by using evidence-based scientific and clinical resources. Furthermore, small group discussions will allow to improve the concepts learned. Lab sessions will be dedicated to application of the data using instruments such as Kinovea ( https://www.kinovea.org/) motion analysis software, as well as practice of skills such as surface anatomy, manual muscle testing, palpation, range of motion evaluation, analysis and observation of movement and posture. Practical lessons will lead students through the procedure of critical review in the context of biomechanics.
MSMR 510: Biostatistics and Epidemiology
This course covers basic understanding of inferential biostatistics in application to sports medicine. This course addresses issues of descriptive analysis, hypothesis testing and doing bivariate analysis (t-test, chi-square test, etc.). Established and recently collected data sets will be analyzed using these methods. Evaluation is based on individual and group problem sets (including quizzes, and examinations). The course provides opportunities for real life case applications.
MSMR 701: Ethics and Professionalism
In sports medicine, the practice of ethics presents many unique challenges because of the unusual clinical environment of caring for players within the context of a team whose primary goal is to win. Ethical issues frequently arise because a doctor-patient-team triad often replaces the traditional doctor-patient relationship. Conflict may exist when the team's priority clashes with or even replaces the doctor's obligation to player well-being. Customary ethical norms that govern most forms of clinical practice, such as autonomy and confidentiality, are not easily translated to sports medicine. As such this course will introduce and discuss ethical principles and examples of how they relate to sports medicine.
MSMR 502: Nutrition in Sports and Exercise
This course will teach the students about the concepts of balanced diet and nutrition tailored for achieving specific fitness goals. Types of dietary regimes for losing body fat, gaining muscle/bone mass, and promoting recovery will be covered. This course aims to provide the students with basic nutritional concepts, via current research evidence, in relation to sports performance and overall health and well-being. Students will be able to apply the knowledge gained in basic dietary assessment, body composition and energy metabolism to propose suitable dietary regimes to improve health, sports performance and recovery. The students will discuss pre, during and post exercise recovery dietary recommendations. This course will also provide a broad overview of the types of sports foods and supplements, allowing the students to demonstrate an understanding of the challenges in making informed decisions about using supplementation to improve sports performance.
MSMR 506: Seminar in Sports Medicine
This course is an exercise in critical analysis of ongoing research in the areas of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. The course will focus on the current concepts in these areas, covered through reading and critical discussion of selected published scientific literature. The students will be assigned scientific papers to read, which they will then present and critically analyze in a classroom session. The evaluation will be based on participation during class and critical essay writing on topics based on the assigned papers.
MSMR 511: Introduction to Research Project
This course will teach the students how to search the literature and other scientific sources to develop a research project. The course, through student-supervisor interactions, will introduce the students to the concept of hypothesis generation and the development of experimental approach.
The course comprises two components, one focusing on quantitative and the other on qualitative research. In first half of the course, students will learn how to identify a topic for qualitative research, develop hypothesis, specific aims, and experimental plan to execute a quantitative research plan. In the second half, we will cover the basics of the qualitative research methods, including theoretical foundations, research designs, data collection, data analysis, and writing research results.
MSMR 508: Health Fitness and Wellbeing
This is a 4-week hands-on, introductory short course in the principles of health and physical fitness. The course will expose the students to the basic concepts in health, wellbeing, sports and physical fitness. The students will choose one of the 2 tracks: 1) Cardiorespiratory, and 2) Strength building. Both tracks will incorporate guidelines for healthy nutrition. The students will practically follow one of the two tracks, involving a fitness regime of 1-2 hours of guided exercises in the NU Sports Center. Additionally, they will be exposed to the theory of physical fitness and health (including health nutrition) through classroom sessions and self-learning activities. Students presenting with health challenges will also be encouraged to join a tailored track of this course, where they will learn about the positive influence of exercise on physical, psychological and social aspects of life. For this track, the physical activity exercises will be individualized to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks.
At the end of the course, to fully realize their fitness goals, students will be encouraged to continue their chosen health regime for an additional 8 weeks under the guidance of an NU trainer and faculty.
MSMR 509: Robots for Rehabilitation
This course will cover how the human musculoskeletal system is modeled and simulated using computers to design robotic exoskeletons that can assist in the rehabilitation of neurological and sports injuries. Students will learn how to use robotic technology to rehabilitate patients in recovering their lost motions and strengths. Topics covered include:
- Fundamentals of biomechanics of human motion
- Basic methods for manual physical therapy of sports and neurological injuries
- Development principles of robotic rehabilitation exoskeletons
- Control methods for robotic rehabilitation exoskeletons
- Alignment of robotic exoskeletons with human biomechanics
- Safety and ethical issues related to the clinical use of robotic exoskeletons
- Evaluation of exoskeletons for injured athletes and patients with neurological impairments
MSMR 514: Adaptive Physical Activity
This course covers principles of adaptive physical activity prescription for people with different age, physical capabilities and co-morbidities. Within this course students: understand the organizational and cross-disciplinary foundations of adapted physical activity and education; assess for various comorbid, disabling conditions and develop recommendations to improve quality of life through adapted physical activities, recreation and sport; prescribe physical education, adapted physical activity, recreation and sport activities for people with different age, physical capabilities and co-morbidities.
This course is designed those interested in sports sciences, adaptive physical activities, teaching of physical education, management of education, social support of people with special needs, sports medicine and rehabilitation.
MSMR 515: Nutrition for Life
This course will demonstrate what nutrition is through interactive work of students and by introducing the most important food components called nutrients. The important roles of nutrients as fuel for energy, growth and maintenance will be discussed and daily intake of most of these nutrients will be measured by students through different projects. The digestion, absorption and functions of some of these nutrients will be explained prior to each project. Various meals that originated from different cultures will be introduced to the class and several meals will be created by students. There will be showcases and presentations where students will talk about each meal and the benefits or risks of high or low consumption of each nutrient within the meal. The factors that drive our food choices such as taste and culture, social reasons and trends, cost, time will also be discussed. Nutrition through different lifecycles, nutrition in Kazakhstan and other cultures are also some of the topics in this course. Throughout the workshop students will work on individualized projects where they aim for healthy living in order to reduce stress, sleep better, lose weight, gain muscle or any other area that they want to see improvements in. The students will have the option to select their own goals.
MSMR 513: Internship in Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation
Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (SMR) Internship will enable students to acquire skills in comprehensive diagnosis, management and rehabilitation of athletes, people of all ages with injuries, neuromusculoskeletal disorders, associated illness and disabilities.
Upon completion of this internship, students will have the knowledge, skills, and attitude for diversified client/patient-centered care. Based on their academic background and aptitude, students will be encouraged to choose an internship site that will provide them an opportunity to focus on specific areas of SMR, and explore prospective job possibilities.
MSMR 601: Psychology of Sports and Rehabilitation
This course will enable the students to understand how psychology plays a role in achieving optimal level of performance in sports. Students will also learn about the skills required to maintain patient motivation throughout an injury rehabilitation process.
MSMR 507: Management and Rehabilitation of Injury
This course will cover the rationales behind prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries among athletes and non-athletes. Importance of maintaining proper form and physical habits in preventing injury will be discussed. Mechanisms and techniques of rehabilitation involved in relieving pain, achieving recovery as well as exercise protocols for musculoskeletal injuries will be covered. The course provides the knowledge and skills necessary to plan, implement, and supervise of progressive reconditioning and healing programs. Students will learn how to examine the process of recovery and identify precise stages of healing to be able to prepare evidence-based programs. Methods comprise progression and sequencing, examination and evaluation, and application of soft tissue and joint mobilization; flexibility and range of motion, muscle endurance and strength exercises; agility, coordination, and balance activities as well as function return to do normal physical activities and for a full return to sport participation.
After completing this course, you will be able to: explain pathophysiological mechanism of common musculoskeletal injuries and their relation to pain and/or debilitation; evaluate the importance of maintaining physical form during sports and exercise to prevent injury; assess and diagnose musculoskeletal injuries, learned through exposure to patients, athletes, and clinical scenarios; design personalized exercise programs for relieving pain and achieving recovery; relate the significance of proper form and habit to preventing recurrence of injury; design basic exercise programs for different patient scenarios (diabetes, muscle atrophy, bone/cartilage damage, etc.) to accomplish successful rehabilitation.
Lectures and practical lessons will be accompanied by slides, models, videos, handouts prepared by using evidence-based scientific and clinical resources. Furthermore, small group discussions will allow to improve the concepts learned.
MSMR 603: Master Research Project
The course/research project will start in semester 1, year 2, and will culminate in the Master Research Project thesis, in semester 2, year 2. This course will enable students to develop advanced research skills in the field of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. Students will utilize the fully functional and readily available laboratories at the School of Medicine and the Sports and Rehabilitation facilities at the NU Athletic Center to conduct their research under the guidance and supervision of qualified faculty from the School. The course aims are to enable the students to:
- Develop critical thinking skills.
- Generate hypotheses, and design experimental approaches to test them.
- Prepare a proposal for their master thesis project.
- Develop experimental skills required for executing the said project.
MSMR 602: Advances in Sports and Rehabilitation
In this course, students will learn about the new developments, both in terms of concepts and technology, in the areas of Sports and Rehabilitation. In the newly established, cutting-edge Rehabilitation facility in NU Athletic Center, students will also learn about technological advances made recently in the assessment of movement/mobility, and its application in improving athletic performance and in injury rehabilitation. The course will cover technical approaches and concepts related to mental as well as physical aspects of sports and rehabilitation. The course involves teaching elements in classroom as well as in laboratory, and therefore carries 8 ECTS credits.
The course comprises three units, focusing on practice and evaluation of therapeutic and diagnostic approaches in the areas of: 1) Mental health, 2) Assessment and optimization of athletic performance, and 3) Sports informatics.
At the end of this course students will:
- Explain the rationale behind current approaches, and their application for achieving fitness.
- Apply new concepts in achieving optimal athletic/rehabilitation goals.
- In the NU Athletic Center, work with athletes/patients to assess athletic performance and non-athletic mobility.
MSMR 702: Master Research Project Thesis
Master Research Thesis will be culmination of the Master Research into a scientifically articulate finished project, ready to be presented and defended in front of a panel of experts. The students will apply their acquired critical thinking skills to carry out advanced scientific research. In addition to developing oral and written presentation skills, students will gain experience in critically evaluating their own scientific work in relation to published scientific literature in the area of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. The course will enable the students to:
- Critically analyze published scientific literature.
- Critically analyze data they have generated for their thesis research project.
- Present the results of their research in a logical and scientifically coherent manner.
- Bauyrzhan ToktarbayClass of 2022I was one of the first students to graduate from the MSMR program, and I would describe the experience as life-changing. The program equipped me with the necessary research skills to continue my scientific journey, offering a good mix of theoretical and practical courses. During my studies, I received an invitation to work at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, which allowed me to apply my newly acquired knowledge in the real world of sports science. Another benefit of the program is the university's Athletic Center, which is equipped with modern technology for sports medicine and rehabilitation research. The qualified staff and well-designed curriculum have greatly supported my career as a researcher.
- Dina KalininaClass of 2023With a master program in sport medicine and rehabilitation, I began my incredible journey in academia. As a medical doctor who worked in the rehabilitation field before, I gained a lot of insights and inspiration during my education.
I really liked the organization of the program course, which begins with the fundamentals of anatomy, biomechanics, and genetics before moving on to more specialized disciplines related to sports medicine and rehabilitation processes. This allows you to gain a comprehensive understanding of the field. Furthermore, by the start of your second year, armed with this essential knowledge, you will be prepared to initiate your own research project.
In addition, it would be impossible to avoid mentioning the incredible support that the faculty members have provided. Working with them and gaining insight into their experiences and perspectives in this area was a wonderful opportunity, and I am grateful to have had it. - Amna Riaz KhawajaClass of 2024The Master's program in Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation at Nazarbayev University has provided me with an extremely fulfilling experience. The curriculum offered a well-balanced combination of theoretical understanding and hands-on implementation, emphasizing the use of evidence-based methods and the most up-to-date rehabilitation technologies. The faculty's guidance and specialized knowledge were crucial in enhancing my research abilities, particularly in my involvement with the development of rehabilitation robots for children with cerebral palsy, in partnership with the Center of Medical Research and Robotics. The program's focus on research and the availability of state-of-the-art laboratories cultivated an atmosphere conducive to inventive thinking and cooperation. In addition, the interdisciplinary approach and varied perspectives have provided me with crucial communication and teamwork skills necessary for working in multidisciplinary healthcare environments. Although the program was commendable, boosting the number of clinical placements and incorporating specialized electives could further increase practical learning. Upon completion of their studies, students are thoroughly equipped to pursue future prospects in both academic research and the professional industry. The abilities I have acquired have provided opportunities for advanced research in rehabilitation robotics, presenting exciting possibilities for future graduates to contribute to state-of-the-art advancements in the field. I strongly endorse this curriculum for anybody aspiring to pursue a profession in sports medicine and rehabilitation."
Faculty
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Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Master in Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Program Director, Professor
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Vice Program Director of the Master in Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Instructor