Τhe objectives of this sector include the acquisition by students broad base of knowledge and experience in matters of sport recreation and dance. In particular the sector focuses on organizing and implementing training programs for all, programs of kinetic recreation and Greek folk dances. Parallel objective is to acquire skills for the constant search of knowledge and demonstrating leadership in a rapidly changing environment. The graduates will be able to cope with work and social challenges that exist in the area, of recreation and dance. Specifically, through practical and theoretical courses of direction, students will learn the Greek dance repertoire, leisure activities and adventure sports. They will gain knowledge about the role of dance teacher, teaching methods and research, organizing dance events, the way that cultural institutions work, planning educational programs, the historical evolution of dance, the relationship between music and dance, dance performances, non-verbal communication, aesthetics and use of new technologies, the operation of programs working sport, implementing animation in hotels and companies in outdoor activities. The educational program provides guidance to graduate proper dance knowledge and skills to successfully meet the requirements of both the educational system (primary, secondary education) and cultural organizations that develop dance activities. At the same time graduates will acquire knowledge and skills to promote physical activity as a means of maintaining healthy, they will learn to design and implement interval programs (educational, recreational, physical activity, dance) with the most modern teaching methods, they will be familiar with the way they must cooperate with organizations helping to information on issues concerning the evaluation of programs of different ages and will gain knowledge and skills learning aiming lifelong learning.
Objectives of Specialisation: Sport Recreation & Dance
1. Sport Tourism and Recreation
This specialization aims at familiarizing students with the science of athletic recreation. Through lectures students acquire the basic knowledge about leisure management, recreation planning and the new trends in the field of exercising in modern society. By means of practical subjects, students learn to realize recreation programs and sport activities funded by local authorities, organize mass recreation programs, athletic camps, outdoor activities for companies, athletic activities in the workplace, work in hotels as animators, in gyms and with the elderly.
2. Greek Folk Dances
The purpose of specification is to acquire knowledge and skills for the proper technique of Greek folk dances movements’, the use of structural analysis, knowledge of the specific methodology of learning and knowledge of specific skills should be improved for the most comprehensive practical implementation. In addition, students will gain knowledge about the aesthetic and stylistic dimensions of dance and choreographic design with the ultimate goal of the presentation of Greek folk dances on stage and screen.
The Sports Training sector of the Department of Physical Education and Sport science of the Democritus University of Thrace has as its objectives the study, teaching and preparation of students to fully comprehend the role of the coach at all levels (for instance: a) athletics in childhood and adolescence, e.g. sport academies, junior level athletics, etc. and b) elite athletes in all sports). These goals will be attained through thorough understanding and mastering of:
- The kinesiological and anatomical adaptations induced by the training process.
- The importance of psychological factors when designing and applying training programs.
- The learning adaptations induced by the training process.
- Designing training programs for the development of athletes' muscular strength and power.
- Designing training programs for the development of athletes' cardiovascular endurance.
- Designing training programs for the development of athletes' agility.
- The development and evaluation of technical and tactical planning in various sports.
- Designing training programs for children and adolescents by applying specific overload principles and procedures for the development of athletic skills.
- The process of detecting and selecting talented young athletes
Objectives of specializations: Sports Training Theory and Application
Basketball, Volleyball, Team Handball, Soccer, Swimming, Water Polo, Artistic Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Tennis, Badminton, Track and Field Athletics, Skiing, Weightlifting, Shooting, Wrestling, Boxing, Tae-Kwon-Do, Judo
The objective of each specialization is the acquisition of knowledge for performing the technique of the specific sport, the ability to analyze it through the demonstration of elements of biomechanical motion analysis, the ability to detect and correct any errors, the mastering of the methodology of teaching a particular technique, the analysis of basic tactical elements of each sport, the acquisition of knowledge on the development of physical abilities and motor control of the body, the acquisition of knowledge on special issues or topics for each sport such as psychology, nutrition, sport injuries, management of human resources as well as students' practical involvement in teaching and training of the specific sport.
The Concentration Studies include:
- Theoretical and activity courses, which are common for all concentrations. Students are only obliged to attend the activity courses and the foreign language courses.
- Theoretical and activity courses common to all concentrations, whose content provide students with the knowledge essential to engage in various fields of physical activity and Sports. From the above courses, only the activity ones are obligatory for students as regards attendance.
- Concentration courses, which vary according to the concentration chosen by each student. Students are obliged to attend them.
- Specialization Courses, which vary according to the speciality chosen by each student. Students are obliged to attend them.
- Elective courses, which students can choose from the list of optional Subjects (attendance is obligatory) or a Dissertation students choose to undertake.
ATTENTION: Students have to choose the Concentration and Specialization they wish to attend at the end of 4th Semester and within a definite deadline. For a specialization group to be set up, should be selected at least
- from four (4) students for the specialization courses of individual sports, and
- from six (6) students for the specialization courses of team sports and the theoretical Specializations.
In brief, the decisions and choices as regards courses students have to make during their course of studies are as follows:
| Appropriate Semester |
What to choose; |
| 2nd |
2 prerequisite elective courses for 3rd Semester (1st and 2nd prerequisite elective courses. These courses are pre-requisites for Specialization) |
| 3nd |
2 prerequisite elective courses for 4th Semester (3rd and 4th prerequisite elective courses. These courses are pre-requisites for Specialization) |
| 4th |
Specialization (After has been successfully completed the corresponding prerequisite course)
1 elective course for 5th Semester (5th elective course) |
| 5th |
1 elective courses for 6th semester (6th elective courses) or
the course "N165 - Laboratory Class of Scientific Approach to Dissertation Study" (which is prerequisite for the completion of the Undergraduate Research Project) |
| 6th |
1 elective courses for 7th semester (7th elective course) or
Sign-in for Undergraduate Research Project (declaration of the Project Title),
plus the course: "Ν175 – Laboratory Class for Presentation and Analysis of Data Using Computers" (which is prerequisite for the completion of the Undergraduate Research Project) |
| 7th |
1 elective course for 8th semester (8th elective course) or
completion of the Undergraduate Research Project |
ATTENTION:
Signing for Specialization
Precondition for signing and attending a Specialization is the successful attendance (at least grade 7 / C) of the respective pre-requisite course. Each Specialization lies within a particular Concentration. In parallel with the Specialization courses there are compulsory Concentration courses as well.
Completion of Undergraduate Research Project
For the completion Of Dissertation Study one has to successfully attend the courses “N165-Laboratory of Scientific Approach to Dissertation Study” and “N175-Laboratory for Presentation and Analysis of Data Using Computers”.
For any elective course (prerequisite or free choice) to be active
- If the elective has practical nature and is associated with individual sports, it should be selected from at least four (4) students
- If the elective course is associated with a team sport, or has a theoretical nature, it should be selected from at least six (6) students.
• For a Specialization to be active it should be selected by at least
- four (4) students for individual sports’ Specialization, and
- six (6) students for team sports’ Specialization or Theoretical Specialization.
When, Where and How can I sign-in for a course?
- Course signing (for Elective- Concentration- Specialization- Research Project) will take place prior the beginning of the respective semester electronically via https://unistudent.duth.gr/. The exact dates will be announced on time by the Secretariat of the Department.
- Deadlines will be EXCLUSIVE and no signing will be accepted after the deadline!
The core studies (figure 1) includes: a. Theoretical courses, b. Laboratory classes, c. Special courses (Computers), d. Activity courses, e. Elective courses
 |
| Figure 1. Core Studie's Flowchart of new undergraduate program of study, D.P.E.S.S.–D.U.Th. |
From the above courses, the theoretical ones are held through lectures and students are not required to attend them. On the contrary, students have to attend laboratory classes, special and activity courses as well as the electives.
Non-Attedance: For those courses where attendance is compulsory, students are allowed not to attend 30% of the total number of lectures taught in every semester (General Assembly Decision 382/25-5- 2009).
Detailed description of the program of study:
1st year of studying: It includes all categories of courses except from the prerequisite courses which are offered in the 2nd year and the electives courses which are offered during the 3nd and the 4th year. For this reason at the end of 2nd semester all students have to register for two prerequisite courses that they wish to attend in the 3rd semester. They can choose from the respective list of prerequisite elective courses within a deadline designated by the Department.
2nd year of Studying: It includes all categories of subjects except from the elective courses which are offered during the 3nd and the 4th year. During the 3rd Semester and within a deadline designated by the Department, students are obliged to register for two prerequisite elective courses they intend to attend during the 4th Semester, choosing from the respective list of prerequisite elective courses.
ATTENTION: Students wishing to follow a speciality in the third and fourth year of study are obliged to attend the required courses set by the respective speciality and get a mark of at least seven (7).
As a prerequisite course in each specialization, which is corresponding to one of the main practical trunk’s courses, is set the corresponding practical teaching course. These teaching courses are offered in the spring semester of the first (2nd) or the second (4th) year of study.
For other specializations that do not have corresponding course in the trunk (1st and 2nd year) or do not have a corresponding teaching course, defined specific courses as prerequisite elective courses in fall (3rd) or in spring (4th) semester of the second year of study.
Note: In order to set up a group
- in elective courses having practical nature and related to individual sports should be selected from at least 4 students, while
- for elective courses related to team sports or have theoretical nature should be selected from at least 6 students.
