Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Recreation and Leisure Studies - Work and Health

The program information below was valid for the fall 2020 term (September 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020). This is the archived version; the most up-to-date program information is available through the current Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

The Graduate Studies Academic Calendar is updated 3 times per year, at the start of each academic term (January 1, May 1, September 1). Graduate Studies Academic Calendars from previous terms can be found in the archives.

• Admit term(s) 
  • Fall
• Delivery mode 
  • On-campus
• Length of program 
  • Must be completed within the following time periods from completion of the Master’s degree unless an extension has been granted:
    • Full-time: 12 terms
    • Part-time: 18 terms
• Program type 
  • Collaborative
  • Doctoral
  • Research
• Registration option(s) 
  • Full-time
  • Part-time
• Study option(s) 
  • Thesis
• Additional program information 

  Note: The Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies is not currently accepting applications for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Recreation and Leisure Studies - Work and Health program.

• Minimum requirements 
  • Normally a Master’s degree with a minimum 75% average in a field that is relevant to the area of work and health (normally kinesiology, recreation and leisure studies or health studies and gerontology, but other degrees in life and social sciences could be suitable as well).
• Application materials 
  • Résumé/Curriculum vitae
    • Indicating past academic and professional experience.
  • Supplementary information form
  • Transcript(s)
  • Writing sample
    • Students must submit a copy of previous academic work, such as a term paper, published manuscript or master's thesis.
• References 
  • Number of references:  3
  • Type of references: 

    academic

• English language proficiency (ELP) (if applicable)

Thesis option:

Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)

Courses 

• Students must obtain credit for each of the courses listed below. They will normally complete a minimum of 4 half (0.50 credit) courses, consisting of 2 core/fundamentals course, a graduate level statistics/research methods course, and an elective which will be related to work and health. In addition, students will participate in the doctoral research seminar in work and health.
  • Foundational Knowledge on Work and Health
  • Approaches to Research in Work and Health
  • A Graduate Level Course in Research Methods or Statistics
  • 1 elective course (see list of electives below)
  • Work and Health Seminar (graded on credit basis)
• Elective courses:
  • REC 601 Theoretical and Methodological Issues in Leisure Research
  • REC 603 Leisure and Social Policy
  • REC 605 Social and Psychological Analysis of Leisure
  • REC 608 Gender, Leisure & the Use of Time
  • REC 610 Administrative Practice in Recreational Service
  • REC 672 Quantitative Research Data Analysis and Interpretation
  • REC 673 Qualitative Research Data Analysis and Interpretation
  • REC 792 Advanced Research Methods (PhD only)
  • REC 798 Advanced Topics in Leisure Studies (PhD only)
  • KIN 601 Muscle Physiology
  • KIN 602 Respiratory and Cardiovascular Physiology
  • KIN 616 Neural Control of Human Movement
  • KIN 620 Ergonomic Aspects of Occupational Musculoskeletal Injuries
  • KIN 631A Introduction to Statistics
  • KIN 631C Correlation and Regression
  • KIN 631E Analysis of Variance I
  • KIN 631F Analysis of Variance II
  • KIN 631G Biological Deterministic Modeling and Signal Processing
  • KIN 651 Motor Learning
  • KIN 656 Neurobehavioural Analyses of Perceptual and Motor Deficits
  • KIN 727 Low Back Disorders: Optimizing Prevention, Rehabilitation and Performance
  • HSG 601 Lifespan Approaches to Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
  • HSG 604 Evaluation of Health and Human Services Programs
  • HSG 605A Introduction to Statistics
  • HSG 605C Correlation and Regression
  • HSG 605E E Analysis of Variance I
  • HSG 605F Analysis of Variance II
  • HSG 606 Epidemiological Methods
  • PHS 604 Public Health and the Environment (online course)

Link(s) to courses

• Recreation and Leisure Studies (REC) courses

Academic Integrity Workshop

PhD Research Seminar

• Students will participate in the PhD Research Seminar in Work and Health.

Research Presentation

• All PhD students in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies in their second year or later must deliver a public research presentation to faculty and students during their doctoral program. Forums at which this milestone can be completed are the PhD Research Seminar or an independently arranged departmental seminar (excludes conferences and symposia). Supervisor approval/confirmation of completion of this milestone is required.

PhD Comprehensive Examination

• Students are required to meet the University-level PhD Comprehensive Examination minimum requirements outlined in the “Minimum requirements for the PhD degree” section of the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar (GSAC), with certain noted differences that are specific to the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Comprehensive Examination minimum requirements:
  • Comprehensive examination purpose: Consistent with University-level minimum requirements. Note: In the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, the novel research topic is tested through a separate thesis proposal process.
  • Timing: Consistent with University-level minimum requirements.
  • Committee: Consistent with University-level minimum requirements with the exception that in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, the composition of the comprehensive examining committee will be approved by the Associate Chair or Director, Graduate Studies for the student’s Department/School, as delegated by the Associate Dean, Graduate Studies. 
  • Who Chairs an examination: Consistent with University-level minimum requirements.
  • Format / Content: Consistent with University-level minimum requirements.
  • Academic integrity: Consistent with University-level minimum requirements.

PhD Thesis

• A PhD thesis proposal is required of all PhD students after passing the comprehensive examinations, and before proceeding to data collection. The proposal should contain a detailed statement of the research problem and its significance for a body of leisure-related theory, a precise account of the methodology or research techniques to be employed, plus a detailed outline of the proposed data analyzes. The candidate will be required to present and defend this proposal before the thesis committee. The final thesis report based on the completed research must also be successfully defended to satisfy the thesis requirement. The PhD thesis advisory committee is normally comprised of a minimum of three members including the supervisor, one faculty member appointed in the student's department, and one other member from either the student’s department or from another department within the University. Normally, any additional members of the advisory committee must have academic appointment. The thesis advisory committee must be approved by the Associate Chair, Graduate Studies. The proposal will be defended before the thesis advisory committee. Upon completion of the thesis, the final document will be defended before a five person Examination Board made up of the supervisor, three other members of the University community (two of whom are normally the advisory committee members and one other individual from outside the home department), and an external examiner.
• The thesis will be on a topic in an area relevant to Work and Health.

Other requirements 

• Student evaluation: a review of each student's progress takes place during the month of May each year. Students are evaluated on several criteria, including performance in courses, progress with regard to the comprehensive examination and thesis work and, where appropriate, reports submitted by the students regarding their research and teaching assistantship activity. A grade average of at least 75% must be maintained.