Master of Science (MSc) in Kinesiology

The program information below was valid for the fall 2021 term (September 1, 2021 - December 31, 2021). 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.

Students are responsible for reviewing the general information and regulations section of the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

Graduate research fields

  • Biomechanics
  • Neuroscience
  • Physiology and Nutrition

Program information

  • Admit term(s) 
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Spring
  • Delivery mode 
    • On-campus
  • Length of program 
    • Must be completed within 6 terms full time or 12 terms part time.
    • Students must have permission of the Department Graduate Committee to continue enrolment beyond term limits.
    • Students are expected to devote as much time as is necessary to complete their thesis within this timeline.
    • Students must be continuously enrolled at the University to the end of the term in which they complete the degree requirements.
  • Program type 
    • Master's
    • Research
  • Registration option(s) 
    • Full-time
    • Part-time
  • Study option(s) 

Admission requirements

  • Minimum requirements 
    • An Honours Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with at least a 75% average.
    • Letter indicating why the student wishes to pursue graduate studies.
  • Application materials 
    • Curriculum vitae
    • Supplementary information form
    • Transcript(s)
    • Writing sample
      • Submit one copy of a term paper, research project or senior essay written during the last two years of undergraduate studies.
  • References 
    • Number of references:  2
    • Type of references: 

      from faculty members who taught the student as an undergraduate.
  • English language proficiency (ELP) (if applicable)

Degree requirements

    Thesis option:

  • Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)
  • Courses 
    • Students must successfully complete a minimum of 2.00 units of graduate courses (e.g., 4 courses each at 0.50 unit weight), including KIN 630 Research Design and Statistical Analysis (0.50 unit weight) or an equivalent course (related to quantitative or qualitative analysis, such as research methods, modelling, mathematics, or statistics), with the approval of the Department Graduate Officer. All graduate courses must be assigned a numerical grade. Students must obtain an average of at least 75% in the set of courses which they present in fulfilment of course requirements. A grade below 70% on any individual course or an average below 75% on the set of courses for the degree will result in a review of the student’s status by the Department Graduate Committee. If a student receives a grade in any individual course below 60%, the Department Graduate Committee review may result in the requirement to withdraw from the program. If the student is permitted to proceed, any course with a grade below 60% will not be eligible towards the degree requirements, thus requiring the course to be repeated or additional course work to be completed.

    • Students in the MSc in Kinesiology program may also wish to pursue one of the following Graduate Research Fields:

      1. Biomechanics
      2. Neuroscience
      3. Physiology and Nutrition

    • A Graduate Research Field is a University credential that is recognized on the student’s transcript and is intended to reflect that a student has successfully completed research and a set of courses that together provide an in-depth study in the area of the Graduate Research Field. A student will only obtain the Graduate Research Field on their transcript if they have completed the requirements associated with the MSc degree and the requirements associated with the Graduate Research Field. Students will be limited to one Graduate Research Field designation for their MSc in Kinesiology degree.

    • All MSc Graduate Research Fields in Kinesiology consist of a Master’s Seminar, a Master’s Thesis that is confirmed by the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences to be in the chosen Graduate Research Field, and a minimum of 2.0 units of graduate courses. This set of courses is comprised of a mix of required or elective courses. Required courses are those that are prescribed as part of the Graduate Research Field. Elective courses are those that are on a list of courses designated as electives for a given Graduate Research Field.

    • For any of the Graduate Research Fields below, an equivalent course focused on the Graduate Research Field may replace a required or elective course, with the approval of the Department Graduate Officer. 

    • The course requirements for each of the Graduate Research Fields are described below.

    1. Graduate Research Field in Biomechanics

    • Students must successfully complete the required and elective courses listed below. An assessment of whether or not the student’s thesis warrants the Biomechanics Graduate Research Field designation will be completed by the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences.
      • Required courses:
        • KIN 612 Instrumentation and Signal Processing in Biophysical Research
        • KIN 613 Modern Methods in Biomechanical Modeling, Kinematics and Kinetics
        • KIN 630 Research Design and Statistical Analysis
      • Elective courses:
        • Open elective(s) (amounting to 0.50 unit weights)

    2. Graduate Research Field in Neuroscience

    • Students must successfully complete the required and elective courses listed below. An assessment of whether or not the student’s thesis warrants the Neuroscience Graduate Research Field designation will be completed by the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences.
      • Required course:
        • KIN 630 Research Design and Statistical Analysis
      • Elective courses: select elective courses amounting to 1.50 unit weights from the following list:
        • KIN 616 Neural Control of Human Movement
        • KIN 652 Movement Control and Learning
        • KIN 653 Human Neuroscience Theory
        • KIN 654 Instrumentation in Neuroscience Research
        • KIN 657 Human Neuroanatomy
        • KIN 686 Selected Topics in Neuroscience I (MSc)
        • Open elective(s) (amounting to 0.50 unit weights)

    3. Graduate Research Field in Physiology and Nutrition

    • Students must successfully complete the required and elective courses listed below. An assessment of whether or not the student’s thesis warrants the Physiology and Nutrition Graduate Research Field designation will be completed by the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences.
      • Required course:
        • KIN 630 Research Design and Statistical Analysis
      • Elective courses: select elective courses amounting to 1.50 unit weights from the following list:
        • KIN 601 Skeletal Muscle Physiology: Structure & Function 
        • KIN 602 Respiratory and Cardiovascular Physiology
        • KIN 603 Cardiac and Vascular Smooth Muscle Physiology
        • KIN 606 Molecular Basis of Disease
        • KIN 607 Integrative Energy Metabolism in Health and Disease
        • KIN 608 Introduction to Genetics for the Biosciences
        • KIN 609 Introduction to Genetics for Biosciences Lab
        • KIN 632 Clinical Epidemiology and Health Measurement
        • KIN 646 Physiological and Biochemical Aspects of Nutrition and Health
        • KIN 680 Selected Topics in Physiology and Nutrition (MSc)
        • KIN 691 Theory and Practice of Cardiorespiratory Assessment 
        • KIN 692 Interpretation of Cardiorespiratory Assessment and Exercise Prescription
        • KIN 702 Cardiorespiratory Integration
        • KIN 704 Bioactive Lipids
        • Open elective(s) (amounting to 0.50 unit weights)
  • Link(s) to courses
  • Master's Seminar
    • Students are required to complete a series of academic and discipline-specific seminars throughout their program of study.
  • Master’s Thesis
    • Thesis Proposal: Following successful completion of coursework, each student will be required to compete a Master’s thesis proposal. The proposal involves a written document related to the student’s thesis area. The thesis project and proposal is developed in consultation with the supervisor. Each student must orally defend the thesis proposal to the Advisory Committee, consisting of the supervisor (or co-supervisors), and two other members (one of which must be from the home Department).
    • Thesis Defence: Each student is required to submit a written thesis embodying the results of original research carried out under the direction of an Advisory Committee headed by the supervisor. The candidate defends the thesis before an Examining Committee approved by the Department Graduate Committee. The Examining Board should consist of the Advisory Committee, which is normally the same Advisory Committee as the thesis proposal.
  • Other requirements 
    • Student evaluation: A review of each student's progress by both the supervisor and the Department Graduate Committee takes place each year. Students are evaluated on several criteria, including performance in courses, progress towards course and milestone completion, thesis progress, scholarly activity, and research and teaching assistantship activity.
Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences website
Master of Science (MSc) in Kinesiology future students program page