Master of Arts (MA) in Recreation and Leisure Studies

The program information below was valid for the winter 2023 term (January 1, 2023 - April 30, 2023). 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.

Program information

  • Admit term(s) 
    • Fall
  • Delivery mode 
    • On-campus
  • Length of program 
    • Full-time: 6 terms
    • Part-time: 12 terms
    • Students must obtain permission from their supervisor(s), the Associate Chair of Graduate Studies and the Associate Dean, Graduate Studies, to continue registration beyond the maximum time period stipulated for the program in which they first registered.
  • Program type 
    • Master's
    • Research
  • Registration option(s) 
    • Full-time
    • Part-time
  • Study option(s) 

Admission requirements

  • Minimum requirements 
    • A four-year honours bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in Recreation and Leisure Studies or related field with at least a 75% standing. If the overall undergraduate average is below 75%, consideration may be given to the applicant's performance during the final year of academic work.
    • Competency in written expression, including evidence of ability to conceptualize, organize ideas and reason.
  • Application materials 
    • Résumé/Curriculum vitae
      • Indicating past academic and professional experience.
    • Supplementary information form
    • Transcript(s)
    • Writing sample
      • Applicants must submit at least one substantial example of their work completed during the last two years of academic study. Students with professional experience may submit a professional report of which they were the sole or senior author.
  • References 
    • Number of references:  2
    • Type of references: 

      academic
  • English language proficiency (ELP) (if applicable)

Degree requirements

    Thesis option:

  • Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)
  • Courses 

    • Students must complete the following courses:

    • All graduate courses except those designated in this Calendar as CR/NCR must be assigned a numerical grade. Any student who registers for a course in a department outside the Faculty of Health must receive a numerical grade for the course. Unless the course is designated CR/NCR in the Graduate Calendar, the student must ask the instructor to submit a numerical grade. The student must clarify this requirement with the instructor within the first two weeks of each term.

    • Students must obtain an average of at least 72% in the set of courses which they present in fulfillment of course requirements for any graduate degree. Unsatisfactory academic performance in any one course will result in a review of the candidate's status by the departmental Graduate Committee. If a student with a failed course is permitted to continue, additional work may be required to clear the failure in that course, or by replacement of the failed course. Alternatively, the student may be required to repeat part or all of the program.

  • Link(s) to courses
  • Master’s Thesis

    • For the MA thesis proposal, the committee consists of at least one faculty member in addition to the supervisor appointed in the student’s department, both of whom have academic appointments. The committee member may be drawn from the faculty members of any other department within the University if such an individual has a special contribution to make to the research process or may also have an adjunct appointment with the  department. The thesis supervisory committee must be approved by the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies.

    • For the final MA defense, an independent reader (selected by the supervisor in consultation with the student and the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies) and an independent chair (assigned by the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies) will be added. Normally, the independent reader should have an academic appointment. At least two members of the final thesis committee must be from the student’s department (i.e., full-time academic appointment or adjunct appointment in the department).

    Coursework option:

  • Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)
  • Courses 
    • Required courses
    • Elective courses
      • 4 elective graduate courses from within or outside the Department.
    • All graduate courses except those designated in this Calendar as CR/NCR must be assigned a numerical grade. Any student who registers for a course in a department outside the Faculty of Health must receive a numerical grade for the course. Unless the course is designated CR/NCR in the Graduate Calendar, the student must ask the instructor to submit a numerical grade. The student must clarify this requirement with the instructor within the first two weeks of each term.
    • Students must obtain an average of at least 72% in the set of courses which they present in fulfillment of course requirements for any graduate degree. Unsatisfactory academic performance in any one course will result in a review of the candidate's status by the departmental Graduate Committee. If a student with a failed course is permitted to continue, additional work may be required to clear the failure in that course, or by replacement of the failed course. Alternatively, the student may be required to repeat part or all of the program
  • Link(s) to courses
Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies website
Master of Arts (MA) in Recreation and Leisure Studies future students program page