Program Requirements

The Honours Bachelor of Kinesiology program began in September 2015. Students who started earlier should see the Honours BA and BSc program requirements below.

BKIN Transition

The Kinesiology and Physical Education Department has transitioned to a single Bachelor of Kinesiology degree. Courses for this degree are noted with a BKIN designation.

The Honours Bachelor of Kinesiology degree in the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education (KPE) consists of a minimum of 20.0 credits, not more than 6.5 of which may be at the 100 level. The program must include at least 9.5 and may include at most 10.0 senior credits in Kinesiology and Physical Education. Non-KPE electives may be taken from any discipline.

• For progression, year to year, the requirement is a minimum GPA of 5.00 (C) in Kinesiology and Physical Education courses and a minimum overall GPA (including Kin courses) of 5.00 (C).
• For graduation, with the honours degree, a minimum cumulative GPA of 7.00 (B-) in Kinesiology and Physical Education courses and a minimum overall GPA (including Kin courses) of 5.00 (C) is required.

Year 1

2.0 required KP credits, 2.0 required non-KP, 1.0 non-KP electives:

• KP100, KP141, KP161, KP181
• Both BI110 and BI111
• Both PS101 and PS102
• Non-KP Electives (1.0 credit)

Year 2

3.5 required KP credits, 1.5 non-KP electives:

• KP211, KP200, KP221, KP222, KP231, KP251, KP290
• Non-KP Electives (1.5 credits)

Year 3

1.5 required KP credits, 3.5 KP and Non-KP electives:

• KP322, KP390; KP300 OR KP301
• Non-KP Electives (2.0 credits)

Remainder of Year 3 and Year 4

Additional 4.5 to 5.0 credits KP electives:

• KP Electives at the 300 level (1.5 credits)
• KP Electives at the 400 level (1.5 credits)
• Senior KP Electives (1.5 credits - mandatory): students may take KP201 and KP202 as senior KP electives.
• Senior Electives (2.0 credits - mandatory)(0.5 may be KP)

Program Requirements

1. Progression requirements for the Honours Bachelor of Kinesiology program are based on grade point averages (GPA) obtained from all courses taken and are calculated on a cumulative basis.
2. For progression from year to year, the requirements are a minimum GPA of 5.00 (C) in Kinesiology and Physical Education courses, and a minimum overall GPA (including KP courses) of 5.00 (C).
3. For graduation with the Honours degree, the requirements are a minimum cumulative GPA of 7.00 (B-) in Kinesiology and Physical Education courses, and a minimum overall GPA (including KP courses) of 5.00 (C).
4. Every student must gain a minimum of 96 hours of community related leadership/activity experiences. These shall be obtained by participating in between two and four different applied experiences related to their studies in Kinesiology or Physical Education, with no fewer than 16 hours for any one experience. These experiences shall be leadership oriented, have an applied educational component and involve participation in some form of volunteer or paid activity in the community. These activities shall involve the student in some form of leadership, administrative, instructing, or service capacity related to the wide scope of kinesiology, physical activity, recreation and applied health. All leadership/activity experiences must be approved, prior to their commencement, by the department's undergraduate advisor or chair.

Modules

Students may declare one of the four modules listed below as a concentration area and thus have it appear on their transcript. To do so, students must take a minimum of 3.0 credits in the module, of which up to 1.5 credits may be from a capstone experience course if the KPE GPA is 8.0 or higher.

1. Health and Rehabilitation

• KP331 - Health and Illness Across the Lifespan (Effective Sept. 1, 2016),
• KP332 - Exercise Nutrition (BKin)
• KP351 - Biomechanics of Human Movement (BKin)
• KP361 - Sensorimotor Control and Learning Across the Lifespan (BKin)
• KP371 - Disability, Developmental Delays and Physical Activity (BKin)
• KP381 - Advanced Psychology of Sport and Exercise (BKin) (Effective Sept. 1, 2016)
• KP426 - Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription (BKin) (Effective Sept. 1, 2016),
• KP472 - Sports Medicine (Effective Sept. 1, 2016),
• KP482 (Effective September 1, 2016), + KP491 - Research and Application in Kinesiology: Capstone Experiences (BKin) selections, if GPA = 8.00 or higher

2. Human Movement and Performance

• KP201 - Applied Movement Skills: Fitness and Strength Training (BKin)
• KP202 - Applied Movement Skills: Endurance Sports (BKin)
• KP325 (Effective Sept. 1, 2016),
• KP332 - Exercise Nutrition (BKin)
• KP361 - Sensorimotor Control and Learning Across the Lifespan (BKin)
• KP351 - Biomechanics of Human Movement (BKin)
• KP371 - Disability, Developmental Delays and Physical Activity (BKin)
• KP381 - Advanced Psychology of Sport and Exercise (BKin) (Effective Sept. 1, 2016)
• KP422 - Physiology of Exercise: Muscle, Metabolism and Cellular Physiology
• KP426 - Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription (BKin) (Effective Sept. 1, 2016),
• KP472 - Sports Medicine (Effective Sept. 1, 2016),
• KP481 - Advanced Psychology of Human Performance (BKin) (Effective Sept. 1, 2016), + KP491 - Research and Application in Kinesiology: Capstone Experiences (BKin) selections, if GPA = 8.0 or higher

3. Teaching, Coaching and Management

• KP201 - Applied Movement Skills: Fitness and Strength Training (BKin)
• KP202 - Applied Movement Skills: Endurance Sports (BKin)
• KP300 - Teaching and Coaching Sport and Physical Activity
• KP341 - History of Physical Activity and Sport in Canada
• KP344 - Organization and Administration in Physical Activity and Sport (BKin)
• KP381 - Advanced Psychology of Sport and Exercise (BKin) (Effective Sept. 1, 2016)
• KP371 - Disability, Developmental Delays and Physical Activity (BKin)
• KP460 (Effective Sept. 1, 2016),
• KP472 - Sports Medicine (Effective Sept. 1, 2016),
• KP481 - Advanced Psychology of Human Performance (BKin) (Effective Sept. 1, 2016) + KP491 - Research and Application in Kinesiology: Capstone Experiences (BKin) selections, if GPA = 8.0 or higher

4. Physical Activity Promotion

• KP331 - Health and Illness Across the Lifespan (Effective Sept. 1, 2016),
• KP341 - History of Physical Activity and Sport in Canada
• KP344 - Organization and Administration in Physical Activity and Sport (BKin)
• KP381 - Advanced Psychology of Sport and Exercise (BKin) (Effective Sept. 1, 2016)
• KP332 - Exercise Nutrition (BKin)
• KP371 - Disability, Developmental Delays and Physical Activity (BKin)
• KP426 - Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription (BKin) (Effective Sept. 1, 2016),
• KP460 (Effective Sept. 1, 2016),
• KP481 - Advanced Psychology of Human Performance (BKin) (Effective Sept. 1, 2016)
• KP482 (Effective Sept. 1, 2016), + KP491 - Research and Application in Kinesiology: Capstone Experiences (BKin) selections, if GPA = 8.0 or higher

Capstone Courses

A capstone course is considered to be a culminating experience that is taken during the final year of student’s degree. Intended to prepare students for their next steps (e.g. the rigour of graduate school, the workplace, etc.), the capstone courses require students to explore, synthesize and critically analyze literature in the field. Each capstone course will include some type of major assignment such as:

• directed research study
• written research paper
• major portfolio
• applied practical experience
• major presentation

Approximately eight capstone courses will run each year, with courses alternating every two years. Students must have a GPA of 8.0 to take a capstone courses.

KP490: Thesis (1.0 credit)

KP491: Research and Application in Kinesiology (0.5 credit)

Topics include, but are not limited to:

• Psychology of Injury Rehabilitation in Sport and Physical Activity.
• Ethics in Sport, Exercise and Health.
• Aging, Physical Activity and Health.
• Movement Disorders.
• Advanced Exercise Psychology.
• Psychology of Injury Rehabilitation.
• Epidemiology.
• Modern Olympics.
• Advanced Physical Activity for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities.
• Marketing in Sport and Activity.
• Balance, Posture and Gait.
• Advanced Sociology of Physical Activity.
• Seminar in Athletic Injuries.

Download a Printable Program Worksheet (.docx)

The Honours BSc Kinesiology and Physical Education program consists of 20.0 credits, of which a minimum of 10.5 credits must be in Kinesiology and Physical Education. A maximum of 6.5 credits can be taken at the 100 level.

• For progression, year to year, the requirement is a minimum GPA of 5.00 (C) in Kinesiology and Physical Education courses and a minimum overall GPA (including Kin courses) of 5.00 (C).
• For graduation, with the honours degree, a minimum cumulative GPA of 7.00 (B-) in Kinesiology and Physical Education courses and a minimum overall GPA (including Kin courses) of 5.00 (C) is required.

Year 1

• KP121, KP122, BI110, BI111; both PS101 and PS102 (or PS100*); both MA100 and MA101 (or MA110*);
• 1.0 credit from: both CH110 and CH111; OR both PC131 and PC132 (or both PC141 and PC142); OR CP104 together with one of CP102, CP114

Year 2

• KP210, KP220 (KP222 in 2016-17), KP223 (KP221 in 2016-17), KP231, KP232, KP261 (KP290 in 2016-17)
• 1.0 senior credit from biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, physics or Division C psychology (Refer to Note 2)
• 1.0 elective credit (Refer to Note 1)

Year 3

• KP241, KP262 (KP390 in 2016-17), KP321 (KP472 in 2016-17), KP322, KP323, KP351, KP361, KP371
• 1.0 senior credit from biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, physics or Division C psychology (Refer to Note 2)

Year 4

• Two of KP422, KP423, KP424, KP425 (KP325 in 2016-17), KP434/HE300, KP451, KP452, KP461, KP463, KP464, KP465;
• Two of KP324 (KP426 in 2016-17), KP332, KP410 through KP471 or KP490*;
• 0.5 credit senior KP elective
• 0.5 elective credit
• 2.0 senior credits from biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, physics or Division C psychology (Refer to Note 2)

Notes from Academic Calendar

1. Electives may include at most 1.0 credit from the following activity courses: KP101° to KP147° inclusive.
2. Of the minimum 4.0 senior credits in biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, physics or psychology Division C science courses taken in Years 2, 3 and 4, 1.0 credit must be at the 300 or 400 level. New effective September 1, 2015: Of the minimum 4.0 senior science credits from BI, CH, CP, MA, PC or PS, taken in Years 2, 3 and 4, 1.0 credit must be at the 300 or 400 level. Note, psychology courses must have a 6 as the middle digit.
3. Every student must gain a minimum of 96 hours of community related leadership/activity experiences. These shall be obtained by participating in between two and four different applied experiences related to their studies in Kinesiology or Physical Education, with no fewer than 16 hours for any one experience. These experiences shall be leadership oriented, have an applied educational component and involve participation in some form of volunteer or paid activity in the community. These activities shall involve the student in some form of leadership, administrative, instructing, or service capacity related to the wide scope of kinesiology, physical activity, recreation and applied health. All leadership/activity experiences must be approved, prior to their commencement, by the department's undergraduate advisor or chair.

Additional Notes

The following courses have been renumbered starting in September 2016 (and thus visible on LORIS when you register for classes) 

• KP220 (Human Biology/Physiology) will become KP222 (Human Physiology)
• KP223 (Functional Human Anatomy) will become KP221 (Human Regional Anatomy)
• KP261 (Research Methods I) will become KP290 (Research Methods)
• KP262 (Research Methods II) will become KP390 (Inferential Statistics)
• KP321 (Sports Medicine) will become KP472 (Sports Injury) = both 3rd and 4th year students may take this course as long as Anatomy and Physiology have been completed.
• KP242 (Organization and Administration in Physical Activity and Sport) will become KP344 (Organization and Administration in Physical Activity and Sport) - again open to 3rd and 4th year students.
• KP324 (Fitness Assessment, Training, and Exercise) will become KP426 (Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription) - open to all students who have taken KP322.

A few courses also have minor title changes, but not course number changes, such as KP332, KP351, KP361, KP371 – only to provide a better description of the material covered in the courses.

Also, it is important to note, that KP232 and KP210 will not be offered again.  In addition, 2016/17 will be the last year that KP241 will be offered.

Senate/Editorial Changes

• Senate Revision May 28, 2014: KP434/HE300 Cross-listing added; effective September 1, 2014.
• Senate Revision January 12, 2015: Change to Year 4; effective immediately.
• Senate Revision April 15, 2015: Note 2 change to breadth requirement; effective September 1, 2015.

Download a Printable Program Worksheet (.doc)

The Honours BA program in Kinesiology and Physical Education consists of a minimum of 20.0 credits, not more than 6.0 of which may be at the 100 level. The program must include at least 10.5 and may include at most 12.0 senior credits in Kinesiology and Physical Education.

Year 1

• KP121, KP122
• Four 0.25-credit activity/practicum option courses (100 level)
• BI110, BI111
• PS101 and PS102 (or PS100*)
• 1.0 non-KP elective credit

Year 2

• KP210; KP216/CL216 or KP241; KP220 (KP222 in 2016-17) and KP223 (KP221 in 2016-17);
• KP231, KP232, KP261 (KP290 in 2016-17)
• KP300
• 1.0 non-KP elective credit

Year 3

• KP242 (KP344 in 2016-17), KP262 (KP390 in 2016-17), KP321 (KP472 in 2016-17),
• KP322, KP323, KP341, KP351, KP371
• 1.0 senior elective credit

Year 4

• KP361
• 1.0 credit from KP410 through KP471
• 1.0 senior KP elective credit
• 2.5 senior elective credits (may be KP but total may not exceed 12.0 senior KP credits)

Notes

1. Every student must gain a minimum of 96 hours of community-related leadership/activity experiences, (refer to Note 3 of Honours BSc program).
2. A maximum of 1.0 credit of KP 0.25-credit courses (KP101° - KP147°) may be taken as credit towards the degree.

Download a Printable Program Worksheet (.doc)

For more information, including on admission requirements, see the graduate academic calendar.

It is expected that the Master of Kinesiology program will be completed in six consecutive terms beginning in the fall term. To graduate, students must obtain a minimum grade of B- in all graduate courses, with an overall minimum average of B.

All students in the first year of the program are required to take the following courses:

• KP601: Seminar in Physical Activity and Health
• KP620: Statistical Reasoning and Advanced Experimental Analysis
• KP622: Advanced Research Design in Human Movement, Health and Development

All students in the second year of the program are required to take the following course:

• KP611: Seminar in Physical Activity and Health

All students, beginning in the spring term of their first year should register for and continue to register until graduation:

• KP699: MSc Thesis

All students must take at least two of the following courses during the program:

• KP697: Directed Studies Research Course
• KP698: Directed Studies Reading Course
• KP621: Qualitative Research Design
• KP623: Biophysical Instrumentation and Measurement
• KP630: Epidemiology of Physical Activity and Health
• KP631: Health and Illness Across the Age Continuum
• KP650: Biophysical Aspects of Physical Activity and Health
• KP651: Neurocognition of Movement
• KP670: Sociocultural Foundations of Physical Activity and Health

All students will complete 4.0 credits, including KP699:* Master's Thesis.

MSc Thesis Requirement

A thesis based on original research and defended before a thesis committee is required of all students in the program. A thesis committee will be set up for each student consisting of their supervisor, two other faculty members from within the program and one external faculty member (from either another university or another department within Laurier, appointed by the dean of Graduate Studies). Students will present a thesis proposal to their committee usually before the end of their third term and will defend their completed thesis usually before the end of their sixth term.

For more information, including on admission requirements, see the graduate academic calendar.

Program Requirements

The PhD in kinesiology is research intensive and, as such, course requirements in most areas are minimal. The minimum requirements are as follows:

A total of at least six courses at the graduate level (including both Master’s and PhD)

Two courses must be completed through the PhD in Kinesiology program (excluding KP801 - Seminar in Kinesiology, KP891: Comprehensive Examination, or KP899: Doctoral Dissertation).

Additional courses at the discretion of the Doctoral Advisory Committee.

• KP801: Seminar in Kinesiology. Registration for a minimum of four terms is required; however, doctoral students are generally expected to attend the seminar for the duration of their period of study (i.e., until graduation). Periodic exceptions to this general expectation are permitted on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by the supervisor and KPE graduate coordinator.
• KP891: Comprehensive Examination. The purpose of the comprehensive examination is to allow students an opportunity to demonstrate their competence in their area of research and two additional related areas. The student’s dissertation advisory committee (DAC) guides the student in preparation for the comprehensive examination. The DAC determines the area in which the student is examined and provides the student with a reading list outlining the information to be examined.
• KP899: Doctoral Dissertation. An original doctoral dissertation provides the primary evidence of the candidate’s academic competency. The regulations governing the doctoral dissertation from the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies are directly adopted.

Comprehensive Examination

The PhD comprehensive examination focuses on the student's area of specialization and at least two additional cognate areas. This examination includes both a written and oral component. The comprehensive examining committee includes the student's advisor and three other members, one of whom will be from outside of the program. At least two members of the comprehensive examining committee must be members of the Wilfrid Laurier Kinesiology and Physical Education graduate program.

The examination will normally be completed by the end of the third term of registration in the doctoral program. A candidate has only two opportunities to successfully complete the comprehensive examination (pass/fail evaluation). After the first unsuccessful attempt, the examination committee will identify areas of improvement and the method of improvement that the student must complete prior to re-examination. The student must complete the second examination within one term following the initial exam.

Doctoral Dissertation

The doctoral dissertation is an original research contribution consisting of a major study or series of studies focused on one area of specialization. All regulations and procedures governing the dissertation and its evaluation follow those outlined by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

Progress Reports

In April of the first year of registration and once a year thereafter, a student is required to complete an annual progress report detailing the achievements of the previous year and the objectives for the next year. The report must demonstrate satisfactory progress, and must be signed with comments by the supervisor and department’s Graduate Coordinator, and filed with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Failure to submit a satisfactory report may result in the student being required to withdraw from the program.

Typical Progression

Year 1

Fall

• KP801: Seminar in Kinesiology
• First KPE elective
• Advisory committee formed

Winter

• KP801: Seminar in Kinesiology
• Second KP elective

Spring

• KP891: Comprehensive Examination

Year 2

Fall

• KP801: Seminar in Kinesiology

Winter

• KP801: Seminar in Kinesiology

Spring

• KP899: Doctoral Dissertation

Years 3 and 4

• Full-time work on KP899: Doctoral Dissertation (all three terms).