Health Sciences – Kinesiology

General information

The Kinesiology major is nationally accredited by the Canadian Council of Physical Education and Kinesiology Administrators. It provides a focused set of options directed toward understanding human movement for health and human performance. Students learn about human physiology, and how it is altered by exercise; about biomechanics and how to prevent workplace injuries; about the importance of physical activity for individuals with chronic conditions or disabilities; about how the brain controls movement and the relationship to pain and injury; about sport psychology and the impact on sport performance; and much more. Through many of the courses in the program, students will gain hands‐on experience through laboratory sessions. In fourth year, elective opportunities exist whereby students can pursue either a Kinesiology or Athletic Therapy internship to further develop competency in their chosen field. Kinesiology internships can range from placements in fitness facilities, schools, cardiac rehabilitation programs, programs for children with disabilities, rehabilitation clinics, sports teams, and more. The Athletic Therapy internship involves placement as a student therapist with a varsity athletic team and students become certified as Advanced Medical First Responders.

Kinesiology graduates will be prepared to embark on careers in healthcare, sport, or private practice.  Graduates of the Kinesiology major will have covered the core competencies required by the College of Kinesiologists of Ontario as well as a number of additional certifications relevant to the various fields in Kinesiology. Those interested in pursuing these certifications will generally require additional practical experience before writing the registration exams. Students will also be eligible to apply for admission to several professional postgraduate programs such as physical therapy, medical school, law school, master’s in business administration, research-based masters in Kinesiology, and much more. Those interested in professional schools are advised to check the requirements of individual institutions to ensure that they have taken any required courses.

In order to be eligible to participate in required laboratory courses in the Kinesiology major, students must meet specific requirements for safe practice in the lab setting. Students will be required to show proof of current basic first aid and CPR certification prior to the beginning of each academic year, starting in second year. Certification presented must be valid for at least the full length of the academic year.

Admission requirements

Admission is competitive. The specific average or standing required for admission varies from year to year. Students are selected by taking into consideration a wide range of criteria including school marks, distribution of subjects taken, and performance in subjects relevant to the academic program. Possession of the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance. Preference will be given to applicants with the best qualifications.

Current Ontario secondary school students must complete the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) with six 4U or 4M credits including English (ENG4U) with a minimum grade of 60 per cent, Biology (SBI4U), and one of Advanced Functions (MHF4U) or Calculus and Vectors (MCV4U) or Mathematics of Data Management (MDM4U). It is recommended for students applying to the Kinesiology major: Exercise Science option, that Chemistry (SCH4U) is also taken. All other applicants should refer to admissions  for the requirements for their specific category of admission.

Program details and degree requirements

To be eligible for a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours) degree, students must successfully complete 120 credit hours. Degree and program requirements are subject to change without notice. The following program maps are only a guide and are to be used in combination with proper advising. Students wishing to make changes to their program of study should consult their academic advisor.

Further information on courses and course sequencing can be found on the Faculty of Health Sciences website and in the Kinesiology handbook.

Required courses for all Kinesiology students

• KINE 1000U – Foundations in Kinesiology
• KINE 1010U – Human Anatomy & Physiology I
• KINE 1020U – Information Literacy & Written Communications
• KINE 1030U – Quantitative Reasoning
• KINE 1100U – Human Anatomy & Physiology II
• KINE 1110U – Introduction to Movement Neuroscience
• KINE 1120U – Human Growth and Motor Development
• KINE 1130U – Sociocultural Perspectives
• KINE 2000U – Anatomy of Human Movement
• KINE 2010U – Health and Indigenous People in Canada
• KINE 2020U – Exercise Biochemistry
• KINE 2030U – Psychology of Sport and Exercise
• KINE 2040U – Biomechanics
• KINE 2100U – Introduction to Injury Management
• KINE 2110U – Motor Control and Learning
• KINE 2120U – Ethical Behaviour
• KINE 2130U – Exercise Physiology
• KINE 2140U – Research Methods
• KINE 3000U – Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription
• KINE 3010U – Critical Appraisal of Statistics
• KINE 3100U – Nutrition and Health
• KINE 4100U – Kinesiology Capstone

Additional required courses

• Any two Biology (BIOL), Chemistry (CHEM), Psychology (PSYC) or Social Sciences (SSCI, SOCI, COMM) courses.

Note: For students interested in biophysical aspects of Kinesiology, we recommend taking either one or two Biology courses as well as one or two Chemistry courses (additional courses will go towards the elective requirement). For students interested in psychosocial aspects of Kinesiology, we recommend taking Psychology and Sociology courses.

Senior-level Kinesiology elective courses

• A minimum of eight KINE courses at the 3000 or 4000 level.
   

Note: Upper-year Kinesiology courses should be chosen based on recommend clusters in the Kinesiology handbook to ensure the student is best prepared for the field of interest upon graduation.

Open electives

• Eight open electives at any level, in any faculty.

Note: Electives can be used to follow two clusters from the Kinesiology handbook or to minor in another subject area.