Kinesiology (MSc)

Our Master of Science (MSc) in Kinesiology is designed with the objective of providing you with a highly integrated and multidisciplinary approach to the examination of the relationships among physical activity, health and disease in various populations.

Explore your research interest and become specialized in a kinesiology sub-discipline including biomechanics, health, exercise physiology, motor control, sport psychology, ethics, sport governance, and sport history. The emphasis of the thesis will be based on your own interests and your adviser’s research interests within this broad framework.

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Funding Highlights

  • Winners of major external awards (OGS, QEII and Tri-Council) may be eligible for top-up funding which includes the Dean’s Graduate Scholarship (total value exceeds $10,000). 
  • Eligible domestic students admitted to study on a full-time basis receive an average of $15,000 a year. This support may be made up of teaching assistantships, internal/external scholarships, and/or faculty-funded studentships or research assistantships.

Program Details

Program Options

This program is normally completed in two years (six consecutive terms). You will complete three and a half credits, including a master’s thesis.

To graduate, you must obtain a grade of B- in all graduate courses, with an overall average of B.

In your first year of the program, you’ll take KP601: Seminar in Kinesiology I; and KP622: Research Design in Kinesiology. In your second year, you’ll take KP611: Seminar in Kinesiology II.

You’ll also choose one elective course, and an approved half credit course with a methodological/analytical focus depending on your interests and the focus of your research.

Research Focus

Our faculty supervise students in a wide range of research interests, including:

  • motor learning and execution
  • motor development and control
  • motor delays or developmental disabilities
  • perception and gait
  • psychology of physical activity/sports
  • chronic illness, disability, health and aging
  • biomechanics
  • neurophysiology
  • muscle and exercise physiology
  • historical and ethical aspects of sport

Course Offerings

Offered Annually

  • KP601: Seminar in Kinesiology I
  • KP611: Seminar in Kinesiology II
  • KP620: Statistical Analysis in Kinesiology
  • KP622: Research Design in Kinesiology
  • KP697: Directed Research in Kinesiology (upon advisor approval)
  • KP698: Directed Readings in Kinesiology (upon advisor approval)

Offering Varies from Year to Year

  • KP621: Qualitative Research Design and Analysis
  • KP623: Biophysical Instrumentation and Measurement
  • KP630: Epidemiology of Physical Activity and Health
  • KP631: Health and Illness Across the Age Continuum
  • KP650: Biophysical Foundations of Kinesiology
  • KP651: Neurocognition of Movement
  • KP670: Social-Cultural Foundations of Kinesiology

"Being a part of this program allowed me to collaborate with other students and faculty members. Not only did I get to learn from these collaborators, but I learned that a problem is better solved when examined from multiple lenses. These are the lessons that I have carried into my current position and plan to apply throughout the rest of my career."

Emily Dunn (MKin '17), research assistant in the Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery at McMaster University

Admissions

Take the first step in your graduate education and apply to one of our graduate programs. Follow our three-step admission process — we’ll walk you through how to apply and prepare for your first day as a graduate student.

  • Start: Fall (September)
  • Format: Full-time
  • Application deadline: February 15 (first consideration deadline), March 30 (international applicants), or July 30 (domestic applicants). The program will continue to accept applications until the program is full.

"Throughout my studies in the master’s program I was able to learn and develop many skills that are not limited to the ability to write scientifically, perform statistical analyses, and present in front of large audiences. Learning these valuable lessons, and working with exceptional professors during my thesis, gave me a distinct advantage in the job market."

Jake Davidson (MSc '16), research associate for the Division of Paediatric Surgery at the Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre

Waterloo Campus

This program is available on Laurier's Waterloo campus.

Laurier's Waterloo campus is home to more than 19,000 graduate and undergraduate students. Tucked into several city blocks, this campus is walking distance to your classrooms, food, and various campus amenities.

Laurier is a leading force in research among Canadian universities, and many of our research centres and institutes are housed in Waterloo.

Learn more about Laurier's campuses.

Tuition and Funding

Regardless of the type of graduate degree program you intend to pursue, financial planning is important. At Laurier, we want to provide you with as much information as possible about a variety of scholarship and funding opportunities and equip you with the skills to manage your finances effectively in the years to come.

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Careers

Our graduates have gone on to work in professional fields, academics/education, rehabilitation and research. Graduates also pursue further education in doctoral programs, medical school, physiotherapy, business, naturopathy and education.

Examples of jobs held by our graduates include:

  • physical therapy/occupational therapy chiropractor
  • senior specialist, heart and stroke
  • pedorthist
  • personal trainer
  • research associate/coordinator

Your Path to Post-Degree Success

ASPIRE is Laurier's professional skills development training program for graduate students. The program helps you craft an individualized, extracurricular learning plan tailored to your professional journey and entry to the workplace.

Faculty

Learn about the interests of our faculty members. If you are looking for more information about this program, have questions, or want to set up a meeting, contact a member of our team.

Stephanie Beni
Assitant Professor

  • Movement pedagogy
  • Teaching and coaching
  • Meaningful movement

Pam Bryden
Professor

  • Handedness, laterality and manual asymmetries
  • Motor development
  • Developmental disabilities

Michael Cinelli
Professor

  • Perception-action integration
  • Obstacle avoidance
  • Balance control
  • Concussions

Kimberley Dawson
Professor

  • Sport psychology
  • Exercise adherence
  • Sport performance

Tim Elcombe
Professor

  • Sport and international affairs
  • Sport and politics
  • Sport ethics
  • Sport humanities

Mark Eys
Professor
Laurier Research Chair, Group Dynamics and Physical Activity

  • Sport psychology
  • Group dynamics
  • Team building

Paula Fletcher
Professor
Associate Dean: Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

  • Lived experience/qualitative research - phenomenology
  • Chronic disease, disability, age-related conditions and caregiving

Diane Gregory
Associate Professor

  • Biomechanics
  • Spine health
  • Ergonomics

Alanna Harman
Associate Professor

  • Organizational behaviour in sport organizations
  • Athlete maltreatment
  • Media representations of athletes

Tom J. Hazell
Professor
Graduate Coordinator

  • Exercise phyisiology and nutrition
  • Appetite regulation
  • Gut hormones
  • Regulation of energy intake
  • Energy expenditure
  • Energy balance
  • Exercise metabolism

Jayne Kalmar
Professor

  • Neuromuscular fatigue
  • Neural control of movement
  • Motor neuron properties

Renée S. MacPhee
Associate Professor

  • Mental and physical health of paramedics and other public safety personnel (PSP)
  • Occupational injury in paramedics

Phil Medeiros
Assistant Professor
Undergraduate Officer

  • Neurovascular regulation
  • Exerkines and cancer
  • Breast cancer and the tumour microenvironment

Stephen Perry
Professor

  • Biomechanics
  • Neurophysiology
  • Dynamic balance control
  • Footwear and orthotics
  • Falls in the elderly

Jennifer Robertson-Wilson
Associate Professor

  • Sport and exercise psychology
  • Health promotion
  • Physical activity promotion

Margaret Schneider
Associate Professor

  • Autism services and supports for children and families
  • Chronic illness, disability and caregiving
  • Health, well-being and quality of life
  • Qualitative methodologies

Jill Tracey
Associate Professor

  • Psychological recovery from injury and rehabilitation
  • Performance psychology
  • Enhancing health and physical activity behaviours across the lifespan
  • Retirement from sport and lifelong health and physical activity
  • Coaching effectiveness; talent identification and development

Stephen Wenn
Professor

  • The International Olympic Committee and television rights negotiations
  • Sport and commerce