Kinesiology (BKin)

Combine your interest in sport, people and physical activity and learn how to study human movement. Study psychology, motor control, biomechanics, physiology and health in premier kinesiology and physical education facilities.

Focus your studies further and choose to concentrate your degree in one of four concentration areas. Throughout your studies, receive hands on training and leave feeling prepared for careers in health and fitness, rehabilitation, sports management and more.  

Program Details

Degree Highlights

Your future professors work hard to make sure your academic experience is current, complete and designed to open doors in your career. Here are a few things you can count on:

  • Career-Ready Curriculum: Develop the skills you need to apply to future career pathways such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, chiropractic college, or other health related fields.
  • Hands-on Learning: Engage in hands-on experiences to solidify your learning and round out your resume. Lead and learn with physical activity programming, fitness testing and injury assessments.
  • Pathway to a Teaching Career: Kick-start your teaching career and apply to Kinesiology with Teaching Option to prepare for your future in education with a direct path to Laurier's Bachelor of Education.

Top Experiences

Here are just a few of our students’ favourite ways to apply their learning in the real world throughout their degree (check out the Experience Guide for even more!):

  • Co-op: You can apply to co-op at the end of first year, and complete work terms over the course of your degree.
  • Pratice with Cadavers: Get real-world experience and work with hyper-realistic synthetic cadavers (the first of their kind in Canada) our synthetic cadavers in our Anatomy course.
  • Community Leadership Placement: Complete 96 hours of community-based leadership or volunteer work. Consider working with our Sun Life Centre for Healthy Communities.

Courses, Options and Pathways

First-Year Core Courses

  • Biological Diversity and Evolution
  • Fundamental Movement Skills and Physical Literacy
  • Fundamentals of Motor Learning and Control
  • Fundamentals of Sport and Exercise Psychology
  • Historical and Philosophical Foundations
  • Introduction to Psychology I
  • Introduction to Psychology II
  • Unifying Life Processes
  • 1.0 elective credits

Sample Electives

  • Balance, Posture and Gait
  • Neuromuscular Function in Exercise
  • Exercise Nutrition
  • Psychology of Injury Rehabilitation

Concentrations

In your third and fourth year, you may choose to focus your studies in one of four concentration areas including: Athletic Performance and Injury Management; Movement, Health and Development; Physical Activity Education and Promotion; or Sport Development and Management.

Options and Minors

These are a few popular academic opportunities which allow you to dive deeper into your major area of study or broaden your knowledge:

  • Leadership Option
  • Biology Minor
  • Psychology Minor
  • Teaching Option

Check out other options to enhance your degree.

Management Option

The Management Option is for students interested in adding management-specific education to their degree. This is a direct-entry, 4.0-credit option that includes courses covering all the core pillars of business and economics. Apply directly to Kinesiology with Management Option on OUAC.

Teaching Pathway

This is a direct path to the Bachelor of Education program (BEd). Students applying for an honours degree with the Teaching Option will be considered for admission directly into the BEd program. The Teaching Option is designed to prepare you for future studies and a rewarding teaching career.

Admissions

  • Format: full time
  • Duration: four years
  • Start: September (fall term)

Your Career Awaits

Graduates of our program can be found working as occupational and physical therapists, teaching in schools throughout the province, practicing as physicians, chiropractors and registered kinesiologists, following careers in sports administration, in personal fitness training or as first responders, or building businesses for themselves.

Sample Career Options

Note: Additional training and education may be required.

  • activities/athletics director
  • biomechanical engineer
  • coach/assistant
  • exercise physiologist
  • fitness/athletic trainer
  • sports marketing
  • nutritionist/dietitian
  • firefighter, paramedic, police officer

Explore more careers.

Support After Graduation

Alumni for life means that you have access to Career and Employment Support offered at Laurier for your entire career.

Your Co-op Experience

Co-op is a way to integrate what you are learning in the classroom with practical experience in your field of study. Build your resume, earn money, develop your network, and graduate with work experience.

You can apply for admission to co-op in your first year and may be eligible for an admission interview early in your second year. As a student in this program, you will be eligible to complete paid work terms lasting 12 to 16 weeks.

Interested? Learn more about co-op.

verticalCenterFlex

98%employment rate for co‑op students – 2023 / 2024

student-business-lecture-banner.jpg

Tuition and Scholarships

Getting a university education is an investment in your future.

At Laurier, we take financial health seriously by providing a wide variety of funding opportunities for you throughout your degree, such as scholarships and bursaries, and by equipping you with the skills to manage your finances effectively in the years to come.

 

Laurier is among the top 6 percent in the Global 2000 World University Ranking

 

Laurier students engaged in hands-on learning in 2023

 

Laurier graduates employed or in post-graduate studies in 2023

Waterloo Campus

The Waterloo campus is tucked into about one city block, so you’re steps away from your classes, food and your new favourite study spot.

There are many ways to tour our Waterloo campus, whether that's on a guided tour with one of our Laurier student ambassadors, on your own using virtual reality, or even on-demand through one of our pre-recorded tours. See our campus spaces and start to picture yourself at Laurier.

Chat with Current Students

Want to know what it’s really like to be in this program? U Community is our Discord server where future Golden Hawks like you can connect with current students to get their first-hand stories and tips on living and learning at Laurier.

Connect with Us

Questions? Email chooselaurier@wlu.ca, call 548.889.8888 or see all contact information.


You Belong Here

Think this program might be the perfect fit for you and your future?