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2024-2025 Academic Calendar | York University Faculty of Graduate Studies

Kinesiology & Health Science

Posted on 17 August 2022

All Programs

LocationEmail AddressProgram Website
341 Norman Bethune Collegekahs@yorku.cayorku.ca/gradstudies/kahs/

The Graduate Program in Kinesiology & Health Science offers courses, research and professional training leading to a Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MSc), Master of Fitness Science (MFSc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees.

Our master’s and doctoral research degree programs prepare students for advanced study in the following areas of specialization:

  • Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology
  • Neuroscience and Biomechanics;
  • Health and Fitness Behaviours and,
  • Socio-cultural and Policy Studies in Sport and Physical Activity.

Areas of Research

MA, MSc, MFSc and PhD
The Graduate Program in Kinesiology & Health Science offers courses, research training and professional training leading to MA, MSc, MFSc and PhD degrees. Choice of the MA or MSc for the research degree is determined by the background of the student, the research focus of the supervisor and the choice of courses. The non-thesis MFSc degree involves coursework and an extensive practical experience to prepare students for a variety of professional careers. The PhD degree is research intensive in the areas of specialization offered. The program offers opportunities for advanced study for students from areas such as kinesiology, biology, physiology, anatomy, neuroscience, psychology, biomechanics, ergonomics, epidemiology, and socio-cultural and policy studies.

Research Facilities

The program’s research areas are supported by well‑equipped laboratories in which students carry out their research. Equipment in the laboratories studying the integrative physiology of exercise include centrifuges, spectrophotometers, a large molecular biology facility, DNA sequencing access, dark‑ and cold-rooms, cell culture facilities, equipment for the study of in vivo muscle function and biochemistry, thermal cyclers, and electrophoresis equipment. Laboratories studying health and fitness behaviours have oxygen and carbon dioxide analysers, gas mass spectrometers, acid‑base status, cycle ergometers, treadmills, and equipment for cardiovascular reactivity testing. Laboratories studying neural and biomechanical movement control have equipment for recording mechanical and electrical properties of muscle, event‑related brain potentials, eye and limb motion tracking, force/torque transducers, workplace simulation, single‑cell neural activity, and transcranial magnetic stimulation effects. In addition, faculty members have access to brain imaging facilities at both the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children and the John P. Robarts Research Institute. Facilities are also available at the University Health Network, (Toronto General Hospital and Toronto Western Hospital Sites), and Cancer Care Ontario. Many faculty members and graduate students also participate in interdisciplinary and collaborative research activities within Faculty and University affiliated Organized Research Units. All students have available to them computers with statistical and word processing software, as well as internet and email access. The Scott Library and Steacie Science Library, which house extensive collections of journals and books, are located on York University’s Keele campus.

Research Strengths

General areas of faculty interest are listed below, grouped by the four fields of research. The specific interests of each faculty member are listed on the program webpage. Students must have the consent of a supervising faculty member with whom they will work closely and faculty members should be contacted directly for details about their research.

  • cardiovascular, neuromuscular and molecular muscle physiology
  • respiratory, exercise physiology
  • thermal regulation
  • endocrinology and metabolism
  • vascular biology, cell signalling
  • neuromotor control, eye-hand coordination
  • visual perception, attention, sensorimotor integration
  • molecular neuroscience
  • ergonomics, occupational biomechanics
  • biomechanics of disease and injury
  • health psychology (eating disorders, behavioural cardiology, pain and aging, cancer prevention and treatment, health messaging)
  • epidemiology (physical activity and fitness, childhood injuries, chronic disease and aging, maternal and child health, Indigenous health)
  • biostatistical methods
  • rehabilitation of clinical populations
  • physical activity, recreation, sport and health across the lifespan
  • nutrition policy, interventions and health
  • aging, health, and wellness
  • socio-cultural study of sport, health and physical activity
  • policy studies of sport and physical activity
  • physical cultural studies

Admission Requirements

MA / MSc

MFSc

PhD

Master of Arts Program / Master of Science Program

Application Procedure

Applications are available in October each year. When completing the online Graduate Application, applicants must select Fall for the start date. This program does not accept applications for Winter or Spring/Summer. Online applications must be submitted to Graduate Admissions at York University by the deadline posted on the website. All additional required documentation may be uploaded after the deadline. Application files are not reviewed until all required documents are received (i.e., transcript(s), references, c.v.s, statements of interest, online preferred supervisor forms). Review the “How to Apply” and “Complete Application” details on the graduate program’s webpage. Offers of admission begin in March each year. Website and online application package: yorku.ca/gradstudies/kahs/.

Applicants are encouraged to contact members of the graduate faculty directly for details about their research and specific interests before submitting an application.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies, a student must be a graduate of a recognized university, with at least a B+ standing in the last two years of study, or with qualifications accepted as equivalent by the Senate Committee on Admissions. In addition, students must have a strong background in one or more of these areas: physiology, psychology, neuroscience, biomechanics, biochemistry, epidemiology, molecular biology, socio-cultural and public policy, depending on their area of interest. The Kinesiology & Health Science Graduate Committee will review the candidate’s application and make recommendations to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Applicants who cannot present an honours degree or its equivalent may be required to complete a makeup year at the undergraduate level with the supervisor’s guidance. Please note that successful completion of a makeup year does not guarantee admission to the graduate program.

Master of Fitness Science Program

The non-thesis Master of Fitness Science (MFSc) degree involves coursework and an extensive practical experience to prepare students for a variety of professional careers including health promotion, sport and occupational fitness applications and exercise management for persons with chronic diseases or disabilities.

Doctor of Philosophy Program

Application Procedure

Applications are available in October each year. When completing the online Graduate Application, applicants must select Fall for the start date. This program does not accept applications for Winter or Spring/Summer. Online applications must be submitted to Graduate Admissions at York University by the deadline posted on the website. All additional required documentation may be uploaded after the deadline. Application files are not reviewed until all required documents are received (i.e., transcript(s), references, c.v.s, statements of interest, online preferred supervisor forms). Review the “How to Apply” and “Complete Application” details on the graduate program’s webpage. Offers of admission begin in March each year. Website and online application package: yorku.ca/gradstudies/kahs/.

Applicants are encouraged to contact members of the graduate faculty directly for details about their research and specific interests before submitting an application.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the doctoral program, applicants shall have: 1) at least a B+ standing in their last two years of study, 2) completed courses equivalent to those required for the current MSc/MA thesis degree in Kinesiology & Health Science at York, 3) a faculty member available for supervision and 4) been assessed as suitable for PhD level study by the Kinesiology & Health Science Graduate Executive Committee. The latter decision shall be based on such evidence as letters of reference, the applicant’s written statement and the applicant’s research and academic record. If the candidate is admitted with specified academic deficits, these shall be made up in the first year of doctoral study and shall not count towards required courses for the PhD.

Degree Requirements

Master of Arts Program / Master of Science Program

Subject to the supervisor’s approval, candidates for the research thesis MA and MSc degrees are required to complete the following:
a) one of either Kinesiology & Health Science 6010 3.0 or 6020 3.0,
b) graduate seminar (Kinesiology & Health Science 6210 3.0),
c) one practicum (Kinesiology & Health Science 5400 3.0),
d) two half course electives from within the Kinesiology and Health Science graduate course offerings,
e) one of either a second practicum (Kinesiology & Health Science 5410 3.0) or an elective graduate half course, as specified by the supervisor, and,
f) a thesis or research paper that demonstrates independence, originality, and advanced understanding of the area of study. After formal submission of the thesis, it is examined according to Faculty of Graduate Studies guidelines.

The research thesis practica, Kinesiology & Health Science 5400 3.0 and 5410 3.0, each involve 10 hours per week for 12 weeks, normally taken in the first year of study. Practicum work is limited to the training necessary for students to carry out their thesis research successfully, and may involve such activities as library research, conducting and assisting in experiments, data analysis and the preparation of written reports.

Students choosing the research paper option (available only in exceptional circumstances) also must take one additional half course that is relevant to the course of study, selected in consultation with the student’s supervisor.

Program Entry

The MA and MSc programs can be completed on a full-time basis. Entry is fall term.

Program Length

The expected degree completion time for full-time master’s students is 6 terms. For those students who complete degree requirements earlier than 3 terms, they must register and pay fees for a minimum of the equivalent of 3 terms of full-time study. All requirements for a master’s degree must be fulfilled within 12 terms (4 years) of registration as a full-time or part-time master’s student in accordance with Faculty of Graduate Studies’ registration policies.

Master of Fitness Science Program

Candidates for the MFSc degree are required to complete the following:
a) one of either Univariate (Kinesiology & Health Science 6010 3.0) or Multivariate (Kinesiology & Health Science 6020 3.0) Statistics;
b) two Practica (Kinesiology & Health Science 5400 3.0 and Kinesiology & Health Science 5410 3.0);
c) four half course electives from within the Graduate Program in Kinesiology & Health Science’s course offerings; and,
d) submit a written paper to the student’s supervisor.

Program Entry

The MFSc program can be completed on a full-time basis. Entry is fall term.

Program Length

The expected degree completion time for full-time Master of Fitness Science students is 4 terms (full-time) or 8 terms (part-time). Students must register and pay fees for a minimum of the equivalent of 4 terms of full-time study. All requirements for a master’s degree must be fulfilled within 12 terms (4 years) of registration as a full-time or part-time master’s student in accordance with Faculty of Graduate Studies’ registration policies.

Doctor of Philosophy Program

All candidates for the PhD degree program must fulfil the following requirements:

Courses 

a) Students shall complete Kinesiology & Health Science 7200 3.0 and 7210 3.0: PhD Graduate Seminars and their own Dissertation Research; and at least two half courses at the 6000 level. If the student has been awarded a master’s degree from Kinesiology & Health Science at York University, or has been internally promoted from the master’s into the PhD program, then these courses can either be from within or outside the Kinesiology & Health Science program.

In all other cases, at least one course must be from within the Kinesiology & Health Science program. The selection of elective courses shall be approved by the supervisor and supervisory committee. Additional course(s) may be taken as required by the supervisor and supervisory committee. Candidates must demonstrate to their supervisory committee a satisfactory knowledge of statistical and/or computational techniques insofar as these techniques are deemed necessary for the conduct of their research.

b) Within 12 months (3 terms of registration) of entering the PhD program, the supervisory committee shall be formed and the student shall submit to the graduate program office an outline of the required and elective course work to be completed prior to graduation. The required and elective course work shall be determined by the supervisor in consultation with the student. Notwithstanding the 12-month time period mentioned above, the expectation is that students will enrol in courses prior to this deadline.

c) Students shall complete Kinesiology & Health Science 7200 3.0 and 7210 3.0: Graduate Seminars by attending scheduled colloquia and seminars during the first two years of their studies. The courses shall be graded on a pass/fail basis by the faculty member responsible for the seminar series. The content shall include visiting speakers, faculty and student presentations, as well as topics such as ethics, job preparedness, grant applications, and career options. Students shall give a presentation on their research at least twice during their tenure in the program, once during the proposal stage of their research and once at a later stage. These presentations shall be taken into account by the supervisory committee when assessing research progress in their Dissertation Research.

Comprehensive Examination and Dissertation Proposal  

The PhD comprehensive examination involves an in-depth review of two cognate topics and the dissertation grant proposal. Its purpose is to determine whether the student has sufficient mastery of the areas to continue in the graduate program. The first stage will be the cognate topics and the second stage will be the dissertation grant proposal.

STAGE 1: Cognate Topics shall be chosen so as to contribute to the student’s overall knowledge of their area of specialization, without being directly related to the dissertation proposal. Two cognate topics are determined by and must be approved by the doctoral dissertation supervisor and two Kinesiology & Health Science faculty members who are familiar with the topic areas (normally supervisory committee members). Candidates must be provided with a minimal reading list from the members. The cognate topic papers are intended to be an outline for examining the candidate rather than a comprehensive review. The expectation is that the papers take no more than three months to complete. Examination will normally occur within 4 terms of registration in the PhD program. Students who do not meet this deadline will be put on academic probation for term five. Failure to meet requirement after term five will result in withdrawal from the Graduate Program for failure to meet academic standards. The duration of the examination shall be no more than two hours, and it shall follow standard oral examination procedure.

STAGE 2: Dissertation Grant Proposal enables the student to clarify the rationale and strategy for approaching the subject and permits members of the doctoral dissertation supervisory committee to provide advice to the student. The student may work in consultation with the supervisor in preparing the proposal. The proposal is written in the format of a grant application. Examination will normally occur within six terms of registration in the PhD program. Students who do not meet this deadline will be put on academic probation for term seven. Failure to meet requirements after term seven may result in withdrawal from the program for failure to meet academic standards. The duration of the examination shall be no more than two hours, and it shall follow standard dissertation defence procedure.

Student Evaluation and Graduation Criteria 

Progress shall be evaluated by means of the Student Progress and Evaluation Form in accordance with the “Graduate Student Evaluation” section of the current program regulations. In addition to maintaining satisfactory evaluations throughout the course of study, the student shall submit and defend a dissertation based on research which demonstrates their independence, originality and understanding of the area of study at an advanced level. By the time of the defence, there is the strong expectation that the student will have had accepted for publication in a peer‑reviewed journal at least one principal-authored manuscript stemming from their PhD research.

Program Entry

The PhD program can be completed on a full-time basis. Entry is fall term.

Program Length

Normal degree completion time for full-time PhD students is 12 terms (4 years). Doctor of Philosophy students must register and pay fees for a minimum of the equivalent of six terms of full-time registration. All requirements for a doctoral degree must be fulfilled within 18 terms (6 years) of registration as a full-time or part-time doctoral student in accordance with Faculty of Graduate Studies’ registration policies.