Master of Science in Kinesiology (MSc)
As a student in the Master of Science in Kinesiology program, you have an opportunity to create original research and work with expert researchers. For a brief look at the program, see the Master of Science in Kinesiology program overview or see at-a-glance the important deadlines and a checklist (PDF) of what you will need to complete your degree.
MSc program details
Typically it takes two years of full-time study, four years maximum, to complete the MSc program. During the course of your degree, you are encouraged to present your work at one or more national conferences specific to your field of study. Funding support is available to attend conferences.
Find a supervisor
Secure a supervisor with similar interests to oversee your research and the development of your thesis.
Take courses
Complete two graduate level courses, though more may be required at the discretion of the supervisory committee. See details below.
Research proposal
Prepare a research proposal in a standard format early in the program. The document will be critically reviewed by the supervisory committee.
Write a thesis
Write a Master’s thesis and successfully defend it during an oral exam. See the thesis handbook for the details.
Courses for a thesis-based degree
Contact your graduate supervisor to determine which courses to register for.
Required courses
- One graduate-level 3 credit course in Research Methods (KNES 611 - Research Methods and Design in Sport and Fitness).
- One graduate-level 3 credit course in Analysis (either KNES 609 – Statistical Techniques in Kinesiology or KNES 610 – Qualitative Research Analysis).
If you and your supervisor want you to take an equivalent course instead of one of the required courses, contact the Graduate Coordinator (knesgrad@ucalgary.ca) to request approval. If that course is in another Faculty, also see the section below on taking courses in other Faculties.
The Graduate Supervisor/Supervisory Committee may require additional coursework in your area of research.
Thesis-based students may take a maximum of one half-course at the 500-level to meet course requirements. Only one special topics or directed study (603/703, 604/704) can be used to meet the course requirements. Special topics courses cannot be used in lieu of required courses.
Taking courses in other faculties
If you would like to take a course in another Faculty, or a course at the undergraduate level, you must do the following:
- fill out a Change of Course (PDF) registration form
- have the form initialed by the course instructor and signed by your supervisor
- submit the form to the Office of the Associate Dean (Graduate) for approval at knesgrad@ucalgary.ca
*Please note, as a graduate you may have to pay additional tuition for taking undergraduate level courses.
Thesis exam requirements to graduate
You must prepare for the exams weeks in advance. Review what you will need to do to be ready for your thesis and to graduate.
A form entitled Notice of Masters Thesis Oral Examination is prepared by the Office of the Associate Dean (Graduate). Information for this form MUST be submitted to the Office of the Associate Dean (Graduate) at least six weeks before the scheduled date of the examination.
Information required:
- Date, time and location of examination
- MSc thesis title
- Specialization
- Committee composition
The committee composition is (normally) as follows:
- Neutral Chairperson – Appointed by the Office of the Associate Dean (Graduate) (Non-Voting Member of Examining Committee)
- Supervisor
- Supervisory Committee Member
- Supervisory Committee Member
- Internal Examiner -a UCalgary faculty member outside Kinesiology who meets criteria below
The "Internal" External criteria:
- well-established research reputation
- expertise in the area of the student's research
- experience in evaluating theses at the graduate level
- experience in supervising to completion at the graduate level
- Is not a close personal friend of the Supervisor
- has not collaborated with the supervisor in the last five years
- is not related to the student, and has not worked with the student
- The thesis must be distributed by the student and received by each examiner no less than 21 days before the oral examination date. This deadline is extremely important. cc knesgrad@ucalgary.ca when you distribute your thesis to your committee.
- The 'Examiner's Report on Thesis' will be sent to the examiners after Faculty of Graduate Studies has approved the examination. This is the report on which each examiner will complete his/her written report of the thesis.
- Review the processes and forms required to submit the thesis to the Faculty of Graduate Studies: Electronic Submission Thesis Forms.
- Apply to graduate (the Application for Degree is on your Student Centre) by the deadlines
- Submit your dissertation and all required forms* to the Faculty of Graduate Studies by the deadlines
Please note: The Thesis Approval Form must be signed by the entire examining committee, and the Notice of Completion form must be signed by the supervisor and the Associate Dean Graduate. Leave yourself enough time to get these signatures. We recommend submitting forms to knesgrad@ucalgary.ca for Associate Dean Graduate approval no less than 2 business days prior to the deadline.
So you do not pay fees for the next term, all program requirements must be completed by the next term's registration deadline. This includes defending, revisions and submitting required paperwork to the Faculty of Graduate Studies.