Updated July 14, 2021
Practicums were a valuable, hands-on experience that allowed me to connect all the classroom learning with practical skills. Picking diverse placements allowed me to figure out what population I work best with and what my interests are.
Naomi Brown
Bachelor of Kinesiology
Gain course credits and professional unpaid work experience by taking a practicum. It's a great way to gain insight into a potential career path and start building a professional network before you graduate. Browse more than 80 practicums listed below. Kinesiology students can complete up to three different practicum positions: KNES 441 (Practicum A), KNES 443 (Practicum B), and KNES 445 (Practicum C).
Begin exploring your career options now.
The following steps are required to enroll in KNES 441, 443 or 445 practicum courses.
Review the list of practicums below, and ensure you meet the position criteria. Next, contact the on-site supervisor listed in the position description to arrange for an interview. Make sure to introduce yourself, and include a couple of sentences as to why you're interested in the position.
For the interview, bring a current resume, your term schedule and the practicum application with the student portion completed. If you're the successful candidate, the supervisor will complete their portion of the application form and return it to you.
Once you and the on-site supervisor complete the application form, submit the application along with any necessary documentation to knespracticum@ucalgary.ca by the stated deadline. Watch your UCalgary email for important next steps.
Contact the on-site supervisor starting in July.
Application and documents deadline is noon on Sept 3.
Complete 5 - 6 hours per week within the term.
Contact the on-site supervisor starting in early October.
Application and documents deadline is noon on January 7.
Complete 5-6 hours per week within the term.
Contact the on-site supervisor in late February.
Application and documents deadline is noon on April 22.
Complete 10 - 12 hours per week within the term.
The kinesiology advisors must register you in the practicum course once your completed application is submit and approved by the advising office. Late applications will not be accepted. Contact us.
"For me, as a student, with my life so structured, I felt so free and I enjoyed being with the kids, because you get to be a kid yourself. We taught kids how to move and introduced some fundamental movement skills into their lives. I made lesson plans every week based on what the kids enjoyed."
Nimra Ali - Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with Distinction
Company: University of Calgary Active Living: Adapted Physical Activity for Kids (APAK) and Kid’s Adapted Climbing Series (KACS).
Terms: Fall or Winter
Program for children 4-14 years old with special needs to gain independence and health benefits.
Company: Stepping Out Program run by the Autism Aspergers Friendship Society (AAFS).
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
A recreation program for people on the Autism Spectrum.
Company: Connect Society Early Childhood Services, Belvedere Parkway Elementary School.
Terms: TBD Winter or Spring
The program encourages a child’s whole development with emphasis on speech /language skills.
Company: Just Keep Swimming, located at Crowfoot YMCA
Terms: Fall or Winter
Assist children with mild to moderate neurological and development disabilities to become comfortable in the water and ultimately swim confidently.
Company: Monkeynastix
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Provides fun and challenging physical literacy lessons at preschools, daycares and after school programs around Calgary.
Company: Getting Ready for Inclusion Today (GRIT)
Terms: Fall or Winter
Individualized early childhood education program for preschool children with disabilities.
Organization: SMILE Therapy for Kids
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Under supervision, students will support direct treatment intervention models resulting in fast-paced and jam-packed treatment sessions. Therapists have been trained and are able to provide a multitude of therapies which include Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI), TheraTogs, Spider Cage, Vestibular Rehabilitation, Full Body Vibration, and Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) along with traditional physiotherapy and occupational therapy.
Also see the Physiotherapy section for physiotherapy/chiropractic positions.
Company: Balanced Health and Sports Therapy.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Family and sports-oriented clinic specializes in the multi-treatment approach for managing/preventing musculoskeletal injuries.
Company: The Vital Posture™ Clinic – National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA).
Terms: Fall or Winter
Restore the appropriate biomechanical and positional relationship between the head and neck.
Company: Calgary West Osteopathic Wellness (WOW) Centre.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Uses a drug-free non-invasive manual medicine for total body health by treating and strengthening the musculoskeletal framework.
"In my Human Performance Lab (HPL) practicum with the Exercise Physiology MEGA lab, I supervised the collection of physiological and affective data during participant visits and maximal exercise testing sessions. I learned a great deal during my placement here as I got to see the science we discuss in KNES 373 and other exercise physiology courses come to life. I enjoyed this experience so much that I became a summer student and an Honours student in the MEEP lab and have had opportunities to work on other interesting and innovative projects. I definitely recommend all kinesiology students to look into a taking a practicum not only for the work experience, but for the growth that comes alongside!"
Timi Ajayi - Human Performance Lab, Exercise and Aging Lab practicum
Company: Human Performance Lab (HPL), Exercise and Aging Lab
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Group investigates human responses to acute and chronic exercise.
Company: Canadian Sport Institute (CSI) Calgary.
Terms: Fall or Spring
Pre-screen and test athletes/test participants in the Sport Performance Lab.
Company: Clinical & Transitional Exercise Physiology (CTEP) Lab.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Fostering a healthier Canada by advancing the field of exercise physiology for the prevention and management of disease.
Company: TCR Sport Lab.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Applied testing and training centre for the general public using advanced equipment.
Company: Calgary Fire Department, Wellness Clinic.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Occupational medicine and team approach to proactive screening and physiological testing.
Company: Copeman Healthcare Canada Inc.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Complete health care including screenings and disease prevention programs.
Company: Ever Active Schools.
Terms: Fall only
Assists schools in Alberta to create and sustain healthy school communities.
Company: Shell Canada
Terms: Fall only
Help to create, implement and evaluate a physical activity challenge for Shell Canada employees.
Company: Kids Cancer Care (KCC).
Terms: Fall or Winter
Charity that helps build bridges of hope and pillars of support for families fighting childhood cancer.
Company: Heart & Stroke Foundation, Jump Rope for Life
Terms: Winter only
Promote heart health to children and youth through Jump Rope for Heart.
Company: University of Calgary Dinos Athletics
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Communicating the successes of 22 varsity teams and the athletes competing in 12 sports.
Company: NSTEP (Nutrition, students, teachers, exercising and parents).
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Creates, develops and implements interactive nutrition and physical activity programs for children and communities.
Company: Healthy Dancer Canada (HDC)
Terms: Fall or Winter
Organization committed to enhancing the health, well-being, and performance of all dancers.
Company: INLIV
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Delivers premium corporate, executive and personal health services.
Company: United Active Living.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Develop and implement programs and services supporting residents for “Live Well in Our Community.”
Company: Alberta Hip and Knee Clinic.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Provide treatment options and follow up care for people with hip and knee concerns.
Company: Association for the Rehabilitation of the Brain Injured (ARBI).
Terms: Fall or Winter
Rehabilitation & recreation programming for those with moderate to severe acquired brain injury including strokes.
Company: University of Calgary Rehabilitation and Fitness Program.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Provides those with physical disabilities the opportunity to continue their rehab and fitness goals in a community setting.
Company: Association for the Rehabilitation of the Brain Injured (ARBI).
Terms: Fall or Winter
Rehab programming for individuals with moderate to severe acquired brain injury including strokes.
Company: Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Alberta.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Provides support, service, information and advocacy to Albertans with spinal cord injuries and other physical disabilities.
Company: Renfrew Educational Services.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Offers early childhood services and elementary education programs for children with special needs.
Company: University of Calgary, Staff Wellness
Terms: Winter only
Ergonomics for employees ensuring a safe and comfortable work place.
Company: Providence Children
Terms: Fall or Winter
Provides educational and therapeutic services to preschool aged children with disabilities.
Company: Lead Foundation.
Terms: Winter only
Work with children (and their families) who have mild speech, motor, or behavior delays, to those with more complex challenges, including Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Company: Bethany Care Foundation.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Helps those in long-term care reach health goals.
"I helped with the planning of workouts and lead sessions with one of the teams. I learned how to program sport-specific exercises and taught them to a broad range of athletes. I gained organizational skills even with small things like the structure of a workout, but the most important outcome of my placement was the leadership experience I got from leading and interacting with athletes my age or younger, and having them rely on me as an expert."
Timi Ajayi - Vergie Speed Practicum
Company: University of Calgary Centre for Video & Performance Analysis (CVPA) and Canadian Sport Institute (CSI) Calgary
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Works to implement technologies for use with elite/Olympic athletes.
Company: Special Olympics Calgary.
Terms: Winter or Spring
Provides competitive and non-competitive sport and recreation programs year around for individuals with an intellectual disability.
Company: Canadian Sport Institute (CSI) Calgary.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Observe and provide feedback for training and competitive sport environment.
Company: Calgary Seawolves Polo Club.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Offers introductory water polo to new athletes ages 6-17 and trains experienced athletes at a basic level through high school.
Organization: Alberta Amateur Speed Skating Association (AASSA)
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
To review and edit previously recorded dryland training sessions to create concise and effective files for coaching purposes.
Company: Brain in Motion II Study, University of Calgary
Terms: Fall or Winter
Aerobic exercise for older adults at increased risk of alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
*Please note, this study is not accepting students at this time.
Company: Calgary JCC, recreation centre.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Non for profit recreation center that serves Calgary’s southwest community.
Company: University of Calgary, TrymGym.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Eight-week exercise program for clients, two one-hour sessions per week.
Company: Edge School for Athletes/Duckett Performance Centre
Terms: Fall or Winter
Develops excellence in athletics, academics and character building.
Company: Ironside Fitness Inc.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Fitness, wellness and nutrition training centre.
Company: Crash Conditioning.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Develops elite hockey players from bantam age through to professional levels.
Company: Calgary Flames.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Administer training plan for Calgary Flames National Hockey League Club.
Company: ORKA Performance.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
We train a wide variety of athletes, all at different levels in their careers.
Company: RAW Sports.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Develop youth football players and prepare them to compete effectively in their respective league.
Company: University of Calgary Swim Club.
Terms: Fall or Winter
A top competitive swim team offering high quality professional coaching for all ages and abilities.
Company: Vergie Speed.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Develops speed and power for hockey, soccer, basketball, ringette, volleyball and football athletes.
Company: Peak Power Sport Development.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Located at SAIT and designed for athletic training and scientific testing.
Company: The Strength Guys Inc.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Support coaching of drug-free powerlifters at the national and international level, including multiple IPF World & National Champions.
“My physiotherapy practicum experience enriched my understanding of what physiotherapists really do! There are boundless opportunities to work with patients, conduct research with colleagues, work in private clinics or elsewhere, and even educate the upcoming generation of healthcare workers. I am truly grateful for the mentorship and guidance I received during my practicum!”
- Janelle Wai, BSc. Kinesiology with First Class Honours 2021
Company: Ultimate Wheelchair Sports Foundation.
Terms: Winter only
Provide adaptive sport for people with disabilities.
Company: Fortius Rehabilitation Systems.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Prescription, application, supervision and education of patients’ therapeutic exercise programs.
Company: Innovative Sport Medicine (with Momentum Health).
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Provide effective diagnosis, comprehensive injury management and return to full function.
Company: TotalCardiology Rehabilitation and Risk Reduction Centre.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Promote heart healthy behaviours with education, counseling and intervention.
Company: Active Sports Therapy (AST).
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Treat and prevent sports injuries, repetitive strain disorders and conditions involving the joints and soft tissues.
Company: Coach Hill Chiropractic & Sports Therapy.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Alleviate symptoms, reduce pain and optimize biomechanics and function.
Company: CBI Health Group.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Provide physical therapy, neck or back pain therapy, and muscular-skeletal injury, rehab and work-injury management solutions.
Company: Country Hills Physiotherapy.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Provides physiotherapy and kinesiology services to patients.
Position description & application (PDF)
Company: Equus Physiotherapy.
Terms: Spring only
Assess, diagnose and treat injuries, dysfunctions and asymmetries.
Company: Lifemark Health Group.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Provides physiotherapy, massage therapy and other healthcare services.
Company: Momentum Health.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Company: Caleo Health.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Back and spine care.
Company: Ranchlands Physiotherapy.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Provide customized rehabilitative programs.
Company: Diverse Sports Physical Therapy.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Multidisciplinary clinic that sees a wide population of varied treatment groups.
Company: Advantage Health Aspen - ptHealth.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Provide customized rehabilitative programs.
Company: Beacon Hill Physiotherapy & Sports Medicine.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Provide a variety of rehabilitative programs.
Company: Sport Medicine Centre, University of Calgary.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Company: Calgary Youth Physiotherapy (CYP).
Terms: Fall or Winter
Company: Crowfoot Physiotherapy.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Multidisciplinary clinic with a wide variety of skills and areas of expertise in rehabilitation.
Company: Maximum Potential Physiotherapy - ptHealth
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Provides customized rehabilitative programs.
Company: Bow View Manor.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Provides physiotherapy services at a long term care facility for seniors.
Position description & application (PDF)
Company: Alberta Orthotic and Prosthetic Centre (AOPC).
Terms: Fall or Winter
Company: JointEffort Program/GLA:D Program at University of Calgary.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Specialized pre & post rehab program for individuals with hip and or knee osteoarthritis.
Position description & application (PDF)
“I completed a research assistant practicum in my third year of Kinesiology. This practicum proved to be a strong starting point for building my research skills and applying my Kinesiology degree. Having practicum evaluations done by my supervisor throughout the term allowed me to identify areas for improvement in that specific setting and to foster a growth mindset to achieve future success. My practicum gave me the opportunity to expand my network and cultivate future opportunities in academia (i.e. completing my honours in my last year with the same supervisor and having an amazing mentor to provide a reference for graduate school).”
Conné Lategan - Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology First Class Honours 2019
Company: Sport Insight, Human Performance Lab (HPL)
Terms: Fall or Winter
Company: University of Calgary Department of Clinical Neurosciences, McCaig Institute.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Work with Dr. Ranita Manocha who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation.
Company: University of Calgary, Health and Wellness Lab, Faculty of Kinesiology.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Need some advice on practicum placements? Contact us at knespracticum@ucalgary.ca
