Human Kinetics Department

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This survey course provides students with an overview of the study of human movement. Topics include physical activity, physical fitness, health, sport and exercise psychology, motor learning and control, biomechanics, ergonomics, sociology, history, gender, race, ethics, and philosophy. Students will learn reading, writing and analytic skills in class and through their lab work. Three credits and lab.

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This course provides an introduction to the basic concepts and principles of sport and exercise psychology. Topics include a variety of psychological constructs and theories (e.g., personality, motivation, anxiety, diversity, group dynamics) and how they apply to teaching/consulting, health care, coaching, and fitness instruction. Credit will be granted for only one of HKIN 136 or HKIN 236. Three credits and lab.

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This course serves as an introduction to sport in the humanities. Students will learn about the philosophical, historical, and socio-cultural dimensions of sport. Issues and themes to be explored include the historical conceptualization of sport, the significance of sport, knowledge in sport, excellence in sport, the beauty of sport, and sport culture. Credit will be granted for only one of HKIN 150 or HKIN 250. Students take HKIN 150 or 154, not both. Restricted to first year HKIN students. Three credits.

This course will introduce students to some of the main themes, topics and issues in the ethics of sport. The course is designed to provide an introduction and critical analysis of classic and contemporary readings in the ethics of sport. We will explore issues such as fair play and cheating, doping, equity and gender, the use of animals in sport, violence, and disability. Credit will be granted for only one of HKIN 154 or HKIN 254. Students take HKIN 154 or HKIN 150, not both. Restricted to first year HKIN students. Three credits.

The human body operates by the intricate coordination of multiple systems. Each has a purpose and is regulated at the cellular, tissue, and organ levels. The focus of this course is to understand the organization and function of major bodily systems. Individual and combined functions will be outlined for the neuromuscular, cardiovascular, respiratory, urinary, digestive, lymphatic, endocrine, and reproductive systems. Students will explore these concepts in complementary laboratory activities. Credit will be granted for only one of HKIN 161, HKIN 151/152, BIOL 151/152 or 251/252. Three credits and lab.

The human body operates by the intricate coordination of multiple systems. Each has a purpose and is regulated at the cellular, tissue, and organ levels. The focus of this course is to understand the structure and organization of musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, lymphatic, urinary, reproductive, and endocrine structures. Students will explore these concepts in both lecture and laboratory settings. Credit will be granted for only one of HKIN 162, HKIN 151/152, BIOL 151/152 or 251/252. Three credits and lab.

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This course offers a general understanding of skilled motor performance with a specific focus on behaviour. Part I examines the motor system’s control of movement through an information-processing lens, while Part II explores the processes of motor learning and the acquisition of skills through practice. This course is highly relevant to students interested in rehabilitation, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. Three credits and lab.

A study of the injuries that occur in popular physical activities, including the nature, course, prevention, and non-medical management of these injuries. Prerequisite: HKIN 161/162 or BIOL 251 or HKIN 151. Three credits and lab.

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This course will guide students through the health-related aspects of exercise, physical activity, and physical fitness from the perspective of epidemiology. Emphasis will be placed on critical analysis of primary research that evaluates the use of physical activity promotion methods in the context of common chronic diseases (e.g. obesity, cardiovascular disease). Discussion will focus on the impact of health-research and epidemiologic trends on public health guidelines. Prerequisites: HKIN 161/162 or HKIN 151/152. Three credits.

This course will further students’ understanding of musculoskeletal anatomy and examine how anatomical structures work together to support movement and joint stability. Emphasis is placed on interactions among bones, ligaments, muscles, and neural control systems, and how these relations may change with pathology. Students will develop applied understanding of anatomical structures relevant to human movement. Prerequisites: HKIN 161, 162. Three credits.

An introduction to using sociological theories and concepts to analyze sport in Canada and globally. By contextualizing sporting practices, the course challenges dominant ideas about sport’s role in society and considers how intersecting social structures and identities produce diverse outcomes and lived experiences in sport. Topics include social class, gender and sexuality, race, athletic labour, and deviance within sport cultures. Credit will be granted for only one of HKIN 264 or HKIN 331. Three credits.

An introduction to the acute and chronic physiological responses and adaptations of the neuromuscular, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems to the challenges to homeostasis imposed by muscular activity. Credit will be granted for only one of HKIN 265 or HKIN 365 or HKIN 398 (2019-2020). Prerequisites: HKIN 161/162 or 151/152 or BIOL 251/252. Three credits and lab.

This course introduces the concepts of dynamic development and maintenance of a group. In addition, principles of optimal group functioning and teamwork will be reviewed. Course topics include group development, norms, roles, cohesion, communication, leadership and teamwork. The application of such topics to sport, exercise, and occupations settings (e.g. health care) will be discussed. Credit will be granted for only one of HKIN 270 and HKIN 271 (2021-2022). Prerequisite: HKIN 136. Three credits.

The topic for 2026-2027 is Anthropology of Sport. Sport captures the minds and money of billions of people every day, the Olympics, World Cup Soccer, American College Football, and Little League World Series. Television, radio, cell phones, internet keep us updated on the latest scores, highlights, and goings on of our favourite and least favourite athletic personalities. Sport will be critically examined through major anthropological categories of race, class, ethnicity, gender, and power. We will be using sport as the focal point with which to examine and compare varying attitudes, institutions, and social dynamics of sport globally. Cross-listed as ANTH 299. Prerequisites: Students must have second year standing or higher. Three credits.

This course includes practical or hands on experiential opportunities encompassing prevention, assessment, and management of athletic injuries on the field and in the clinic. Students will leaven how to prepare for the role of student therapist through a hybrid approach of virtual and hands on learning. Topics include expectations of student therapist and scope of practice, student therapist-athlete relationships, ethics and confidentiality, familiarization of athletic therapy supplies, creation and implementation of emergency response plans, side-line injury management, and practice/game day protocols. Course will begin virtually in mid-August and end with three days in-person on campus. Credit will be granted for only one of HKIN 310 or HKIN 302. Restricted to designated HKIN student therapists. A numerical grade will be granted. Three credits.

The course examines how deficits in information processing manifests as atypical social and motor behaviours across various special populations. Students will analyze the underlying processes of these differences and explore atypical behaviours as neural adaptations. The course aims to foster a clinical mindset centered on neurodiversity and functional adaptation in healthcare. Includes an optional service-learning placement. Prerequisite: HKIN 215. Three credits.

An in-depth study of the assessment and management of athletic injuries. Students will learn proper assessment protocol, advanced assessment techniques, and specialized taping techniques. Prerequisites: HKIN 161/162 or HKIN 151 or BIOL 251; HKIN 222. Three credits.

This course examines foundational principles of rehabilitation across the lifespan and physical activity. Students examine rehabilitation using the World Health Organization framework and apply the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model to understand interactions among health conditions, body systems, activity limitations, participation restrictions, and contextual factors. The course introduces biopsychosocial and social determinants of health approaches relevant to careers in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and other rehabilitation and allied health professions. Credit will be granted for only one of HKIN 325 or HKIN 347. Prerequisites: HKIN 161, 162. Three credits.

Explores the role of women, men, femininity, and masculinity in sport and physical activity from a historical, philosophical, and sociocultural perspectives. This course covers topics like embodiment, objectification, equity, racism, homophobia, politics of difference and identity. Cross-listed as WMGS 332. Three credits.

This course will explore how sport and exercise participation impacts mental health. From a multi disciplinary perspective, students will examine common mental health challenges faced by athletes and exercisers (e.g. eating disorders, performance anxiety), the impact of sport and exercise on mental health, and strategies for promoting positive mental health in sport and exercise. Prerequisite: HKIN 136. Three credits.

In this course, students will explore psychological antecedents and responses to injury in the social psychological context of sport. This includes an examination of psychosocial factors that put athletes at risk of injury, psychological responses to injury, and the role of physical and mental health care professionals when addressing psychological responses to injuries. Prerequisite: HKIN 136. Three credits.

An introduction to exercise program prescription and leadership. Students will learn techniques for prescribing, following, and leading exercise programs; participate in and analyze exercise activities and programs; design and lead group, individual, and periodized exercise programs. Students will be prepared to meet national criteria for recognition as a certified personal trainer. Credit will be granted for only one of HKIN 345 or HKIN 446. Prerequisites: HKIN 161/162 or HKIN 151/152 or BIOL 251/252; HKIN 265. Three credits and lab.

An overview of the sociocultural forces that have shaped physical culture and sport in what is currently Canada. Using colonialism, class, race, gender and more as interpretative lenses, students will examine the complex context and conditions under which individuals, groups, and the state have created, refined, participated in, and given meaning to sport and physical culture. Students will engage with primary sources on a range of topics. Three credits.

An in-depth study of how aging influences exercise capacity, functional performance, and adaptation to training beyond adulthood. The course distinguishes intrinsic biological aging from declines attributable to physical inactivity, and examines how evidence-based exercise training can preserve function, performance, and independence with age. Learning is supported through opportunities for experiential engagement with older adults. Credit will be granted for only one of HKIN 357 or HKIN 398 (2017-2018). Prerequisites: HKIN 161/162 or HKIN 151/152 or BIOL 251/252; HKIN 265. Three credits.

The interplay between imagination and freedom/liberation defines histories of sport. Since the 19th century, sport and sport spaces have informed blueprints for survival and resistance, offering a window to novel realities, and functioning as a transformative technology. This course invites students to consider the movements and narratives that have, historically, inspired radical sport futures. Students will examine stories of segregated leagues, sport myths, and more phenomena to explore the possibilities within the promise of sport. Three credits.

This course examines how ideas of deviant behaviour are constructed, enacted, tolerated, and challenged in and through sport (both recreational and professional); and how sport intersects with the criminal justice system. Students will explore topics such as sport-related violence, the use of performance enhancing drugs, off-field athlete deviance, pain and injury in sport, and the use of sport in crime prevention and prison settings, among others. Prerequisite: HKIN 264. Three credits.

Students will be exposed to the concepts of kinetic analysis of motion through the application of Newton’s Laws. The course will provide the mechanical information necessary to enable the student to objectively criticize any human movement which the student may one day have to teach, coach or ergonomically evaluate. Three credits and lab.

Future educators learn about advocacy, the philosophy and application of inclusion as well as the nature of various physical, intellectual, developmental and emotional disabilities. Students translate theoretical knowledge into practice forming collaborative partnerships with local schools, families and peers, designing individualized education plans and participating in the Motor Activities with X (MAX) applied lab alongside people with disabilities. Credit will be granted for only one of HKIN 385 or HKIN 395. Three credits and lab.

This applied course focuses on clinical research design in the field of disability, health and community rehabilitation. Emphasis is placed on implementation science, barriers and facilitators, as well as the social, behavioural and physical characteristics of diverse populations. Students participate actively in the evidence-based Motor Activities with ‘X’ (MAX) lab to gain community and rehabilitation applied experience with vulnerable populations including autism, Down syndrome, intellectual disability, orthopaedic impairment, mental health, deafness, and rare disorders. Credit granted for only one of HKIN 395 or HKIN 385. Three credits and lab.

An overview of the scientific method of problem solving. The course covers problem identification, hypothesis testing, data collection, and analysis of research findings. A detailed examination of experimental design assists the student in conducting research, writing the proposal and the report, and critically analyzing published literature. Restricted to upper year students; required for third-year honours students. Students can take 396 or 397; not both. Three credits.

An overview of qualitative research methodologies, including the major theories, methods, and approaches (i.e. case studies, content analysis, interviews, observations, and ethnography). Problem identification, literature review analysis, research design, theoretical and empirical analysis, and dissemination are the major focus of this course. Practical experience will be included. Restricted to upper year students; required for third-year honours students. Students can take 397 or 396; not both. Three credits.

The topic for 2026-2027 is Rehabilitation for Movement in Chronic Disease. This course focuses on the application of rehabilitation strategies for individuals with chronic health conditions. Students examine how chronic diseases impact physical function, daily activities, and quality of life. Emphasis is placed on developing critical thinking skills through structured problem-based learning activities, augmented by lectures and applied experiences. Students will integrate knowledge and skills in the development and evaluation of patient-centered, evidence-based movement rehabilitation across the continuum of care. Prerequisites: HKIN 396 or 397. Three credits.

Building on the foundations of HKIN 215, this course offers an advanced exploration of motor control through the lenses of neurophysiology, biomechanics, and cognitive neuroscience. The primary emphasis is on the behavioural analysis of movement, with an in-depth study of stimulus-response compatibility, internal models, two visual systems, and neuroplasticity. This course provides an essential theoretical framework for students pursuing careers in rehabilitation. Prerequisite: HKIN 215. Three credits and weekly lab.

This course covers the physical growth, maturation, and development in children. The implications of changes in structure and function related to children’s physical growth will be applied to physical education, physical activity, physical fitness, and sport. This course is not eligible to fulfil the 400-level HKIN elective requirements for students completing a major or honours in kinesiology. Restricted to upper year students. Prerequisites: HKIN 161/162 or HKIN 151/152 or BIOL 251/252; HKIN 265 or 365. Three credits and lab. Service-learning option.

This course introduces key physical and mental health components in a health education context for school-aged children. Emphasis is placed upon the application of these concepts to health promotion in schools, at home, and more broadly in the community. This course is not eligible to fulfil the 400-level HKIN elective requirements for students completing a major or honours in kinesiology. Restricted to upper year students. Service-learning option. Three credits.

This course examines sport and physical culture in the lives of diverse Indigenous Peoples in the context of Canadian settler colonialism. Recognizing that sport has been both a space of oppression and empowerment for Indigenous Peoples, the course will unpack sport’s complex meanings in diverse Indigenous communities in Canada and consider how it may contribute to ongoing processes of truth and reconciliation. Prerequisite: HKIN 264 or 352. Three credits.

This seminar explores the intersection of sport with socio-cultural identities as well as systems of oppression and liberation. Through discussions, films, presentations, and reflections, students will unpack how various social identities shape and are shaped by sport. Students will engage with sport as a medium for making culture and power legible and thus transformable. Credit will be granted for only one of HKIN 431 or HKIN 471 (2017-2018). Prerequisite: HKIN 264 or 332 or 352. Three credits.

This advanced seminar course is designed to provide opportunities for students to critically examine the Olympic Games and the modern Olympic Movement. Students will examine the Olympic Games from a sociocultural interdisciplinary approach and create research projects. Restricted to third and fourth year HKIN students. Prerequisites: one of HKIN 253, 264, 332, 352, 354 or 358. Three credits.

Future educators explore both traditional and alternative teaching and learning strategies in order to promote inclusive practices. Students later apply this theoretical knowledge while teaching physical activity classes to diverse learners using a variety of instructional strategies. The lab features collaboration with local schools and Indigenous communities. HKIN 445 is strongly recommended as an HKIN elective for the pre-education path. Three credits and lab.

This course is designed provide theory and practical experience as you administer a variety of exercise science specific related protocols and techniques that are used in assessing an individual’s current level of physical activity and fitness. Students will be able to understand the theoretical principles that underpin these various fitness assessment protocols and be able to develop simple and appropriate training plans based on specific individual results. Components of this course are intended to provide students with the necessary background information to pursue personal trainer certification through the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology. Prerequisites: HKIN 265 or 365; HKIN 161/162 or HKIN 151/152 or BIOL 251/252. Three credits and lab.

This advanced course explores current trends with respect to the design and implementation of sustainable evidence-based interventions for at-risk populations. Topics include preventative medicine, universal design, rural healthcare, pediatric rehabilitation, assistive technology, accessibility, knowledge mobilisation and community-engaged scholarship. The evidence-based motor activities with X (MAX) lab component encourages students to transfer theoretical knowledge to different community-based intervention settings while working with at risk populations. Credit will be granted for only one of HKIN 457, HKIN 437 or HKIN 495 (2017-2018). Prerequisites: HKIN 161/162 or 151/152 or BIOL 251/252; HKIN 265 or 365. Three credits and lab.

This course examines various interventional techniques to enhance athletic performance. We will review commonly applied sport psychological skill training techniques, such as imagery, self-talk, goal setting, and confidence enhancement. In addition, new technologies to train perceptual-cognitive elements of athletic performance will be explored. Students will be asked to design applied workshops. The application of training to exercise, and occupations settings (e.g. health care) will be discussed. Prerequisite: HKIN 136 and third year standing. Three credits.

This course examines several chronic diseases prevalent in society, which are positively influenced by regular exercise or physical activity, and include: obesity, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, and heart failure. The nature of the disease, methods of assessment, role of exercise in the possible prevention, treatment and/or rehabilitation of these diseases are considered. Restricted to fourth-year students. Prerequisites: HKIN 161/162 or HKIN 151/152 or BIOL 251/252; HKIN 265 or 365. Three credits and lab.

This course will further the student’s understanding of the qualitative approach to biomechanics and provide the necessary skills for conducting a quantitative biomechanical analysis of human motion. Students will be introduced to several techniques used in biomechanics research. Emphasis will be placed on the collection and analysis of biomechanical data. Concepts will be illustrated with examples taken from areas of sport and exercise with a special focus on the practical applications to golf. Prerequisites: HKIN 376; MATH 106 or 126 and PHYS 102 recommended. Three credits and bi-weekly lab.

Honours students will prepare, propose, and defend a thesis based on original research conducted under the supervision of a Human Kinetics Faculty member. Students must meet all department deadlines and requirements. Credit will be granted for only one of HKIN 490 or HKIN 493. Restricted to honours students. Required for honours students. Prerequisite: One of HKIN 374, 396 or 397. Six credits.

An advanced examination of the acute and chronic metabolic responses and adaptations of the human body to exercise-induced challenges to homeostasis. The course emphasizes cellular and mitochondrial bioenergetics, substrate selection and flux, lactate metabolism, and the regulation of metabolic pathways governing muscular activity, fatigue, and training adaptation. Credit will be granted for only one of HKIN 492 or HKIN 392. Prerequisites: HKIN 161/162 or HKIN 151/152 or BIOL 251/252; HKIN 265 or 365. Three credits.

Designed for students with high academic standing who wish to pursue a directed, in-depth study in a selected topic. See section 3.5. Three credits.