Kinesiology: Kinesiology PhD

Doctor of Philosophy

Program Description

Doctoral students are encouraged to develop a program of study that will enhance their basic understanding of critical areas of study within kinesiology and have a direct impact on their research program. Students are also expected to further develop their scholarly and technical research skills so that they may pursue a high-quality research project.

Applicants may enter the PhD program via one of two routes: 1) following completion of an MSc degree; or 2) direct entry following completion of a BA, BSc, or BKin degree.

The PhD program can be taken on a full-time or flexible-time basis.

 

PhD Program

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Graduate Department of Kinesiology's additional admission requirements stated below.

  • A master's degree from the University of Toronto or a recognized university. Formal graduate training in kinesiology is preferred.

  • Successful defence of a master's thesis at a recognized university.

  • An academic standing equivalent to a University of Toronto A– (80% to 84%) in the master's degree completed.

  • A potential supervisor identified from the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education. A supervisor is not required at the time of application, but applicants are encouraged to begin their search early. See the full list of faculty members. Only applicants who have a supervisor will be admitted to the program.

  • Proficiency in the English language must be demonstrated by all applicants educated outside Canada whose primary language is not English and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction and examination was not English. The Faculty prefers the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with the following minimum scores:

    • paper-based test: 600 with 5 on the Test of Written English (TWE) and 50 on the Test of Spoken English (TSE)

    • Internet-based test: 100/120 overall and 22/30 on the writing and speaking sections.

Program Requirements

  • Full-time registration (Fall, Spring, Summer sessions) throughout the entire doctoral program.

  • Coursework. Students must successfully complete a total of 1.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

    • 1.0 FCE from either Kinesiology or another department

    • 0.5 FCE Statistics or Methodology course

  • SRD4445H+, a graduate seminar in Kinesiology (0.0 FCE).

  • All courses must be approved in advance by the student's supervisor.

  • The student's annual program plan must be approved by the supervisor.

  • Successful completion of a comprehensive examination.

  • Writing of a thesis under the supervision of a thesis committee (supervisor plus at least three additional faculty members) and its defence before an examination committee appointed by the Graduate Department of Kinesiology.

  • Oral defence of the thesis before an examination committee approved by the School of Graduate Studies.

Program Length

4 years

Time Limit

6 years

+ Extended course. For academic reasons, coursework is extended into session following academic session in which course is offered.

 

PhD Program (Direct-Entry)

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Graduate Department of Kinesiology's additional admission requirements stated below.

  • An appropriate Bachelor of Kinesiology degree or its equivalent from the University of Toronto or from another recognized university.

  • A background in kinesiology or a discipline compatible with the research interests and interdisciplinary nature of the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education is preferred.

  • An academic standing equivalent to a University of Toronto A– (80% to 84%) in the last five full-course equivalents of relevant, senior-level courses.

  • A potential supervisor identified from the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education. A supervisor is not required at the time of application, but applicants are encouraged to begin their search early. See the full list of faculty members. Only applicants who have a supervisor will be admitted to the program.

  • Proficiency in the English language must be demonstrated by all applicants educated outside Canada whose primary language is not English and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction and examination was not English. The Faculty prefers the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with the following minimum scores:

    • paper-based test: 600 with 5 on the Test of Written English (TWE) and 50 on the Test of Spoken English (TSE)

    • Internet-based test: 100/120 overall and 22/30 on the writing and speaking sections.

Program Requirements

  • Full-time registration (Fall, Spring, Summer sessions) throughout the entire doctoral program.

  • Coursework. Students must successfully complete a total of 2.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows. All courses must be approved in advance by the student's supervisor.

    • 2.0 FCEs from either Kinesiology or another department

    • 0.5 FCE Statistics or Methodology course

  • SRD4445H+, a graduate seminar in Kinesiology (0.0 FCE).

  • All courses must be approved in advance by the student's supervisor.

  • The student's annual program plan must be approved by the supervisor.

  • Successful completion of a comprehensive examination.

  • Writing of a thesis under the supervision of a thesis committee (supervisor plus at least three additional faculty members) and its defence before an examination committee appointed by the Graduate Department of Kinesiology.

  • Oral defence of the thesis before an examination committee approved by the School of Graduate Studies.

Program Length

5 years

Time Limit

7 years

+ Extended course. For academic reasons, coursework is extended into session following academic session in which course is offered.

 

PhD Program (Flexible-Time)

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Graduate Department of Kinesiology's additional admission requirements stated below.

  • A master's degree from the University of Toronto or a recognized university. Formal graduate training in kinesiology is preferred.

  • Successful defence of a master’s thesis at a recognized university.

  • An academic standing equivalent to a University of Toronto A– (80% to 84%) in the master's degree completed.

  • A potential supervisor identified from the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education. A supervisor is not required at the time of application, but applicants are encouraged to begin their search early. See the full list of faculty members. Only applicants who have a supervisor will be admitted to the program.

  • Proficiency in the English language must be demonstrated by all applicants educated outside Canada whose primary language is not English and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction and examination was not English. The Faculty prefers the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with the following minimum scores:

    • paper-based test: 600 with 5 on the Test of Written English (TWE) and 50 on the Test of Spoken English (TSE)

    • Internet-based test: 100/120 overall and 22/30 on the writing and speaking sections.

Program Requirements

  • With the approval of the Director, Graduate Studies, some applicants may be admitted to a flexible-time PhD program. This program will benefit mature students with career and/or familial obligations.

  • Degree requirements for the flexible-time program are identical to those listed above for the full-time PhD program; however, students have up to eight years to complete the program.

  • Coursework. Students must successfully complete a total of 1.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

    • 1.0 FCE from either Kinesiology or another department

    • 0.5 FCE Statistics or Methodology course

  • SRD4445H+, a graduate seminar in Kinesiology (0.0 FCE).

  • All courses must be approved in advance by the student's supervisor.

  • The student's annual program plan must be approved by the supervisor.

  • Successful completion of a comprehensive examination.

  • Writing of a thesis under the supervision of a thesis committee (supervisor plus at least three additional faculty members) and its defence before an examination committee appointed by the Graduate Department of Kinesiology.

  • Oral defence of the thesis before an examination committee approved by the School of Graduate Studies.

  • Flexible-time students must register full-time for the first four years of the program. Thereafter, they may register part-time.

  • A plan of study and research activities will be negotiated at initial registration, to be reviewed and updated annually.

Program Length

6 years

Time Limit

8 years

+ Extended course. For academic reasons, coursework is extended into session following academic session in which course is offered.