The Master of Sport Sciences (MSS) program develops graduates who are leaders in advancing safe and inclusive training, recovery, and programming for the development of sport performance and expertise. The MSS prepares students to understand, at an advanced level, the range of knowledges and areas of practice that contribute to a sport sciences team; developing a focused understanding of a particular role within the team, including sport coaching and performance, sport integrity, and sport analytics.
In this program, students learn to critically interpret research to inform sport sciences practice, identifying problems and issues in sport and performance, and applying knowledge to promote positive outcomes in sport across individuals, teams, and environments. Graduates of this program will exercise initiative and personal responsibility for upholding ethical practice and integrity in professional work and will demonstrate an appreciation of diverse perspectives and forms of knowledge, including understanding boundaries of expertise and the influence of multiple actors contributing to the development of sport performance and expertise as part of the sport sciences team.
This in-person, course-based program offers a mix of classroom and experiential education, with flexibility for course selection. Graduates will acquire research-informed and multidisciplinary expertise in:
- The role of evidence-based practice and program evaluation in the field of sport sciences.
- Working with the members of a sport sciences team to support positive sport outcomes.
- Identifying opportunities for actualization of human performance potential, sport-related achievement, and improvement.
- Advocacy for sport and/or people within sport, and themselves in their roles in their fields/professions.
The MSS provides unparalleled learning environments for hands-on practice working alongside leading practitioners. The program may be completed with a concentration or without a concentration.
MSS Program
Minimum Admission Requirements
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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.
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An appropriate bachelor's degree, or its equivalent, from the University of Toronto or from another recognized university.
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Applicants must have a four-year bachelor's degree in kinesiology, physical education, human kinetics, or a complementary degree in arts and science, business, engineering, or education. In order to be eligible for admission with a complementary degree, practical experience in the area of kinesiology is required.
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Applicants may also be considered for admission with a four-year bachelor's degree in an area not described above, with at least three years of work experience in the area of sport sciences, and evidence of professional training or certification in this area (for example, strength and conditioning certification, physical literacy certification).
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Regardless of the admission pathway, all applicants must have a minimum mid-B average (73% to 76%) in the final year.
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Resumé.
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Two letters of reference. At least one letter must be from an academic referee.
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Letter of intent which identifies the area of interest and reasons for pursuing the program.
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Proficiency in the English language must be demonstrated by all applicants educated outside Canada whose primary language is not English and who graduate 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:
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paper-based test: 600 with 5 on the Test of Written English (TWE) and 50 on the Test of Spoken English (TSE)
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Internet-based test: 100/120 overall and 22/30 on the writing and speaking sections.
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Completion Requirements
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Coursework. Successful completion of 5.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows.
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KIN8201H Evidence Supported Practice in Sport Sciences.
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KIN8330H Program Evaluation and Applied Research for Professionals.
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At least 2.0 FCEs in MSS designated courses.
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The remainder of courses may be drawn from any available graduate courses in the Graduate Department of Kinesiology and/or at the University of Toronto, in consultation with the Office of the Registrar and Student Services.
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The program may be completed with or without a concentration.
Concentration Requirements (optional)
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Students must follow departmental application procedures and can apply to only one MSS concentration: Sport Coaching and Performance; Sport Integrity; or Sport Analytics.
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Students must successfully complete a total of 1.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs) in courses designated for the area of concentration; these count toward the 2.0 FCEs in MSS designated courses as listed in the completion requirements.
Program Length: 3 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: FWS); 9 sessions part-time
Time Limit: 2 years full-time; 5 years part-time