Advance your expertise and expand your impact
Take your passion for movement and exercise science to the next level with Waterloo’s one-of-a-kind coursework Master of Kinesiology program.
This one-year, career-focused degree with a specialized curriculum in Movement and Exercise Science integrates advanced kinesiology coursework with work-integrated learning placements and a culminating internship to prepare students to be Qualified Exercise Professionals. Students gain meaningful, hands-on experience that bridges theory and practice across clinical, workplace health, and performance settings.
Program overview
This specialized program in movement and exercise science prepares students for careers in allied health, fitness, and performance. Through four core work-integrated learning courses and a culminating internship, students gain practical skills in movement assessment, exercise prescription, ethical decision-making, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The program emphasizes person-centered, experiential learning to ensure graduates are confident and career-ready.
Note: We are only offering the Movement and Exercise Science specialization at this time.
Pathways to clinical credentialing
The MKin program offers advanced clinical courses that support credentialing requirements and prepare students for clinical graduate programs. Students have the opportunity to pursue various Qualified Exercise Professional credentials including Registered Kinesiologist, CSEP - Certified Personal Trainer, CSEP - Clinical Exercise Physiologist, along with the CSEP High Performance Specialization.
Waterloo's first Graduate Certificate in Work-Integrated Learning
MKin students earn a Graduate Certificate in WIL through 150+ hours of experiential learning built into core courses. This directly connects classroom learning with professional practice across clinical exercise, workplace health, and performance settings.
Through work-integrated learning experiences, students support programs for athletic development, clinical populations, and workplace health and well-being with opportunities to assess firefighters, varsity athletes, and Ontario Hockey League players.
The certificate formally recognizes applied skills and professional growth, giving graduates a clear edge in career development and future-ready competencies. This is the first certificate of its kind at the University of Waterloo!
Graduate student resources
Course requirements
All requirements for the MKin coursework degree must be completed within three terms (one year). It is expected that students complete all coursework in the first two terms (fall and winter) and devote the spring term to their internship. Students pay fees each term, including while they complete their internship.
- 4.0 total credits (equivalent to 8 full-term, full-credit courses)
- 2.0 from kinesiology
- Required courses:
- KIN 655: Theory and Practice of Movement Assessment (0.5)
- KIN 691: Theory and Practice of Cardiorespiratory & Body Composition Assessment (0.5)
- KIN 693: Theory and Practice of Exercise Prescription (0.5)
- One of the following elective courses:
- KIN 605: Nutrition and Exercise in Health and Performance (0.50)
- KIN 658: Physical Activity and Cognition (0.50)
- KIN 688: Selected Topics in Kinesiology (0.50)
- Required courses:
- 0.5 in qualitative or quantitative statistics
- 1.5 in elective courses
- 2.0 from kinesiology
Our graduate courses span biomechanics, neuroscience, physiology, nutrition, and health behaviour, allowing you to customize your learning and develop advanced expertise aligned with your professional goals.
Seminar milestone
Students complete a mandatory seminar milestone by participating in department-wide and stream-specific seminars. These seminars provide extracurricular learning and networking opportunities with fellow graduate students, faculty members and guest speakers.
Experiential internship
The last term of the MKin program is dedicated to a 420-hour internship that bridges classroom learning with real-world experience. Our partner organizations offer high-quality opportunities aligned with your professional goals and populations of interest.
Learn alongside Registered Kinesiologists, Clinical Exercise Physiologists, and Certified Strength and Conditioning Coaches as you build practical skills in movement and fitness assessment, advanced exercise programming, and interpersonal communication while expanding your professional network.
Read more about experiential internship opportunities!
NOTE: Teaching Assistantship (TA) and Research Assistantship (RA) support and most scholarships are not available for the MKin coursework degree students. Students interested in these funding opportunities may wish to consider the thesis-based MSc program.
Application deadline: March 1st
For admission in September
The combination of coursework and internship in just one year made the MKin program the perfect fit for my career goals. Every course has challenged me to think critically and apply my knowledge in real-world settings.