As of this fall, students of the University of Toronto’s Master of Professional Kinesiology (MPK) program will have the option of specializing in one of four areas: exercise as medicine, high performance strength & conditioning, health & wellness and adapted physical activity.
“The four new concentrations align with the expertise and current areas of practice and study of the faculty teaching in the MPK program,” says Ashley Stirling, associate professor and vice dean of academic affairs at KPE.
“Adding a concentration to their MPK degree will help students to articulate the areas of focus in their MPK practice and study, and formally recognize their training in a specific area of kinesiology.”
The MPK program was developed on the heels of Ontario becoming the first province in Canada to regulate kinesiology as a health profession. The program officially launched in 2016, becoming the first master’s-level program of its kind in Ontario, providing students with a mix of classroom, case-based, laboratory and experiential education to advance their knowledge and skills in kinesiology.
“The MPK program recognizes the value of physical activity for health and wellness across the lifespan and amplifies it with research-informed practice,” says Stirling.
“The addition of the four new concentrations will help students streamline their research interests and come out of the program with a clearly articulated expertise.”
In order to be eligible for concentration, students must complete a minimum of three full courses or the equivalent in their area of specialization, including:
- A major course assignment on a topic within the elected area of concentration in a minimum of 1.5 full courses or the equivalent (FCE) in MPK courses;
- A minimum of 300 placement hours in the area of concentration (0.5 FCE); and
- A final capstone project in the area of concentration (1.0 FCE).
“While students can only apply for one MPK concentration, there is no limit to the number of students who can be in any of the concentrations,” says David Frost, assistant professor director of the MPK program.
“Based on interest in areas of practice expressed in previous cohorts, we expect that there will be interest across all concentrations.”
Amy Kirkham, an assistant professor at KPE, is looking forward to contributing to the program. An expert in clinical cardiovascular health, she will teaching the required course on biophysical assessment and intervention, and will contribute specialized expertise in exercise as medicine and health and wellness.
“I utilize exercise and nutrition as therapeutic tools in my life and my research in individuals with cancer and cardiovascular conditions,” she says.
“As a new instructor, I look forward to influencing the incoming MPK students’ perspective on the value of exercise as medicine.”
In addition to adding new concentrations, the program will broaden the admission requirements to include not only applicants with an undergraduate degree in kinesiology, but also those with degrees in complementary areas with related experience in the field of kinesiology.
“The Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education is committed to educating and graduating a diverse student body who will go on to become leaders in their fields,” says Michael Atkinson, a professor and director of graduate studies at KPE.
“By broadening our pool of prospective applicants for the MPK program, we are hoping to attract a diverse student body that will further strengthen the range of perspectives in class discussions and peer interactions – both critical components of the MPK program.”