Curricula within Ontario universities as it relates to the profession of kinesiology

An undergraduate degree in kinesiology is one of the requirements to become a registered kinesiologist in Ontario, Canada. This study examined the alignment among 31 four-year honours degrees offered at 18 post-secondary institutions across Ontario and competencies associated with the profession of kinesiology. Curricula were analyzed against 14 essential competencies set by the College of Kinesiologists of Ontario and nine additional competencies related to the practice of kinesiology. The type of course (core or elective), presence of a lab, and lab hours per week were recorded. All degrees evaluated covered 79% (11/14) of the essential competencies and 33% (3/9) of the additional competencies. Notably, only five essential competencies and no additional competencies were universally met through core coursework alone; coverage occurred via core courses, electives, or a combination. Lab components were consistently associated with anatomy, biomechanics, exercise physiology, and assessment courses. Hands-on training hours, especially placement/clinical experience, varied significantly among degrees. Overall, these data highlight curricular breadth and variability in kinesiology degrees, and the diversity of elective choices to prepare students for the range of opportunities available to them after graduation. Kinesiology as a profession has a broad scope of practice and kinesiology degrees are not directly aligned with this role.