Get a post-graduate work permit for up to three years if you are a full-time UBC international student graduating from a bachelor’s degree program and meet all eligibility criteria.
Want to learn more?
Visit the School of Health and Exercise Sciences website to learn more about Health and Exercise Sciences (Kinesiology).
View full program detailsProgram information
Discover how human movement impacts health. As a graduate of this program, you will be an adaptable leader with the knowledge and skillset to enhance the health and well-being of various populations.
Program overview
- Campus
- Okanagan
- Program length
- 4 years
- Honours This option has additional requirements compared to those required in a Major specialization. Students must maintain high academic standing and may have to write a graduating thesis.
- Yes
- Co-op Co-op is an optional program where students alternate between academic terms and paid work terms. It’s an opportunity to gain relevant job experience while completing your degree.
- Yes
- Faculty
- School of Health and Exercise Sciences
- Degree
- Bachelor of Health and Exercise Sciences (Kinesiology)
What you'll learn
Help people lead healthier, more active lives. Health and Exercise Sciences will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of human movement and its impacts on health.
You’ll examine the interdisciplinary nature of human health, including the psychological, physiological, neuromechanical, and socio-cultural aspects of movement. Together, these will equip you with practical skills to work with individuals across their lifespans.
At the end of your second year, you have the option to complete one of three concentrations: Kinesiology and Allied Health, Health Behaviour Change, or Clinical Exercise Physiology. Each concentration offers a strategic career focus to best prepare you to be a leader in your field.
Upon graduation, you may start a career as a kinesiologist or clinical exercise physiologist, with a focus on the role of exercise in improving health, fitness, and performance. You could also go on to pursue graduate studies in research or in a variety of health professions, such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, athletic therapy, public health, or medicine.Your Health and Exercise Sciences career options
Experiential learning and research
Your Health and Exercise Sciences degree includes skill-building labs, practicum opportunities, independent research, and co-op placements in order to create a broad foundation for your career potential. Within each concentration you will complete a community practicum with an agency, business, or industry, where you’ll gain experience in a supervised health-related work setting.
You can also complete an Honours Thesis with the supervision of a faculty member.
To get involved on campus, you can join the Health and Exercise Sciences Student Union to connect with your peers, get involved in advocacy, and gain better access to career resources.
What can you do with this degree after graduation?
Courses
There are hundreds of courses you can take within Health and Exercise Sciences (Kinesiology). Here are a few you might like.
Introduce students to the basic structure and functional relationships of human anatomy in relation to movement. Specific structures include neural, muscular and skeletal systems.
The theory, practice and analysis of safe and effective health, fitness, physiological and lifestyle assessments, including the design, implementation and analysis of standard protocols.
Key considerations for safe, effective and professional practice for health and exercise specialists including legal, ethical and client-care standards.
Ethical and legal responsibilities of allied health practitioners in care and service to clients, patients and public relating to codes of conduct, consent, trust, confidentiality, standards of care, negligence, record keeping, beneficence, least harm, dignity and scope of practice.
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Program requirements
Choose application type:
English-language requirements
English is the language of instruction at UBC. All prospective students must demonstrate English-language competency prior to admission. There are numerous ways to meet the English Language Admission Standard.
General admission requirements
IB Diploma Programme
- Completed IB Diploma, including at least three Higher Level courses.
IB Certificate Courses
- IB Certificate courses (Standard and Higher Level) may be used in an admissions average if you are graduating from a recognized high school curriculum that can be used as your basis of admission.
- IB Math Applications and Interpretations SL, or IB Math Studies, do not satisfy the math requirement for admission to UBC’s science-based programs, the Faculty of Management, the UBC Sauder School of Business, or the Vancouver School of Economics.
Degree-specific requirements: Health and Exercise Sciences
One of:
- IB Math Analysis and Approaches SL or HL, or IB Math Applications and Interpretations HL. (IB Math Applications and Interpretations SL, or IB Math Studies, are not acceptable.)
- IB Biology
- IB Chemistry
- IB Physics
Related courses
The following subject categories are particularly relevant for this degree. Consider taking courses in these areas in your junior year and senior year.
- Language Arts
- Mathematics and Computation
- Sciences
- Social Studies
Want to get a feel for campus?
If you’re unable to visit UBC in person, or you just want to get a sneak peek at your new home campus before you arrive, take one of our virtual tours. Current UBC students walk you through UBC’s residences, study spots, recreational facilities, lecture halls, academic buildings, and more.
Related programs
Want to learn more?
Visit the School of Health and Exercise Sciences website to learn more about Health and Exercise Sciences (Kinesiology).
View full program detailsGet a post-graduate work permit for up to three years if you are a full-time UBC international student graduating from a bachelor’s degree program and meet all eligibility criteria.
Want to learn more?
Visit the School of Health and Exercise Sciences website to learn more about Health and Exercise Sciences (Kinesiology).
View full program details