Leadership in Pedagogy and Coaching

Bachelor of Kinesiology

(Faculty of Kinesiology)

The Leadership in Pedagogy and Coaching program provides students with the theoretical, practical and experiential foundations for leadership in physical activity in schools and in other settings such as recreation and coaching. Majors learn the skills and knowledge required to present physical activities to clients of all age and developmental levels, provide leadership in health- and fitness-related matters, and communicate the theoretical aspects of kinesiology to their client base, both within the educational system and in the community. Students acquire a foundation in the kinesiology discipline including growth and development and the psychological aspects related to human movemnt. in addition to learning theory and practice throughout their program.

Leadership concepts inherent in the program provides students with the expertise to help others learn concepts, physical skills and activities that can be used in a wide variety of life situations including leisure and recreation, fitness and rehabilitation, competitive sports, and elite personal challenges. The program also seeks to promote the benefits of physical activity on the body and mind, and makes a deliberate attempt to influence people’s values towards incorporating activity into their personal lifestyle.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Faculty of Kinesiology, applicants are required to present the appropriate high school subjects and a competitive average.

Leadership in Pedagogy and Coaching

For the Major, applicants compete for one of 30 positions at the second year level. First year students will normally enter the General Major in the Faculty of Kinesiology in order to complete requirements. Applicants from outside Kinesiology must meet the Faculty admission criteria as well as Leadership in Pedagogy and Coaching-specific requirements. To be eligible for this major, applicants must:

1. Present four or more full-course equivalents, with an Admission GPA* of at least 2.70.
2. Successfully complete Kinesiology 211 and 213 with a combined minimum grade point average of 2.85.

Completion of Kinesiology 201 is highly recommended (it is a prerequisite for Physical Education 321).

For more details regarding these or any other Kinesiology programs, students should contact the Student Programs Office of the Faculty of Kinesiology at (403) 220-7018.

*The Admission GPA is the average calculated over the most recent coursework to a maximum of five full-course equivalents (University of Calgary courses and/or transferable courses taken at other institutions). All grades within a session will be included except where the number of courses taken within a session exceeds that required to fulfill (to a maximum of) five full-course equivalents, in which case the highest grades will be used. Transfer courses are courses which are considered transferable to the University of Calgary regardless of grades obtained (including "D" and "F" grades).

Application/Document Deadlines

Why Study Leadership in Pedagogy and Coaching?

Get moving
If you believe that activity is an important part of a balanced lifestyle, or want to help others attain physical achievement or sport goals through coaching, then you should consider the pedagogy major in kinesiology. The program is the ideal program for people who love to work with children, youths, or adults in a leadership capacity related to physical activity and personal challenge, with a particular focus on education and sport coaching.

Setting the pace
After completing their program, graduates may choose to pursue professional training or embark on careers in professional coaching or teaching. The major is also a great starting point for individuals interested in community health fields, providing them with the skills required for developing programs and leading integrated physical activities and health programs in a wide variety of educational, health related and community situations.

Changing lanes
As they move through the program, students develop strong organizational, leadership and communication abilities that are highly valued by employers in today’s competitive job market. This unique skill combination has enabled pedagogy graduates to build successful careers in numerous fields, adapting to the rapidly changing work environment.

What Can I Do with My Degree?

Graduates are analytical thinkers with highly developed leadership skills and the ability to effectively organize and communicate with people individually or in groups. The major provides students with the foundation for careers within the physical-activity-leadership field, such as physical education, coaching and fitness consultation. Opportunities exist in the following sectors:

Government/public
Sports program building or coaching, rehabilitation and therapy, integrated health-activity programs

Education/communication
Physical education teacher, community activity leader

Business
Corporate wellness consultant, personal fitness consultant, lifestyle coach

U of C Curriculum Features

The curriculum fosters opportunities to develop a coherent range of knowledge and abilities in inquiry, critical thinking, problem solving and effective communication – the essential competencies and lifelong learning skills associated with graduates of a quality research university.

Interdisciplinary component
Kinesiology involves the study of human movement and function from many different theoretical and applied perspectives, including the natural and medical sciences, social sciences, and humanities. These fields are incorporated into the curriculum through course offerings in biomechanics, anatomy, psychology, and socio-cultural studies as well as core requirements in biology and zoology. Pedagogy majors are expected to integrate the above with additional theory from the body of knowledge related to learning theory and practice. The Faculty of Kinesiology also offers a BKin/BEd combined degree program with the Faculty of Education.

International component
To develop student cultural awareness and understanding, the faculty requires that leadership in pedagogy and coaching majors complete KNES 243 and KNES 245, which explore topics featuring ancient Greece and Rome, Europe, and world sport. Games and dance activity courses are another pedagogy requirement where students learn activities, games and dances from other countries, while other courses in the pedagogy program introduce students to international issues related to physical activity, health, and sport, through assignments that highlight differences in gender, ethnicity, and socio-economic class. Teaching and learning styles and theories discussed in classes are international in perspective since cultural understanding is fundamental to development and delivery of an effective learning situation.

Experiential learning
The university houses world-class athletic facilities used by students in activity courses (e.g., basketball and volleyball) to develop skill levels and build strengths in design and presentation of the activities’ learning sequences. The program also requiresstudents to complete practicum work in a real-world situation, working under the guidance of a mentor to practise planning and implementation of appropriate learning activities. Site visits and guest lecturers provide students with opportunities to observe and discuss a wide range of topics that impact their effectiveness as activity leaders, both in the community and the educational systems. Leadership in pedagogy and coaching majors are actively involved in the Kinesiology Student Society, while Campus Recreation and Athletics programs offer students extensive opportunities in leadership and administration.

Faculty-student interaction
Students have the unique opportunity to develop lasting meaningful interactions with other students and faculty because admission in the program is limited to 30 students and leadership in pedagogy and coaching majors have priority in all pedagogy courses. Individual conferences between students and faculty, reference checks, class discussion and extra-curricular contact allow student-faculty interaction on a consistent basis. In addition, students are assigned faculty mentors during their practicum experiences and are required to communicate regularly with them.

Integration of research
Faculty members are actively involved in a wide range of research projects including monitoring learning situations, curriculum writing, and producing resources and learning materials. Instructors incorporate their own and others’ research into lecture material to provide students with current and relevant information. Students are expected to perform research and document, reflect, and develop effective presentation practices based on the literature and their own experiences. The faculty also requires students to take courses in which students conduct labs, practise qualitative methodology, and generate data to develop their research skills.

Additional Information

Faculty of Kinesiology
knesinfo [at] ucalgary [dot] ca