Master of Arts (RLS) - Thesis Based

As a full time MA student, you will take a minimum of 9 credits in fall and winter terms and 6 credits of thesis registration over the spring and summer terms. Full time registration is required. Part-time and distance education degrees are not offered at this time.

Because our professors collaborate in research across many faculties, you are not restricted to only taking courses in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation. You may also take courses in other faculties, such as Rehabilitation Medicine, Arts and Science.

Thesis based students who are admitted and register full-time must register full-time for the remainder of their program (FGSR Graduate Program Manual; Section 6.10). Courses are decided by the supervisor and student in preparation for conducting independent research in an area which will create new knowledge. The choice of course(s) depends on student's previous academic preparation and area(s) of study.

Program Requirements

In addition to the thesis, you are required to complete a minimum of 4 courses, or 12 credits, of coursework including:

• KSR 500 - Concepts and Theories of Leisure and Recreation (3 credits)

• KSR 580 - Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Research OR KSR 581 - Scientific Inquiry and Qualitative Research (3 credits each);

• Two (2) additional courses (3 credits each for a total of 6 credits)**

• Registration in 9 credits per Fall/Winter term; can be a combination of courses and thesis. Typically, all required coursework is completed in the first year of the program with full-time thesis registration to follow

• Registration in 6 credits of thesis registration per Spring/Summer term - registration is completed automatically by FGSR

• Graduate Ethics and Integrity training (8 hours); mandatory for all students

  • • • You will register in INT D 710 in Bear Tracks. This is a non-credit Ethics course

• Professional Development Requirement (8 hours of Professional Development Activities and Individual Development Plan (IDP)); mandatory for all students admitted September 2016 and onwards

• The Faculty’s residency requirement is two, four month terms of full time registration; afterwards, students have the option to register in off-campus thesis research

** Students are to take at least three (3) additional graduate level courses from within or outside the department. Selection of the courses will be left to the student, supervisor and supervisory committee.

Thesis Courses

THES 903 Thesis Research: *0 (fi 6) (either term). Represents research activity equivalent to *3 for registration status and fee assessment purposes.

THES 906 Thesis Research: *0 (fi 12) (either term). Represents research activity equivalent to *6 for registration status and fee assessment purposes.

THES 909 Thesis Research: *0 (fi 18) (either term). Represents research activity equivalent to *9 for registration status and fee assessment purposes.

THES 919 Thesis Research: *0 (fi 18) (either term) Represents research activity equivalent to *9 for registration status and with reduced fees assessed. Only students who were admitted prior to the fall of 2011 are eligible.

Thesis Requirements

Approval of the Thesis Proposal

In consultation with the supervisor and the supervisory committee, the student will develop a proposal for the thesis research project. Formal review of the proposal will occur at a special meeting of the supervisory committee. The proposal document must be distributed to the supervisory committee well in advance of the meeting. Normally, the student will be asked to make a brief presentation of the proposal and respond to questions from the committee.

A Master's Thesis Proposal Working Agreement form must be completed at the conclusion of the proposal meeting, and it should include any recommendations from the supervisory committee regarding changes to the research program or project. This document is retained in the student's file in the Graduate Program Office following the meeting.

Final Examination

The arrangements for the final examination must be approved by the Graduate Program Office and the FGSR. At least six weeks before the expected date of the final examination, the student must provide copies of the thesis to the supervisory committee. The supervisory committee members must approve that the thesis is suitable for examination (Preliminary Approval of Master’s Thesis for Examination form). At least four weeks prior to the examination date, the supervisor must inform the Graduate Program Office of the arrangements (e.g., examining committee membership [chair, arm’s length, and supervisory committee], date, time, and place). At least three weeks prior to the final examination, the Graduate Program Office will seek approval from the FGSR.