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Kinesiology Accreditation

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Kinesiology Accreditation

Kinesiology Accreditation

Accredited Institutions

  • St. Francis Xavier University (2016-2023)
  • University of Calgary (2017-2024)
  • York University (2020-2027) 
  • University of Saskatchewan (2018-2025)
  • University of New Brunswick (2010-2017)
  • University of Manitoba (2019-2026) 
  • Memorial University (2020-2027)
  • University of Windsor (2020-2027)
  • Université de Moncton (2020-2027)
  • University of Toronto (2018-2025) 
  • Acadia University (2019-2026) 
  • Lakehead University (2011-2019)
  • Simon Fraser University (2012-2019)
  • University of Alberta (2020-2027) 
  • Laurentian University (2021-2028)
  • University of Winnipeg (2020-2027)
  • University of Western Ontario (2014-2021) 
  • University of British Columbia (2014-2021) 
  • Queen’s University (2016-2023) 
  • Ontario Tech University (2018-2025)

Accreditation Process

NOTE: A template for Kinesiology Accreditation can be found in the Members Only Resources section.

The CCUPEKA Accreditation Council is the accrediting agency for university Kinesiology programs in Canada. To be accredited, a unit must satisfy the minimal standards set forth in the accreditation document. Accreditation is open only to the Canadian Council of University Physical Education and Kinesiology Administrators (CCUPEKA) member institutions.The main purpose of accreditation is to evaluate whether reviewed programs meet the minimum standards of education and training for graduates. However, by applying minimum standard criteria, we will not interfere with innovation and diversity of individual programs. While the achievement of minimum standards will guarantee the basic quality of programs, it may also serve as an incentive for further improvement and creative growth. The Minimum Disciplinary Accreditation Standards (MDAS) offer a framework for the development and organization of disciplinary knowledge and practical skills for graduates; these standards form a basis for the academic unit’s curriculum design and should be reflected in the unit’s mission statement.

The CCUPEKA Accreditation System serves the following functions:

  • Identifies General Education Outcomes necessary for the study of Kinesiology.
  • Sets Minimum Disciplinary Accreditation Standards for Kinesiology programs and ensures that programs meet the standards and expectations of the national and international disciplinary, professional, and educational communities.
  • Encourages increased credibility and acceptance of Kinesiology programs.
  • Provides a basis for self-evaluation and comparison with programs of a similar nature.
  • May serve as a rationale for requests for more resources in the changing disciplinary and professional environment.
  • Positively affects the maintenance of specialized, permanent faculty positions.
  • Helps students identify appropriate university programs in Canada.
  • Facilitates the transferability of courses.
  • Facilitates student transfer between programs.
  • Enhances recognition of qualifications for professional certification of license in Kinesiology.

Kinesiology is the study of human movement and factors which effect and affect such movement. It encompasses the study of human movement along a continuum,  which ranges  from  cell structure and function to the place of human movement in the social context.Because of the great variety of applications and specialties found in the study of human movement, it has been difficult in the past to identify what a kinesiologist should know and do. Based on the Canadian Council for the Description of Occupations, the role of the Kinesiology graduate is to evaluate physical activity-related matters and recommend solution in health, exercise, sport, industry, business, education, rehabilitation and social settings.

General Education Outcomes and Minimum Disciplinary Accreditation Standards

The Accreditation process identifies the General Education Outcomes (GEO) for kinesiologists. These Outcomes lead to the Minimum Disciplinary Accreditation Standards (MDAS) for undergraduate programs in Kinesiology. The General Educational Outcomes are a set of competencies and exposures necessary for practice of Kinesiology and the continuation of disciplinary or applied studies. The Minimum Disciplinary Accreditation Standards represent a basis for the development of knowledge in the disciplinary areas of Kinesiology and create a positive educational environment for the application of this knowledge. These standards also provide institutions and students with flexibility to function in different settings and to ensure that graduates have the necessary background to perform effectively in their chosen area. MDAS attempt to ensure that the Kinesiology program is delivered by a Kinesiology/Physical Education academic unit, which has sufficient faculty resources to offer a coherent curriculum, with both breadth and depth of human movement study.

 
GEO 1: The Disciplinary and Applied Preparation in Kinesiology

A graduate has the appropriate Kinesiology base to function effectively in the profession, specifically with respect to broad areas of professional practice for employment and/or to pursue graduate studies.

STANDARD 1: Program Structure

Program accreditation requirements:

  • Structure: An accredited program is a four-year degree program with a minimum of 120 credit hours. In Quebec, an accredited program is a three- year degree program with CGEP and a minimum of 90 credit hours
  • Breadth of Curricular Offerings: Fifty percent of the total number of courses for the degree must be offered by the Kinesiology/Physical Education academic unit. (15 out of 30, or 20 out of 40 courses). University programs which require more than forty courses for the degree must offer a minimum of twenty courses by the Kinesiology/Physical Education academic unit.
  • Depth of Curricular Offerings: An accredited program should have 50% of the remaining elective courses offered by the Kinesiology/Physical Education academic unit at the 3rd or 4th year level [unless upper year courses are otherwise defined by the program’s mission].
  • Faculty Complement: Seventy-five percent of the twenty Kinesiology courses must be taught by full-time Kinesiology/Physical Education faculty, staff, or ongoing part-time instructors.
GEO 2: Knowledge of Disciplinary Content

A graduate understands and analyzes movement using principles of the Natural Sciences, the Social Sciences, and Humanities.

STANDARD 2: Minimum Core Curriculum – Disciplinary Content

An accredited program requires a minimum 3 credit hour course equivalent in each of the following subject areas: human anatomy, human physiology, exercise physiology, biomechanics, motor learning/motor control, and psychology of physical activity and/or sport, AND a minimum of 6 credit hour course equivalents in courses in the social sciences and/or humanities.

GEO 3: Knowledge of Scientific Inquiry

A graduate uses generally accepted tools of scientific inquiry for the critical evaluation of information.

STANDARD 3: Minimum Core Curriculum – Knowledge Acquisition and Analysis

An accredited program requires courses: one in research methods and one in statistics. Information may be incorporated into a number of different courses but the content must equal the equivalent of two courses. Course content must be such that students are exposed to both qualitative and quantitative methods of data acquisition and analyses.

GEO 4: Application of Disciplinary Knowledge

A graduate is able to apply theoretical knowledge in a variety of settings, as demonstrated through experiential opportunities or capstone experiences.

STANDARD 4: Research and Communication Technology

An accredited program requires 100 hours of active learning experiences. A minimum of seventy-five [75] total hours must come from laboratory experiences in at least four courses in core disciplinary areas [as identified in GEO 2, Standard 2], with a minimum of 15 hours per course, as recognized and approved on course outlines. The remaining 25 hours may be achieved through tutorials in the social sciences/humanities, other required outside/in class active learning experiences [as documented on course outlines], practicum and or capstone [including research] experiences.

ADDITIONAL REQUIRED INFORMATION

In addition to the above information, institutions are also required to present the following information in their self study document:

  • mission and objectives of the school and program
  • degree requirements
  • description of cooperative activities with other academic and/or professional units
  • description of laboratory and teaching facilities
  • description of equipment used in program
  • number of graduating students for past 7 years
  • faculty/staff profiles
  • syllabi of all courses
  • university calendar (hyperlink)
  • The Institution should demonstrate how they address challenges and barriers to equity diversity, and inclusion through curriculum, policies, experiential learning, etc., or provide a plan of how the Institution is working towards meeting this goal.
  • The Institution should demonstrate how they address challenges and barriers through curriculum, policies, experiential learning, etc., or provide a plan of how the Institution is working towards meeting this goal.”

Accreditation Process

Kinesiology programs are accredited for a period of seven years.

Step 1:  A completed application form (which includes the institutional self-study) and any required supporting documents is submitted to the CCUPEKA Accreditation Coordinator. The downloadable form template that must be used is located in the Members-Only section of the CCUPEKA website.

Step 2: The accreditation fee is submitted to the CCUPEKA Secretary-Treasure, with notification to the Accreditation Coordinator that the fee has been submitted.

Step 3: Selection of external reviewers is a joint process between the program to be accrediated and the Accreditation Coordinator. Reviewers will provide the Accreditation Coordinator with their written report. These reports will be provided by the Coordinator to the institutions under review. Reviewers may require clarification on some issues and this will be communicated to the institution via the Coordinator. If Reviewers feel some standards have been met while others not, the institution will have the opportunity to provide a re-submission on how the outstanding standards are currently or will be met. These should once again be provided the Accreditation Coordinator and these will be forwarded to the Reviewers. In the case of a deficiency or required revision that the program is attempting to redress, the program under review needs to provide the Coordinator with a plan for revision and expected timeline. Normally the review process must be completed within 18 months or it must begin anew. In the event that a program does not meet the Accreditation Standards the Coordinator will request of the institution whether they will appeal the review, make adaptations to their program with the goal of reapplying, or withdraw the application. Normally, reviewed units have eighteen months to comply with the Accreditation Council recommendations in order to meet the Accreditation Standards.

Step 4: The CCUPEKA Secretary-Treasurer will invoice the program to be accredited for the cost of the external review. The cost, per program, of the review is $2,000. The reviewed unit is also responsible for reviewer’s travel, accommodation, and meal expenses associated with the on-site review.

Step 5: The Accreditation Council receives the results of the external review, which is communicated to the unit by the Accreditation Coordinator. The Accreditation Council makes a recommendation for accreditation of the program to the general CCUPEKA membership at the Annual General Meeting. CCUPEKA ratifies the decision of the Accreditation Council. Once accreditation is ratified by CCUPEKA, the accreditation is valid for a period of seven years.

Appeal Process

Any academic unit that receives an adverse decision on accreditation may appeal that decision. An adverse decision as defined by CCUPEKA Accreditation Council includes the denial of application for accreditation.An adverse decision may be appealed on the grounds that:

  • CCUPEKA accreditation standards were disregarded.
  • CCUPEKA accreditation procedures were not followed.
  • Evidence favourable to the applicant and provided to the Reviewers /Accreditation Council was not taken into consideration.

If one or more of these conditions were a factor in the denial of accreditation application, the means of redress is through the appeal process.An appeal is heard by a Review Panel, consisting of three members selected by the Accreditation Coordinator, from the Review Board. Responsibility for acting on the findings and recommendations of the Review Panel rests with the Accreditation Council. The findings and recommendations of the Review Panel are communicated to the appellant and to the Accreditation Council Coordinator in a written report that conveys the basis for the action taken by the Panel. The Accreditation Council will act on the Panel’s findings. The subsequent action will be based on the grounds for appeal that were upheld by the Review Panel.The accreditation status of the appellant remains unchanged until the appeal process has been exhausted.Process of Appeal

  • Within 60 days of receiving notice of a decision, an institution electing to appeal  that decision must present the Accreditation Council Coordinator a written notification of its intention to appeal.
  • No later than 30 days from the date that it submits its notification, the institution must submit a brief to the coordinator that sets forth the specifics of its appeal and includes full documentation.
  • After consultation with the appellant, the Coordinator will appoint a Review Panel, drawn from the Review Board, to hear the appeal. One of the appointees will be designated as Chair of the Review Panel.
  • No later that 30 days after the appellant’s submission, the Review Panel will review the appeal. Prior to the hearing, the Panel is briefed by the Coordinator on the process and procedures for hearing an appeal, and rendering a decision.
  • The Panel prepares a written report that conveys the basis of its findings on the appeal and submits that report to the appellant and to the Accreditation Coordinator. The Coordinator then presents the findings to the Accreditation Council for their information. The decision of the Review Panel is final and represents the decision of Accreditation Council.The decision is subject to disclosure and notification to member institutions.

Cost of Appeal

If the appeal leads to an affirmation of the Accreditation Council’s original decision, the appellant will be liable for a set fee of $500.00 to cover the expenses of the appeal process. If the Panel finds in favour of the institution, the fee will not be assessed.