Degree Requirements

All doctoral students receive their degree in Kinesiology and Health Studies. 

You will plan your course of study in consultation with your Supervisor on the first day of Orientation Week in September of your first term. 

The program of study includes:

• Online Tutorial Requirement in Health and Safety
• Online Tutorial Requirements in Accessible Customer Service
• Online Tutorial in Human Research Ethics (SGS 804 – CORE)
• 2 graduate level courses – to be ADDED or DROPPED using an Academic Change Form
• Thesis Proposal to be defended orally
• comprehensive examination to be defended orally
• Thesis to be defended orally (KHS 999)
• Graduate Seminar Series attendance at 80% minimum
• (Optional) Courses to be taken as audit with supervisor permission

Your program of study must conform to the rules and regulations of the SGS (which are available in the on-line Calendar). As you move through your program, your Advisory Committee may recommend additional course work to prepare you for your thesis research.

Courses to be Taken for Credit 

Courses that you are required to take as part of your approved course of study are those courses within the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies and courses in associated cognate departments.  Doctoral programs in the School require the equivalent of two one-term graduate level courses.  A minimum of 65%/B- is required in order to pass all graduate courses.

Course in Research Ethics

All graduate students are required to complete SGS 804 – Course in Research Ethics  (CORE) education course before beginning any research work involving human subjects.  The tutorial is available online at Course in Research Ethics (CORE)

Online Tutorial Requirements in Health and Safety

Where students have completed any of the below listed tutorial while a master’s student at Queen’s University, they will not be required to re-do this tutorial.

Health and Safety Awareness online tutorial 

All doctoral students must complete this tutorial during Orientation Week.

Online Tutorial Requirements in Accessibility:

Where students have completed any of the below listed tutorials while a master’s student at Queen’s University, they will not be required to re-do these tutorials.

HR 101 online tutorial

All doctoral students must complete this tutorial during Orientation Week.

Access Forward online tutorial 

All doctoral students must complete this tutorial during Orientation Week.

Accessible Customer Service online tutorial 

All doctoral students must complete this tutorial during Orientation Week.

Accessible Instruction for Educators online tutorial  –  required in order to serve as Teaching Assistant or Teaching Fellow – All doctoral students must complete this tutorial during Orientation Week or prior to performing any TA or TF responsibilities

Comprehensive Examination

All students must complete a comprehensive examination which contains both written and oral components.

Thesis Proposal

Students must develop, prepare in written form, and orally defend a thesis proposal.  Thesis Advisory Committee / Thesis Proposal Meeting Form

Thesis to be Defended Orally

A doctoral thesis (KHS 999), which must be defended orally.  Students will defend their thesis orally before a committee.  There are different oral formats for socio-cultural versus all other disciplines.  Your supervisor will provide you with details of the different structure as appropriate. Instructions on the structure of your final thesis

Graduate Seminar Series

All full-time doctoral students must attend at least 80% of the SKHS Graduate Seminar Series during their first through fourth years of full-time study.  Attendance beyond this time is voluntary. 

Courses to be Taken As Audit (not required for all students)

Some students may also (in consultation with their Supervisor) take courses on an AUDIT basis. The requirements for successful completion of audited courses shall be determined by the course instructor and the student.