Graduate Certificate in Adapted Physical Activity

Please Note [Oct. 17, 2023] - ADDENDUM. The Entrance Requirements section has been updated. See Amendments to the Calendar for more information.

The Graduate Certificate in Adapted Physical Activity is offered by the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation. The focus of this certificate is using a disability-affirming approach to enhance skilled practice and reflexive learning. Focused on understanding disability within a larger context of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), students in this graduate certificate program will advance critical thinking skills, reflect on taken for granted practices and assumptions, and explore practice oriented tools and knowledge. By fostering attitudes that are welcoming, affirming, and supporting, this Adapted Physical Activity Certificate is about reducing barriers, inhibitors, and constraints, and advocating access to active lifestyles and sport, by supporting facilitators and affordances that will promote innovative and cooperative service delivery, provide supports as needed, and empower individuals. The majority of course work will be delivered online; there will be an optional in-class component that will be held in partnership with the Steadward Centre for Personal & Physical Achievement.

Entrance Requirements

The Faculty’s minimum admission requirements are an undergraduate degree with an admission GPA of at least 3.0 on the 4-point scale from the University of Alberta, or an equivalent qualification and standing from a recognized institution. A degree in Kinesiology or related field is considered an asset but not required. The admission GPA will be calculated on the last 60 units of graded coursework completed, or on the equivalent of the last two years of full-time graded coursework.

The undergraduate degree can be in any discipline and some experience working in an adapted or recreation setting will be considered an asset.

A minimum 1 year of relevant work experience is also required. Note: relevant work experience includes but is not limited to individuals working in education, physical education, allied health, sport, recreation, dance, fitness, creative arts, nutrition, medicine, rehabilitation (among other sectors).

Where applicable, applicants must meet the minimum FGSR English Language Requirement .

Applicants are also required to submit the following:

Current resume/curriculum vitae
One professional letter of reference
One letter of intent

Applicants who do not meet the minimum academic requirement but have considerable relevant professional experience may also be admissible. Individuals who feel that this situation applies to them are encouraged to contact the Manager, International and Community Education, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation to discuss their status.

Program Requirements

Students are required to complete four 3-unit courses for a total of 12 units.

Course Work (12 units)

Students must complete four of the following:

KSR 717 - Critical Survey of Key Topics in Adapted Physical Activity
Note: this course provides foundational content used throughout the APA certificate courses, therefore it is strongly recommended that students take KSR 717 as their first course.
KSR 718 - Program Evaluation and Assessment
KSR 719 - Being a Reflexive Practitioner
KSR 720 - Accessible Design for APA
KSR 721 - Instructional Approaches & Programming Models
KSR 722 - Coaching Athletes Experiencing Disability
KSR 723 - Integrating Disability Perspectives into APA Practice
KSR 724 - Trauma Informed Practice

Length of Program

The maximum time to complete the graduate certificate as set by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research is four years.

Laddering

Students who complete the certificate in good standing may be able to use the courses from the certificate to receive advanced standing in the Master of Arts or Master of Arts in Recreation and Leisure Studies in Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation. Completion of the certificate does not guarantee admission to a master’s degree program. The certificate may be used for both the basis of admission and laddered into the course-based master degree. Details on laddering can be found in the Calendar under Regulations of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research .