Master of Sport Sciences

Introducing Canada's leading graduate program for sports professionals.

Sport has changed. Healthy high performance is the name of the game. Whether you’re working with a grassroots community initiative or a professional sports team, the MSS prepares you to promote positive outcomes in sport across individuals, teams and environments.

The Master of Sport Sciences (MSS) program develops graduates who are leaders in advancing safe and inclusive training, recovery and programming in sport performance and expertise.

Coursework is complemented by hands-on practice through a structured placement or capstone project. And with the University of Toronto’s location, size and diversity, you’ll find unique opportunities for collaboration and innovation with our placement partners.

The MSS program will give you the curriculum, connections, and insights you need to raise the bar in sport coaching and performance, sport integrity and sport analytics — whether you have years of experience or are emerging in the field of sport sciences.


About the Program

The MSS is a course-based graduate program, offering a mix of classroom and experiential education. This full-time, 12 month program is completed over three sessions. 

Graduates will acquire research-informed and multidisciplinary expertise in:

  • The role of evidence-based practice and program evaluation in the field of sport sciences
  • Working with the members of a sport sciences team to support positive sport outcomes
  • Identifying opportunities for actualization of human performance potential
  • Advocacy for sport and/or people within sport, and themselves in their roles

swim coach shows athlete tape of performance

Hands-on Practice and Learning

The MSS provides unparalleled learning environments for hands-on practice, working alongside leading practitioners in downtown Toronto and across the GTA.

You will have the opportunity to engage in 300 hours of professional, structured experience through a placement. Or, you can advance your expertise through an independent capstone project, working to apply your expertise to improve a specific area of practice for a community partner,

The program offers practice opportunities with hospitals, clinics, sport institutes, community organizations, and more!
 

Areas of Concentration

The MSS program offers three areas of concentration to help students streamline their research interests and come out of the program with a clearly articulated expertise:

  • Sport coaching and performance: Learn to design, implement and evaluate athlete development and performance programs, considering strength training and conditioning, nutrition and recovery regimes, sport psychology, and injury preventions.
  • Sport Integrity: Learn to recognize and critically assess sport access, experiences, and environments and to advocate for and implement strategies to achieve positive sport outcomes, considering athletes’ rights, athlete well-being, policy and environmental sustainability.
  • Sport Analytics: Learn to implement and evaluate programs and processes by applying technologies, statistics, and data analysis techniques in predicting and promoting performance and other positive outcomes in sport.

The program may be completed with or without a concentration.

male coach provides guidance to group of female athletes

Where can the MSS Degree Take You?

Graduates of the MSS program can pursue diverse career paths and roles, such as:

  • Safe sport officer
  • Athletic director
  • Sport data scientist
  • Exercise physiologist
  • Policy analyst
  • High performance lead coach
     

About the Faculty

The Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Toronto offers a unique learning environment where cutting-edge research takes place alongside high-performance strength and conditioning, child and youth physical activity programming and clinical practice in the David L. MacIntosh Clinic — a comprehensive sports medicine facility. Located in Canada’s most vibrant and culturally diverse city, the University of Toronto is consistently ranked among the world’s top universities. Our location, size and diversity provide unique opportunities for collaboration and innovation.

Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport

Friendly and Supportive Community

The Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education boasts a small close-knit community embedded within our prestigious University. As a student, you will enjoy an inclusive, welcoming and safe environment, with access to a wide range of student support services to  help you make the most of your university experience — inside and outside of  the classroom. 

  • Front line support through the Office of the Registrar and Student Services within our Faculty 
  • Academic student advisors 
  • Learning skills resources, workshops  and counselling including support through First Nations House 
  • KINections program, where students have access to curated virtual and on-campus activities that support wellness and connection, at KPE and with the local  and global community 
  • Health Sciences Writing Centre 
  • Career skills development 
  • An active graduate student association (KPEGS)

Explore the Master of Sports Science Viewbook

cover of MSS viewbook

 

 

Application and Admission Requirements

apply to the master of sport sciences program now