As you progress further in your BKIN degree and look to develop working skills while having experienced-based learning, you have the opportunity to apply for Work-Integrated Learning courses that are only available to BKIN students. You will earn credit for these upper-level courses and can have them count towards your BKIN degree as KIN elective courses.
What is a Work-Integrated Learning course?
Each Work-Integrated Learning course will consist of class meetings, the work experience, and independent learning activities. It is an opportunity to engage in a process of direct experience, reflection, critical analysis, and experimentation to integrate academic learning with applied experience. Work-Integrated Learning is also an opportunity to develop professional interpersonal relationships in community settings and/or work environments.
Students will be able to take a maximum of 2 Work-Integrated Learning courses, not to exceed a total of 9 credits. These courses can count towards your BKIN degree as KIN upper-level elective courses, but not as stream-specific KIN upper-level courses. Note that these courses are not intended to provide academic credit for volunteer and/or work experiences that students are already participating in.
How am I graded for this type of course?
Students in Work-Integrated Learning courses will be assessed using Pass/Fail scale. You will be assigned a grade for each of the course assessments and will be required to achieve a final grade of 70% or higher to be assigned ‘Credit’ (pass) for the course. This is different from Credit/D/Fail since students will not have the option to receive a course mark upon completion of the course. Note that Work-integrated Learning courses can count towards the overall 48 credits total of upper-level courses required for your BKIN degree.
How can I take a WIL course?
You will need to apply for entry into a Work-Integrated Learning course. Admissions will be broad-based and course dependent. While GPA will not be considered within the admissions process, students must be in good academic standing with a sessional average of 60% or greater and fail no more than 6 credits. Students are expected to be aware of prerequisites to the course(s) that they are applying for and plan accordingly.
Students will need to complete the application process provided on this page by the deadlines listed below.
Facilitators will make offers to students around mid-March for these courses running in 2024 Summer and Winter sessions. The hope is that by providing you advance notice if you are successfully selected for a Work-Integrated Learning course, you can make course registration plans around your WIL schedule.
Learn More About Upcoming WIL Courses
KIN Advising and the course instructors hosted an online Work-Integrated Learning Information Session on February 8th, 2024 from 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM via Zoom. All details shared during the WIL Info Session and key points from the Q&A are included on this page. All information needed for the application is provided below.
Click below to find out more about the different Work-Integrated Learning courses available for this coming 2024S and 2024W sessions.
Exercise Management of Chronic Neurological Balance and Mobility Conditions
Instructors: Dr. Mark Carpenter and Sally-Anne Stelling
Offered in: 2024S, 2024W Term 1, 2024W Term 2
Credits: 3 credits
Enrollment: 10 students will be selected
Opportunity to gain hands-on experience working within an inter-professional health team to assess and rehabilitate neurological balance and mobility deficits using evidence-based group, and individualized, exercise programming. Students will have the opportunity to assist in the delivery of in-person exercise-based rehabilitation through the Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Clinic (PTRC) and/or the BC Brain Well Program (BWP). In the PTRC students will be trained to deliver the Fitness and Mobility Exercise Program (FAME), a group exercise program for people after Stroke. In the BWP, students will assist with in-person exercise classes for individuals with acquired or degenerative neurological disorders targeting in the areas of aerobic, agility, strength, and balance. To compliment the practical experience, students will be required to complete training modules in a) motivation/behaviour modification and motivational interviewing skills, b) balance and mobility outcome measures and c) evidence-based best practices for exercise-training for neurological balance and mobility deficits.
Prerequisites: All of KIN 320, KIN 411.
Recommended courses: KIN 482A, KIN 313.
Questions about this Work-Integrated Learning course should be directed to Dr. Carpenter at: mark.carpenter@ubc.ca.
Kinesiology in Primary Care Medicine
Instructors: Dr. Robert Boushel
Offered in: 2024S Term 1 – Term 2 (May 2024 – August 2024)
Credits: 6 credits (3 credits per term)
Enrollment: 8 students will be selected
This course will focus on exercise prescription and programming in team-based primary care practice, working with Canadian Health Advanced by Nutrition and Graded Exercise (CHANGE) BC through collaboration with the Pacific Northwest Division of Family Practice, and the School of Kinesiology. The experiential part of the course entails working with an interprofessional primary care team including family physicians, kinesiologist, practice support coaches and dieticians to implement exercise testing, prescription and programming as a cornerstone of chronic disease prevention and health promotion primarily focused on patients at risk for metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.
Prerequisites: KIN 235, KIN 335, KIN 320, CPR C.
Recommended: KIN 420.
Recommended Applicant: We invite all upper year kinesiology students looking to develop their clinical skills in exercise testing, prescription, and delivery, as well as collaborative care, to apply. Interested students should have the ability to work independently, with regular scheduled check-ins. Experience working with patients in a clinical setting and/or prescribing and delivering exercise, and cultural sensitivity training are assets.
Questions about this Work-Integrated Learning course should be directed to Dr. Boushel at: robert.boushel@ubc.ca.
Physical Activity Counselling and Prescription for People with Spinal Cord Dysfunction
Instructor: Dr. Jasmin Ma
Placement Supervisor: Milly Zaletelj, PARC Manager
Offered in: 2024W Term 1 – Term 2 (September 2024 – April 2025)
Credits: 6 credits
Enrollment: Approximately 10 students will be selected
Meeting Times (tentative): Term 1: Wednesdays 10:30am-12:00pm; Term 2: Wednesdays 12:20pm-2:00pm. Placement hours are determined based on your availability.
Description/Why you should apply: This course will provide hands-on experience working with members of the Yuel Family Physical Activity Research Centre (PARC) at the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre. PARC provides accessible physical activity opportunities for people with spinal cord dysfunction including drop-in gym hours and exercise classes (in-person and online). Students in this course will apply skills in exercise testing, prescription, and physical activity counselling as an opportunity for students and PARC members to learn reciprocally from one another. The long-term aim is for students to leave the program demonstrating confidence and competence to work with people with disabilities in their future careers and beyond.
Requirements: While there are no hard pre-requisites, this course is open to KIN students in years 3 (at the time of course start) and above. Students must have completed or plan to take KIN 341 (Instructional strategies for including persons with disabilities in physical activity; new course code KIN 351: Physical activity and disability) and KIN 320 (Exercise testing and prescription). These are co-requisites for the course to ensure you have the basic skillset to work with PARC clients.
Application materials:
1) Updated CV
2) 450-word text response OR 2-minute video in MP4 format responding to the question below:
*Please name your file as “[first name] [last name] PARC WIL Application”
Question: What experience do you have working with people with disabilities and why is a placement at PARC with a focus on inclusive physical activity counselling and prescription important to you?
Tips for a successful application:
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- While the option for a video or a text submission is given, video submissions allow us the ability to better appraise your communication skills
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- In your application, show that you:
- Have the ability or potential to communicate respectfully, engage meaningfully, and be a good fit for the PARC environment
- Have the experience or potential to work in exercise prescription and counselling with people with disabilities
- Can demonstrate critical reflection and thoughtfulness of how the PARC experience will benefit you and/or how you will contribute to the PARC experience
- In your application, show that you:
Note: To keep your audience in mind, the selection committee is comprised of the faculty supervisor, PARC management, and PARC participants.
Questions about this Work-Integrated Learning course should be directed to Dr. Ma at: jasmin.ma@ubc.ca.
Undergraduate Research Experience in Neuromechanics
Instructor: Dr. Jean-Sébastien Blouin
Offered in: 2024W Term 1 – Term 2 (September 2024 – April 2025)
Credits: 9 credits (6 credits in Term 1 and 3 credits in Term 2)
Enrollment: 6-8 students will be selected
Opportunity to gain hands-on research experience in neuromechanics. Students will learn diverse research methods, computational skills and scientific dissemination related to neuromechanics research in Kinesiology. They will have the opportunity to assist with state-of-the-art research and gain experience with innovative technology while working with graduate students or post-doctoral fellows. They are expected to assist with all aspects of a research project, including ethics application (or amendments), recruitment of participants, data collection and data analysis. Depending on the lab they work in, undergraduate students may be encouraged to participate in scientific outreach activities to disseminate what they learned to members of the larger community. To complement the practical research experience, students will learn the principles underlying scientific communication and apply these principles in the form of an oral dissemination of scientific results.
Students should apply if they are looking for a unique research learning experience that exposes them to state-of-the-art neuromechanics research in Kinesiology and if they desire an experience similar to graduate training to enable them to explore research as a potential career path.
Prerequisites: Open to KIN students in years 3 and 4. Students must have two of the following: KIN 311, KIN 313, KIN 316, KIN 411, KIN 419, KIN 482A, KIN 482C, KIN 482E.
Questions about this Work-Integrated Learning course should be directed to Dr. Blouin at: jean-sebastien.blouin@ubc.ca.
Exercise Training for Healthy Aging
Offered in: 2024W Term 1 – Term 2 (September 2024 – April 2025)
Credits: 3 credits (across two terms)
Enrollment: 25 students will be selected
Opportunity to gain hands-on experience working with qualified exercise professionals to assess and improve cardiovascular and musculoskeletal fitness in healthy middle aged and older adults using evidence-based group exercise programming.
This course is an opportunity for students to develop practical kinesiology skills, interact with healthy exercisers of all ages, and observe the benefits of exercise on musculoskeletal function and quality of life. Students will assist in the delivery of exercise programming under the supervision of Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) certified trainers and a certified exercise physiologist.
Prerequisites: KIN 120. Must have First Aid + CPR C and Criminal Record check with Vulnerable Sector before starting, but not before applying.
Questions about this Work-Integrated Learning course can be directed to André Pelletier at: andre.pelletier@ubc.ca.
FAQ
No, students do not get paid for their work in a WIL course as it is done as part of academic coursework and credit that you are receiving towards your BKIN degree. It is important to recognize that skills gained during WIL can give students opportunities to acquire paid jobs in the future.
GPA will not be considered within the admissions process, but students must be in good academic standing with a sessional average of 60% or greater and fail no more than 6 credits.
WIL courses are graded as Pass/Fail, and would not have a percentage-grade associated with it on your transcript. You may be able to use the skills and experience that you have gained in a WIL course towards your application or interview processes, depending on the program(s) that you are applying to.
Yes, this is fine so long as you successfully complete your prereqs in time before your placement in the WIL course.
Prerequisite courses must be successfully completed before placement into the WIL course. For Physical Activity Counselling and Prescription for People with Spinal Cord Dysfunction (Dr. Jasmin Ma), KIN 320 and KIN 341 are co-requisites that can be taken at the same time as the WIL course.
Taking a WIL course would need to fall within your regular limits as a BKIN student, which would be up to 12 credits in a summer session, or up to 33 credits in a winter session with up to 18 credits in one term. With that being said, we encourage you to carefully consider the time commitment and flexibility that you will need for your WIL course and factor this in to your course planning accordingly.
References are not required in the application process. However, instructors reserve the right to request this from applicants or may require a brief interview to get to know the student if they are shortlisted.
Preference will be given to those with prior experience. Depending on the number of applicants and/or availability of each applicant, your application may still be considered. Make sure to share any relevant experience so that evaluators can see what you can bring to the WIL course.
The intention of having the WIL Info Session and application process moved earlier is so that you are able to have your WIL courses confirmed before registration and be able to plan around this commitment. Please ensure that if you are applying to a WIL course, you are ready to commit to the hours and schedule involved for the entire duration of the course.
You can re-submit the application form with your updated WIL preference ranking. IMPORTANT: Please make sure to clearly indicate that you are re-submitting by adding wording when inputting your name in the form.