Exercise Physical Health Education Cultural Studies
EPHECS offers Masters of Arts (MA) Degrees in:
- Physical and Health Education Pedagogy
- Adapted Physical Activity
Physical and Health Education Pedagogy
Physical and Health Education Pedagogy is a broad area that addresses issues of teaching-learning in a variety of settings in which physical activity and other health behaviours are involved. This area is also concerned with the facilitation and promotion of healthy lifestyles across the life-span, with a particular emphasis on childhood and adolescence.
Current research in the Physical and Health Education Pedagogy program draws upon educational, developmental, psychosocial and health promotion perspectives to investigate topics such as the impact of participation over time in physical education and sport activities on the health and development of children and youth.
Other topics being currently studied include the role of perceptions of relatedness to others in the internalization of physical activity values and behaviours in children and youth and the promotion of physical activity during adolescence by bringing together school, family, and community resources.
Current research in the Physical and Health Education Pedagogy program draws upon educational, developmental, psychosocial and health promotion perspectives to investigate topics such as the impact of participation over time in physical education and sport activities on the health and development of children and youth.
Other topics being currently studied include the role of perceptions of relatedness to others in the internalization of physical activity values and behaviours in children and youth and the promotion of physical activity during adolescence by bringing together school, family, and community resources.
Adapted Physical Activity
Adapted physical activity is a professional branch of kinesiology which deals with people who have special needs in the context of physical activity. In many cases this involves individuals with disabilities, but in reality it includes anyone requiring special assistance for optimal development at some point in their lives.
Thus, adapted physical activity is more about individualizing instruction, matching personal strengths and interests with appropriate activities and adapting environments to promote full participation in physical activity, regardless of the population being studied.
The McGill research team emphasizes motor behavior, motivation, and self-determination; as well as intervention strategies that promote personal autonomy. Students are encouraged to seek their own research questions within these constraints. The individuals who have kindly participated in this research program include those with an intellectual disability, learning disability, developmental coordination disorder, and autism.
The graduate program broadly emphasizes motor learning, control, performance, and development of persons with developmental disabilities. Developmental disabilities include those with autism, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and coordination problems. Most research is applied in nature to real world physical activity settings, but with a clear theoretical foundation.
Specifically, the research lines of inquiry have two main thrusts:
Thus, adapted physical activity is more about individualizing instruction, matching personal strengths and interests with appropriate activities and adapting environments to promote full participation in physical activity, regardless of the population being studied.
The McGill research team emphasizes motor behavior, motivation, and self-determination; as well as intervention strategies that promote personal autonomy. Students are encouraged to seek their own research questions within these constraints. The individuals who have kindly participated in this research program include those with an intellectual disability, learning disability, developmental coordination disorder, and autism.
The graduate program broadly emphasizes motor learning, control, performance, and development of persons with developmental disabilities. Developmental disabilities include those with autism, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and coordination problems. Most research is applied in nature to real world physical activity settings, but with a clear theoretical foundation.
Specifically, the research lines of inquiry have two main thrusts:
- Motor Behavior of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder:Studies have investigated the motor development and skills of individuals with autism, motor planning, physical activity leisure interests, aspirations as viewed by parents, and the benefits of a variety of instructional interventions.
- Motor Learning and performance of Children with Developmental Disabilities: These studies have explored skill acquisition of children who have coordination difficulties from a cognitive psychology perspective; more specifically self-regulation while learning a motor task. Self-determination models have guided several research projects including a Pictorial Motivation Scale, a study of choice making, and a scale to investigate the use of self-determination techniques by physical education teachers.