Initially two directors conducted an athletic and physical education program for female and male students and staff. Classes were designed to prepare some students as physical education instructors for elementary and secondary schools. As early as 1940 all freshmen students were required to enroll in a one-year physical activities class. In 1950 a Department of Physical Education was established to carry on a service program for all students and to provide for physical education classes as electives in the Colleges of Arts and Science and Education. The Department became a School within Arts and Science in 1958, offering a 4-year course leading to the Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education. The graduate program and scientific research expanded in the 1960s and in 1972 the School achieved College status. In 1998 the College was renamed the College of Kinesiology. The following individuals have served as Dean or Director: Directors--E.W. "Joe" Griffith (1919-1952); Ethel Mary Cartwright (1931-1947); K. Gowie (1958-1959); W.A.R. Orban (1959-1966); H. Nixon (1966-1972). Deans--H. Nixon [Acting] (1972-1974); H. Nixon (1974-1977); J.D. Dewar (1977-1986); R.L. Mirwald (1986-1996); R.A. Faulkner (1996- ).

Although the Sociology Department was formally established in 1958, classes in Sociology had been offered since 1940 through the Department of Economics. The merger of Economics and Political Science in 1947 resulted in the creation of a sub-department of Sociology. Within a year of its creation the Department of Sociology was offering graduate level classes and was developing a research program that would focus on ethnic relations, medical sociology, family studies and community development. In an effort to further facilitate excellence in research and scholarly work, the social research unit was created in 1983. The following have served as head of the department: R.E. DuWors (1957-1968); J.E. Abramson (1968-1972); D.R. Cherry (1972-1974); G.S. Basran (1974-1978); B.S. Bolaria (9178-1990); K. Storrie (1990-1993); T. Wotherspoon (1993-).