When Simon Fraser University opened in 1965, it established a Physical Development Centre in the Faculty of Education. This Centre included Physical Development Studies, which was first chaired by Dr. Glen Kirchner. This unit was physically located on the top of the gymnasium complex with laboratories in the gymnasium and across campus.

In September 1967, SFU instituted the degree of Bachelor of Science (Kinesiology) intended for students interested in becoming physical education specialists, or pursuing graduate studies and research. It was the first interdisciplinary program in this field to be offered in North America.

The Department of Physical Studies was split in 1970, when those faculty with an interest in physical education transferred to the Professional Development Centre within the Faculty of Education. The remaining faculty became the Department of Kinesiology with Dr. Eric Banister as its first chair. This was the first Department of Kinesiology in Canada. The specialist in dance moved to the Centre for the Arts, later re-named the School for the Contemporary Arts. The Department remained in the Faculty of Education administratively although the B.Sc. program was under the direction of the Interdisciplinary Committee on Kinesiology chaired by the Dean of Science. The mandate then was changed to the study of humans structure and function.

In 1972 the Department of Kinesiology was moved to the newly-established Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies. After Dr. Banister's term as Chair had ended, he was replaced by Dr. Tom Calvert, who remained as chair until he became Dean of the Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies in 1977. At this point, Dr. Eric Banister returned for a further term as Chair of the department.

In 1976 the physical location of the department was moved to the top floor of the Library Building with laboratories in various locations across campus. It wasn't until 1981 that the department moved to its current building, the Shrum Science Centre, with offices and laboratories in the same location. There has been modest expanison of laborartory and office space since that time. In 1982 Dr. John Dickinson became Chairman of the Department, and in 1985 the academic location of Kinesiology was changed when the Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies was disbanded. Kinesiology became a School in the new Faculty of Applied Sciences. Dr. Andy Hoffer was appointed as the new Director of the School in 1991. Dr. John Dickinson returned as Director in 1997. Dr Jim Morrison took over as Director from 2000 to 2002 after which Dr. John Dickinson was re-appointed for a three-year term.

During the 33 years of its history, the School of Kinesiology has seen steady growth in terms of student numbers and in terms of faculty size. The first Masters student was graduated in 1970 and the first Ph.D. student in l980. As of 1998, approximately 500 undergraduate students and 50 graduate students study Kinesiology at SFU.