Nov 21, 2024  
2020-2021 Graduate Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Kinesiology, Ph.D.


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Return to: Department of Kinesiology and Health  

Concentration Areas: Biomechanics and Physical Rehabilitation, Exercise Physiology, Physical Education Teacher Education, Psychology of Physical Activity, Rehabilitation Science, Sport Administration

The Ph.D. major in Kinesiology is designed to prepare students for research and teaching careers at colleges and universities and for health, physiological performance, rehabilitative science, and related fields.

Concentration areas that are available within this program: Biomechanics and Physical Rehabilitation, Exercise Physiology, Exercise Psychology, Physical Education Teacher Education, Rehabilitation Science, and Sport Administration.

The concentration in Biomechanics and Physical Rehabilitation focuses on the scientific description of human movement through advanced techniques utilizing computerized film and high speed video graphical analysis systems, computerized force measuring systems, electromyography, and other state-of-the-art instrumentation with applications in many disciplines, including ergonomics, engineering, medicine, sport, and exercise.

The concentration in Exercise Physiology prepares students to teach and to conduct research in areas related to cardiopulmonary and neuromuscular physiology with particular emphases on exercise metabolism and performance in healthy populations, and in populations with chronic diseases (e.g., cardiovascular, metabolic, and neuromuscular diseases).

The concentration in Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) prepares students who have a Master’s degree in health and physical education and initial teaching certification in that subject area for careers in higher education as scholars, researchers, and teacher educators. Research expertise will be acquired in the areas of instruction, curriculum, assessment, teacher education, and teacher development. The cognate area will prepare students as members of communities of scholars in higher education.

The concentration in Psychology of Physical Activity prepares students to teach and to conduct research in areas related to the correlates of physical activity, mental health benefits of physical activity, theory-based behavior change strategies, and the design, implementation, and testing of theory-based physical activity interventions. Completion of this concentration will not lead to students becoming licensed psychologists.

The concentration in Rehabilitation Science is open to students currently enrolled in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program in the Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions. The program is designed to augment the existing DPT program to prepare physical therapists to teach and conduct research in areas related to physical rehabilitation, biomechanics, and physiology.

The concentration in Sport Administration prepares students to teach and conduct research in areas related to sport administration, including sport management, marketing, finance, law, or communication.

Degree Requirements


Core Area (14-18 Hours)


The Core Area consists of 15 semester hours of research coursework and 3 semester hours of Social Foundation of Education and Psychology of Learning coursework.

Research Core (14-15 Hours)


Required for All Concentrations (3 Hours)

Choose one course (3):

Required for All Concentrations Except Rehabilitation Science (12 Hours)

  • A two-course sequence (6 hours) in research methodology (see below for specific tracks/courses)
  • Two courses (6 hours) in advanced research methods as identified by the Doctoral Advisory Committee
Required for the Rehabilitation Science Concentration (11 Hours)

  • A two-course sequence (5 hours) in research methodology
6 Hours in Advanced Research Methods

Social Foundations of Education and Psychology of Learning Core (3 Hours)


(applies to all concentrations except Rehabilitation Science)

In addition to highly specialized research in specific areas, doctoral students in the College of Education and Human Development must possess a deep understanding of comprehensive, theoretical principles and broad ideological conceptualizations.

Through historical, philosophical, sociological, and anthropological inquiry, knowledge of social foundations fosters the types of speculative investigations essential for thorough understandings of those theoretical principles and ideological conceptualizations necessary to uphold the integrity of the Ph.D. degree.

The psychology of learning component is based on the following guiding principles: (1) Educational leaders make judgments that affect learning. (2) Doctoral students should have a substantial understanding of the psychology of learning.

Select one (3):

Major Area (19-21 Hours)


The students select one of the following four concentration areas:

Cognate Area (9 Hours)


Coursework applied to meet the cognate area requirement must be taken outside the major field of study.

Biomechanics Concentration (9):

The purpose of the cognate area requirement is to provide opportunities for doctoral students to develop an extended knowledge base associated with the major field of study. Courses fulfilling the cognate requirement will be determined in consultation with the doctoral advisor and approved by the Doctoral Advisory Committee.

Exercise Physiology Concentration (9):

The purpose of the cognate area requirement is to provide opportunities for doctoral students to develop an extended knowledge base associated with the major field of study. Courses fulfilling the cognate requirement will be determined in consultation with the doctoral advisor and approved by the Doctoral Advisory Committee.

Physical Education Teacher Education Concentration (9):

The purpose of the cognate area requirement is to provide opportunities for doctoral students to develop an extended knowledge based associated with the major field of study, with an emphasis on careers in higher education. Courses fulfilling the cognate requirement will be determined in consultation with the doctoral advisor and approved by the Doctoral Advisory Committee.

Psychology of Physical Activity Concentration (9):

The purpose of the cognate area requirement is to provide opportunities for doctoral students to develop an extended knowledge base associated with the major field of study. Courses fulfilling the cognate requirement will be determined in consultation with the doctoral advisor and approved by the Doctoral Advisory Committee.

Sport Administration Concentration (9):

The purpose of the cognate area requirement is to provide opportunities for doctoral students to develop an extended knowledge based associated with the major field of study, with an emphasis on careers in higher education. Courses fulfilling the cognate requirement will be determined in consultation with the doctoral advisor and approved by the Doctoral Advisory Committee.

The cognate area does not apply to the Rehabilitation Science concentration.

Dissertation (15 Hours)


Required (15):

Total Semester Hours for Degree: Minimum of 49-63


Total Semester Hours for Degree (Biomechanics and Physical Rehabilitation): Minimum of 61
Total Semester Hours for Degree (Exercise Physiology): Minimum of 61
Total Semester Hours for Degree (Physical Education Teacher Education): Minimum of 63
Total Semester Hours for Degree (Psychology of Physical Activity): Minimum of 63
Total Semester Hours for Degree (Rehabilitation Science): Minimum 49
Total Semester Hours for Degree (Sport Administration): Minimum of 61

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