A researcher is observing exercise testing of a participant. The participant is seated on a bike, wearing a blood pressure cuff, and wearing a mask over their nose and mouth with a long tube connected.

The Department of Kinesiology’s mission is to create, interpret, transmit, and apply knowledge related to movement, exercise, and human occupation with the ultimate goal of enhancing human health, productivity, and quality of life.

The Ph.D. degree in Kinesiology can be pursued through one of its named options. These named options are formal sub-majors documented on the transcript.

Students apply to the Ph.D. in Kinesiology through one of the named options:

Graduate School Resources

Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.

Program Resources

Prospective students should see the program website for funding information.

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Minimum Graduate School Requirements

Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements, in addition to the program requirements listed below.

Major Requirements

curricular requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement 51 credits
Minimum Residence Credit Requirement See Named Options for policy information.
Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement See Named Options for policy information.
Overall Graduate GPA Requirement See Named Options for policy information.
Other Grade Requirements See Named Options for policy information.
Assessments and Examinations See Named Options for policy information.
Language Requirements No language requirements.

Named Options

A named option is a formally documented sub-major within an academic major program. Named options appear on the transcript with degree conferral. Students pursuing the Ph.D. in Kinesiology must select one of the following named options:

Students should refer to one of the named options for policy information:

Graduate School Resources

Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career. 

  1. Demonstrate academic mastery in at least one of the broad areas of specialization represented in the Department of Kinesiology.
  2. Demonstrate a broad understanding of major current and past theories, research findings, methodologies, and techniques in their area of specialization both orally and in writing.
  3. Retrieve and examine scientific literature, evaluate evidence for and against hypotheses, identify knowledge gaps, strengths and weaknesses in existing literature, synthesize knowledge, and develop conclusions.
  4. Formulate ideas, concepts, designs and/or techniques beyond the current boundaries of knowledge with their area of specialization.
  5. Demonstrate a broad knowledge of the field of kinesiology extending beyond their area of specialization.
  6. Develop and complete original research that makes a substantive contribution in advancing their area of specialization.
  7. Develop testable hypotheses and predictions for their own realistic and feasible research projects.
  8. Conduct independent research and analyze and interpret resulting data.
  9. Clearly communicate their ideas in both oral and written form through the preparation and defense of a dissertation.
  10. Foster ethical and professional conduct.
  11. Use scientific rigor when designing experiments, collecting and analyzing data, interpreting and reporting results.

For a full list of our faculty members, please visit our website.