Doctor of Philosophy (Specialization in Exercise Science)
Preface
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree with a specialization in exercise
science has been designed to provide students with the coursework, laboratory,
and practical experiences to become a leading educator and researcher.
Residency Requirement
A minimum of two academic years of graduate study beyond the master's
degree is required for completion of the Ph.D. program in the College
of Education. At least one year of doctoral study must be spent in continuous
residence as a full-time student.
Admission to the
Ph.D. Program
To be considered for regular admission to the Ph.D. program, a student
must satisfy the following criteria: 1) A master's degree from an accredited
institution; 2) A 3.0 grade point average for the last 60 semester hours
(4.0 scale); and 3) An entrance exam score of at least 50 on the Miller
Analogies Test or at least 1000 on the Graduate Record Exam.
Sequence of Steps
through the Ph.D. Program
The sequence of steps for a doctoral student from admission to graduation
is:
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Satisfaction of admission requirements
-
Declaration of intent
-
Formation of doctoral program of study
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Completion of coursework
-
Completion of major comprehensive exams
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Formation of doctoral dissertation committee
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Proposal of doctoral dissertation
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Admission to candidacy
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Oral examination of the dissertation
-
Submission of final copies of the dissertation
Exercise Science Degree Requirements
The Program
The Ph.D. degree requires a minimum of 72 hours beyond the master's
degree. This program includes 1) 24-hour exercise science core; 2) 12-hour
competency in research and statistics; 3) 12 hours of foundation courses
in human physiology/biochemistry to support the major; and 4) 24 hours
of dissertation.
Doctoral Dissertation
The doctoral dissertation is designed to provide students with a significant
research experience and is considered a contribution to the research
and the literature in the field. It is anticipated that students will
complete credits for the dissertation after the completion of all coursework
and the comprehensive examination. The student will work closely with
the doctoral program chair and committee in developing a dissertation
proposal and conducting the dissertation research. The doctoral dissertation
committee will consist of a minimum of five faculty members, one of
who must be from outside the department.
Advising
All doctoral students will be assigned an interim advisor upon admission
to the Ph.D. program. The interim advisor will assist the student in
the evaluation of previous work, selection of coursework, and the preliminary
work in selecting a program chair and a program advisory committee.
Transfer Credit
Appropriate graduate credit beyond the master's degree that was earned
in other accredited institutions may be transferred and applied to doctoral
requirements. However, in no case can the amount of transferred credit
exceed one-half of the hours required for the degree.
Financial Support
A limited number of graduate assistantships are available each year.
These assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis. Graduate assistants
may be asked to assist with teaching, research, and/or the outreach
mission of the academic unit.
Time Limit for Doctoral Study
Students must complete all requirements for the Ph.D. degree within
seven calendar years from the time they are officially admitted to a
program of study.