Contact:

Doctoral students in Exercise Science join faculty members in an active community of scholarship and practice to engage in a research-based exploration of the effects of exercise on human health, disease, and performance. Students benefit from a faculty with diverse research interests, from working closely with one or more of these faculty members with whom they share research interests, and from the supporting laboratory facilities within the department.   

The program grants a Ph.D. degree, and prepares students for careers involving sport, health, and human performance-related biomedical research, such as:

• Faculty positions in university departments where exercise and human physical activity have emerged as major focus areas, for example, kinesiology, nutrition, public health, and others;
• Postdoctoral positions in a variety of settings to (e.g., major universities, medical schools) for additional training in the area of expertise;
• Research positions in other settings. For example, graduates are well-suited for research careers in applied human physiology and/or human health, as exemplified by the research priorities of Federal agencies such as NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Agency), and the NIH (The National Institutes of Health), and the USARIEM (US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine).

The program’s goals are for graduates to gain knowledge of important concepts, theoretical frameworks, and modes of inquiry in Exercise Science; and to develop the next generation of research scientists and educators in the field. 

Facilities:

The department houses several laboratories that support integrative research at the cellular, tissue, and whole organism level. Laboratories include:

• The Human Performance Laboratory - Conducts non-invasive assessment of vascular structure and function to explore the impact of exercise on emerging markers of cardiovascular disease risk;
• The Altitude Simulation Laboratory - Uses a human-scale, large hypoxia chamber during metabolic and/or exercise testing under simulated altitude conditions up to 20,000 feet;
• The Kinesmetrics Laboratory - with the goal of advancing knowledge of physical behavior’s (e.g., sleep, sedentary behavior, and physical activity) consequences on health;
• The Clinical Research Laboratory - Utilizes metabolic testing facilities in conjunction with wet lab space to measure cardio-metabolic risk factors (e.g., insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes) in obese populations.
• The Neuromuscular Physiology Laboratory - uses noninvasive brain stimulation and assessment of motor unit behavior to investigate changes that occur in the brain and spinal cord that impact skeletal muscle function throughout the lifespan. 
• The System Motor Control and Biomechanics Laboratory - uses biomechanics equipment and neuro-stimulation techniques to examine how the musculoskeletal and nervous systems produce functional movements, as well as how these systems’ functions change due to aging or diseases. 

Admission and Financial Support:

Prospective students with a bachelor’s degree and the prerequisites listed below may apply to the Ph.D. program. These students will first complete Phase I of the program, which are the same requirements completed by master’s degree students, before moving on to Phase II (see curriculum information below). Applicants who are not sure of their plans may decide to apply to the Exercise Science M.S. program, with the option to apply to the Ph.D. program toward the end of the master’s degree. Those who already hold a master’s degree in Exercise Science may also apply, and, depending on review of past coursework, may begin with Phase II of the program.

Applicants should have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0, and transcripts that show successful completion of:    

• 8 semester hours of General Biology
• 8 semester hours of Human Anatomy and Physiology
• 3 credit hours of exercise physiology
• 3 credit hours of general science

Graduate assistantships are available on a competitive basis that cover full tuition costs, in addition to a stipend.