Exercise Science Program

• Athletic Training
• Exercise Physiology
  

Doctor of Philosophy in Exercise Science - The Doctoral program is designed to provide qualified applicants with an opportunity to pursue advanced study and research leading to the completion of the Ph.D. degree. The program involves a variety of courses, seminars, and independent research experiences, and typically requires four years of full-time study to complete (part-time study is possible, but usually requires five to six years to complete). Students work closely with a faculty mentor to design a program that is consistent with the mentor's research focus and that meets the unique needs of the student. For information on the research interests of specific faculty members who mentor doctoral students, see the "Faculty and Staff" section of this website.  Individuals involved in the doctoral program generally plan on careers in higher education academics, research, or leadership in their specific area of expertise.

Admission Requirements - Admission into the masters and doctoral programs in the School of Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences is based on the applicants previous academic training, their academic record, scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), letters of recommendation, intended area of study, and space within the graduate program.

The Application Form: All applicants must complete and submit the Application for Graduate Admission available through the Graduate School. While all information that is requested in the Application Form is important, it is particularly important for the applicant to clearly articulate their purpose in applying to the graduate program in exercise science. This should include a description of the area of research that they wish to pursue, as well as a statement of their long-term academic and professional goals. Note - The online version of the application is available through the university's graduate school.

The GRE: All applicants are required to complete the GRE. Scores must be received by the department before an applicant's file can be reviewed by the admissions committee. 

Recommendations: Three letters of recommendation are to be submitted by individuals who are qualified to assess the applicant's potential for graduate study. At least one of these letters should be from a former professor who is familiar with the applicants work, and all three should be from individuals who are experienced in exercise science or related areas.

Grades: Applicants to the masters program must have achieved a minimum GPA of 3.0 over the final two years (approximately 60 semester hours) of their undergraduate degree program. Applicants to the doctoral program must have achieved a minimum of a 3.25 GPA during the completion of their masters degree program. Note: All applicants to the doctoral degree program are expected to have completed a masters degree, or comparable graduate degree, in a field that relates to their intended area of doctoral study. The applicant is responsible for providing official transcripts of previous graduate and undergraduate academic work.

Other Admission Factors: In that both the masters and doctoral programs are selective admission programs, only a limited number of students are accepted each year. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission into either program. This is necessary to insure an appropriate student/advisor ratio. Additionally, the Admissions Committee may choose to waive any of the admission requirements when, in their judgment, it is in the best interest of the applicant and the program. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact a faculty member in their area of interest to discuss applying to the program. When at all possible applicants should plan to visit the department and meet with faculty in their area of interest to discuss their plans for graduate school.

Admission Status: Applicants to the masters program who meet all of the requirements and who are selected for admission are awarded Full Graduate Status. In some cases, an applicant to the masters program who has a deficiency may be granted Provisional Admission Status. This allows the applicant to begin graduate study, while at the same time rectifying the deficiencies. This is most frequently the case when an applicant's background in exercise science is deficient. Successful applicants to the doctoral program are awarded Full Graduate Status. There is no provisional status for doctoral students.

Admission Deadline: Potential applicants for the Graduate Program who wish to be considered for a Graduate Assistantship should submit their completed Graduate Admissions application by March 1. Beyond that date, applicants will still be considered for admission, but the opportunities for assistantships are significantly reduced.

Graduate Assistantships: There are several different types of Graduate Assistantships that are available through the School of Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences. These include traditional teaching assistantships within the department, research assistantships, and external clinical/practitioner assistantships. Internal assistantships are funded by the Graduate School and generally involve teaching. The external clinical/practitioner assistantships are funded by external agencies and organizations, and involve providing service to those agencies or organizations. A number of these external assistantships are specifically for those individuals who are certified Athletic Trainers and involve an assignment to a clinic and/or school where the individual serves as an athletic trainer. Research assistantships are funded by research grants, and are awarded by the faculty member who is the principle investigator on the grant. All assistantships are awarded for two academic semesters per year and involve a work assignment of approximately twenty hours per week. In return, the GA is provided with a stipend (salary) and a full tuition waiver. Generally, assistantships are awarded to master's degree students for a two year period and doctoral students receive support for up to four years. Generally, decisions on the awarding of assistantships are made during late March or early April. Thus, those wishing to be considered should have all of their application materials submitted by this time.