The Ph.D. degree in Exercise Physiology prepares students for a wide variety of career options, including exercise prescription and research. The program develops the competencies needed for those who intend to teach exercise physiology, pursue research or apply exercise physiology in practice. To apply for this degree you must first contact a faculty member to see if they are able to accept you into their laboratory. It is the expectation that the student has identified a mentor prior to applying for the doctoral degree.
Exercise Physiology - Ph.D.
Contact Us
- Program Coordinator: J. Derek Kingsley | jkingsle@kent.edu | 330-672-0222
- Connect with an Admissions Counselor: U.S. Student | International Student
Program Information
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Program Description
Professional Licensure Disclosure
This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.
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Admissions
For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.
Admission Requirements
- Master's degree from an accredited college or university
- Previous degree in exercise science or equivalent preparation
- Minimum 2.750 graduate GPA on a 4.000 point scale (minimum 3.500 GPA is recommended)
- Official transcript(s)
- Curriculum vita or résumé
- Goal statement
- Two letters of recommendation
- Interview
- English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning one of the following:
- Minimum 550 TOEFL PBT score (paper-based version)
- Minimum 79 TOEFL IBT score (Internet-based version)
- Minimum 77 MELAB score
- Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
- Minimum 58 PTE score
- Minimum 110 Duolingo English Test score
Application Deadlines
- Fall Semester
- Rolling admissions
- Spring Semester
- Rolling admissions
- Summer Term
- Rolling admissions
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Learning Outcomes
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Present their research data regionally and nationally at conferences.
- Publish their research data in peer reviewed publications.
- Teach classes associated with exercise physiology.
- Work in the field and implement community-based exercise programing.
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Coursework
On This Page
Program Requirements
Course List Code Title Credit Hours Major Requirements EXPH 73050 RESEARCH PROCESSES IN ATHLETIC TRAINING AND EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY 3 EXPH 73051 QUANTITATIVE AND RESEARCH METHODS IN ATHLETIC TRAINING AND EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY 3 EXPH 73091 RESEARCH SEMINAR 1 2 Exercise Physiology Electives, choose from the following: 9 EXPH 75075MUSCLE FUNCTION AND EXERCISE EXPH 75076ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS AND EXERCISE EXPH 75081ENERGY METABOLISM AND BODY COMPOSITION or EXPH 75083EXERCISE ENERGY METABOLISM EXPH 75082CARDIO-RESPIRATORY FUNCTION or EXPH 75084CARDIOVASCULAR-RESPIRATORY DYNAMICS DURING EXERCISE Physiology Electives, choose from the following: 6 EXPH 70610PHYSIOLOGY OF AGING:IMPLICATIONS FOR HUMAN BEHAVIOR EXPH 75080PHYSIOLOGICAL BASIS OF EXERCISE AND SPORT EXPH 75086NEUROBIOLOGY OF EXERCISE AND MOVEMENT Additional electives as approved by faculty advisorCulminating Requirements EXPH 83098 RESEARCH 12 EXPH 83199 DISSERTATION I 2 30 Minimum Total Credit Hours: 65 - 1
Students must enroll in EXPH 73091 for two semesters.
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Upon admission to candidacy, each doctoral candidate must register for EXPH 83199. It is expected that a doctoral candidate will continuously register for Dissertation I for a total of 30 credit hours, and thereafter EXPH 83299, each semester until all requirements for the degree have been met. The dissertation must show that the student has the competency to conduct research in a discriminating and original manner. The quality of the dissertation must be such that one or more articles acceptable for publication in a professional journal may be expected to be derived from it.
Graduation Requirements
- Only in rare instances does a student fulfill the educational and research expectations within the minimum-credit-hour requirement for this degree. Any deficiencies in a doctoral student’s academic preparation must be corrected very early in the approved academic program.
Candidacy Examination
Students will be required to pass an oral and written candidacy examination after coursework is completed before beginning their dissertation. Prior to taking the candidacy examination, the student must demonstrate his or her ability to conduct independent research related to the field of exercise physiology. This may be in the form of a completed thesis, an independent study project or an article published in an acceptable research journal. The acceptability of such evidence is to be determined by faculty advising students in exercise physiology.
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Program Delivery
- Delivery:
- In person
- Location:
- Kent Campus
- Delivery:
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Accreditation
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries
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Biological science teachers, postsecondary
9.3%
much faster than the average
64,700
number of jobs
$85,600
potential earnings
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Exercise physiologists
11.3%
much faster than the average
19,800
number of jobs
$50,280
potential earnings
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Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
6.1%
faster than the average
138,300
number of jobs
$91,510
potential earnings
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Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.