This Ph.D. program covers all aspects of Health and Exercise Science. While it primarily prepares students for academic and research careers, it is also a pathway to careers outside academia (e.g. public health, research foundations, footwear/equipment, pharmaceutical, or nutrition industries) that require advanced training in research. The program trains professionals in basic and applied research centered around preventing age-related decline in human health and function, understanding the pathophysiology of disease and disability, as well as designing and testing novel countermeasures and maximizing functional performance in first responders, soldiers, and athletes.
Learning Objectives
- Demonstrate knowledge and critical thinking skills within the research laboratory and the classroom (leadership, administrative, teaching/communication, and professional attitude) through laboratory and teaching experiences.
- Design, implement, execute, and complete novel scientific experiments, reflecting the proper conduct of scientific inquiry.
- Appraise and apply understanding of ethical issues related to conducting research, best scientific practices and standards for rigor and reproducibility, and apply these in their dissertation.
- Conduct advanced data analysis in quantitative and/or qualitative processes.
- Disseminate knowledge effectively through written and verbal communication with expectations that doctoral students submit at least one grant application and publish a minimum of one, first-author manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
Learn more about the Ph.D. in Human Bioenergetics on the Department of Health and Exercise Science website.
Students interested in graduate work should refer to the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.
Effective Fall 2025
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HES 510 | Bioethics--Concepts and Controversies | 3 |
| Select 9 credits from the following: | 9 | |
| Environmental Exercise Physiology | ||
| Research Design in Health/Exercise Science | ||
| Advanced Physiology of Exercise | ||
| Physical Activity Intervention Development | ||
| Exercise Bioenergetics | ||
| The Science of Healthspan | ||
| Advanced Neural Control of Movement | ||
| Professional Skills in Bioenergetics | ||
| HES 793 | Bioenergetics Seminar (1 cr seminar, min 4 semesters required) 1 | 4 |
| Statistics 2 | 6 | |
| Directed Electives 3 | 38 | |
| HES 799 | Dissertation 3 | 12 |
| Program Total Credits: | 72 | |
A minimum of 72 credits are required to complete this program.
- 1
Seminar must be taken for a minimum of 4 credits (4 semesters), but can be taken more than 4 times.
- 2
Select a minimum of six credits of statistics with approval of advisor. Typical statistics credits taken by HES Ph.D. students include, but are not limited to, the following: STAR 511 and STAR 512.
- 3
Select additional dissertation credits and/or 500-level and above elective credits with approval of advisor to bring the program total to a minimum of 72 credits. Depending on entry route into program, up to 30 credits may be accepted as directed electives from previous M.S degree or up to 10 credits earned after a bachelor's degree may be counted towards directed electives.
Typical elective credits taken by HES Ph.D. students include, but are not limited to, the following: BIOM 750; BMS 545; FSHN 530; FSHN 551; FSHN 630; GRAD 550; NB 505.
For more information, please visit Requirements for All Graduate Degrees in the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.
Summary of Procedures for the Master's and Doctoral Degrees
NOTE: Each semester the Graduate School publishes a schedule of deadlines. Deadlines are available on the Graduate School website. Students should consult this schedule whenever they approach important steps in their careers.
Forms are available online.
| Step | Due Date |
|---|---|
| 1. Application for admission (online) | Six months before first registration |
| 2. Diagnostic examination when required | Before first registration |
| 3. Appointment of advisor | Before first registration |
| 4. Selection of graduate committee | Before the time of fourth regular semester registration |
| 5. Filing of program of study (GS Form 6) | Before the time of fourth regular semester registration |
| 6. Preliminary examination (Ph.D. and PD) | Two terms prior to final examination |
| 7. Report of preliminary examination (GS Form 16) - (Ph.D. and PD) | Within two working days after results are known |
| 8. Changes in committee (GS Form 9A) | When change is made |
| 9. Application for Graduation (GS Form 25) | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website |
| 9a. Reapplication for Graduation (online) | Failure to graduate requires Reapplication for Graduation (online) for the next time term for which you are applying |
| 10. Submit thesis or dissertation to committee | At least two weeks prior to the examination or at the discretion of the graduate committee |
| 11. Final examination | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website |
| 12. Report of final examination (GS Form 24) | Within two working days after results are known; refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website |
| 13. Submit a signed Thesis/Dissertation Submission Form (GS Form 30) to the Graduate School and Submit the Survey of Earned Doctorates (Ph.D. only) prior to submitting the electronic thesis/dissertation | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website. |
| 14. Submit the thesis/dissertation electronically | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website |
| 15. Graduation | Ceremony information is available from the Graduate School website |