Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology

Courses

Degree Requirements for Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Exercise Science 

The degree requirements differ slightly depending on if a student enters the B.S. to Ph.D. program or the M.S. to Ph.D. program. 

• B.S. - Ph.D. program: Requires 69 total credit hours (minimum) - 18 required course credit hours, 42 credit hours (minimum) of track electives, and 9 - 12 credit hours of dissertation. 
• M.S. – Ph.D. program: Requires 42 total credit hours (minimum) - 11 required course credit hours, 22 credit hours (minimum) of track electives, and 9 - 12 credit hours of dissertation. 

Students in the B.S. – Ph.D. and the M.S. – Ph.D. tracks MUST complete 9 – 12 credit hours of dissertation. Individual graduate advisors / research mentors may require additional courses. 

B.S. – Ph.D. Required Courses 

• KINE 6300 Research Methods 
• KINE 6305 Applied Statistics in Kinesiology -or- KINE 5305 Applied Statistics in Kinesiology
• 3 hours of advanced statistics -or- Advanced Research Methods (course can be taken outside of the department).
• KINE 6293 Grant Writing
• KINE 6105 Laboratory Techniques in Kinesiology I
• KINE 6106 Laboratory Techniques in Kinesiology II
• KINE 6303 Professional Development
• KINE 6308 Advanced Statistical Analysis
• 4 hours of KINE 6100 Seminar in Kinesiology (this is a 1 hour credit course that must be taken in a minimum of 4 different semesters).

M.S. – Ph.D. Required Courses 

• 3 hours of advanced statistics -or- Advanced Research Methods (course can be taken outside of the department). 
• KINE 6293 Grant Writing 

• KINE 6105 Laboratory Techniques in Kinesiology I 
• KINE 6303 Professional Development
• KINE 6308 Advanced Statistical Analysis
• 4 hours of KINE 6100 Seminar in Kinesiology (this is a 1 hour credit course that must be taken in a minimum of 4 different semesters). 

Elective Coursework for Either Track (Example Courses) 

• KINE 5331 Obesity and Weight Management 
• KINE 5329 Strength & Conditioning 
• KINE 6322 Metabolism & Exercise Biochemistry 
• KINE 6326 Cardiocirculatory Physiology of Exercise 
• KINE 6327 Pulmonary Physiology of Exercise
• KINE 6328 Neuromuscular Physiology of Exercise
• KINE 6330 Environmental Physiology of Exercise
• KINE 6350 Applied Biomechanics
• KINE 6360 Fundamental Principles of Integrative Physiology
• KINE 6393 Physiology of Exercise Internship
• KINE 6394 Research in Kinesiology 
• KINE 6320 Advanced Physiology of Exercise
• KINE 6323 Motor Control and Learning
• KINE 6170 Journal Club in Physiology
• KINE 6171 Journal Club in Movement & Rehabilitation Sciences

Electives Cont.: If all of the following are completed they will count towards the PhD in Kinesiology degree but will also satisfy the requirements for a Graduate Certificate in Public Health

• KINE 5372 Introduction to Epidemiology 
• KINE 5373 Introduction to Environmental and Occupational Health
• KINE 5375 Community and Behavioral Health
• KINE 5376 Introduction to Biostatistics -or-KINE 5305 Applied Statistics in Kinesiology 
  KINE 5377 Introduction to Health Systems and Policy 

Course Sequence Examples

Example course sequences for the different tracks are provided below. Please note that these are examples; each student will work with their program and academic advisors to tailor a course of study that specifically addresses the individual student's needs and goals. 

Bachelor's to PhD 

• PhD Kinesiology - Applied Physiology (BS to PhD) Example Course Sequence 

Master's to PhD 

• PhD Kinesiology - Applied Physiology (MS to PhD) Example Course Sequence 
• PhD Kinesiology - Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences (MS to PhD) Example Course Sequence
• PhD Kinesiology - Physical Education (MS to PhD) Example Course Sequence 

Admission Requirements

Department of Kinesiology Admission Standards and Requirements for Doctoral Degrees.  

Faculty Sponsorship

Please note that all PhD students (regardless of Bachelors – Ph.D. or Masters to Ph.D.) must be accepted by a faculty member based on faculty research/mentoring alignment in order to be accepted into the program: click or tap here for a list of available faculty. 

Admissions Standards

(These are general standards. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis and involve a holistic approach). 

Please make sure to follow the admissions standards that applies to your degree option. 

Masters to Ph.D. option: 

1. Master’s degree from a US accredited institution or an equivalent foreign institution.
2. GPA of 3.25 on all graduate work.
3. GRE Quantitative score of 150 and Verbal score of 150. Additionally, satisfactory Writing scores are required. If scores are below these standards the application will still be considered as the Department takes all components of the application into consideration.
4. A minimum score of 550 on the paper-based TOEFL, a minimum score of 213 on the computer-based TOEFL, a minimum score of 40 on the TSE, a minimum score of 6.5 on the IELTS, or a minimum TOEFL iBT total score of 79 with sectional scores that meet or exceed 22 for the writing section, 21 for the speaking section, 20 for the reading section, and 16 for the listening section. 
5. A resume or CV of the applicant (maximum of 2 pages). This should highlight the educational background of the applicant, work / volunteer history, awards, research experience etc.
6. A Statement of Purpose (maximum of 2 pages). This should highlight the previous achievements and experiences of the applicant that have led to the decision to consider a Doctoral graduate degree in Kinesiology as well as the previous achievements that would qualify the applicant for admission into the Kinesiology Doctoral Program. The statement should also include future career goals following obtaining a Doctoral degree in Kinesiology.
7. Three (3) letters of reference. The Department accepts letters through email and/or postal mail. 

• Recommendation Form 
• Email: Reviewers can email recommendations directly to the Chair of the Graduate Academic Committee. 
• Postal Mail: Reviewers should directly mail physical forms to the address specified at the bottom of this page. We suggest that prospective students provide their reviewers with the form and a stamped envelope with the correct address as a convenience to their reviewers. 

Bachelors to Ph.D. Option

1. Undergraduate degree from a US accredited institution or an equivalent foreign institution.
2. GPA of 3.5 and/or 3.5 GPA during the last 60 hours of undergraduate work.
3. 3.5 GPA on all Kinesiology-related work.
4. GRE Quantitative score of 150 and Verbal score of 150. Additionally, satisfactory Writing scores are required. If scores are below these standards the application will still be considered as the Department takes all components of the application into consideration.
5. A minimum score of 550 on the paper-based TOEFL, a minimum score of 213 on the computer-based TOEFL, a minimum score of 40 on the TSE, a minimum score of 6.5 on the IELTS, or a minimum TOEFL iBT total score of 79 with sectional scores that meet or exceed 22 for the writing section, 21 for the speaking section, 20 for the reading section, and 16 for the listening section.
6. A resume or CV of the applicant (maximum of 2 pages). This should highlight the educational background of the applicant, work / volunteer history, awards, research experience etc.
7. A Statement of Purpose (maximum of 2 pages). This should highlight the previous achievements and experiences of the applicant that have led to the decision to consider a Doctoral graduate degree in Kinesiology as well as the previous achievements that would qualify the applicant for admission into the Kinesiology Doctoral Program. The statement should also include future career goals following obtaining a Doctoral degree in Kinesiology.
8. Three (3) letters of reference. The Department accepts letters through email and/or postal mail. 

• Recommendation Form 
• Email: Reviewers can email recommendations directly to Chair of the Graduate Academic Committee. 
• Postal Mail: Reviewers should directly mail physical forms to the address specified at the bottom of this page. We suggest that prospective students provide their reviewers with the form and a stamped envelope with the correct address as a convenience to their reviewers. 

Address for Letters of Reference 

All letters of reference should be mailed to the following address: 

Dr. R. Matthew Brothers 
Associate Chair for Graduate Programs in Exercise Science and Kinesiology 
Department of Kinesiology 
P.O. Box 19259 
University of Texas at Arlington 
500 W. Nedderman Drive 
Arlington, TX 76019-0259 

Addresses for Transcripts and GRE Scores 

Transcripts and GRE scores should be sent directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions using the appropriate address below. 

U.S. Postal Mail for Graduate Admissions 
Graduate Admissions 
Box 19167 
Arlington, TX 76019 

Courier Service Address For Graduate Admissions - UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc. 
Graduate Admissions 
701 S. Nedderman Dr. 
Davis Hall Room B17 
Arlington, TX 76019 

Deadlines 

Admission into the graduate program is determined by a Departmental committee that takes into account all components of the application to arrive at a decision. As there are more applicants than available seats in the PhD program, the application process is competitive. Applications can be submitted for consideration for both Fall and Spring start dates and will be reviewed on a continual basis. 

The PhD Kinesiology Program observes two application deadlines (these are recommended deadlines).  

*It is strongly encouraged that interested students begin the application process as soon as possible.  

Early Deadline for Graduate Assistantships: January 1st

• PhD applicants who are also interested in one of the Department's limited number of Graduate Assistantships are strongly encouraged to apply by the Early Deadline. Complete applications received on or before the Early Deadline will be given first consideration for available Graduate Assistantships. 

General Deadline for PhD Kinesiology Applicants: May 1st

• All PhD Kinesiology applications must be submitted on or before May 1st. If Graduate Assistantships are still available after all Early Deadline applicants have been considered, then General Deadline applicants are eligible to be considered for any remaining Graduate Assistantships. 

Committee and Candidacy

Dissertation Committees

The Dissertation requirement for the Ph.D. in Kinesiology includes two components: 

1. A written Dissertation to include at least 2 manuscripts of quality and format that are submitted to a peer-reviewed scientific journal and
2. A successful oral defense of the Dissertation.
3. Student must pass the comprehensive examination prior to defending his/her proposal.
4. Student must successfully present his/her dissertation proposal before he/she can enroll in dissertation hours.

The Dissertation Committee is responsible for the evaluation of both the written dissertation and oral defense. The Committee must be comprised of a minimum of four members, including the Committee Chair who will be the student's primary faculty mentor. This Committee Chair must be a member of the Department of Kinesiology Graduate Studies Committee or have status on the Department of Kinesiology Graduate Studies Committee. The remaining Committee members must include at least one additional faculty member from the Department of Kinesiology. If the Committee Chair is not a full time member of the Department of Kinesiology Graduate Studies Committee the remaining Committee members must include at least two members from the Department of Kinesiology. In addition the Committee must include at least one member who is external to the Department of Kinesiology. The external member may include individuals not working within UT Arlington if applicable. All Committee members must hold a terminal degree in their field and/or demonstrate the required expertise and appropriate faculty status for serving on dissertation committees. 

Comprehensive Examination

• B.S. to Ph.D. students will become eligible for the comprehensive examination when they have completed 36 hours of their graduate work. 
• M.S. to Ph.D. students will become eligible for the comprehensive examination when they have completed 18 hours of their graduate work. 

These completed course hours represent the minimum requirement; however, eligibility for the comprehensive examination will be dependent on approval from the Chair of the Dissertation Committee. 

Successful completion of the comprehensive examination makes students eligible for PhD candidacy. Students must be enrolled in the semester they take the comprehensive examination. 

The purpose of the comprehensive examination is to evaluate the extent to which students have acquired the basic principles / knowledge in pertinent coursework. The expectation will be that students will be able to apply, integrate, and synthesize their knowledge. 

When students are eligible for the comprehensive examination, the student's graduate mentor/advisor will recommend the student for the examination to the Department of Kinesiology Graduate Studies Committee for approval. 

Upon completion, the comprehensive examination committee will meet to discuss the merits of the student's examination. Comprehensive examinations will only be held in regular, long semesters. 

The composition of the comprehensive examination committee will be decided by the Department of Kinesiology Graduate Academic Committee. This comprehensive examination committee will be comprised of at least one member of the Graduate Academic Committee and a minimum of 2 additional members with relevant content expertise. 

Following completion of the examination the Committee may recommend any of the following outcomes: 

1. Unconditional pass. With an unconditional pass, students become eligible for PhD candidacy and prepare for the defense of their dissertation proposal.
2. Pass with conditions. A pass with conditions requires that students perform each of the conditions satisfactorily in order to become eligible for PhD candidacy.
3. Unsatisfactory with opportunity to retake the examination. With this recommendation, the committee will specify when the retake will occur.
4. Unsatisfactory, do not continue in program. 

If the outcome of the comprehensive examination is an unconditional pass, students immediately become eligible for PhD candidacy. If the outcome is a pass with conditions, students may only become eligible for candidacy when the examining committee determines that the student has successfully met the conditions stipulated by the committee. 

Dissertation Proposal

Following successful completion of the oral examination the student will be required to draft a grant application to be written in a format that is standard for most external funding agencies. This grant will describe the student’s proposed dissertation projects and will also serve as the written portion of the student’s dissertation proposal. The application should be up to 10 pages in length and should consist of the following sections: 1) Significance, 2) Innovation, and 3) Research Approach (e.g. for each aim - any preliminary data, planned methodological approach, data analysis, statistical approach, expected results, and anticipated limitations). The student will give an oral presentation of the research proposal outlined in the application and must provide a copy of the grant proposal to his/her dissertation committee a minimum of 2 weeks prior to the oral presentation. The presentation will be in a standard power point format and will be an open seminar that will be advertised across the University. Immediately following this presentation, the student will have a separate meeting with his/her dissertation committee. This proposal defense must occur within two long semesters following successful completion of the oral comprehensive examination.

Graduate Assistantship

The Department offers competitive Doctoral GRA and GTA positions:  

Doctoral Level GRA/GTA 

The Department of Kinesiology offers financial support to qualified Doctoral graduate students in the form of graduate teaching (GTA) and research assistantships (GRA).  

Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) 

Funding: 

• Funding will be in the form of a monthly stipend with consideration made to offset a portion of tuition and associated fees. 
• Renewable the second year based on positive performance evaluation and the maintenance of a minimum GPA of 3.00 
• Out-of-state and international students qualify for in-state tuition 

Criteria: 

• 3.0 GPA in their last 60 undergraduate credit hours 
• 3.0 GPA in any graduate level credit hours 
• Admission to the Department of Kinesiology Doctoral Program 
• International students must submit a TSE score of at least 45, or a score on the Speaking section of the TOEFL iBT of at least 23 or a score of at least 7 on the Speaking section of the IELTS. Alternatively, students who have not taken the TSE or who have failed to attain a score of 23 on the Speaking section of the TOEFL iBT or a score of 7 on the Speaking section of the IELTS, may achieve a score of at least 45 on the 

Responsibilities: 

• Teach 5 to 6 semester credit hours of kinesiology and/or activity courses each semester 
• Register for and complete no fewer than 9 semester hours per semester in the fall and spring terms 

How to Apply for a GTA 

• All GTAs must remain in good academic standing. 
• Interested students should reach out to their primary faculty mentor to express interest in a GTA position.  

GTA Selection Criteria 

Graduate assistantships are awarded based upon the following criteria: 

1. Quality of application package
2. Availability of the candidates preferred research mentor to accept the candidate as a graduate research mentor
3. Common research interest by the candidate and the candidate’s preferred research mentor
4. Candidates academic record and GRE scores
5. Candidates career goals and future directions after completing their graduate study at UTA 

Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA)

Funding: 

• The payscale will vary depending on the faculty grant and availability of funds. 
• Differ from GTA in that that these funds are paid by a graduate faculty member (most often funds come from research grants). Therefore the duration can differ from a GTA (can be longer or shorter) depending on the availability of funds. 

Criteria: 

• Up to the funding faculty member to choose who receives the GRA. Those interested are encouraged to reach out to faculty or advisor for additional information. 

Responsibilities: 

• Register for and complete no fewer than 9 semester hours per semester in the fall and spring terms 
• Conduct the activities in accordance with agreements made by the funding faculty member. 

How to Apply for a GRA 

GRA Selection Criteria 

• GRAs are awarded by the funding faculty member based upon the following criteria. Interested students should reach out to their primary faculty mentor to express interest in a GTA position. 
• Alignment of research interests with a graduate faculty member who has agreed to serve as your faculty mentor.
• Availability of funds from the graduate faculty member's laboratory. 

Resources

Policies: While University faculty and staff members give students academic advice and assistance, each student is expected to take responsibility for his or her education and personal development. The student must know and abide by the academic and disciplinary policies of the Department of Kinesiology, College of Nursing and Health Innovation, and the University of Texas at Arlington, including rules governing quantity of work, the standard of work required to continue in the University, scholastic probation and dismissal, and enforced withdrawal. 

Students will not be relieved of their responsibility to know the policies, deadlines and rules of the University on the grounds that they were not told. If students have questions regarding policies, it is the University’s expectation that the student will consult his/her academic advisor for guidance and resolution. 

Course Load: Graduate education requires students to have dedicated time to devote to studying, completing assignments, preparing for, and participating in research activities and other course work. Students are encouraged to consider their work schedules and commitments considering the demands of the Doctoral program and adjust accordingly.  Commitments which compete with graduate study may result in suboptimal academic performance and place the student in academic jeopardy.  

Tuition Plans: For approximate annual cost including tuition and fees please consult the following site: https://www.uta.edu/fao/cost/. 

Academic Calendar: Students should review the academic calendar prior to enrolling and prepare accordingly.  

Scholarship/Aid: In addition to the Assistantship positions provided, on a competitive basis, by the Department, the University offers various Scholarships/Aid to qualified students. https://www.uta.edu/fao/scholarships/ 

Student Success

Student Success is a high priority in the Department of Kinesiology and the University of Texas at Arlington. A wealth of resources are available to all students achieving academic success at UT Arlington. Our dedicated faculty make every effort to assist students in meeting their academic goals across a wide variety of subject areas. 

Faculty Mentors & Research Advisors

The faculty listed on this page (below) are willing to partner with Kinesiology graduate students, both on the Masters and Doctoral level, to serve as advisors, mentors, committee members and committee chairs. Your own course of study and research area needs to align to and be compatible with (but not necessarily exactly match) faculty research programs in the Department.

PhD Prospectives: Admission to the PhD program requires a supporting faculty member; review the Doctoral Admissions Standards for more information. There are formal guidelines for dissertation committees; check the Committee and Candidacy tab above to review these guidelines.

PhD Contact Information

PhD Program Administration

Program Director: Dr. Matt Brothers

Phone: 817-272-3288 

Email: PhDKine@uta.edu

Address for Recommendation Forms / Letters of Reference

Please address all application Recommendation Forms / Letters of Reference to the following address:

Dr. R. Matthew Brothers
Associate Chair for Graduate Programs in Exercise Science and Kinesiology
Department of Kinesiology
P.O. Box 19259
University of Texas at Arlington
500 W. Nedderman Drive
Arlington, TX 76019-0259

Recommendation forms sent to other addresses may take longer to reach appropriate personnel in the Department, and we are not responsible for delays that this may cause.

Addresses for Transcripts and GRE Scores

Transcripts and GRE scores should be sent directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions using the appropriate address below.

U.S. Postal Mail for Graduate Admissions
Graduate Admissions
Box 19167
Arlington, TX 76019

Courier Service Address For Graduate Admissions - UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc.
Graduate Admissions
701 S. Nedderman Dr.
University Administration Building Room B17
Arlington, TX 76019

Administrative Address for the Dept. of Kinesiology PhD Program

Department of Kinesiology
Box 19259
500 W. Nedderman Dr.
147 Maverick Activities Center
Arlington, TX 76019-0259