Program Overview

Ph.D. in Human Bioenergetics

The Ph.D. in Human Bioenergetics is a program that 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

The program has the following learning objectives:

1. 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.
2. Design, implement, execute, and complete novel scientific experiments, reflecting the proper conduct of scientific inquiry.
3. 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.
4. Conduct advanced data analysis in quantitative and/or qualitative processes.
5. 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.

Program Requirements

The program requires a minimum of 72 credits to complete. The course list includes:

• HES 510: Bioethics--Concepts and Controversies (3 credits)
• Select 9 credits from the following:
  • HES 500: Environmental Exercise Physiology
  • HES 600: Research Design in Health/Exercise Science
  • HES 602: Advanced Physiology of Exercise
  • HES 608: Physical Activity Intervention Development
  • HES 610: Exercise Bioenergetics
  • HES 620: The Science of Healthspan
  • HES 619: Advanced Neural Control of Movement
  • HES 700: Professional Skills in Bioenergetics
  • HES 793: Bioenergetics Seminar (1 credit seminar, minimum 4 semesters required)
• Statistics (6 credits)
• Directed Electives (38 credits)
• HES 799: Dissertation (12 credits)

Additional Requirements

• Seminar must be taken for a minimum of 4 credits (4 semesters), but can be taken more than 4 times.
• Select a minimum of six credits of statistics with approval of advisor.
• 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.

Procedures for Master's and Doctoral Degrees

The procedures for Master's and Doctoral degrees include:

1. Application for admission (online)
2. Diagnostic examination when required
3. Appointment of advisor
4. Selection of graduate committee
5. Filing of program of study (GS Form 6)
6. Preliminary examination (Ph.D. and PD)
7. Report of preliminary examination (GS Form 16)
8. Changes in committee (GS Form 9A)
9. Application for Graduation (GS Form 25)
10. Submit thesis or dissertation to committee
11. Final examination
12. Report of final examination (GS Form 24)
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
14. Submit the thesis/dissertation electronically
15. Graduation