Program Overview

Ph.D. in Kinesiology and Physical Education

The Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education at Northern Illinois University provides a comprehensive program that integrates theoretical, psychomotor, and business understanding of sport and exercise. The faculty are experts in areas such as athletic training, biomechanics, exercise physiology, physical education, sport and exercise psychology, and sport management.

Program Overview

The Ph.D. in Kinesiology and Physical Education is a 60-semester-hour program that provides doctoral candidates with a strong foundation in both research and teaching, preparing them for faculty careers at universities that value both aspects equally. The program requires doctoral research and dissertation.

Innovative Programs

The program is flexible and allows students to have significant input into the selection of specific courses for their program of study, in consultation with their doctoral advisors and committees. Doctoral students also have the opportunity to guide undergraduates and master's students in hands-on learning programs, such as the Physical Activity and Life Skills (PALS) Group and Project FLEX.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the program, applicants must:

• Have a master's degree in a specialization area of kinesiology and physical education
• Submit a written statement of their academic and professional goals
• Provide two letters of recommendation
• Submit a current resume or vita
• Provide official or student copies of transcripts
• Obtain a letter of support from a KNPE faculty member expressing their willingness to serve as the applicant's doctoral advisor
• Participate in a personal interview with the doctoral admissions committee

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Ph.D. program in Kinesiology and Physical Education will be able to:

• Demonstrate advanced and comprehensive knowledge of an area of specialization in kinesiology and physical education
• Design, conduct, and analyze original scholarship that makes a substantial contribution to an area of specialization, including completion of a dissertation
• Identify, develop, and demonstrate best practices for effective pedagogy and successful teaching at the college level
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of norms and expectations of service and collegiality in a university setting to improve future successes in academia
• Demonstrate professional integrity and collegiality in the roles of educator, researcher, and departmental citizen

Global Presence

The department has a strong international presence, with faculty from countries such as Brazil, Germany, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. The department has established research collaborations, workshops, and exchanges with other countries, demonstrating its educational philosophy of combining academic and service-based programs that encourage students and faculty to become more aware and socially responsible citizens of the world.

Coursework

The program consists of:

• Kinesiology and Physical Education Core (15 credits)
  • KNPE 701 Pedagogy in Kinesiology and Physical Education (3)
  • KNPE 702 Advanced Pedagogy in Kinesiology and Physical Education (3)
  • KNPE 711 Advanced Seminar in Kinesiology and Physical Education I (3)
  • KNPE 712 Advanced Seminar in Kinesiology and Physical Education II (3)
  • KNPE 721 Scholarship in Kinesiology and Physical Education (3)
• Research Core (18 credits)
  • ETR 521 Educational Statistics I (3)
  • ETR 522 Educational Statistics II (3)
  • ETR 525 Qualitative Research in Education (3)
  • ETR 720 Advanced Research Methods in Education (3)
  • Advisor-approved coursework in research methods, quantitative analyses, or qualitative research (6)
• Specialization Area (15 credits)
  • Advisor-approved coursework in areas such as specialization-specific courses, quantitative statistics, qualitative research, directed research hours, independent study, seminars (15)
• Dissertation Research (12 credits)
  • KNPE 799 Doctoral Research and Dissertation (12)