Ryan McCann and Patrick Wilson, Graduate Program Directors
The Ph.D. in Kinesiology and Rehabilitation is designed for aspiring professionals who already have a master's degree or entry-level clinical doctorate and are interested in becoming leaders, teachers, and scholars in the fields of athletic training, biomechanics, exercise science, kinesiology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or speech-language pathology. This inter-professional program features faculty from different schools in the College of Health Sciences. Students are immersed in research experiences in and out of the classroom and complete a flexible curriculum that encompasses motor control, motor learning, neuroscience, biomechanics, exercise physiology, rehabilitation, communication, and research methodology. In addition to 4 core courses, students will complete research courses, teaching and/or research apprenticeship courses, and at least four electives for a total of at least 51 credit hours.
Requirements for Admission
Five to seven students will be admitted to the Ph.D. program annually, starting with the fall term. Applications for admission are reviewed by the Ph.D. In Kinesiology and Rehabilitation admissions committee. To qualify for admission, an applicant must meet the general University admission requirements at the graduate level as well as specific program requirements including:
- Completed graduate degree (Master’s or Clinical Doctorate) from a regionally-accredited institution in kinesiology, exercise science, athletic training, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and language pathology, or a related field.
- A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale for the graduate degree.
- A personal statement that explains your qualifications, professional and career goals, and reasons for seeking the Ph.D. Be sure to also identify potential professor(s) at ODU who could mentor you based on your research interests.
- Three letters of reference a least two of which are from former professors familiar with the applicant’s academic performance.
- English Proficiency Requirement for those whose first language is not English. (See Admissions website)
Enrollment in the program is limited by number of available faculty mentors matching an applicant’s desired area of research. Interested individuals are advised to contact the program to find out whether a mentor is available for their research area of interest.
Application Dates
Applications to the program and for assistantships are due by February 1 for students planning to enter in the fall semester, however applications will be accepted until the cohort is full.
Curriculum Requirements
Coursework consists of a total of 51 credit hours, including 12 credit hours of core courses, at least 9 credit hours of research courses, 6 credit hours of experiential learning/apprenticeships, and 12 credit hours of electives. Each student will also complete 12 credit hours of dissertation research. Up to 12 hours of graduate credit may be transferred from another program to be applied to non-core courses. Transfer of credits is approved at the discretion of the guidance committee and the graduate program director.
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Credit Hours |
| Theoretical Models in Kinesiology and Rehabilitation * | |
| Critical Appraisal and Synthesis of Evidence in Kinesiology and Rehabilitation | |
| Motor Performance: Rhythmic/Cyclic Tasks | |
| Kinesiology in Rehabilitation | |
| Research Design and Analysis | |
| Single Subject Research Designs | |
| Applied Linear Models in Educational Research | |
| Analysis of Variance Applied to Educational Research | |
| Research Design and Application | |
| Quantitative Research Methods in Health Care | |
| Mixed and Multi Methods in Health Sciences Research | |
| Qualitative Research Design in Education | |
| Structured Teaching Experience for Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Professions | |
| Supervised Research | |
| Responsible Conduct of Research | |
| Neuromotor Speech Disorders | |
| Advanced Biomechanics | |
| Advanced Cardiovascular Exercise Physiology | |
| Exercise Endocrinology | |
| Ergogenic Aids in Sport and Human Performance | |
| Planning Proposals and Developing Grants in Health Research | |
| MATLAB Programming for Kinesiology and Rehabilitation | |
| Motor Performance: Discrete Tasks | |
| Neurosciences of Motor Control | |
| Balance and Postural Control | |
| Special Topics in Kinesiology and Rehabilitation | |
| Neuroscience I | |
| Neuroscience II | |
| Cognitive Processes and Learning Strategies for Students with Special Needs | |
| Dissertation | |
| Total Credit Hours | 51 |
Additional Requirements
Degree Requirements
- Satisfactory completion of at least 51 semester hours of graduate level coursework with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher, including all required courses as listed below. (Students who receive two or more grades of C or one grade of F may not continue in the program).
- Acceptable performance on written and oral candidacy examinations to be completed at the end of the program of coursework. Students may re-take the candidacy exams only once.
- Successful defense of a dissertation proposal.
- Completion of a dissertation representing the candidate’s ability to conduct scholarly, original research.
- Successful oral defense of the dissertation.
- Submission of the approved final copy of the dissertation.
Time frames for completion of degree requirement
- The entire process from admission to dissertation defense must be completed within eight years. Exceptions to this time limit require the approval of the graduate program director, the department chair, and the college dean.
- Academic credit which is more than eight years old at the time of graduation must be re-validated by an examination before the work can be applied to a doctoral degree.
- The dissertation must be completed within five years after the candidacy exams are passed.
- Dissertations should be defended at least four weeks prior to the deadline for electronic submission.
Each student is required to have a faculty advisor who will meet with the student upon admission to the program. The faculty advisor, with the graduate program director, approves the student’s plan of study and conducts the written and oral competency exams.
