| Doctoral Program
in Kinesiology
The Ph.D.
is based on two broadly conceived areas of kinesiology and
its relation to health: the Behavioral Basis of Physical Activity
and the Biological Basis of Physical Activity. Students
select one of the areas and are prepared as a scholar/practitioner
in that area. Within an area the student selects a more specialized
focus for research. Work in the selected area covers basic to
applied knowledge, research, and teaching as well as application
of this expertise to at least one special population e.g., disabled,
diseased, children, elderly, athletes. In addition, special attention
is given to understanding faculty roles in varying types of institutions
ranging from small, liberal arts colleges to large, research-intensive
universities.
The focus of the Ph.D. program is on the study of human physical
activity although in some instances animal models may provide
insight into the biological and behavioral bases of human physical
activity. Human physical activity is broadly defined to include
exercise, sport, and movements associated with daily life e.g.,
reaching and grasping, driving a car, industrial jobs, efficiency
of movements. The behavioral basis of physical activity
includes the development of cross-disciplinary expertise in motor
behavior, pedagogy/curriculum, socio-cultural aspects of sport
and exercise, and exercise and sport psychology. The biological basis
of physical activity includes the development of cross-disciplinary
expertise in biomechanics, exercise physiology, motor control, physical fitness and health promotion as it relates to exercise. Both areas include
the integration of interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary knowledge.
Some cross-over is expected between the two areas since topics
like health promotion, special populations, and motor expertise
have behavioral and biological components.
In the process of completing the Ph.D. in one of these two areas,
students will:
- take appropriate course work (within and external to Kinesiology)
to
- integrate cross-disciplinary expertise in the area
- develop a specialized research focus (students will begin
this research focus early in the program with required credits)
- analyze and synthesize knowledge across one of the areas
- learn and evaluate the use of appropriate quantitative,
qualitative and methodological skills for research (e.g.,
statistics, experimental design, computer skills)
- synthesize research techniques with a rotation through the
laboratories/field settings within the area
- develop expertise in and analysis of laboratory/field techniques
within the research focus
- develop and evaluate knowledge and skills for teaching across
an area
- participate in service activities appropriate for the area
- analyze and evaluate ethical standards for teaching and research
- demonstrate excellence in scholarly research by means of authoring
a Ph.D. dissertation
The rationale for development of this model for the Ph.D. is that
programs in most fields have become increasingly specialized (Atwell,
1996), yet national trends suggest that this preparation may be
too narrowly conceived (National Science Foundation, June 5-6,
1995; Council of Graduate Schools, "Preparing Future Faculty,"
1994-96). This same narrowness of preparation is present in most
doctoral programs in physical activity (Swanson & Massengale,
1997) and is evidenced by the specialized areas (e.g., exercise
and sport psychology, exercise physiology) as well as the level
of analysis (molecular and cellular, neurological).
A survey of jobs in the Chronicle of Higher Education (Woods &
Karp, 1997) found that in departmental programs with an emphasis
in physical activity, only 18% of the jobs were at Research I
and II institutions while 82% were at Doctoral I and II, comprehensive/regional,
liberal arts, and community college institutions. In addition
few of the job advertisements were seeking individuals with very
narrow academic preparation. Most were seeking scholar/practitioners
who could function in environments emphasizing both teaching and
research.
Thus, this Ph.D. program addresses the need for scholar/practitioners
who are broadly prepared in either the biological or behavioral
bases of physical activity, yet have a clear and focused program
of research that allows success in university, college, health,
business, or industry settings.
Additional information is available for the following topics:
References
Atwell, R.H. (1996). Doctoral education must match the nation's
needs and the realities of the marketplace. Chronicle of Higher
Education, 43(14), B4-B5.
National Science Foundation. (June 5-6, 1995). Summary report:
Graduate Education andpostdoctoral training in the mathematical
andphysical sciences. Washington, DC: Author.
Swanson, R.A., & Massengale, J.D. (I 997). Current and future
directions in exercise and sport science. In J.D. Massengale and
R.A. Swanson (Eds.), The history of exercise and sport science
(pp. 439-450). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Wood, M.L., & Karp, G.G. (1997). Are you ready for today's
higher education positions? Journal ofphysical Education, Recreation,
and Dance, 68(7), 46-50. |
