Kinesiology

The doctoral program at Maryland prepares the next generation of researchers, scholars, teachers and professional leaders in the broad field of Kinesiology.This is done not only through formal coursework, but also through active engagement in research, in departmental activities, in current research seminars (KNES 609) and in professional meetings at the state, regional, national and international level.

The graduates of our program are expected to have an understanding of Kinesiology as a discipline and are expected to develop teaching and presentation skills appropriate to the specialization. We expect that all graduates will be "good citizens" and act effectively in any professional group. With respect to the Graduate Program itself, it is the student's responsibility to remain current with regard to requirements and to complete all required paperwork/forms in a timely manner (forms available here).

The Department of Kinesiology’s focus on the interdisciplinary study of physical activity contributes to the broader mission of the School of Public Health by furthering the understanding of the relationship between physical activity and both individual & societal health practices, experiences, and outcomes.

Doctoral Program Degree Competencies

1. Students will be expected to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the interdisciplinary field of Kinesiology, and be able to analyze their own research and locate it in relation to the broader field of kinesiology, and the aims and objectives of the School of Public Health.
2. Students will be expected to identify, apply, and critique the range of empirical foci, concepts and theories, and research methodologies, appropriate to their specialized area of kinesiological inquiry.
3. Students will be expected to originate, develop, and complete individually generated, high quality, and prescient scholarly research appropriate to their specialized area of kinesiological inquiry.
4. Students will have demonstrated an ability to disseminate their scholarship (through presentation, publication, or other means) to appropriate scholarly constituencies.

The doctoral program in Kinesiology requires a minimum of 60 credits beyond the master's degree, including 12 credits of KNES 899: Doctoral Dissertation Research.

Required coursework (48 credits) includes:

• KNES 600: Kinesiology in Public Health (3 credits)
• KNES 601: Epidemiology of Physical Activity (3 credits)
• Professional Ethics course (1 credit)
• Research Skills and Methods Courses
• Research Issues Courses

The doctoral program is designed to prepare outstanding scholars in a research domain in Kinesiology. To complete the program, a student must provide substantial evidence of his or her ability to frame and complete original research.

A Ph.D. student's program is tailored to meet his or her academic goals, but all students will produce and follow a research plan and complete a minimum of 90 credit hours relevant to Kinesiology (including dissertation) beyond the bachelor's degree. The program of study includes research experiences, as well as courses in the cognate area, other supportive courses outside of the department that broaden or deepen one's knowledge, and courses in research and analytic processes. Students also are expected to engage in the culture of Kinesiology through active participation in seminars and other departmental activities and to develop teaching expertise in the subdiscipline. All Ph.D. students are expected to complete a dissertation, which is the culminating research experience and contributes to knowledge in kinesiology.

Requirements

Students may qualify for admission with a 3.0 GPA for M.A. or 3.5 GPA for Ph.D. programs, strong GREs, and a focused letter detailing academic and research goals as well as previous research experiences. In addition, each applicant should submit a minimum of three strong recommendations from people knowledgeable about the applicant's prior academic achievements and research potential. Appropriate background course work closely aligned with the intended research specialization is expected. Graduate faculty sponsorship is also necessary for admission; each faculty member has only a limited number of openings and only the most highly qualified applicants are selected. Faculty review of applications does not occur until all required parts of the application are received. This review is done in early January; therefore applicants are encouraged to have all their application materials submitted by January 1 for best consideration for admission and financial support. For all of our degrees, we require the GRE general test, three letters of recommendation (research/academic), and a statement of goals that includes research experiences and interests. 

Scholarships

Teaching and research graduate assistantships are offered each academic year. At the present time, over two-thirds of the graduate students are financially supported. Teaching assistants work as discussion leaders and laboratory assistants as well as instructors in physical activity classes. Many research assistants are supported by grants. The department is active in seeking University fellowships for its outstanding applicants. Currently the department provides partial financial support for all graduate students who are selected to present their research at scholarly meetings.