PhD
Exercise Sciences
Application Deadline
Contact Information
Admission Requirements
Required Tests
TOEFL/IELTS if English is not first language
Additional Requirements
TOEFL/IELTS if English is not first language
Additional Requirements
- Letter of intent
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Exercise Sciences or related field with competence equivalent to several different classes (contact department for details)
- Master's Thesis or first-author publishable research manuscript
- Foundational science and skill competencies relating to different classes (contact department for details)
- GPA of 3.5 for last 60 semester hours of upper-level academic work
- Resume
Program Requirements
This program prepares students for leadership at the highest level of their profession. Most students become university or college faculty. Students are prepared in the scientific bases of exercise science, well acquainted with the scientific literature, able to teach college courses, and able to do independent research.
Requirements for Degree
Requirements for Degree
- 60 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 36 credit hours residence requirement beyond master's degree. (Note: A student who has not completed a master's thesis is required to have a publishable, first-author research manuscript)
- Comprehensive Exam and Dissertation required.
- Minimum of 60 hours beyond bachelor's degree in addition to all undergraduate prerequisites. No 100-through 400-level classes apply. All doctoral students are expected to be engaged in a continual program of research during their studies, either original or collaborative, and to present at a regional, national, or international conference or submit a manuscript to a refereed journal. This is in addition to the thesis (or first-author manuscript described above in lieu of a thesis) and dissertation.
- Ph.D. students are also encouraged to gain teaching experience by teaching or team-teaching appropriate courses in the undergraduate curriculum.
- Exercise sciences skill requirement - 7 credit hours: STAT 512, Statistical Methods for Research 2 (3.0); ExSc 797R, Individual Research and Study in ExSc (4.0); Exercise Sciences Required Seminars - 3 credit hours: ExSc 693R, Readings Seminar (1); ExSc 751, Doctoral Seminar: Prof & Scholarly Writing (1.0); ExSc 753, Doctoral Seminar: Res & Grantsmanship (1.0)
- Enroll in enough credit hours to complete your 60-hour program that adds depth and breadth to your program of study from one or more of the primary curriculum and supporting areas or any additional grad classes approved by your dissertation committee and graduate coordinator.
- Area of Study: EXSC 666 Exercise Physiology (3); EXSC 667 Exercise Physiology Laboratory Methods (2); EXSC 766 Advanced Exercise Physiology: Cardiopulmonary (3); EXSC 769 Advanced Exercise Physiology: Skeletal Muscle (3); EXSC 640 Physical Activity and Health (3); EXSC 661 Advanced Worksite Wellness (3); EXSC 669 Exercise, Testing, and Prescription (2); EXSC 671 Advanced Lifestyle and Chronic Disease Prevention (3); EXSC 673 Advanced Obesity and Weight Management (3); EXSC 501 Pathophysiology for AT (3); EXSC 668 Orthopaedic Anatomy (4); EXSC 625R Adv Topics in P M & Rehab (TC 010) – Clinical & Educational Admin (TC 011); Electrotherapy, US, & Diathermy (TC 013); Functional Testing & Exercise (TC 014); Joint Mobilization & Manual Therapy (TC 015); Neural Basis of Rehab (TC 016); Musculoskeletal and Vascular Imaging (TC 024); Mechanical Spinal Impairment & Mobilization (TC 023)
- Supporting Areas: EXSC 662 Kinematics (2); EXSC 663 Neuromechanical Signal Collection and Processing (2); EXSC 664 Biomechanical Modeling (3); EXSC 665 Computer Programming for Kinesiology (3); CELL 561 Physiology of Drug Mechanisms (3); CELL 562 Reproductive Physiology (3); CELL 565 Endocrinology (3); CELL 601 Cellular & Molecular Physiology (3); CELL 664 Cardiovascular and Respiratory Physiology (2); Chem 581 Advanced Biochemical Methodology 1 (3); Chem 583 Advanced Biochemical Methodology 2 (3); Chem 584 Advanced Biochemistry Methods 1 (2); HLTH 602 Principles of Epidemiology (3); HLTH 604 Principles of Biostatistics (3); HLTH 608 Determinants of Health Behavior (3); HLTH 612 Program Planning and Evaluation (3); HLTH 618 Survey and Research Methods (3); HLTH 630 Small-Group Health Promotion Interventions (3); NDFS 601 Advanced Human Nutrition 1 (3); NDFS 602 Advanced Human Nutrition 2 (3); NDFS 631R Selected Topics in FSN (0.5–3); NDFS 632 Diet & Cancer (2).
- Dissertation - 18 credit hours: ExSc 799R, Doctoral Dissertation (18.0).
Program Outcomes
Critically evaluate the literature
Critically evaluate the literature and identify gaps in existing knowledge.
Appreciate Data and Its Meaning
PhD students organize and structure data collection methods that provide data necessary to answer research questions. Students will learn how to reduce, analyze, and interpret data.
Develop Arguments
Students will use data to support well-developed arguments associated with human function and disease.
Disseminate research
Students will learn to present their findings orally and in writing through sound principles of scientific writing.
Critically evaluate the literature and identify gaps in existing knowledge.
Appreciate Data and Its Meaning
PhD students organize and structure data collection methods that provide data necessary to answer research questions. Students will learn how to reduce, analyze, and interpret data.
Develop Arguments
Students will use data to support well-developed arguments associated with human function and disease.
Disseminate research
Students will learn to present their findings orally and in writing through sound principles of scientific writing.
Program Stats
Characteristics of Students from Past Academic Year
Total Students
3.0
International
1.0
Male
3.0
LDS
2.0
BYU Undergraduate
1.0
Five Year Average of Graduated Students
Average Years to Degree
1.89
Graduated Per Year
18.2
GMAT Quantitative Percentile
67.5
Five Year Average of Admitted Students
Applied Per Year
2.8
Admitted Per Year
2.6
Percent Admitted
92.86
Average GPA
3.73
Courses and Faculty