Skip to main content
  • Intranet

Utility

  • Apply
  • Directory
  • Donate
  • For Employers

Search

Home

Main navigation

  • Academics
  • Research
  • Admissions & Aid
  • Student Services
  • News & Events
  • Alumni & Giving
  • About
  • Apply
  • Directory
  • Donate
  • For Employers
  • Intranet
Academics
Student in the library

Main navigation

  • Applied Exercise Science
    • Undergraduate
  • Athletic Training
    • Master's
  • Movement Science
    • Undergraduate
    • IONM Program
    • Honors Program
    • Master's
    • PhD
    • Physical Activity & Nutrition Certificate
  • Sport Management
    • Undergraduate
    • Master's
    • PhD
    • Student Groups
    • Advisory Board
    • Partners Program
    • Peer Facilitators
  • Winter-Start Programs
  • Global Engagement
  • Course Catalog
Movement Science

PhD Program

A PhD student in a Kinesiology lab

Our doctorate program is the right path for you if you intend to build a career as a scholar, researcher, teacher, or industry professional in the science of human movement, kinesiology, or other allied health fields or biomedical science settings.

Program Overview

Students pursuing a PhD in Movement Science develop scholarly and research competence, culminating in an original doctoral dissertation contributing to the body of knowledge in kinesiology. The program is designed for students who intend to make their careers as scholars, teachers, researchers, and professionals in exercise physiology, biomechanics, motor control, and allied fields.

Each doctoral student works closely with a faculty advisor from the beginning of their degree program. Under their faculty advisor’s guidance, they are expected to take relevant coursework, engage in relevant research experiences (lab rotations, independent study projects, etc.), generate research ideas, and complete a research dissertation prior to graduation.

A principal goal of doctoral student training is achieving competence as an independent scholar. This entails not only proficiency in research but in the dissemination of knowledge. To achieve this, students learn to guide the learning of others as a Graduate Student Research Assistant (GSRA) or Graduate Student Instructor (GSI).

Doctoral students and their faculty advisors will form a Guidance Committee, Qualifying Examination Committee, and a Dissertation Committee to provide advice and evaluate student progress at successive stages of the program.

Apply
Connect with Us

Movement Science PhD Curriculum

PhD students choose from a set of core courses in Kinesiology, as well as cognate courses from other units, and complete a minimum of 30 pre-candidacy credits beyond the master's level. Qualifying examinations must be passed before advancing to candidacy, after which the student completes an original doctoral dissertation. A minimum of 50 credits including pre-candidacy and candidacy work must be completed to graduate.

The courses you take will vary, depending on your educational goals.  Courses taken for graduate credit will carry MOVESCI or KINESLGY program codes, and are numbered 500 and above.

  • Browse only KINESLGY courses in the Course Catalog
  • Browse only MOVESCI courses in the Course Catalog
  • Browse entire Course Catalog

Movement Science Graduate Faculty

Our Movement Science graduate faculty are leaders in their fields, and have a variety of interests and specialties. View the MVS graduate faculty list.

Forms & Bulletins

The Graduate Bulletin contains a wealth of information, including requirements for admissions, coursework, doctoral candidacy, and more. The Policies and Procedures page includes a wider selection of Bulletins, plus forms required for progress towards your PhD degree.

  • Graduate Bulletin 2022-23
  • Graduate Bulletin for MVS and SM Programs 2021-22
  • Graduate Bulletin 2020-21
  • Graduate Bulletin 2019-20
  • Graduate Bulletin 2018-19
  • Graduate Bulletin 2016-17
  • Forms and Bulletins page on this website
UM logo
School of Kinesiology
830 N. University Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1048
CAA HEP logo CAATE logo AKA logo

Menu

  • Intranet
  • Contact Us
  • Job Postings

Social

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Flickr

© 2023 The Regents of the University of Michigan

Site produced by Michigan Creative, a unit of the Office of the Vice President for Communications