The Ph.D. in Kinesiology prepares students to become researchers and educators in academic institutions and other industries requiring Ph.D.-trained professionals in the general areas of exercise, health, wellness, human performance and disease prevention. 

Admission to this program is contingent upon admission to the Graduate School and the Division.

The Ph.D. in Kinesiology offers three concentrations: a) Community Health, b) Exercise and Sport Science, and c) Health and Physical Education Teaching. Each concentration provides students with the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to succeed as industry professionals, researchers, and faculty in institutions of higher education. Each student’s plan of work is developed in collaboration with a faculty major advisor (graduate faculty status required) to select the most appropriate coursework for the student’s career preparation and aspirations. Note that faculty major advisors possess the authority for initial approval or disapproval of the coursework that is included in their Ph.D. students’ advisees’ plans of work before progressing to the Graduate Director and Graduate School. If disagreements arise between Ph.D. students and their faculty major advisors regarding the selection of coursework required to be included in Ph.D. students’ plans of work, the faculty major advisor’s decision is final.

Seventy-eight (78) credit hours are required for the Ph.D. program. Of these required credits, a minimum of forty-one (41) credits must directly relate to the Ph.D. student’s concentration, fifteen (15) credits must focus on core research methods and techniques, students must take four (4) credits of graduate professional seminar, and students must complete eighteen (18) credits of dissertation.

A maximum of twenty (20) graduate-level credit hours is permitted to be included in a Ph.D. student’s plan of work at the faculty major advisor’s discretion. The limit of 20 credit hours will apply to both courses completed outside of WSU and those completed at WSU prior to admission. A minimum of thirty (30) credit hours must be taken at the 7000-level or above, excluding dissertation credits. All Ph.D. students are required to pass the Final Qualifying Examination near or at the end of their coursework, with approval by the faculty major advisor and all of the selected qualifying exam committee members. A minimum of forty (40) credits must be completed for a student’s application to candidacy, excluding transfer credits.

All coursework must be completed in accordance with the academic policies and procedures outlined by the College of Education and the Graduate School, which govern Ph.D. degrees at Wayne State University.

PhD in Kinesiology: Required Credit Hours

Note: When all 18 credit hours of dissertation have been taken and the Final Defense has not been completed, students are required to enroll in ED 9995, Doctoral Candidate Maintenance Status, a zero-credit hour course that is equivalent to full-time enrollment. ED 9995 is charged at a flat-rate fee.