Admissions Requirements for Exercise Physiology

In addition to meeting the Graduate School requirements, the applicant must submit a letter of application to the Exercise Science faculty to include a statement of career goals and research interests. Three letters of recommendation from former professors are required, and when possible, a personal interview is recommended. Students applying to the Ph.D. program must have demonstrated capability of independent research by completing a thesis or publishing a research article(s). Final acceptance and continuation in the program are contingent upon sponsorship by a faculty member in Exercise Science who will serve as the student's Academic Adviser. The admission of a student into the program and the selection of an adviser is by mutual agreement and is formalized in the letter of acceptance.

Establishment of Program of Study

During the first year the student and the academic adviser will form a committee which will include two other exercise science faculty members selected on the basis of the student's research interests. This advisory committee will supervise a program of study which will be presented to the Graduate Studies Committee toward the end of the first year for approval. During the first two years of post-master's study, the student should complete the course work required for the comprehensive examination in the area of specialization. The comprehensive examination is given prior to completion of the second year of post-master's study at The University.

Proposed Program Schedule

1. The sequencing of course offerings favors admission in Fall semester.
2. Prerequisites, if any, should be completed in the first year of study.
3. Toward the end of the first year of doctoral study, the program of study should be established and presented to the Graduate Studies Committee for approval.
4. By the end of the second year of post master's study, organized course work in the program of study should be near completion, and the comprehensive examination should have be taken.
5. Following successful completion of the comprehensive examination, the student may be advanced to candidacy.
6. Approximately six months following the successful completion of the comprehensive examination, the dissertation proposal should have been defined and presented to the Graduate Studies Committee.

Student Evaluation

Students must make satisfactory progress and will be evaluated for satisfactory progress each year, especially regarding incomplete in course work, GPA, and research involvement.

1. Incompletes. Graduate students are expected to complete courses within the time framework of the semester. In unusual cases where this is not in the best interest of the student, the professor may assign an incomplete. An incomplete in two or more courses on the cumulative record is considered as not making satisfactory progress.
2. GPA. The student is expected to maintain the minimum GPA of 3.0 required by the Graduate School. This GPA pertains to course work within the major department, to coursework outside the department and also to the overall combined GPA.
3. Research Involvement. It is the responsibility of the student to meet with the Academic Adviser to be certain that all research expectations are made clear. Students who are not actively involved in research will be considered as not making satisfactory progress.