Program Overview
College of Natural and Health Sciences
General Doctoral Degree Admission Requirements
View delivery options, start terms and admission requirements.
Location: Gunter 2590
Telephone: 970.351.2755
Fax: 970.351.1489
Website: www.unco.edu/nhs/sport-exercise-science/
Our Ph.D. in Sport and Exercise Science: Physical Education and Physical Activity Leadership is a research degree, designed for students who seek careers as college or university professors or related areas. In addition to building academic expertise in physical education and physical activity leadership, you will develop excellent teaching skills, drawing on UNC’s strength as an educator-training institution. Alumni of our doctoral program have a stellar record of faculty job placements. Students will be able to: Pursue an academic career as a faculty member; Produce applied, relevant, influential research; Belong to a global alumni network.
Degree Requirements — 65-68 Credits
Prerequisites — 3 hours
| SES 602 | Introduction to Research in Sport and Exercise Science | 3 |
May be required if not taken during a student’s Master’s program.
Required Concentration Credits — 22 hours
| SES 622 | Directed Studies | 1- 4 |
| SES 680 | Perspectives in Sport Pedagogy | 3 |
| SES 681 | Research on Teaching and Teachers in Physical Activity Settings | 3 |
| SES 682 | Program Design and Evaluation in Physical Activity Settings | 3 |
| SES 695 | Seminar in Physical Education | 1 |
| SES 696 | College Teaching | 3 |
And choose 3 credits from the following:
| SES 622 | Directed Studies | 1- 4 |
| SES 755 | Supervised Practicum in College Teaching | 1- 6 |
Research Core — 12 hours
Take all the following courses:
| SES 703 | Research Seminar in Sport and Exercise Science | 3 |
| SRM 602 | Statistical Methods I | 3 |
| SRM 680 | Introduction to Qualitative Research | 3 |
Choose one of the following courses:
Research Proposal/Dissertation — 16 hours
| SES 797 | Doctoral Proposal Research | 1- 4 |
| SES 799 | Doctoral Dissertation | 1-12 |
Research Tools
Doctoral students in this degree must demonstrate competency in two research tools. Four possibilities are listed below:
- Research Design. Applied Statistics/Quantitative Methods. Complete 9-12 hours (excluding SRM 600 and SRM 700).
- Research Design. Applied Statistics/Qualitative Methods. Complete 9-12 hours (excluding SRM 600 and SRM 700).
- Discipline-Specific Laboratory Techniques. Exhibit competency in laboratory-based research work, which is specific to a student’s concentration area. Coursework supporting this requirement is acceptable, but not required.
- A collateral field of study may be used as a substitute for a research tool. See Graduate School policies for details.
Cognate Credits — 15 hours
Must choose 15 hours from one of the Cognate Areas:
Physical Education Teacher Education Cognate
| EDF 610 | Teacher Research | 3 |
| EDF 619 | Pluralism in Education | 3 |
| EDF 664 | Instruction and Assessment | 3 |
| EDF 685 | Philosophical Foundations of Education | 3 |
| EDF 700 | Implementation and Evaluation of Curriculum | 3 |
| EDF 777 | Social Justice in Education Reform | 3 |
| EDF 781 | Perspectives on Curriculum | 3 |
| EDF 787 | Technology, Innovation, and Education | 3 |
| SES 612 | Assessment in Sport Pedagogy | 3 |
| SES 614 | Analysis of Teaching in Physical Education | 3 |
Physical Activity Leadership and Community Health Cognate
| CH 509 | Behavior Change Theories | 3 |
| CH 525 | Contemporary Issues in School Health | 3 |
| CH 530 | Strategies for Community Health Promotion | 3 |
| CH 533 | Physical Activity Interventions in the Community | 3 |
| CH 615 | Methods in Public Health Research and Evaluation | 3 |
| SES 646 | Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programming | 3 |
| SES 647 | School Physical Activity Policy, Advocacy, and Leadership | 3 |
Program Note
In addition to Graduate School candidacy and graduation requirements, doctoral students in the School of Sport and Exercise Science must complete requirements associated with the SES doctoral matrix.