Program Overview
College of Natural and Health Sciences
Coordinator: Brian Dauenhauer. Ph.D.
Email: Brian.Dauenhauer@unco.edu
Location: Gunter 2590
Telephone: 970-351-1202
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.
Admission
Location: Greeley
Start Term: Fall
General Doctoral Degree Admission Requirements
Sport and Exercise Science Ph.D. - Physical Education and Physical Activity Leadership Concentration
Admission Deadline
Fall Admissions: Feb. 1 to be given priority screening for fall admission of that year.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must apply to the Graduate School at the University of Northern Colorado before the program area reviews the applicant’s request for admission. Failure to submit all required materials will delay the evaluation and screening of your application.
Each applicant must:
Take the following steps to be considered for admission:
Step 1: Complete the Application
Complete the online application.
- Answer the application questions.
- Send your requests for letters of recommendation.
- Request three (3) academic or professional letters of recommendation from those who can attest to your academic potential and abilities. You will be asked to supply information for your recommenders in the application.
- Submit the application and pay the non-refundable application fee.
- Domestic Students: $50 non-refundable application fee
- International Students: $50 non-refundable application fee
- The Graduate School is waiving application fees for all current UNC students and alumni! (The waiver applies only to the UNC Graduate School application.) Click for details.
Once you submit your application you will be assigned an Admissions Portal, allowing you to upload supplemental items, as listed below, and track your application through the admissions process.
Step 2: Request Transcripts
Request one official transcript from any Institutionally Accredited college or university where a bachelor’s degree or higher was earned or is in progress (if you have earned multiple degrees, bachelor’s level or higher, an official transcript is required from each college or university where a degree was conferred). If you received a degree from UNC, you do not need to request a transcript from UNC. The Office of Admissions reserves the right to request that applicants provide official transcripts from other colleges or universities as needed. Applicants who have earned or are directly pursuing a higher degree from a regionally accredited institution without receiving a bachelor’s degree (e.g., PharmD) may be eligible to apply to the Graduate School without the conferral of a bachelor’s degree.
Exceptions: If an applicant intends to use Veteran’s Education Benefits, an official transcript from all colleges or universities attended will be required in order to maintain compliance with Veteran’s Affairs policies.
Official transcripts from U.S. institutions should be sent via mail directly from the educational institution in an unopened, sealed envelope or through an electronically secure digital program from the issuing institution.
Mailed transcripts should be sent to:
University of Northern Colorado
Office of Admissions
Campus Box 10
501 20th St
Greeley, CO 80639
Electronic transcripts from U.S. institutions should be sent directly from the educational institution to: grad.admissions@unco.edu.
The Office of Admissions does not accept email, scanned or PDF transcripts directly from applicants. All official transcripts, submitted as part of the application process, are retained by UNC and not returned to applicants or admitted students.
UNC retains submitted transcripts, from institutions other than UNC, for admitted students for up to five years after graduation or date of last attendance at UNC. Transcripts provided by applicants who were not admitted, denied admissions or did not complete their application are destroyed after one (1) year. The Office of Admissions will make every attempt to use previously submitted transcripts if they are within these timeframes. However, if the Office of Admissions cannot locate previously submitted transcripts, the transcripts fall outside the timeframes listed above or they are considered illegible, applicants must provide new transcripts.
Applicants with academic credentials from outside the U.S. will need to follow the requirements for submission of foreign transcripts. Click on the Transcripts tab for information about international transcripts.
Step 3: Optional GRE Scores
You may choose to submit official GRE scores (less than five years old). It is expected that most applicants will not provide GRE scores, but they are optional for those who feel that GRE scores will strengthen their application credentials. It is in no way required; applications without GRE scores will receive full review without disadvantage.
If you want to include GRE scores in your application, please follow these guidelines: Request to have GRE test scores sent electronically to UNC (UNC's institutional code is 4074).
Required minimum scores:
- 140 Quantitative;
- 146 Verbal Reasoning;
- Combined score of at least 297;
- Analytical Writing 3.5
Please note, UNC does not accept GRE Subject Test scores.
Step 4: Supplemental Items
Log back into the Admissions Portal to submit the following:
- Current resume or curriculum vitae
- Academic Writing Sample (Authored by Applicant)
- Applicants are required to provide an original academic writing sample related to the program discipline.
- Letter of Intent: Written statement of your background, career goals and research interests (if applicable).
- Please indicate that you are applying to the SES: Physical Education and Physical Activity Leadership (PE PAL) Emphasis Ph.D. program in the first paragraph. Failure to do so could mean a rejection of your application.
- It is also important that the name(s) of any faculty member(s) you are interested in working with appear somewhere in your research statement. Our program is mentor-based so faculty members are instrumental in admissions decisions.
Once you apply to the UNC Graduate School and your application packet is complete, your application will be reviewed by the Graduate School and then sent to the faculty/program for an admission recommendation. The timing of the admission decision depends on each individual program’s deadline and review process.
International applicants (non-U.S. citizen/non-U.S. Permanent Resident) please refer to the International Admissions Requirements page for further information about submitting transcripts, English proficiency scores, passport copy and financial documentation.
For More Information
For more information about the admission process, please email the Office of Admissions at grad.admissions@unco.edu or call 970-351-2881.