The mission of the Ph.D. program in exercise physiology is to train individuals for careers in research and teaching. A strong emphasis is placed on laboratory and research experience. Primary coursework and training will include the study of the acute and chronic cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic and perceptual responses to exercise and athletic training. The physiology of muscular strength and body composition are given considerable attention. Coursework within the Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology at the Ph.D. level covering these areas include both lecture and laboratories. Additional courses involve the application of basic exercise physiology principles to clinical situations, the prescription of exercise and the evaluation of physical fitness.
Exercise physiology is the scientific study of how the physiological systems of the human body respond to exercise. It is a multi-disciplinary field with strong ties to basic research, life sciences and medicine, with application to clinical and normal populations. The primary mission of the Ph.D. program in exercise physiology is to train individuals for careers in research and teaching. Therefore, a strong emphasis is placed on laboratory research and teaching experience. Primary coursework and training will include the study of the acute and chronic cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic responses to exercise. Coursework within the Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology at the Ph.D. level covering these areas include both lecture and laboratories. Additional courses in physiology, biochemistry and statistics are required in various departments on the University of Florida campus.
REQUIRED CONCENTRATION AREA
CORE COURSES (21 credits minimum)
Department of APK (15 credits minimum)
3 PET 7368 Exercise Metabolism*
3 PET 7366 Pulmonary Function During Exercise¥
3 PET 7365 Cardiovascular Exercise Physiology¥
3 PET 7077 Free Radicals in Aging, Exercise and Disease*
3 PET 6397 Neuromuscular Adaptations to Exercise
*GMS 6400C is a highly recommended prerequisite for PET 7365 and PET 7366
*BCH 6206 is a highly recommended prerequisite for PET 7368 and PET 7077
Basic Sciences (Physiology and/or Biochemistry) ¥ (6 credits minimum)
6 GMS 6400C Principles of Physiology
4 BMS 6421 Cell Biology
2 GMS 6931 Ethical and Policy Issues in Clinical Research
1-4 GMS 6000 6000 series (please see attachment)
3 BCH 5413 Mammalian Molecular Biology and Genetics
3 BCH 6206 Advanced Metabolism*
3 BCH 6415 Advanced Molecular and Cell Biology
*BCH 4024; Introduction to Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is a required pre-requisite undergraduate course for BCH 6206; With approval of your supervisory committee BCH 4024 can count towards your PhD degree as an elective; however, it will not count as part of the required concentration credits).
¥Please see additional biochemistry, nutrition, cell biology, immunology courses in graduate catalogue; mentor will advise.
ADDITIONAL COURSES IN CONCENTRATION AREA (9 credits minimum)
Please see attachment for course examples
Note: A maximum of six undergraduate credits (3000-4999), outside the college (HHP), may be used for support course work when taken as part of an approved graduate program and must be approved by the supervisory committee.
REQUIRED STATISTICAL AREA (8 credits minimum)*
*Additional credits cannot be counted towards concentration area
Department of APK
3 HLP 6535 Research Methods*
*pending on previously taken courses in statistics; mentor will advise.
Department of Statistics
Credit Title
3 STA 6166 Statistical Methods in Research 1
3 STA 6167 Statistical Methods in Research 2
3 STA 6176 Introduction to Biostatistics
2 STA 6200 Fundamentals of Research Design
3 STA 6201 Analysis of Research Data
RESEARCH AREA (22 credits minimum)
Credit Hours Title
up to 6 PET 6905 Directed Independent Study (grade assigned) *
5 (max) PET 6910 Supervised Research (S/U grade) *
1-6 HLP 7979 Advanced Research (optional)
15 (min) HLP 7980 ¥Dissertation Hours
*Report, paper and/or data needs to be communicated with mentor; Mentor will advise.
¥Students are required to show evidence of a master’s thesis or acceptable research project (one publication accepted by a peer reviewed Journal) prior to embarking upon a dissertation.
DOCTORAL PROGRAM SUMMARY
Area Credit Hours
Concentration Area (21 required and 9 additional) 30
Research Area 22
Statistical Area 8
Total Minimum UF Doctoral Credits 60
Total Credits for Ph.D Required 90*
*NOTE: A minimum of 90 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree is required for the Ph.D. degree. A maximum of 30 credit hours of graduate course work from another institution may count towards this 90-hour minimum, pending approval by the student’s advisory committee. All courses to be transferred must be letter graded with a grade of B or better and must be demonstrated to relate directly to the degree being sought. All credits obtained from a master’s degree must have been earned in the last seven years.