• Description of Program
• Degree Requirements
• Special Opportunities
• Careers

Description of Program

Exercise physiology is broadly based on basic sciences: human anatomy, physiology, chemistry, and biology. The primary goal of this field is to understand how the various cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems respond to challenges posed by exercise and physical training. Exercise physiology focuses on optimal performance such as that attained by elite and highly trained athletes. Unlike many fields, exercise physiology has remained integrative, examining how the failure or enhancement of one physiological system can influence another. The field also considers how the environment imposes limits on the body during exercise through such means as heat, cold, humidity, and altitude.

Degree Requirements

Course requirements for this degree are prescribed by an advisory committee for each individual student. Degree requirements include:

• A minimum of 90 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree are required.
• A minimum 3.0 GPA is required for graduation.
• A minimum grade of C is required in each course used to satisfy the major, minor, and elective requirements of the course prescription.
• A minimum grade of B is required in each course used to satisfy the research skills requirement of the course prescription.

The following courses or their equivalents must be completed, either as prerequisites, or as required courses by all Ph.D. students in the School of Public Health - Bloomington.

• SPH-E 651 Epidemiology (3 cr.) This course may be counted toward the 90 credits for the degree as a course in the major, minor, or electives, as described below.
• SPH-Q 501 Introduction to Statistics in Public Health (3 cr.) This course or its equivalent may not be counted toward the 90 credits for the degree.
• SPH-X 505 Principles and Foundations of Public Health (3 cr.) This course may be counted toward the 90 credits for the degree as a course in the major, minor, or electives, as described below. Students who have previously completed an MPH degree from an accredited school of public health or accredited public health program are exempt from this requirement. Students who are completing requirements for an MPH degree concurrent with the doctoral degree are also exempt.
• SPH-X 590 Introduction to Research in Health, Kinesiology and Recreation (3 cr.) This course may be counted toward the 90 credits for the degree as a course in the major, minor, or electives, upon approval of the committee.

The 90 required credits are arranged as follows on a Ph.D. student's course prescription:

• Research Skills (9 credits minimum). A minimum of 9 credits of coursework providing required skills to conduct research, such as advanced courses in biostatistics. These credits count toward the 90 credits for the degree. Courses counted in this area require a minimum grade of B.
• Major Area of Study (30 credits minimum). A minimum of 30 credits in the major area of study. These courses must be taken within the School of Public Health-Bloomington. Courses transferred from previous graduate work outside the School of Public Health-Bloomington, if within the major area of study, can be used to fulfill the major areas of study requirement, contingent upon the committee’s approval.
• Minor Area of Study (9 credits minimum). A minimum of 9 credits of coursework in a designated area outside the department in which the major is being pursued.
• Electives (0 to 28 credits). Elective credits may range between 0 and 28. An optional second minor may be included in the elective credit hours.
• Dissertation (20 – 30 credits)

Special Opportunities

Students at the undergraduate and graduate levels can assist in a wide variety of ongoing research experiments in the exercise physiology laboratories.

Careers

• Careers for M.S.: Preparation toward Ph.D. programs; research-related positions at research laboratories.
• Careers for Ph.D.: Graduates are qualified for research and teaching positions at universities, sports organizations, and medical centers.