College of Education Health and Human Services
School of Health Sciences
www.kent.edu/ehhs/hs

About This Program

The Ph.D. degree in Exercise Physiology prepares students for a wide variety of career options, including exercise prescription and research. The program develops the competencies needed for those who intend to teach exercise physiology, pursue research or apply exercise physiology in practice.

Contact Information

• Jake Barkley | jbarkle1@kent.edu

• Connect with an Admissions Counselor: U.S. Student | International Student

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*

^{* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.}

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university
• Previous degree in exercise science or equivalent preparation
• Minimum 2.750 graduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale (minimum 3.500 GPA is recommended) starting with spring 2026 admission term, minimum 3.000 graduate GPA will be required
• Official transcript(s)
• Résumé or curriculum vitae
• Goal statement
• Two letters of recommendation
• Interview
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:¹
  • Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
  • Minimum 58 PTE score
  • Minimum 110 DET score

¹

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores will not be considered for admission.

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Rolling admissions
• Spring Semester
  • Rolling admissions
• Summer Term
  • Rolling admissions

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

Students must enroll in EXPH 73091 for two semesters.

²

Upon admission to candidacy, each doctoral candidate must register for EXPH 83199. It is expected that a doctoral candidate will continuously register for Dissertation I for a total of 30 credit hours, and thereafter EXPH 83299, each semester until all requirements for the degree have been met. The dissertation must show that the student has the competency to conduct research in a discriminating and original manner. The quality of the dissertation must be such that one or more articles acceptable for publication in a professional journal may be expected to be derived from it.

Graduation Requirements

• Only in rare instances does a student fulfill the educational and research expectations within the minimum-credit-hour requirement for this degree. Any deficiencies in a doctoral student’s academic preparation must be corrected very early in the approved academic program.

Candidacy Examination

Students will be required to pass an oral and written candidacy examination after coursework is completed before beginning their dissertation. Prior to taking the candidacy examination, the student must demonstrate his or her ability to conduct independent research related to the field of exercise physiology. This may be in the form of a completed thesis, an independent study project or an article published in an acceptable research journal. The acceptability of such evidence is to be determined by faculty advising students in exercise physiology.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Execute original research within the field of exercise physiology for publication or presentation.
2. Understand physiological responses to exercise for a variety of populations and conditions.
3. Statistically analyze and interpret research in the field of exercise physiology.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.