The PhD in Exercise Science is an interdisciplinary degree program designed to prepare students to pursue academic, clinical, leadership, and/or research roles in the fields of health promotion, exercise science, kinesiology, human performance and other related disciplines. This doctorate program has a strong research orientation and aims to develop outstanding scholars and researchers who create and disseminate new knowledge about issues arising out of the intersection of physical activity, health promotion, and human performance.
This doctoral program includes coursework in health, exercise science, research, statistics, and a nine credit hour dissertation requirement.
Students who earned a MS-Applied Exercise Science at CUC and apply to pursue the PHD-Exercise Science at CUC starting with the 2025-2026 graduate catalog may be eligible to apply up to 12 credits toward the PHD-Exercise Science even if their MS was their first master’s degree. Courses for consideration to apply must be earned within 3 calendar years of the student’s PHD start term, have grades of B or higher, and must be approved by evaluation by the student’s GPS, division chair and Registrar.
General Graduate Admission Requirements
All applicants must meet the general admission requirements for Concordia University Chicago graduate programs as published in the Concordia University Chicago academic catalog.
New students are accepted into most graduate degree-seeking, certificate, endorsement and/or post-graduate programs for online and on-campus study for in the fall, spring, or summer semesters. Students seeking to change programs may do so by submitting a Change-of-Program quick app. Applicants must be in good academic standing according to Concordia University Chicago’s satisfactory academic progress standards and meet published program admission requirements at the time of requesting a program change. Program changes will be processed and recorded for the subsequent semester.
Program-Specific Admission Requirements
In addition to admission requirements, a master’s degree in Health Science or Exercise Science or related field with a minimum of 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale is required.
Applicants who have a tangential, but not a directly related master’s degree in Exercise Science, may be considered for provisional acceptance. Students who are provisionally accepted will have to take AES-6250: Advanced Exercise Physiology as their first course and earn a B or higher in order to continue in the program. Students who do not earn a B or higher in AES-6250 will be dismissed from the program. Students seeking provisional acceptance must meet all other admission criteria.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Research | ||
| RES-7605 | Quantitative Analysis | 3 |
| RES-7700 | Qualitative Research | 3 |
| RES-7800 | Mixed Methods Research | 3 |
| RES-7620 | Advanced Topics in Statistics | 3 |
| Common Core | ||
| HHP-7000 | Cardiovascular Responses to Exercise | 3 |
| HHP-7005 | Scientific Communication | 3 |
| HHP-7010 | Neuromuscular Responses to Exercise | 3 |
| HHP-7030 | Advanced Exercise and Sports Nutrition | 3 |
| HHP-7090 | Ethical Issues in HHP | 3 |
| HHP-7100 | Seminar in Health & Human Performance | 3 |
| HHP-7900 | Research Design | 3 |
| Choose one track: | ||
Advanced Exercise Physiology | ||
| AES-6250 | Advanced Exercise Physiology 1 | 3 |
| HHP-7020 | Exercise for Disease Prevention and Management | 3 |
| HHP-7510 | Advanced Topics in Endocrinology and Metabolism | 3 |
| HHP-7520 | Advanced Exercise Physiology and Special Population Considerations | 3 |
| OR | ||
Applied Strength and Conditioning | ||
| AES-6830 | Application of Advanced Strength and Conditioning 1 | 3 |
| AES-6835 | Psychology of Sport and Exercise 1 | 3 |
| HHP-7040 | Measurement and Evaluation in Health and Human Performance | 3 |
| HHP-7500 | Advanced Biomechanics | 3 |
| Cognate Courses | ||
| Select 12 hours from the following: | ||
| AES-6250 | Advanced Exercise Physiology 1 | 3 |
| AES-6560 | Special Topics: Seminar in Movement Science 1 | 3 |
| AES-6660 | Special Topics: Seminar in Sports Performance Training 1 | 3 |
| GERO-7000 | Gerontological Theory | 3 |
| GERO-7500 | The Physiology of Aging | 3 |
| GERO-7505 | The Psychological Aspects of Aging | 3 |
| GERO-7800 | Demography and Epidemiology of Aging | 3 |
| GERO-7805 | Issues in Aging Policy | 3 |
| GERO-7810 | Foundation of Teaching and Learning in Gerontology | 3 |
| GERO-7820 | Leadership, Applied Ethics, Aging and Global Change | 3 |
| GERO-7900 | Diversity in Aging Societies | 3 |
| GME-6300 | Introduction to Grants 1 | 3 |
| HHP-7020 | Exercise for Disease Prevention and Management (for students not in Track 1) | 3 |
| HHP-7040 | Measurement and Evaluation in Health and Human Performance (for students not in Track 2) | 3 |
| HHP-7050 | Program Design in Physical Activity and Health | 3 |
| HHP-7060 | Health Promotion and Disease Prevention | 3 |
| HHP-7070 | The Professoriate | 3 |
| HHP-7500 | Advanced Biomechanics (for students not in Track 2) | 3 |
| HHP-7510 | Advanced Topics in Endocrinology and Metabolism (for students not in Track 1) | 3 |
| HHP-7520 | Advanced Exercise Physiology and Special Population Considerations (for students not in Track 1) | 3 |
| RES-7710 | Advanced Qualitative Analysis | 3 |
| Comprehensive Exam and Dissertation 1 | ||
| HHP-7910 | Remediation for Comprehensive Exam (as needed) | 3 |
| COMP-7100 | Comprehensive Exam | 3 |
| DISS-7011 | Dissertation Proposal I | 3 |
| DISS-7012 | Dissertation Proposal II | 3 |
| DISS-7013 | Dissertation Proposal III | 3 |
| DISS-8010 | Dissertation Completion | 0 |
| DISS-8011 | Dissertation Completion | 0 |
| Minimum Total Hours | 69 | |
Doctoral Graduation Requirements
- Have on file an application as a doctoral graduate student in this program.
- Have on file one official transcript from EACH college/university attended of all previous coursework taken.
- Complete, for this degree and program,
- the credit hours and levels as designated,
- within the specified time limit,
- with grades of C- or higher,
- with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Students completing multiple advanced programs or degrees at CUC must have a 3.0 GPA in each academic program in addition to a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Have on file approved “Graduate Transfer Credit Approval” form(s), "Course Substitution" form(s), or evaluation(s), if applicable.
- Have on file the Intent to Graduate/Complete form with the Office of the Registrar by the published deadline.
- Successfully defend the dissertation or satisfy the designated culminating experience.
- Have on record the dissertation uploaded into ProQuest.
- Approval of the faculty.
- All administrative obligations to CUC must be cleared in order to prompt the release of CUC transcripts and diploma(s).
Every attempt has been made to include information to aid the student with information about his/her program, degree and graduation/completion requirements. It is, however, the student’s responsibility to complete all steps and meet all deadlines relevant to graduation requirements.