Human Physiology (PhD)

Our PhD program provides classroom and research experiences, helping students grow into professionals equipped with the experience to be great researchers. Providing students with an in-depth understanding of human physiology and advanced research skills is our hallmark. Our department houses state-of-the-art equipment, furthering our understanding of the physiological process.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

  • Teaching and Mentoring: Demonstrate working knowledge of current teaching and mentoring best-practices.
  • Professional Ethics: Demonstrate knowledge of ethical and professional behavior related to academic and research integrity.
  • Career Development: Demonstrate proactive career planning and goal setting and participation in professional development activities.
  • Core Knowledge: Demonstrate broad working knowledge of content areas and detailed knowledge of a primary content area.
  • Scientific Inquiry: Demonstrate fluency in the scientific literature, current questions, and research methods in a primary content area.
  • Scientific Communication: Demonstrate effective oral and written scientific communication skills, including data presentation.
Key:
Program Learning Outcome
I = introduces outcome; D = develops outcome; A = assesses mastery of outcome
Listed course or activity
 
Teaching and Mentoring
HPHY 611 Professional Skills I: Teaching Effectiveness I/D
 
Professional Ethics
HPHY 612 Professional Skills II: Responsible Research I/D
 
Career Development
HPHY 613 Professional Skills III: Career Development I/D
 
Core Knowledge
500-level capstone electives I/D/A
HPHY 621-623 Systems Physiology Series I/D/A
600-level Advanced Electives D/A
Candidacy Exam A
 
Scientific Inquiry
HPHY 621-623 Systems Physiology Series I/D
Two required statistical courses I/D/A
600-level Advanced Electives D/A
Candidacy Exam A
Dissertation Defense A
 
Scientific Communication
HPHY 621-623 Systems Physiology Series D
Two required statistical courses I/D/A
600-level Advanced Electives D/A
Candidacy Exam A
Dissertation Defense A

Doctor of Philosophy Degree Requirements

HPHY 611
HPHY 612
HPHY 613
Professional Skills I: Effective Teaching
and Professional Skills II: Responsible Research
and Professional Skills III: Career Development
3
HPHY 621
HPHY 622
HPHY 623
Systems Physiology I
and Systems Physiology II
and Systems Physiology III
12
EDUC 614Educational Statistics 13
EDUC 640Applied Statistical Design and Analysis 13
Human physiology courses or other courses most appropriate to student's line of study 238
Select one of the following:4
Advanced Respiratory Physiology
Human Cardiovascular Control
Kinematics of Human Movement
Kinetics of Human Movement
HPHY 603Dissertation 318
Total Credits81
1

Statistical analysis courses covering the following topics: descriptive statistics, logic of hypothesis testing, elementary inferential statistics, confidence intervals, one-way analysis of variance, post hoc comparisons, a priori contrasts, within-subjects and between-subjects effects, two-way and higher-order designs, and interactions. For recent additions to these course options, check with the director of graduate studies for the department; alternatives available with prior approval.

2

Determined in conjunction with dissertation advisory committee.

3

Must register for course every term of enrollment after advancing to candidacy.

The doctoral degree requires completion of a minimum of 81 graduate-level credits beyond the bachelor’s degree; at least 60 of these credits must be completed through human physiology courses. Written and oral doctoral candidacy examinations are taken after completing a substantial portion of the program of study. Upon passing these examinations, the student is advanced to candidacy. A final oral defense is held after completion of the dissertation and after all other degree requirements have been met. Required courses must be taken for letter grades and passed with grades of B– or better. Students must maintain at least a 3.00 grade point average for all courses. Additional university doctor of philosophy degree requirements are described under Doctoral Degrees in the Division of Graduate Studies section of this catalog