Human performance pertains to more than the performance of athletes in sport; it pertains to the physiological, neurological, psychological, and mechanical aspects of our daily lives. Whether you are interested in researching how exercise affects elite athletes, older adults, cancer survivors, children with disabilities, or other populations, our doctoral degree in human performance can be customized to fit your interests.
Research the mechanical aspects of human motion, with an emphasis in gait and running mechanics, to improve performance and prevent musculoskeletal injury. Performance-related research includes: gait energetics, improving walking function in older adults, alleviating pain, and mobile monitoring using wearable technology. This doctoral degree will prepare you for faculty and teaching positions as well as a research career in clinical or private industry settings.
Understanding how the various cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems respond to challenges posed by acute exercise and exercise training is the primary goal of this emphasis. Exercise physiology often aims to optimize physical performance and/or improve health outcomes in a range of populations, including elite athletes, manual laborers, older adults, and those with chronic diseases. This area of emphasis will prepare students well for post-doctoral training and a tenure-track faculty appointment at a research-oriented institution.
The neural and psychological aspects of human performance are the focus of the Motor Learning and Control emphasis. You will take a core of research-oriented classes and engage in research projects before you begin working on your dissertation. With this emphasis, you will be well prepared for faculty research and teaching jobs at colleges and universities.
This competitive program offers you an interdisciplinary approach to the study of sport management intended to build upon your personal interests with a thorough foundation in sport. This emphasis will provide you with a wide variety of study and research opportunities within the field of sport management, such as business, communication, and history. You will develop the research, critical thinking, and teaching skills necessary to be successful in academia. Admission to the doctoral program is dependent on the availability of a faculty advisor in the area of study.
You'll complete coursework in exercise physiology, physical activity, cognitive and sensory motor control, motor learning, sport psychology, or biomechanics, as well as a minor outside of the Kinesiology department. Most important, you will work closely with a faculty mentor to conduct rigorous research in any one of our research areas or collaborate between multiple research areas. You and your faculty mentor will design a program of study and conduct independent research, including your dissertation. You are encouraged to communicate with a potential faculty advisor to confirm that your interests match before you apply.
Funding packages are available to our Ph.D. students that include a stipend, student health insurance, and tuition remission. Those funded with a teaching assistantship will also gain valuable teaching experience. All Human Performance Ph.D. students will complete a seminar series that focuses on professional development and teaching. In these seminars, you will learn about additional faculty expectations beyond those of conducting research and basic teaching, which includes: curriculum devlopment, grant writing, and classroom management, among other topics that will help you transition smoothly into a faculty position.
School of Public Health-Bloomington
1025 E. Seventh Street, Suite 111
Bloomington, IN 47405-7109
Phone: 812-855-1561
Fax: 812-855-4983
