ALL PROGRAMS | College of Education & Human Development Programs

What does it cost?

Check out our cost calculator or visit student financial services for information on estimated costs.

How long will it take?

Most concentrations include a minimum of 61 semester hours with the exception of Psychology of Physical Activity (63 semester hours) and Rehabilitation Science (49 semester hours).

Where will I take classes?
Atlanta Campus

Application Deadlines View Admissions Requirements

  • Fall: May 1 – Priority deadline February 1
  • Spring: October 15
  • Summer: January 15

Kinesiology, Ph.D.

Email: KHAmbassador@gsu.edu
Phone: 404-413-8050

The Ph.D. in Kinesiology prepares students for research and teaching careers at colleges and universities and health, physiological performance, rehabilitative science, sport management and related fields.

Attainment of a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree ranks among the most respected accomplishments in any field.

Choose one of the following six concentrations:

Biomechanics and Physical Rehabilitation

The concentration in Biomechanics and Physical Rehabilitation focuses on the scientific description of human movement using multidisciplinary approaches (e.g., biomechanics, neuroscience, engineering) and advanced measurement techniques (e.g., motion capture, force and muscle activity measurements, etc.) in order to restore the functional capacity, improve the interaction with the environment, and enhance the quality of life for healthy and pathological individuals.

Exercise Physiology

The concentration in Exercise Physiology prepares students to teach and conduct research in areas related to cardiopulmonary and neuromuscular physiology with particular emphases on exercise metabolism and performance in healthy populations, and in populationswith chronic diseases (e.g., cardiovascular, metabolic, and neuromuscular diseases).

Physical Education Teacher Education

The concentration in Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) prepares students for careers in higher education as scholars, researchers, and teacher educators. Research expertise will be acquired in the areas of instruction, digital pedagogy, curriculum, assessment, teacher education, teacher development, and adapted physical education. The concentration will prepare students as members of communities of scholars in higher education.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PETE CONCENTRATION

Psychology of Physical Activity

The concentration in Psychology of Physical Activity prepares students to teach and conduct research in areas related to the correlates of physical activity, mental health benefits of physical activity, theory-based behavior change strategies, and the design, implementation, and testing of theory -based physical activity interventions. Completion of this concentration will not lead to students becoming licensed psychologists.

Rehabilitation Science (only open to existing Department of Physical Therapy students)

Students earning a concentration in Rehabilitation Science will gain an in-depth understanding of the basic and applied aspects of health science and services, the social sciences, biomechanics, physiology, neuroscience and engineering as they relate to restoring human functional capacity and improving a person’s interaction with the surrounding environment. Students will hone skills of oral and written communication of scientific information, which will help to prepare them for academic and research positions in universities, private research institutions, government agencies, private industries, and the public policy sector. The concentration in Rehabilitation Science is only open to students currently enrolled in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program in the Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE REHABILITATION SCIENCE CONCENTRATION

Sport Administration

The concentration in Sport Administration prepares students to teach and conduct research in areas related to sport administration, including management, organizational behavior, marketing, communication, sport ecology, and urban planning. The program guides students to think critically about the sport management industry, comprehend sport management theory, develop a line of research inquiry, and apply various research designs and advanced statistics to become sport management researchers and professors in higher education.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SPORTS ADMINISTRATION CONCENTRATION

VIEW CATALOG INFORMATION

Program Highlights
Kinesiology FacultyOur Kinesiology Faculty

Laboratories

Applied Physiology Laboratory

The Applied Physiology Laboratory serves the research, teaching and service needs of Kinesiology and Health. It was constructed as part of the renovation of the Physical Education Building as the badminton venue for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. The laboratory maintains a Georgia clinical laboratory license.

Body Composition Laboratory

The Body Composition Lab contains a dual-energy, x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scanner (Lunar Prodigy; GE Medical Systems), Hydra ECF/ICF Bio-Impedance Analyzer (Xitron Technologies 4200) and skin fold calipers.

Cardiovascular & Thermal Physiology Laboratory

The Cardiovascular and Thermal Physiology Laboratory is equipped with advanced equipment, including laser-Doppler flowmetry to measure skin blood flow, microdialysis for the local delivery of pharmacological agents to the skin, local skin heaters, water-perfused suits to regulate and change body temperature and wireless telemetry pills to measure core body temperature.

Muscle Biology Laboratory

The Muscle Biology Laboratory is in the Department of Kinesiology and Health in the Sports Arena. The laboratory is equipped to study skeletal and cardiac muscle physiology, electrophysiology, biochemistry, histochemistry, and molecular and cellular biology.

Physical Education Teaching and Learning Lab

The Physical Education Teaching and Learning Lab serves the research, teaching and service needs of the Health and Physical Education undergraduate and graduate programs. This facility is equipped with multiple instructional courts, sports equipment and activity tracking devices to prepare pre-service and in-service teachers to deliver safe, effective and developmentally meaningful physical education instruction in physical fitness, fundamental motor skills and sport specific skills and tactics for Prekindergarten to 12th grade and college students with and without a disability. The Lab houses specialized equipment for instruction in a variety of disability sports including wheelchair basketball, wheelchair handball, wheelchair football, wheelchair tennis, goalball, beep baseball, boccia and Special Olympics floor hockey.

Rankin Cooter Bureau for Sport Business Research

The Rankin Cooter Bureau for Sport Business Research conducts research in sport marketing, sport finance, event management, facility operation and other areas of sport administration. The modern facility contains 12 computer work stations (MACs and PCs) with Internet access and sport specific software such as StatCrew, SPSS, Photoshop and InDesign. There are also extensive resources, including journals, data bases and other publications for faculty and students conducting sport management research.

Center for Sport and Urban Policy (CSUP)

The Center for Sport and Urban Policy (CSUP) is a forum for the scientific study of the ways in which sport (including youth, amateur, recreational, collegiate, professional and international) interacts with, contributes to and interferes with urban spaces. Launched in 2016—the twentieth anniversary of the 1996 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Atlanta—the Center for Sport and Urban Policy seeks to (1) engage in and promote interdisciplinary research that examines the relationship between sport and urban communities; (2) enhance public understanding of these relationships; and (3) inform policymaking.

Program Details

Admissions Requirements

Select concentration in:

  • Biomechanics & Physical Rehabilitation
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Physical Education Teacher Education (note: applicants for this concentration must hold a Master’s degree in health and physical education or related discipline)
  • Psychology of Physical Activity
  • Rehabilitation Science (note: applicants with a Doctor of Physical Therapy or a Master of Science in a Physical Therapy or related health sciences degree are eligible for applying to this concentration)
  • Sport Administration

When applying to the Kinesiology, Ph.D. program, you will need to submit several documents for review.

  • Online Application
  • Application Fee of $50
  • Goals Statement (upload with the application)
  • Resume (upload with the application)
  • Writing Sample (upload with the application)
  • Two Letters of Recommendation (upload with the application)
  • Official Transcript: minimum 3.30 graduate GPA required for admission
    • transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
    • institution code 5251
  • GRE scores: An official score on the Graduate Record Examination General Test is required for admission to Ph.D. programs in the College of Education and Human Development. While it is important to note that GRE scores are used along with other criteria established by departments and programs when determining admission, a score of 155 or higher on the verbal section and 151 or higher on the quantitative section will make the application more competitive
    • scores may not be more than five years old at time of application
    • institution code 5251

For up-to-date curriculum requirements, please visit the catalog.

Funding Your Graduate Education

Cost of attendance and funding opportunities are integral to your decision to attend graduate school. Georgia State offers a variety of funding opportunities, from assistantships to fellowships.

Awards and Assistantships

Various awards, assistantships and fellowships are available to new and current graduate students. We encourage you to contact your department, college, school or institute of interest to get more information about the assistantships and fellowships they offer their students.

The Scholarship Resource Center offers guidance and support to students seeking financial assistance through scholarship opportunities, including this scholarship library.

Fellowships

The Office of Graduate Programs’ Fellowship Advisor works with students interested in applying for nationally prestigious and competitive fellowships. The Office of Graduate Programs also coordinates the application process for students applying to the Second Century Initiative, the Provost’s Dissertation Fellowship and the Dissertation Library Travel Awards.

Cost Calculator

Our calculator can help you get an idea of the costs associated with attending the university.

Kinesiology Ph.D. Doctoral Student Handbook

Description

Careers

The Ph.D. in Kinesiology program is designed to train students to conduct high-level research at institutions of higher education (e.g., as professors at colleges and universities) or as practitioners in kinesiology-related fields.

Contacts

Program Coordinator
Timothy Kellison
tkellison@gsu.edu
404-413-8363

Kinesiology and Health
KHAmbassador@gsu.edu
404-413-8050

College of Education & Human Development
Kinesiology and Health
Sports Arena
125 Decatur Street
Suite 137
Atlanta, GA 30303 USA

30 Pryor Street SW
Atlanta, GA 30303

The information shared provides an overview of Georgia State’s offerings. For details on admissions requirements, tuition, courses and more, refer to the university catalogs.