Ph.D. in Kinesiology & Rehabilitation

The Ph.D. in Kinesiology & Rehabilitation is designed for kinesiologists and rehabilitation professionals (athletic trainers, occupational therapists, physical therapists or speech/language pathologists) who are interested in becoming leaders, teachers and scholars in their respective fields. This inter-professional program features faculty from the College of Health Sciences and the Darden College of Education & Professional Studies. The curriculum's core has a focus on motor control and motor learning as applied to mobility, rehabilitation, daily functional activities, communication and swallowing in individuals with and without physical or neurologic impairments. In addition to 6 core courses, students will complete research courses, teaching and/or research apprenticeship courses, and at least two electives for a total of at least 51 credit hours.

This program is designed for people who have already completed a master's degree or entry-level clinical doctorate and wish to advance the body of knowledge of their respective profession and to assume the role of educator and mentor in an academic, clinical or industrial setting.

 

Degree Information

Admissions

Applicants must meet the general graduate level requirements as well as specific program requirements. 

Curriculum

Coursework includes core courses, research courses, experiential learning/apprenticeships, and electives.

Degree Requirements

Requirements include written and oral candidacy examinations, and defense of a dissertation.

Student Outcomes

Graduates of the Ph.D. in Kinesiology & Rehabilitation program will be able to:

  1. Apply their expertise in kinesiology and rehabilitation in academic and non-academic settings
  2. Demonstrate adherence to principles of responsible conduct of research
  3. Critically analyze research publications and presentations in their areas of focus in kinesiology and rehabilitation
  4. Design and conduct original research to expand the body of knowledge in kinesiology and rehabilitation
  5. Disseminate research results in formats suitable for presentation and/or publication
  6. Collaborate with colleagues in different but related fields for education, research and publications
  7. Develop and deliver instruction in an undergraduate or graduate university program

Program Director Contact

Associate Professor Rehabilitation Sciences

Faculty

Our program faculty have a diverse academic background in areas of kinesiology and rehabilitation and offer expertise in understanding how humans move and communicate across the lifespan, and how this can be impacted by injury, disease, or the aging process. The group is highly inter-professional, with clinical expertise in athletic training, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech and language pathology. Our research makes contributions to our understanding and treatment of concussions, diabetes, falls risk, musculoskeletal injuries, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, stroke, stuttering, and more. This is evidenced in publications in well regarded peer reviewed journals, and private, state, and federal grant funding to support our research.

Below you will find brief information about the academic background and research specialization areas of our faculty, with links to individual webpages. If you wish for assistance in finding a faculty member who could mentor you through the PhD program, please contact the Graduate Program Directors, Patrick Wilson or Ryan McCann

Associate Professor
Research Interests
Musculoskeletal simulations of activities of daily living and athletic maneuvers; Influence of biomechanics on physical activity in special populations; Resistance training and sports biomechanics;
Clinical Assistant Professor Rehabilitation Sciences
Associate Professor Rehabilitation Sciences
Associate Professor
Research Interests
The emotional, attentional, and linguistic processing components of childhood language development and childhood stuttering disorders.
Clinical Assistant Professor Rehabilitation Sciences
Associate Professor
Research Interests
Dr. Johnson's research interests involve cognitive and procedural aspects of learning with a specific interest in the role of structure of practice, schedule of feedback, and motivation in neurocognitive recovery to optimize communication, participation, self-efficacy, and quality of life.
Assistant Professor Rehabilitation Sciences
Assistant Professor Rehabilitation Sciences
Research Interests
Balance, Fall prevention, Adaptive locomotion, Locomotor training, Geriatric rehabilitation, Aging, Neuromuscular disorders, Perturbation-based gait training
Associate Professor Rehabilitation Sciences
Research Interests
Development of Occupational Therapy Theory, Examination of Theory Guided Interventions, Knowledge and Science Implementation in Educational Based Practice and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Occupational Therapy Education
Clinical Assistant Professor Rehabilitation Sciences
Research Interests
Measurement of Spinal Range of Motion; Standardized Patient Use in Physical Therapy Education; Outcome measures in falls risk; Assessment in Admissions
Assistant Professor Rehabilitation Sciences
Associate Professor Rehabilitation Sciences
Professor
Research Interests
Dr. Raymer's research examines lexical, orthographic, and praxis disorders and means to promote their optimal rehabilitation in individuals with aphasia, dyslexia, dysgraphia, and apraxia following stroke and other neurologic conditions.
Assistant Professor
Research Interests
Her research interests include examining how short term alterations in physical activity (or inactivity) impact cardiometabolic health in healthy individuals, individuals with chronic diseases (type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease), as well as during pregnancy.
Associate Dean for Research and Innovation College of Health Sciences
Research Interests
Dr. Rhea's research lies at the intersection of neuromotor control and advanced technology (e.g., virtual reality, smartphones) to address human health challenges. To this end, Dr. Rhea's team has been funded the NIH, DoD, US Navy, HRSA, NIOSH, Women's Football Foundation, and 4-VA to explore solutions related to falls in older adults, concussions, service member health, occupational health, and child physical activity and nutrition.
Associate Professor & Chair
Research Interests
Motor Control & LearningMovement DisordersRehabilitation
Assistant Professor Rehabilitation Sciences
Research Interests
Motor Control, Chewing, Gait, Aging, Falls Assessment, Falls Management
Assistant Professor Rehabilitation Sciences
Research Interests
Motor Learning, Concussion Prevention, Football Injury Prevention
Assistant Professor Rehabilitation Sciences
Research Interests
My research interests include studying play and creativity across the lifespan as well as how universal design for learning (UDL) promotes access and equity. My current research studies: 1) Empowering parents to support their child's early literacy (pre-reading and pre-writing through engagement and play)2) Reducing interfering classroom behaviors through emotion-regulation supports3) Utilizing the principles of UDL to foster equity and creativity for artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Associate Professor
Research Interests
Sport and exercise nutrition, exercise physiology, endurance competition, and public health as it relates to physical activity and nutrition.