Department of Health and Kinesiology
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Graduate Degree Programs
Master of Public Health (MPH)
The MPH program is designed to educate future leaders in public health and is offered in collaboration with various units on the Purdue campus. The degree requires a minimum of 45 credit hours which include a professional internship and a thesis. Students complete coursework in biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health, health policy & administration, and behavioral health sciences. Students select from one of two concentrations: Community Health or Health Communication.
Master of Science (MS)
The MS program is designed as a flexible degree program that allows students to pursue in-depth study in areas corresponding to faculty expertise. Traditional areas of study include: athletic training education administration, biomechanics, exercise physiology, health education, history/philosophy of sport, motor control and development, physical education teacher education, sport and exercise psychology, and recreation and sport management.
Students may also propose their own area of study that combines expertise of our graduate faculty. Most students enter the research-based program, which is designed to prepare students for doctoral study and requires 24 credit hours of coursework in addition to a thesis. Alternatively, students may opt for a 33 credit hour non-thesis option that emphasizes professional practice and culminates with a capstone project. Course requirements of the MS degree are flexible and developed in consultation with the student’s advisory committee. However, it is expected that students will complete at least 6 credit hours of research tools and 9 credit hours of coursework within the department that align with the student’s area of study.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
The PhD program is a research-focused program that is designed to produce independent scholars capable of enhancing knowledge and effectively communicating that knowledge. Traditional areas of doctoral study include: athletic training education administration, biomechanics, exercise physiology, health education, history/philosophy of sport, motor control and development, physical education pedagogy, sport and exercise psychology, and recreation and sport management.
Like the MS program, the PhD is flexible and designed by the student in collaboration with an advisory committee. Students entering this program have research interests that tightly match with those of a graduate faculty member, and generally seek to pursue an academic/research career. The degree requires a minimum of 34 credit hours beyond the master’s degree or 52 credit hours beyond the baccalaureate. Course requirements are flexible, are developed by the student in consultation with the student’s advisory committee, and are evaluated and endorsed following a brief student presentation to the graduate faculty. Requirements also include passing a qualifying examination in the first academic year, passing a written and oral preliminary exam upon completing primary coursework, and successfully completing and defending a dissertation.
