FAQs
Below is a list of frequently asked questions about our graduate program in kinesiology. If you have further questions, please e-mail us at: kinesgraduate@asu.edu.
Q: Do I need a master's degree to apply to the doctoral program?
A: No. Applicants interested in graduate education can apply directly to the doctoral program.
Q: I am interested in graduate education in the area of kinesiology, but I am not sure whether I should apply to the master's or doctoral program.
A: In the past, the master's degree in kinesiology offered by our department was offered as a intermediate step towards entering the doctoral program. Today, however, a doctorate in kinesiology offers broader career opporunities than a master's degree. Therefore the department is now focusing its resources on the doctoral program.
Q: How many credit hours does your doctoral program require?
A: The doctoral program requires a total of 84 credit hours.
Q: Is the total number of credit hours required to obtain a doctorate different for students who already have a master's degree?
A: Up to 30 credit hours from a previously awarded master’s can be included on a doctoral program of study, thus bringing the credits to be completed at ASU to 54.
Q: How is the doctoral coursework established? Are there core courses that I need to take during my program?
A: The department requires all doctoral students to take two courses: (1) Seminar (“Graduate Student Survival”), and (2) “Graduate Survey of Kinesiology”. Other than these two courses, there is no required didactic course work. Course work required by the supervising committee for completion of the doctorate will differ depending upon the student’s background (for example, a student entering with a bachelor’s degree may require some graduate level coursework.). Before passing the comprehensive examination and advancement to doctoral candidacy, the student also will register each semester for at least three hours of KIN 792 (Research) and KIN 799 (Dissertation).
Q: Are all credit hours obtained through course work?
A: No. In addition to course credit hours, the student obtains credit hours through: (1) research (experiment design, data collection and analysis, etc.), and (2) dissertation.
Q: How is the total number of credit hours partitioned among course credit hours, research credits and dissertation credits?
There is not one set way to partition the credit hours between course, research and dissertation credit hours. The student’s committee chair and members decide the nature of the distribution, unless the program has some core course requirements. In the latter case, the core courses, and then take whatever electives the committee chair wants the student to take.
Q: Is there a maximum number of credit hours that a student can take?
A: There is no maximum limit. The only limit on research credits set by Graduate College is that the combination of research (KIN 792) and dissertation (KIN 799) credits must be a minimum of 24 credit hours. Also, dissertation credits must be at least one hour, but no more than 24 hours, although 12 is very typical at ASU.
Q: What is the total number of credit hours required to do the comprehensive examinations?
A: Students should request permission to take the comprehensive examinations when they have completed the course work for an approved program of study. Even though all coursework will be completed, there will still be research credits and dissertation to be completed.
