University Senate
Proposed: 22 February 2002
Adopted:
RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH THE
PH.D. PROGRAM IN KINESIOLOGY
WHEREAS, the Education Committee has favorably
reviewed a proposal (described in the attached statement of purpose) from the
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and Teachers College to establish a new
doctoral program in Kinesiology, and
WHEREAS, the committee is satisfied that this
program has been approved by the Executive Committee of the Graduate School of
Arts and Sciences, the Dean of the Graduate School, the Registrar, the
University Librarian, and the Provost;
THEREFORE
BE IT RESOLVED, that the University
Senate establish a new Ph.D program in Kinesiology, with the proviso that the
Education Committee will review the program in five years;
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that
this resolution be forwarded to the Trustees for appropriate action.
Proponent:
Senate
Committee on Education
The proposed program is directed toward preparing
the current and the next generation of leaders in movement-based areas of
education. These leaders will assume professorial roles in universities and
colleges within departments of Movement Sciences/Kinesiology, and Physical and
Occupational Therapy. The proposed program will prepare scholars to conduct
research on the critical issues related to processes underlying the learning,
development, and performance of functional action that enable humans across
life span to interact with their everyday physical and social environments
(i.e., posture, locomotion, manipulation). Research will be directed toward
elucidating processes that provide the bases for education and rehabilitative
strategies in such areas as (1) cardiovascular, respiratory, and muscle
functions that are prerequisite for effective movement, (2) neuromotor control
processes in typically developing and physically challenged individuals, (3)
behavioral and biomechanical factors underlying the acquisition and development
of movement skills, and (4) instructional strategies to facilitate skill
acquisition over the life span. These processes are examined not only in
laboratory-based settings, but also in real-life settings, such as schools and
rehabilitation clinics. Thus, the proposed program is unique in that it aims to
prepare basic and applied researchers within an applied educational context.
The proposed program shares with the
Ed.D. program in Movement Sciences and Education a core of substantive courses
and seminars. However, the two programs differ in major ways. Preparation in
the Ed.D. program would prepare leaders who are “scholars of practice,” able to
draw valid applications from basic and applied research dealings with areas in
the movement sciences having implications for education and clinical practice.
Graduates of the Ed.D. program serve as educators in the professional training
of clinicians and educators. Preparation in the Ph.D. program in Kinesiology
would prepare researchers in the areas of Movement Sciences or Kinesiology for
professorial positions at Research I universities. The two programs would
diverge at advanced stages of doctoral preparation, the Ph.D. program having
more emphasis on research and less on coursework. Most important, the standard
for the dissertation would differ. The Ph.D. in Kinesiology would require a
series of studies contributing to a body of knowledge in the field. The Ed.D.
dissertation would also demonstrate research competence, but would focus on
clinical and educational applications. The nature of the coursework would also
differ between the two degrees. Students in the Ph.D. program would be required
to enroll continuously throughout their studies in research training seminars
that emphasize presentations of student and faculty scholarly work, grant
writing, and research methods. The Ph.D. students would also take more research
coursework. The proposed program will not replace any existing programs. In the
Ed.D. program, advanced work would focus on additional coursework with
applications of the existing knowledge base and on the implications for
professional preparation programs. Having the Ph.D. degree would allow us to
maintain our present position as an internationally recognized doctoral program
that prepares outstanding researchers in kinesiology.
Other
departments across the country offer study within the domains of kinesiology,
including the behavioral, biomechanical, and cardiorespiratory factors
affecting human performance. However, our program is unique in that we
incorporate the study of neuromotor and physiological function. There is
increasing awareness that understanding of these processes requires knowledge
of how people perform in real-life settings. For example, focus of study in our
program is on understanding movements such as locomotion or hand manipulation
and relearning these skills following neurological damage. Focus of study is
also on understanding and restoration of autonomic balance in a variety of
patients (e.g., heart disease, spinal cord injured, Präder-Willi syndrome,
orthostatic intolerant elderly, sleep apneic individuals). There is demand
currently for faculty with these competencies; however, few existing programs
are able to cover these areas in depth.
Students constantly inquire about
the possibility of a Ph.D. in Kinesiology. Nationally, there are many
institutions offering graduate study in the movement sciences (many of these
programs staffed by our graduates). Most often, these new programs offer the
Ph.D. degree in addition to master’s-level preparation.