PhD in Kinesiology
Advance your career in this fast-moving field with a kinesiology doctorate program.
What factors contribute to musculoskeletal injury and how can they be reversed? What limits human performance and how can it be optimized? Learn to use tools from molecular biology, neuroscience, engineering, behavioral medicine, intervention design, and computer science to help solve these movement-related problems and others with a PhD in kinesiology from UMass Amherst.
Designed to foster excellence in research, the program offers research training in four areas: physiology, physical activity and health, biomechanics, and movement neuroscience. You’ll apply our pioneering use of multimodality methods in your research.
PhD students apply to the program to study with a specific faculty member. Your formal coursework plan should include courses (both within kinesiology and outside the department) that will establish the expertise necessary to further your research goals.
NOTE: This is a STEM designated program.
Benefits list
Support for Your Education
Doctoral students have priority in teaching positions and tend to support themselves with these offerings during the first three years. Faculty assist students in applying for federal or foundation funding to support independent research projects. Currently, all doctoral students are funded.
Member American Kinesiology Association
The Department of Kinesiology is a proud member of the AKA, which promotes kinesiology as a field and includes areas of study in exercise science, sports management, athletic training, and sports medicine, among others.
Research Studies
The kinesiology department offers regular opportunities to participate in research studies. It’s your chance to learn firsthand about a variety of areas, from movement in children and adolescents to healthy aging and muscle performance.
Featured class
This course will cover current questions and state-of-the-art research techniques in the study of pediatric physical activity interventions in different settings.
Featured faculty
Sofiya Alhassan
Focus on community family-based physical activity interventions
Wouter Hoogkamer
Focus on biomechanics & energetics; gait rehabilitation; running performance; footwear
Jane Kent
Focus on human skeletal muscle function and fatigue, examining age, gender, chronic health status, and habitual physical activity level.
Edward (Ned) Debold
Focus on the molecular basis on muscle contraction, muscle fatigue, and heart failure.
Douglas Martini
Focus on balance disorders, concussion, gait, motor control, cognition, inertial measurement units, functional near-infrared spectroscopy.
In the spotlight
"It means so much to me to have been a part of this process because as an undergrad in exercise science, this book was everything. It is near and dear to my heart."
Application information & deadlines
Application is through the UMass Graduate School. Students must choose an area of specialization and a faculty member they wish to work with.
Priority Deadline
Applications received by Dec. 1 each year will be given priority consideration.
Application Deadline
The application deadline for the degree is Feb. 1.
Department of Kinesiology
Investigating the mechanical, neurological, biochemical, physiological, and behavioral components of human movement.