Ph.D. in Kinesiology & Rehabilitation

The Ph.D. in Kinesiology & Rehabilitation is designed for kinesiologists (exercise physiologists, exercise psychologists, biomechanists) and rehabilitation professionals (athletic trainers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech/language pathologists) who are interested in becoming leaders, teachers, and scholars in their respective fields. This inter-professional and interdisciplinary program features faculty mentors from the College of Health Sciences, with faculty and student collaborators from across ODU. Students are immersed in research experiences in and out of the classroom and complete a flexible curriculum that can encompass motor control and learning, neuroscience, biomechanics, exercise science, nutrition, public health, rehabilitation, communication sciences, and research methodology. In addition to four core courses, students complete research courses, teaching and/or research apprenticeship courses, at least four electives, and 12 dissertation credits 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 professions/disciplines and to assume the role of researcher, 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 Directors

Associate Professor School of 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;
Asst Prof & Clin Ed Coord School of Rehabilitation Sciences
Associate Professor School of Rehabilitation Sciences
Associate Professor
Research Interests
The emotional, attentional, and linguistic processing components of childhood language development and childhood stuttering disorders.
Clinical Assistant Professor School of 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 School of Rehabilitation Sciences
Research Interests
Dr. Khurana’s research primarily focuses on early detection and early intervention in children with neurodevelopmental delays. Her past work has explored motor, cognitive and language development in both term and preterm infants. Key projects include:Promoting neuroplasticity and enhancing neurobehavioral organization and movement repertoire through early intervention in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).Improving developmental outcomes in preterm infants during first year of life through providing early intervention and home programs.Assessing the feasibility of conducting unsedated diffusion tensor imaging in very preterm infants.Currently, Dr. Khurana is studying brain activity using Electroencephalography (EEG). Her ongoing projects include:Exploring the feasibility of conducting EEG during walking in typically developing 4-8 years old children.Comparing neural correlates of walking between typically developing children and those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.Additionally, Dr. Khurana is investigating the effect of adaptive gymnastics on motor development in children with autism. She is also deeply interested in understanding the dynamics of parent child interactions and their influence on developmental outcomes.
Assistant Professor School of Rehabilitation Sciences
Research Interests
Balance, Mobility, Fall prevention, Adaptive locomotion, Locomotor training, Geriatric rehabilitation, Aging, Neuromuscular disorders, Perturbation-based gait training
Assistant Professor School of Rehabilitation Sciences
Research Interests
female participation in sport and physical activity throughout the lifespan, menopause and physical activity, pelvic health in female athletes, return to sport postpartum
Associate Professor School of 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 School of 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 School of Rehabilitation Sciences
Associate Professor School of 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.
Associate 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 Ellmer 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 School of Rehabilitation Sciences
Research Interests
Motor Control, Chewing, Gait, Aging, Falls Assessment, Falls Management
Associate Professor School of Rehabilitation Sciences
Research Interests
Motor Learning, Concussion Prevention, Football Injury Prevention
Assistant Professor School of 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.
Assistant Professor
Research Interests
The overarching theme of my research is how social and psychological factors shape and influence physical activity behaviors and cardiovascular disease. I focus on developing and implementing physical activity promotion interventions to improve cardiovascular health, measurement of physical activity (psychometrics and wearable devices), and examining social connectedness factors related to physical activity and cardiovascular health. My research draws from my training in behavioral science, social psychology, and public health.