About

Are you interested in an advanced degree that will enhance your understanding of a variety of processes that sustain life? Do you want to be an expert in your field?

The PhD program in bioenergetics and exercise science is housed in the Department of Kinesiology within the College of Health and Human Performance, and is offered in conjunction with the Department of Physiology in the Brody School of Medicine. This doctoral program has consistently been highly ranked by the National Academy of Kinesiology, based upon program faculty indices of productivity, funding, and visibility as well as student indices of graduate assistant support, student quality, employment, and admissions.

Students have the opportunity to utilize laboratory and research facilities of all participating disciplines. Bioenergetics and exercise science graduates address research questions at the level of the whole body to the gene using a variety of approaches and are trained for employment in health care, government, academic, research and service institutions.

ECU Advantage

The interdisciplinary content and collaborative approach to mentoring provide students with the “best of several worlds.” Students apply to the PhD in bioenergetics and exercise science program by contacting the Department of Kinesiology. They have access to the resources (e.g. faculty with in-depth training in diverse areas of expertise, core equipment, student funding) of several campus units and centers (e.g. the Human Performance Laboratory, Biomechanics Laboratory, East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Center for Health Disparities Research, Pediatric Health Weight Research and Treatment Center, and Brody School of Medicine).

As an ECU student, you can research your future career in Steppingblocks. Explore real-world stats about your major, your interests, and your dream job title with data-powered career exploration tools designed for doers like you.

What You Will Study

Program Coordinator: Katrina Dubose (252-328-1599; 174 Minges Coliseum; dubosek@ecu.edu)

The Bioenergetics and Exercise Science, PhD is an interdisciplinary degree program housed in the Department of Kinesiology and offered in conjunction with the Departments of Biochemistry and Physiology in the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. The program uses a unique interdisciplinary approach to address the role of energy transposition in health and disease under resting and exercise conditions. Students address research questions that range from the whole body to the gene level as they investigate the mechanisms by which physically active lifestyles influence disease processes, prevention, and treatment. Students can choose between four concentrations of study: biomechanics and motor control; cellular and molecular bioenergetics; exercise physiology and behavioral science; and nutritional exercise physiology. Graduates are prepared for employment in health care, government, and academic private institutions.

The Bioenergetics and Exercise Science, PhD requires a minimum of 69 s.h. as follows:

1. Professional standards and ethics - 2 s.h.
  • HUMS 7004 - Ethics and Research OR
  • KINE 7004 - Research Ethics for a Complex World
2. Foundations in bioenergetics and exercise science - 7 s.h.
  • KINE 7335 - Seminar in Bioenergetics
  • KINE 8310 - Pedagogy in Bioenergetics
3. Research and application - 36 s.h.
    Research design - 6 s.h.
    • KINE 8330 - Introduction to Research
    Statistics - 3 s.h.
    • Select a 3 s.h. advanced statistics course
      Dissertation - 27 s.h. (minimum)
      • KINE 9000 - Dissertation
    4. Concentrations - 24 s.h.

    (Select one of the following.)

      Biomechanics and motor control - 24 s.h.
        Core (13 s.h.)
        • KINE 6202 - Motor Learning
        • KINE 7200 - Biomechanics
        • KINE 7204 - Techniques of Biomechanical Assessment

        • KINE 7211 - Bioenergetics OR
        • KINE 7447 - Translational Exercise Physiology
        Advanced topics in bioenergetics (5 s.h.)

        (Select from the following courses.)

        • KINE 8331 - Advanced Topics in Bioenergetics
        • KINE 8332 - Advanced Topics in Bioenergetics
        • KINE 8333 - Advanced Topics in Bioenergetics
        • KINE 8334 - Advanced Topics in Bioenergetics
        • KINE 8335 - Advanced Topics in Bioenergetics
        • KINE 8336 - Advanced Topics in Bioenergetics
        Restricted electives (6 s.h.)

        (Select from the following courses.)

        • ANAT 7200 - Gross Anatomy and Embryology
        • BIME 6250 - Biomedical Signal Processing
        • KINE 7002 - Nutrition and Exercise
        • KINE 7203 - Neuromotor Control
        • PHLY 7702 - Graduate Physiology II
        • PHLY 7703 - Graduate Neuroscience
        • PHLY 7730 - Medical Neuroscience
        • PHYS 6715 - Biomedical Physics
        • PHYS 6720 - Physics of Medical Imaging
        • PTHE 8200 - Clinical Biomechanics
        • PTHE 8301 - Motor Control and Movement Disorders
        • PTHE 8502 - Muscle Physiology
        • Any approved elective
        • any approved elective
      Cellular and molecular bioenergetics - 24 s.h.
        Core (7-8 s.h.)
        • BIOC 7301 - Biochemistry I OR
        • KINE 7211 - Bioenergetics *

        • KINE 7447 - Translational Exercise Physiology
        Restricted electives (7-9 s.h.)

        (Select from the following courses.)

        • BIOC 7310 - Molecular Biochemistry

        • BIOC 8320 - Biochemistry II: Regulation of Metabolism OR
        • KINE 8320 - Bioenergetics II: Regulation of Metabolism *

        • PHLY 7702 - Graduate Physiology II
        Advanced topics in bioenergetics (3-6 s.h.)

        (Select from the following courses.)

        • KINE 8331 - Advanced Topics in Bioenergetics
        • KINE 8332 - Advanced Topics in Bioenergetics
        • KINE 8333 - Advanced Topics in Bioenergetics
        • KINE 8334 - Advanced Topics in Bioenergetics
        • KINE 8335 - Advanced Topics in Bioenergetics
        • KINE 8336 - Advanced Topics in Bioenergetics
        Restricted electives (3-5 s.h.)

        (Select from the following courses.)

        • BIOC 7310 - Molecular Biochemistry

        • BIOC 8320 - Biochemistry II: Regulation of Metabolism OR
        • KINE 8320 - Bioenergetics II: Regulation of Metabolism

        • PHLY 7702 - Graduate Physiology II
        • PHLY 7703 - Graduate Neuroscience
        • PHLY 7704 - Physiological Proteogenomics
        • any approved elective
        Note:

        * One of the following courses is required for the cellular and molecular bioenergetics concentration: KINE 7211 or KINE 8320.    

        Exercise physiology and behavioral science - 24 s.h. **
          Core (7 s.h.)
          • KINE 6440 - Exercise Psychology

          • KINE 7211 - Bioenergetics OR
          • KINE 7447 - Translational Exercise Physiology

          Advanced topics in bioenergetics (5 s.h.)

          (Select from the following courses.)

          • KINE 8331 - Advanced Topics in Bioenergetics
          • KINE 8332 - Advanced Topics in Bioenergetics
          • KINE 8333 - Advanced Topics in Bioenergetics
          • KINE 8334 - Advanced Topics in Bioenergetics
          • KINE 8335 - Advanced Topics in Bioenergetics
          • KINE 8336 - Advanced Topics in Bioenergetics
          Restricted electives (12 s.h.)

          (Select from the following courses.)

          • COHE 6430 - Health Data Management
          • HLTH 6001 - Foundations of Health Education and Promotion
          • HLTH 6110 - Intervention Strategies for Health Education and Promotion
          • KINE 6212 - Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Diagnostic Procedures
          • KINE 6401 - Assessment of Physical Activity and Fitness
          • KINE 7002 - Nutrition and Exercise
          • MPH 6008 - Ethnic Health and Health Disparities
          • MPH 6027 - Mixed-Methods Research
          • PHLY 7702 - Graduate Physiology II
          • PSYC 6333 - Applied Behavior Analysis
          • any approved elective
          • any approved elective
          Note:

          ** At least 12 s. h. of the 24 s. h. in the exercise physiology and behavioral science concentration must be from courses which are at the 7000 or 8000-level.  All electives must be selected in consultation with concentration mentor.

          Nutritional exercise physiology - 24 s.h.
            Core (14 s.h.)
            • KINE 7002 - Nutrition and Exercise
            • KINE 7211 - Bioenergetics
            • KINE 7447 - Translational Exercise Physiology
            • NUTR 6105 - Human Nutrition in Physiology and Metabolism
            Advanced topics in bioenergetics (5-6 s.h.)

            (Select from the following courses.)

            • KINE 8331 - Advanced Topics in Bioenergetics
            • KINE 8332 - Advanced Topics in Bioenergetics
            • KINE 8333 - Advanced Topics in Bioenergetics
            • KINE 8334 - Advanced Topics in Bioenergetics
            • KINE 8335 - Advanced Topics in Bioenergetics
            • KINE 8336 - Advanced Topics in Bioenergetics
            Restricted electives (4-5 s.h.)

            (Select from the following courses.)

            • KINE 8320 - Bioenergetics II: Regulation of Metabolism
            • PHLY 7702 - Graduate Physiology II
            • PHLY 7704 - Physiological Proteogenomics
        For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
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