Health Sciences (Ph.D.) - Exercise & Sport Science
Important: This degree plan is effective for those starting this degree program in fall 2025 through summer 2026. This degree plan will remain in effect for students who do not break enrollment or who do not change degree programs, concentrations, or cognates.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Research Core Courses | ||
| HSCI 701 | Theories and Methods of Health Science Research | 3 |
| HSCI 702 | Health Sciences Scholarship and Literature | 3 |
| HSCI 703 | Quantitative Research Methods and Statistics I | 3 |
| HSCI 704 | Research Mentorship | 1 |
| HSCI 705 | Ethical Issues in Health Science | 3 |
| HSCI 810 | Advanced Literature Review | 3 |
| HSCI 815 | Qualitative Research Methods and Analysis | 3 |
| HSCI 820 | Quantitative Research Methods and Statistics II | 3 |
| HSCI 850 | Dissertation Mentorship | 2 |
| Total Hours | 24 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Health Science Electives | ||
| Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
- 1
Choose from the following courses: EXSC 6652, HSCI 720, or HSCI 7303.
- 2
It is strongly recommended that students in the Exercise and Sport Science cognate take EXSC 665 as one of their electives, as it is a prerequisite to EXSC 760.
- 3
Students in the Exercise and Sport Science cognate who do not have a nutrition course in their master's coursework which can serve as a prerequisite fulfillment to EXSC 645, can take HLTH 640 in place of HSCI 730.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise & Sport Science Cognate | ||
| EXSC 645 | Performance Nutrition for the Physically Active | 3 |
| EXSC 670 | Physiological Interactions of Performance Enhancing Substances | 3 |
| EXSC 680 | Occupational and Environmental Physiology | 3 |
| EXSC 750 | Advanced Sport Biomechanics | 3 |
| EXSC 760 | Advanced Sport Performance Assessment and Programming | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Dissertation Courses 1 | ||
| HSCI 987 | Dissertation I | 5 |
| HSCI 988 | Dissertation II | 5 |
| HSCI 989 | Dissertation III 2 | 5 |
| HSCI 990 | Dissertation IV | 0 |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
- 1
Once the student enters the Dissertation phase, he/she must maintain continuous enrollment (Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters) until all degree requirements are completed.
- 2
Any student who is not ready for enrollment in HSCI 990 after completing HSCI 989 may be required, as determined by the student's dissertation chair, to repeat HSCI 989 until deemed ready for enrollment in HSCI 990.
All applicable prerequisites must be met
Graduation Requirements
- Complete 60 hours
- A maximum of 50% of a post-graduate and doctoral degree may be transferred if approved and allowable, including credit from an earned degree from Liberty University on the same academic level
- 3.0 GPA
- No grades lower than B- may be applied to the degree
- Degree must be completed within 7 years
- Submission of Degree Completion Application must be completed within the last semester of a student's anticipated graduation date
Program Offered in Online Format
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| HSCI 701 | Theories and Methods of Health Science Research | 3 |
| HSCI 702 | Health Sciences Scholarship and Literature | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| HSCI 703 | Quantitative Research Methods and Statistics I | 3 |
| HSCI 704 | Research Mentorship | 1 |
| HSCI 705 | Ethical Issues in Health Science | 3 |
| Hours | 7 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Third Semester | ||
| EXSC 645 | Performance Nutrition for the Physically Active | 3 |
| Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| EXSC 670 | Physiological Interactions of Performance Enhancing Substances | 3 |
| Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fifth Semester | ||
| EXSC 680 | Occupational and Environmental Physiology | 3 |
| HSCI 810 | Advanced Literature Review | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Sixth Semester | ||
| EXSC 750 | Advanced Sport Biomechanics | 3 |
| HSCI 815 | Qualitative Research Methods and Analysis | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Seventh Semester | ||
| EXSC 760 | Advanced Sport Performance Assessment and Programming | 3 |
| HSCI 820 | Quantitative Research Methods and Statistics II | 3 |
| HSCI 850 | Dissertation Mentorship | 2 |
| Hours | 8 | |
| Eighth Semester | ||
| HSCI 987 | Dissertation I 2 | 5 |
| Hours | 5 | |
| Fifth Year | ||
| Ninth Semester | ||
| HSCI 988 | Dissertation II | 5 |
| Hours | 5 | |
| Tenth Semester | ||
| HSCI 989 | Dissertation III 3 | 5 |
| HSCI 990 | Dissertation IV 3 | 0 |
| Hours | 5 | |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
- 1
Choose from the following courses: EXSC 6654, HSCI 720, or HSCI 7305
- 2
Once the student enters the Dissertation phase, he/she must maintain continuous enrollment (Fall, Spring and Summer semesters) until all degree requirements are completed
- 3
Any student who is not ready for enrollment in HSCI 990 after completing HSCI 989 may be required, as determined by the student’s dissertation chair, to repeat HSCI 989 until deemed ready for enrollment in HSCI 990
- 4
It is strongly recommended that students in the Exercise & Sport Science cognate take EXSC 665 as one of their electives, as it is a prerequisite to EXSC 760
- 5
Students in the Exercise & Sport Science cognate who do not have a nutrition course in their master’s coursework which can serve as a prerequisite fulfillment to EXSC 645, can take HLTH 640 in place of HSCI 730