Biokinesiology (PhD)

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The graduate program leading to the Doctor of Philosophy in Biokinesiology is designed to prepare candidates for research and teaching at the university level. Actual programs of study will be designed with a degree of flexibility directed toward individual students who seek to become independent scholars.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet all general admission requirements of the university. Admission requirements include a superior grade point average in cumulative undergraduate and graduate course work (if applicable). In addition, applicants should score at least 150 in each area of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) and have some research experience. Students admitted for the Master of Science degree are not automatically admitted to the Doctor of Philosophy program. The Master of Science is not required as a prerequisite to the PhD but may be advised.

Applicants must have a personal interview with the program faculty. A student can be considered for admission only when a member of the full-time PhD faculty has agreed to serve as the student's PhD adviser. Three letters of recommendation and duplicate transcripts must be sent to the division for preliminary evaluation, although final acceptance is based upon the official USC application procedure.

Prerequisites (PhD Program)

The prerequisite for applicants to the PhD program in biokinesiology is either: (a) a bachelor's degree or higher with a science major or equivalent; or (b) a bachelor's or master's degree in physical therapy with appropriate basic science content. Courses completed at the time of application must include work (with appropriate laboratory study) in chemistry, calculus, physics and biology. Highly recommended is course work in anatomy, physiology, histology, cell biology, exercise physiology, kinesiology, biochemistry, neuroscience, trigonometry, analytical geometry and computer programming.

Candidates should be computer literate. International applicants will be considered upon evaluation of credentials by the USC Office of Admission.

Students deficient in certain prerequisites may be admitted subject to completion of requirements within two years after admission. An additional year may be granted upon review of the student's program by a faculty committee. Work in any prerequisite subject will not be part of the required 60 units for the Doctor of Philosophy.

Screening Procedure

A screening procedure will be offered twice each year for qualified students. It must be taken prior to the completion of 24 units at the 500-level or higher. The purpose of the screening procedure is to assess the progress of the PhD student and to determine whether that progress is sufficient to continue in the PhD program. Passing the procedure is a prerequisite for continuation in the PhD program.

Course Requirements

A minimum of 60 units is required for the Doctor of Philosophy degree.

Required Course Work

Select 2 of the 3 required core discipline focus areas of Biokinesiology: BKN 550 , BKN 551 and BKN 552 .

BKN 550 Neurobehavioral Basis of Movement Units: 4
BKN 551 Musculoskeletal and Biomechanical Basis of Movement Units: 4
BKN 552 Physiological Basis of Voluntary Movement Units: 4
BKN 790 Research Units: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
BKN 794a Doctoral Dissertation Units: 2
BKN 794b Doctoral Dissertation Units: 2
BKN 794c Doctoral Dissertation Units: 2
BKN 794d Doctoral Dissertation Units: 2
BKN 794z Doctoral Dissertation Units: 0
INTD 500 Ethics and Accountability in Biomedical Research Units: 1 ^*
PM 510L Principles of Biostatistics Units: 4 ^**
PM 511aL Data Analysis Units: 4 ^**

Note:

^*Or equivalent graduate ethics course.

^**Or equivalent graduate level statistics.

PhD students must complete two of the three core courses (BKN 550 , BKN 551 , BKN 552 ) before participating in the screening procedure. Substituting a course for one of the core courses may be allowed after receiving approval from the Biokinesiology Program Committee prior to the beginning of the course.

Other course requirements (to complete 60 units) will vary according to the specific needs of each student. Course work other than departmental offerings is encouraged and may be required by the student’s qualifying exam committee.

Courses Available for MS/PhD Students

BKN 559 Readings in Biokinesiology Units: 1, 2, 3, 4 , max 8
BKN 563 Biomechanics Units: 2, 2 years
BKN 566 Neurobiology of Locomotion Units: 2
BKN 567 Advanced Topics in Biomechanics Units: 2
BKN 573a Advanced Dissection Anatomy Units: 2
BKN 573b Advanced Dissection Anatomy Units: 2
BKN 575 Principles of Musculoskeletal Imaging Units: 2
BKN 585 Systematic Research Writing Units: 3
BKN 587a Physiological Correlates of Therapeutic Exercise Units: 4
BKN 587b Physiological Correlates of Therapeutic Exercise Units: 4
BKN 588 Physiology and Biomechanics of Resistance Exercise Units: 2
BKN 590 Directed Research Units: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
BKN 593 Behavioral Basis of Motor Control and Learning Units: 3
BKN 594a Master’s Thesis Units: 2
BKN 594b Master’s Thesis Units: 2
BKN 594z Master’s Thesis Units: 0
BKN 599 Special Topics Units: 2, 3, 4 , max 8
BKN 615 Principles of Skeletal Adaptation Units: 4, 2 years
BKN 617 Modeling the Motor System: An Introduction Units: 2, 2 years
BKN 618L Modeling the Motor System: Laboratory Units: 1, 2 years
BKN 621 Electromyography in Research and Practice Units: 3, 2 years
BKN 623 Neuroplasticity and Neural Repair Units: 3, 2 years
BKN 672 Advanced Independent Study in Biokinesiology Units: 1, 2, 3, 4 , max 8
BKN 790 Research Units: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
BKN 794a Doctoral Dissertation Units: 2
BKN 794b Doctoral Dissertation Units: 2
BKN 794c Doctoral Dissertation Units: 2
BKN 794d Doctoral Dissertation Units: 2
BKN 794z Doctoral Dissertation Units: 0

Additional Requirements

Foreign Language Requirement

There is no foreign language requirement.

Qualifying Exam Committee

Upon successful completion of the screening examination the student and the research adviser will select a qualifying exam committee for continuing course work and independent study. The qualifying exam committee comprises five full-time faculty members.

The qualifying exam committee will recommend course work, independent study and readings in the major and cognate areas.

Qualifying Examination

The PhD qualifying examination is offered during the fall or spring semesters. The qualifying examination concentrates on the student’s ability to demonstrate knowledge in the major academic area chosen and its relation to other areas of study offered in the department. The qualifying examination has both written and oral components. A student failing any part of the examination may be allowed one additional opportunity to pass that portion at the discretion of the qualifying exam committee, within the regulations of the Graduate School governing the repetition of qualifying examinations.

Dissertation Committee

After the qualifying examination has been passed and a dissertation topic approved, the qualifying exam committee shall be known as the dissertation committee and may be reduced to three members upon unanimous recommendation to the dean of graduate studies. One of the three members must be from outside the major division. The chair of the dissertation committee will be the principal research adviser.

Dissertation and Oral Defense

An acceptable dissertation based on original investigation is required. The dissertation must show technical mastery of a special field, capacity for independent research and scholarly ability.

The dissertation and the defense or final oral must have the unanimous approval of the dissertation committee. The dissertation should be complete within three years of the date the proposal is approved.