PhD in Exercise, Nutrition, and Preventive Health

Over the last 20 years, there has been an increased research focus on the role of exercise and nutrition on health, performance, and disease. There has also been an increased interest in identifying strategies to reduce risk to chronic diseases through behavioral modification and wellness intervention programs. The goal of this research has been to identify ways to optimize health and quality of life. Clinically-related research on preventive and rehabilitative health represents one of the strongest areas for private and public funding. There are also significant resources available to implement community-based fitness, recreation, and wellness education programs particularly to under-served communities. Historically, research in this area has been conducted in a multidisciplinary manner through the collaborative efforts of scientists trained in exercise physiology, nutrition, rehabilitation, health, psychology, chemistry, molecular biology, nursing, and/or medicine. While this collaborative approach has been successful, there has been a well-recognized need to develop doctoral programs that integrate exercise, nutrition and preventive health so that researchers are better prepared to conduct multidisciplinary health science research. Our program is one of few designed to train specialists in the areas of exercise, nutrition, and preventive health.

Program Description

The program is uniquely designed to train researchers to conduct multidisciplinary clinical research evaluating the role of exercise and nutrition on health, disease, rehabilitation, and performance. A minimum of 72 hours will be required. The program will have a 27 hour core of courses providing a foundation to conduct exercise, nutrition and health intervention research by providing a strong foundation in statistics, experimental design, research methods, and laboratory skills. This will allow each student to have a strong statistical background and a detailed understanding of the methods of conducting exercise nutrition, exercise rehabilitation, and preventive health research. We feel that this integrated core experience is essential for researchers to understand how to properly design, evaluate, and conduct multidisciplinary clinical research trials involving exercise, nutrition, and health. Once completed, students will then pursue advanced study in one of three program emphasis areas consisting of 18-21 hours. This will provide specialized training in scientific principles, research methodologies, and laboratory techniques of exercise nutrition, exercise rehabilitation, or preventive health. The student will then take 12-15 hours of guided interdisciplinary electives prior to taking 12-18 hours of research and dissertation. The following describes graduate school admission criteria, specific guidelines for the doctoral degree, and an outline of the proposed doctoral program in Exercise, Nutrition and Preventive Health.

Graduates

Class of 2006

• Chad Kerksick, PhD Assistant Professor, University of Oklahoma
• Lemuel Taylor, IV, PhD Assistant Professor, University of West Florida
• Colin Wilborn, PhD Assistant Professor, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
• Terri Magrans-Courtney, PhD Consultant, Part-time Lecturer, Baylor University
• Brandon Marcello, PhD Director of Sports Performance, Stanford University

Class of 2007

• Bill Campbell, PhD Assistant Professor, University of South Florida
• Paul La Bounty, PhD Assistant Professor, Baylor University
• Travis Harvey, ABD Assistant Professor, United States Military Academy
• Melyn Galbreath, ABD Research Coordinator, UTMB-Marlin
• Jen Bunn, ABD Research Coordinator, Waco Asthma Clinic
• Jackie Beckham-Dove, ABD Post-Doc in Pediatric Obesity, TAMU-Medical Center

General Graduate Admission Requirements
Students wishing to pursue the Doctoral of Philosophy Degree in Exercise, Nutrition and Preventive Health must apply and meet all general requirements for admission to the Graduate School of Baylor University. Qualified students will be admitted regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, gender, age, or disability. The applicant’s packet will be considered complete when all application materials have been received.

Department Admission Requirements

The following are the specific requirements from the Department of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy of Philosophy degree in Exercise, Nutrition, and Preventive Health.

•An equivalent of a masters degree in a related area of exercise physiology, nutrition, health, sports medicine, physical therapy, nursing, or medicine.
•Completion of a department doctoral program application form describing academic preparation, degrees earned, interests in the doctoral program, professional goals, research skills, and teaching/work experience.
•Samples of writing or copies of representative publications (articles and abstracts).
•Three letters of reference from mentors who have insight regarding potential for success in the doctoral program.
•An appropriate and acceptable score on the verbal and quantitative portions of the GRE examination or an equivalent level score on the MCAT examination.
•A minimum of a 3.50 overall GPA on graduate work completed at an accredited college or university.

General Program Information and Coursework

Course Descriptions

Contributing Faculty
A number of existing faculty members within the Department of HHPR and other departments at Baylor University serve as primary or secondary contributing faculty members for this interdisciplinary program. Some of these faculty members assist in teaching various courses in the doctoral program while others will serve as research support faculty. The following lists faculty who expressed interest in contributing as research collaborators and/or mentors for students in this program. Members of the ESNL’s collaborative research network who have been assisting in conducting various research studies over the last few years have also been listed. Additional collaborative relationships are being established with faculty in various departments at Baylor University (Waco & Dallas campuses), Baylor Medical College, and at various universities throughout the United States.

Baylor University Primary Contributing Faculty Members

• Rodney Bowden, PhD (Associate Professor, Department of HHPR, Quality of Life)
• Matt Cooke, PhD (Assistant Professor, Department of HHPR, Exercise Physiology)
• Lori Greenwood, PhD (Associate Professor, Department of HHPR, Sports Medicine, Orthopedic Rehabilitation, Nutrition)
• Mike Greenwood, PhD (Professor, Department of HHPR, Musculoskeletal Physiology & Nutrition)
• Brian Leutholtz, PhD (Professor, Baylor University, Clinical Exercise Physiology)
• Rafer Lutz, PhD (Associate Professor, Department of HHPR, Exercise/Sport Psychology)
• Darryn Willoughby, PhD (Associate Professor, Department of HHPR, Exercise Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)

Supporting Faculty Members

• Troy Abell, PhD (University Lecturer, Epidemiology & Clinical Decision Design)
• Lisa Baker, MD (University Lecturer, Medical Physiology & Pulmonary Medicine)
• Dale Connally, PhD (Associate Professor, Department of HHPR, Impact of Recreation and Leisure on Health)
• Eva Doyle, PhD (Associate Professor, Department of HHPR, Community Health)
• Karen Fredenburg, PhD (Associate Professor, Department of HHPR, Exercise & Wellness in Children)
• Deborah Johnston, PhD (Associate Professor, Department of HHPR, Clinical Exercise Physiology)
• Pauline Johnson, PhD, RN (Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Community Health)
• Paul La Bounty, PhD (Assistant Professor, Department of HHPR, Exercise Physiology, PT)
• Beth Lanning, PhD (Assistant Professor, Department of HHPR, Community Health)
• Amy Roberts, PhD, MSN (Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Community Health)
• LuAnn Soliah, PhD, RD (Professor, Department of FCS, Nutrition)
• Joe Shim, PhD (Assistant Professor, Department of HHPR, Biomechanics)
• Jack Tubbs, PhD (Institute for Statistics)
• Janelle Walter, PhD, RD (Associate Professor, Department of FCS, Nutrition)
• Suzy Weems, PhD, RD (Professor, Department of FCS, Nutrition)
• Ronald Wilson, MD (Adjunct Professor and ESNL Medical Director, Department of HHPR, Renal Physiology, Lipids)
• Margaret Wooddy, PhD (Professor, Department of HHPR, Exercise & Wellness in Children, Adapted Physical Education)

Graduate Assistantships
Depending on funding availability, we typically accept 2-3 new students per year into this program. Since the program is a 3 or 4-year program, this means that we will typically have about 10-12 doctoral students in the program at a given time. Doctoral students are funded to work on ESNL/EBNL related grants or assigned as TA's, although a few students have paid their own way through the program.

Laboratories and Facilities
The primary research facilities that will support this program are housed in the ESNL, the Athletic Training & Sports Medicine Lab, and the Exercise & Biochemical Nutrition Laboratory (EBNL). With the University’s support and external funding, these labs have developed into some of the best research facilities in the United States.

Additional Information
For more specific information about this program, please contact Dr. Rafer Lutz, ENPH Doctoral Program Director. For general information about admissions to the graduate program, please contact Dr. Jeff Petersen, Graduate Program Coordinator for Admissions. For general questions regarding other aspects of the graduate program, contact the Dr. Glenn Miller, Graduate Program Director.