PhD in Human Movement Science
Admissions

Dept. of AHS | Division of Physical Therapy | Dept. of Exercise and Sports Science
Center for Human Movement Science

Admission:   Selection is based primarily on academic records and research experience.

Admission Requirements:
A master's degree in a field related to human movement is preferred, but qualified candidates with a bachelors gregree will be considered for admission. (e.g., physical therapy, exercise science, biomedical engineering, anatomy).

A grade point average of B or better in the last two years of your most recent degree program.

GRE scores are required by the UNC Graduate school. GRE score of 50th percentile or better in the verbal and quantitative sections.   For international students, in addition to the GRE, TOEFL scores above 550 for the paper exam, with a minimum score of  50 on all three sections; scores above 213 for the computer exam.

Three letters of academic recommendation.

Curriculum Vitae.

It is recommended that applicants have a faculty mentor (see below). A mentor is a faculty member in the applicant's area of interest who has agreed to accept the applicant as their student.

Written statement of academic/career goals and research interests. Please indicate the name of the faculty member who has agreed to sponsor your application.

All applicants are required to have an interview on campus. In the event that a visit to UNC-CH is not possible, a telephone interview may be arranged.

Prerequisites:
   Introductory graduate-level Statistics
   Human Anatomy
   Human Physiology
   Physics
   Chemistry
   Psychology

Applicants reviewed by the GEC: Because of the varied backgrounds of applicants, decisions on additional prerequisite preparation for each student will be decided by the Graduate Education Committee.
 

Documents to be submitted

• Graduate School application
• Official GRE and, for international students, official TOEFL scores
• Three letters of academic recommendation
• Official transcripts
• Curriculum Vitae
• Written statement of academic/career goals and research interests, limited to 3 pages.

Application and Information

The recommended application deadline is December 1 (postmark date). Applications received that are postmarked after this date will be considered if space is available. Admission decisions are based primarily on academic records and research experience. Links to the Graduate School application can be found through their Prospective Students page. International applicants and those without internet access must specifically request a paper application by calling 919-962-1538, e-mailing to jkdavis@email.unc.edu, or writing to: The Graduate School, CB# 4010, UNC-CH, 200 Bynum Hall, Chapel Hill NC 27599-4010. International applicants must submit their transcripts to an organization that evaluates international education credentials and submit the evaluation with the application.

 

Mentors

Faculty Mentor
Our goal for admissions is to select students who are a good fit for our program. We suggest that students interested in applying to our program contact faculty in their field and discuss opportunities for working with that person. Usually students seeking doctoral education want to work with a specific faculty member or in a specific area. Please be mindful that each faculty member accepts new students each year based on the numbers of students to whom they can provide adequate mentorship or if necessary financial support. Each member of our faculty strives to provide optimal training and time for each student accepted into our program. Your chances for admission are greatly enhanced if you have identified a specific faculty member who agrees to accept you as a student. We encourage all applicants to email, call or visit faculty as a part of the admissions process.

Tips for identifying a faculty mentor
If you are not sure who you want to work with we suggest that you first check the web page of faculty members. Once you identify which faculty members are doing research in an area of your interest, contact the faculty by email or phone, or speak with them in person on campus or at a scientific meeting. Send some information about your background and area of intended study. Discuss with faculty what research they are doing and their level of interest in accepting you as a student. If you have agreement from a faculty mentor please identify that person on your application, or at any time before the admissions committee reviews applications. As you look for mentors please do not send emails to the entire faculty. We expect that this will be a thoughtful process for the student and a good fit for the mentor will assure a successful research training experience. You can find a directory of faculty on our faculty page. This page also includes contact information as well as faculty research areas.

Financial Support

Various forms of financial assistance are offered through the University. Teaching and research assistantships are available on a competitive basis. Other support is available pending grant funding. There are also part-time employment opportunities available in the local area.

Funding Scholarhip Opportunities for HMSC students:
Fellowship opportunity in Leadership in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) funded by the
Federal Bureau of Maternal and Child Health.  For more information go to The
Clinical Center for the Study of Development and Learning Training Opportunities.

INQUIRIES:

PhD Program in Human Movement Science

Shauni Lowrance, HMSC Registrar
CB# 7135, Bondurant Hall Suite 3000
UNC-Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill NC 27599-7135
Telephone: 919-966-4708   FAX: 919-966-3678 
E-mail: shauni_lowrance@med.unc.edu

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