Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Doctor of Philosophy

The Doctor of Philosophy in Exercise and Nutrition Sciences prepares future scholars and industry experts to teach and mentor students, lead research and development, and create knowledge relating to the impacts of exercise/physical activity and nutrition on human health and function. Entering students should have a Master of Science in one of the following areas: exercise science, kinesiology, biomechanics, motor control, nutrition science, or a related discipline.

The program will leverage expertise of program faculty and established collaborations with other programs at MSU to deliver the following doctoral options: 1) exercise nutrition, metabolism, and physiology, and 2) biomechanics and motor control. These applied science options build on the foundational sciences of biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, anatomy, physiology, physics, and mathematics. Students in both options can expect to critically analyze research, identify gaps in knowledge, and develop research hypotheses; master scientific writing for both grant proposals and peer reviewed journal articles; develop technical knowledge and laboratory skills to carry out cutting-edge research; and design and deliver college-level courses.

PhD Curriculum

Application Process

Interested students must apply online to The Graduate School before the listed program deadline. Please note that every applicant who applies for admission to MSU and completes an application will receive a formal decision by The Graduate School, whether or not they have been admitted. Admission decisions are based on (but not limited to) undergraduate preparation, alignment with faculty, relevant professional experience, and strength of letters of recommendation. Students applying for the Exercise and Nutrition Sciences programs should have completed a master's degree in kinesiology, exercise science, nutrition, biomechanics, motor control, nutrition science, or a related discipline.

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Application Requirements

A completed Application for Graduate School Admission.
Payment of a non-refundable application fee. The fee must be paid before the application will be processed.
Transcripts from bachelor's and master's coursework. The Graduate School can use unofficial transcripts to review applications; however, official transcripts are required upon being offered admission.
- Official transcripts should be sent to The Graduate School directly from the university the applicant attended, and at minimum, one should have a conferred degree indicated on the transcript while also reflecting all undergraduate and/or post-baccalaureate courses and grades. Applicants who are alumni of MSU do not need to submit their official transcripts from MSU.
An undergraduate GPA of at least 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale). Applicants with post-baccalaureate experience must have a graduate GPA of at least 3.00. See Provisional Admission for more information.
Three letters of reference (at least one letter should be from the candidate's master's committee)
Curriculum vita.
A personal statement.
International Applicants must submit additional documents to complete their application including Evidence of English Language Proficiency.

All students admitted to MSU are required to submit immunization records. See the link to Immunizations and to Fees & Holds for more information.

Current and prospective graduate students are eligible to be considered for GRA (Graduate Research Assistantships) and GTA (Graduate Teaching Assistantships), but this is at the discretion and availability of your faculty advisor. These positions are competitive, and the number of open positions varies each year. You can apply for these positions during the application process. You are also welcome to seek funding outside of work with your faculty advisor if they do not have opportunities available at this time or apply for your own funding through graduate fellowships as alternative funding possibilities. Some faculty are able to work with students who are currently employed and may not need additional funding. Talk with your faculty advisor about this possibility if you think this may apply to you.

February 15 application deadline for fall semester start; students start fall semester only.

Our Exercise and Nutrition Sciences PhD program is mentor based. It is strongly recommended that potential applicants view our faculty directory to learn more about the research being conducted and reach out to those they may be interested in working with before submitting an application to The Graduate School.