Movement Science and Education

Doctor of Education (Applied Physiology)

The goal of the Doctor of Education with specialization in Applied Physiology is to prepare doctoral students to pursue scholarly and scientific work. Students are expected to contribute significantly to the completion of at least one comprehensive research project prior to initiation of their dissertation proposal. The skills developed during completion of this project will enable students to carry out their dissertation project independently. Students are encouraged to present the work leading up to the dissertation proposal at national meetings and to contribute to the publication of results in peer-reviewed journals. Research may be completed in the applied physiology laboratories at Teachers College or in another clinical/ research setting. If the work is completed outside of Teachers College, students are expected to demonstrate that they have contributed significantly to the completion of the required projects. All work (either at Teachers College or outside of the College) must be developed and completed in conjunction with advisement of Movement Science faculty. The preliminary work may be published prior to graduation, but the final study may only be published upon completion of the degree. All Ed.D. students are encouraged to write a grant to obtain pre-doctoral fellowship funding to support their research and to provide some training in grantmanship.

Students may complete the Ed.D. on a full or part-time basis. However, Ed.D. students are expected to commit themselves to their graduate studies. A minimum commitment entails engaging in research activity related to the doctoral degree three days per week (at least two weekdays). This minimum commitment will ensure that advisement, research activities and coursework can be completed in an efficient and timely fashion.

Applied Physiology Programs Statement of Satisfactory Progress: Students are expected to make satisfactory progress toward the completion of degree requirements. Program faculty will annually review each student’s progress. Please note that satisfactory performance in the applied physiology program is defined as no incomplete grades, and no BBSR or BBS courses in which the grade earned is lower than B-. Any student receiving eight or more points in grades of C- or lower is not permitted to continue registration at the College in any capacity and may not receive a degree or diploma. For doctoral students satisfactory progress in research/special project work is also expected. Where there are concerns about satisfactory progress, students will be informed by the program faculty. If a student is performing below expectations he/she may be required to complete additional coursework. The program will provide a plan and timeline for remediation so students know the expectation for them to continue in the program. If satisfactory progress is not maintained a student may be dismissed from the program.

In the preparation of doctoral students, the goal is to develop those competencies necessary to pursue scholarly and scientific work and to formulate strategies to enhance professional practice.

The following program description concentrates on describing course requirements. It is important to recognize that these are only the more formal and identifiable features of the program. A minimum of 90 points of relevant graduate coursework is required for the degree, 45 points of which must be completed at Columbia University. Students who complete a master’s degree at another university normally transfer approximately 30 points and therefore enroll for approximately 60 points of coursework at Teachers College during their doctoral program.

Research training uses an apprenticeship model. Students work closely with faculty throughout their preparation: initially as apprentices with access to considerable advisement, subsequently as collaborators, then progressing to a position as independent researchers. Typically, the dissertation research is an extension of one prior study. Often, research leading up to the dissertation is presented at national meetings or is published in professional journals.

Courses are chosen in consultation with an advisor. Previously completed graduate coursework may be substituted, as appropriate, for the recommended experiences listed below when approved by the advisor. Each student and his or her advisor develop a program that will help the student meet his or her goals and successfully complete the dissertation.

Students are required to complete a minimum of 20 points after taking the certification examination for the first time, including the points taken during the term in which that examination was taken. Students are required to be in continuous enrollment for a minimum of 3 points of Teachers College course credit. Normally this will be research seminar in applied physiology in each fall and spring term, starting with the term following successful completion of the certification examination or following the term in which the dissertation proposal was approved in a departmental hearing, whichever comes first, and continuing until all requirements for the degree are met.

The following is a list of the minimal requirements for the Ed.D. degree in applied 
physiology.

Movement Sciences Core Courses (minimum 12 points)

• BBSR 4095         Applied physiology I (3)
• BBSR 4195         Applied physiology laboratory I (3)
• BBSR 5194         Applied physiology laboratory II (3)
• BBS 5060            Neuromuscular responses and adaptation to exercise (2)
• BBS 5068            Brain and behavior I: Communication in the nervous system (1-2)
  

Research Methods and Statistics (minimum 12 points)

• BBSR 5582      Research design in the movement sciences (3)
• HUDM 4120     Basic concepts in statistics (if no undergraduate statistics- does not count toward the degree requirements) (3)
• HUDM 4122     Probability and statistical inference (3)
• HUDM 5122     Applied regression analysis (3)
• HUDM 5123     Linear models and experimental design (3)
• HUDM 6122     Multivariate analysis I (3)
• HUDM 6123     Multivariate analysis II (3)
  

Research Seminar (maximum 18 points)

• BBSR 5595      Research seminar in applied physiology (typically, students enroll each semester until degree requirements are completed) (1-3 points each semester)

Substantive study in movement sciences (BBSR) (minimum 9 points). 
These may include, but are not limited to:

• BBSR 5095         Exercise and health (3)
• BBSR 5596         Topics in applied physiology (3)
• BBSR 4060         Motor learning (2-3)
• BBSR 4005         Applied anatomy and biomechanics (3)
• BBSR 4055         Neuromotor processes (3)
• BBSR 5028         Motor development across the lifespan (3)
• BBS 5069            Brain and behavior II: Perception, emotion, memory and cognition (1-2)
• BBSQ 4043         The human nervous system (3)
• BBSR 5057         Movement disorders (3)
• BBSR 4070         Introduction to the psychosocial study of human movement (2-3)
• BBSR 5195         Advanced applied physiology laboratory (3)
• BBSR 4900         Research and independent study in movement science and education (1-3)
  

Elective cognate courses offered at Teachers College (outside of Movement Sciences) or at Columbia University (to complete required credits). Students take elective courses in cognate areas to help them develop additional competencies that will help them reach career goals or gain deeper understanding of the theoretical and scientific bases for their dissertation research—there are many hundreds of courses from which to select at Teachers College and Columbia University. Those courses from the masters degree not approved as substitutions for courses above may be counted toward elective credit. It is strongly recommended that most doctoral students in applied physiology take organic chemistry and biochemistry, if they have not done so in previous study. The program of study should include at least two Teachers College courses (for at least 2 points each) in programs outside of the movement sciences (such as nutrition education, health education, and other programs).