Home
Human Bioenergetics Doctoral Program Admission Requirements and Application Process

Admission Requirements

General Information:
Candidates for admission to the Human Bioenergetics Doctoral Program in Health and Exercise Science at Colorado State University must:

1. Meet the University and Graduate School minimum requirements for admission.
2. Hold a bachelor’s or a master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States, or proof of equivalent degree and training from an acceptable foreign institution of higher education. An applicant who holds a first professional degree (e.g., M.D., D.O., D.V.M., D.D.S.,) from a regionally and programmatically accredited college or university in the United States, or proof of equivalent degree and training from an acceptable foreign institution of higher education, may be considered on an individual basis even though he or she does not hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent as defined above.
3. Candidates for admission must have a commitment from a faculty member to serve as the dissertation and academic mentor/adviser at the time of application.

International student applicants from non-English speaking countries must also demonstrate English proficiency by completing the TOEFL exam with a total score of at least 600 (paper based test), 200 (computer based test) or 100 (internet based test), no exceptions.

Applicants should be trained in a relevant area of science to be competitive to enter the program. Any course deficiencies identified at the time of application will be required to be remedied upon enrollment as a graduate student.

Students holding the master’s (or equivalent, e.g. post-baccalaureate M.D., D.O., D.V.M., D.D.S.) degree may be able to apply 30 credits or more toward the doctoral degree. This will be determined on an individual basis.

Prerequisite Courses:
Prerequisite/background course requirements will depend on the specific area of research interest associated with potential faculty advisers. Generally, discipline related courses along with science courses will be necessary.

Required Support by Faculty Member: Admission to the doctoral program is dependent upon the availability of resources and of a faculty dissertation adviser/mentor to oversee the program of study (required course work) and to guide the dissertation project. Thus, interested students MUST contact individual faculty members in an area of interest and interview (see below). It is critical that the potential applicant initiate conversations with potential faculty adviser(s) before or simultaneously with application to the program. Because of this required linkage with a faculty mentor upon entry into the program, individual applicants might be denied admission, even though the general qualifications for admission are met, if there is not a faculty member willing or able to accept the student into his or her mentorship. Contact the Graduate Program Director if you need assistance in making contact with a faculty member or need help in identifying a potential mentor.

A personal interview by the potential faculty mentor/adviser and the Doctoral Admissions Committee is required of all finalists for admission. Final acceptance and continuation in the program are contingent upon the sponsorship by a faculty member who will serve as the dissertation and academic adviser. The admission of a student into the program and the selection of an adviser are by mutual agreement and are formalized in the letter of acceptance from the Department.

Application Process

To apply to the doctoral program in Human Bioenergetics in the Department of Health and Exercise Science:

1. Complete the online application from the Graduate School (official transcripts for all degrees and the application fee will be required);
2. Submit a letter* of application to the Department of Health and Exercise Science to include a statement of career goals and research interests (Attach your curriculum vita and any supporting documents such as thesis and/or publications); and
3. Submit three letters of recommendation from former/current professors.
4. Acquire the Health and Exercise graduate faculty adviser support letter detailing the faculty adviser’s support of the application and the financial support plan.
5. If a Graduate Teaching Assistantship is a potential part of the financial support plan, the applicant must complete the APPLICATION FOR GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP form obtained from the department and submit to the department.

*Note: in your letter, indicate the faculty member with whom you have interviewed as your potential adviser.

Departmental Address:

Graduate Program Director
Health and Exercise Science
220 Moby Complex
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1582

Decision on Admission

The final decision on admission into the doctoral program is made by the Doctoral Admissions Committee consisting of the departmental Graduate Program Director, two departmental graduate faculty members (excluding the proposed faculty mentor of the applicant under consideration), and the Department Head (ex officio). The potential faculty mentor makes the specific recommendation for admission of an applicant to the Doctoral Admissions Committee documenting the acceptability of the applicant for admission and providing the plan for the commitment of resources and support for the applicant’s training. The Doctoral Admissions Committee then makes the final decision based on the potential faculty mentor’s recommendation, a review of the applicant’s credentials, and overall programmatic concerns. The final decision as to acceptance or denial is formalized in the letter to the applicant.

Application Deadlines

April 15th -- Fall Admission
November 15th -- Spring Admission