All designated electives must be considered applicable for a doctoral course of study and normally be at the 6000/7000/8000 academic level. These courses are to be taken under the direction and approval of the student’s advisor.

For those classes not at the 6000/7000/8000 level, but deemed necessary to the professional preparation of the student by the advisor, approval of such classes for inclusion in the student’s degree plan in the designated elective area must be obtained from the Graduate Research Degrees (GRD) committee in the department via petition.

Elective classes can be taken within the department, other departments within the University of Houston and other universities that UH has inter-institutional agreements with (for more information contact your advisor and the registration office).

Elective classes in support areas can be taken at the University of Houston and other universities that UH has inter-institutional agreements with (for more information contact your advisor and the registration office). These classes MUST be approved by the advisor and normally be at the 6000/7000/8000 level. If a class is not at the 6000/7000/8000 level then it must be approved by the GRD committee following the guide-lines listed above.

Doctoral Comprehensive Examinations

A student is eligible to sit for comprehensive examinations after the candidacy paper has been submitted and at least 36 hours of coursework including all of the core courses have been completed. Each doctoral student is required to pass a comprehensive examination, which is a written exam representing the knowledge and skills in their area of specialization and practical knowledge as an independent researcher. A student’s advisor will be responsible for the process of collecting questions from each faculty member tasked with writing comprehensive examination questions, collecting the graded examination, compiling the final grade for the examination and communicating this grade to GRD committee. The GRD committee (based on the information supplied by the advisor) will have final authority to recommend a PASS or FAIL grade on the exam.

A student’s advisor will be responsible for the process of collecting questions from each faculty member tasked with writing comprehensive examination questions, collecting the graded examination, compiling the final grade for the examination and communicating this grade to GRD committee. The GRD committee (based on the information supplied by the advisor) will have final authority to recommend a PASS or FAIL grade on the exam.

PASS/FAIL decisions on all comprehensive exams are ultimately the decision of the GRD committee. the Chair of the GRD committee will formally notify the student of the outcome in writing. The student’s advisor is authorized to informally notify the student of the outcome following the GRD committee vote.

If a student fails the comprehensive doctoral examination, then the advisor must submit a remediation plan for that student for approval by the GRD committee. The contents of this plan are the responsibility of the advisor. Once approved, the advisor must document that the student has reviewed and understood the remedial course of action. If a student fails to complete the remedial plan within its specified time frame or fails the second attempt at the comprehensive examination, the student will be considered ineligible for a Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology at the University of Houston and be immediately dismissed from the program.

Formation of Doctoral Dissertation Committee

A student is eligible to form a Doctoral Dissertation Committee after the student has passed the comprehensive exams

A student’s faculty advisor will serve as the Chair of Doctoral Dissertation Committee. The Chair will be responsible for identifying Committee members for their student’s dissertation committee. The student is encouraged to plan the composition of the student’s research committee with the Chair of the Dissertation Committee. 

Approval of the composition of the Doctoral Dissertation Committee by both the GRD committee and the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and requires the presence of expertise in the substantive area and in the necessary methodology for the proposed dissertation. 

The Dissertation committee should be composed of at least four members which must include:

1. The Chair of the Dissertation Committee;
2. At least two additional faculty members from the Department of Health and Human Performance,
3. A committee member who is outside of the department who can be either a full-time or adjunct faculty member at the University of Houston, or can be an individual who does not hold faculty status at the University of Houston.

If a dissertation committee member is not a full-time/adjunct faculty member of the University of Houston, the Dissertation Committee Chair will require the potential member’s C.V. and approval from the GRD Committee for that individual to serve as a dissertation committee member.

Notification of any changes to the composition of committee (i.e. reconstitution or resignation) should be made in writing to the GRD committee and the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies. All changes to the composition of committee once formally approved should be approved by the GRD committee and the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.