A PhD in Exercise Science is a terminal research doctorate that prepares graduates for academic, clinical, leadership, and research roles across health promotion, exercise science, kinesiology, and human performance. At Concordia University Chicago, the online PhD is an interdisciplinary program with a strong research orientation, developing scholars who create and disseminate new knowledge on physical activity, health, and performance.

Graduates pursue careers as university professors, research scientists, program directors, clinical leaders, executives in health and wellness organizations, and senior consultants in human performance. The degree opens doors to tenure-track academic positions, applied research careers, and top leadership roles in health promotion, allied health, and sports performance settings.  

Yes. The entire program is delivered online with asynchronous coursework — no set class times. The program is intentionally designed for working professionals balancing careers, families, and doctoral study.

The PhD requires 69 credit hours, including a nine-credit dissertation. Completion time varies based on pace, dissertation timeline, and whether you're eligible to transfer credits from CUC's MS in Applied Exercise Science.

Tuition is $775 per credit hour, plus an $18 per credit technology fee. As a private Christian institution, CUC offers financial aid opportunities and personalized guidance to help make doctoral education attainable.

Applicants must meet CUC's general graduate admission requirements plus program-specific requirements, including a master's degree in Health Science, Exercise Science, or a related field with a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale. Application materials typically include transcripts, letters of recommendation, and an objective statement.  

Yes — if you earned your MS in Applied Exercise Science at CUC and apply to the PhD starting with the 2025–2026 graduate catalog, you may be eligible to apply up to 12 credits toward the PhD. Courses must be earned within three calendar years of your PhD start term, have grades of B or higher, and be approved through evaluation by your GPS, division chair, and Registrar.

The PhD in Exercise Science emphasizes applied, interdisciplinary research at the intersection of physical activity, health promotion, and human performance. Your dissertation — a nine-credit culminating research project — will contribute original knowledge to the field under the guidance of your faculty committee.

CUC's online PhD combines doctoral-level scholarship with a Christ-centered mission and community-focused learning environment. Small online class sizes, asynchronous flexibility, an accelerated MS-to-PhD pathway, faculty mentorship, and Higher Learning Commission accreditation make CUC a distinctive choice for working professionals called to advance the field through research, teaching, and servant leadership.