A woman puts sensors on a man to track his movement in a lab

Doctorate in Philosophy Human Kinetics

Why choose a PhD in human kinetics?

Advance knowledge — shape the future of movement and health

The PhD in Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa empowers you to explore complex questions in sport, physical activity and health through rigorous interdisciplinary research. As a doctoral candidate, you’ll contribute new knowledge to the field, engage in scholarly collaboration and develop expertise that supports academic, clinical and applied leadership.

This program is ideal for people aiming to become leading researchers, educators or professionals committed to improving human movement, well-being and social impacts.

A unique integration of disciplines

Our PhD program offers two areas of specialization:

  • Psychosocial sciences of sport, physical activity and health: Study movement and health through a psychological, pedagogical, administrative or socio-cultural lens.
  • Biophysical sciences of sport, physical activity and health: Investigate biomechanics, physiology, metabolism or neuro-psychomotor sciences as they relate to sport and physical activity.

This integrated structure encourages collaboration across disciplines, fostering a rich research environment where faculty and students work together to generate knowledge and influence policy, practice and performance.

Precious Ndukauba

“My PhD experience in human kinetics at uOttawa has been incredible. The faculty has a wide range of research expertise, allowing students the flexibility to shape and refine their own research focus.”

Precious Ndukauba

— Current student

What to expect

  • Research-focused training: Work closely with your supervisor and committee to design, complete and defend an original doctoral thesis that contributes to your chosen field of study.
  • Academic and professional development: Enhance your skills through opportunities to teach, publish, present at conferences and work on interdisciplinary research teams.
  • State-of-the-art facilities: Conduct research in our biomechanics, physiology and motor control laboratories. Pursue community engagement projects through partnerships in the health, sport and education sectors.
  • Opportunities for collaborative training: Choose the collaborative PhD program in human kinetics with a specialization in Canadian studies. It connects the study of human kinetics with broader social, political and cultural issues in Canada.
A woman is on a stationary bike with sensors on her and another woman analyzes results on a screen

Four key courses, four key learning paths

A man running on a track, jumping over a hurdle.

Critical Socio-Cultural Perspectives on Sport, Physical Activity and Health

Explore contemporary socio-cultural theories and how they apply to issues such as equity, inclusion and identity in sport, physical activity and health. This course is ideal for students interested in advocacy, community engagement and equity in movement and health.

A group of people doing exercise outside.

Contemporary Psychological Theories in Sport, Physical Activity and Health

Apply current psychological models to understand motivation, mental performance and behaviour change in the context of physical activity and health. This course supports students focused on mental health, coaching and athlete development.

A women running on a treadmill with an oxygen mask that measures her breathing.

Advanced Exercise Metabolism and Physiology

Examine how exercise impacts metabolic processes and health outcomes, including hormone regulation, energy balance and disease prevention. This course prepares students to conduct lab-based or clinical research in exercise science.

A woman runs on a treadmill with sensors on her body.

Advanced Topics in Biomechanics and Motor/Control Learning

Study the mechanics of movement and motor control using advanced tools such as motion capture, musculoskeletal modelling and neuromuscular analysis. Students who take this course typically focus on injury prevention, rehabilitation and performance optimization.

Career pathways

A screen reads out data as a man runs on a treadmill in the background

Academic careers: Pursue faculty positions, postdoctoral fellowships and academic leadership roles in universities, colleges and research institutions.
Research and policy: Contribute to policy development, knowledge translation and applied research in governments, non-profits and organizations in the health, sport or education sector.
Industry and innovation: Work in R&D, data science, health technology or private-sector innovation teams that value advanced research skills and deep subject-matter expertise.

Take the next step

Start your journey with the essential tools and resources to help you plan your academic path and achieve your goals.