I. Objectives and Standards

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The major objectives of doctoral study at Springfield College are:

A. Professional Preparation - The curriculum provides a foundation through courses and other learning experiences for successful candidates to obtain a high
    degree of preparation in a chosen field of specialization. This includes:

1. advanced knowledge and skills;
2. critical examination of the assumptions underlying the knowledge and techniques in the field;
3. re-evaluation of the techniques in light of increasing knowledge and in respect to the effect on humanity;
4. creative contribution to the advancement of physical education, including exercise physiology and sport and exercise psychology;
5. understanding of the relation of physical education, exercise physiology, and sport and exercise psychology to other fields of knowledge;
6. awareness of ethical responsibility in the use of knowledge and skills for humane purposes.

B. Research - Through the doctoral program, successful candidates acquire new skills, an interest in the discovery of new knowledge, and the ability to
    carefully validate such knowledge.  The research portion of the program includes:

1. the history, development and critical examination of the various methods of logical thought and the application of these to the discovery of new knowledge;
2. understanding the scientific method including its assumptions and implications;
3. learning new techniques of research: laboratory, clinical, statistical, and other;
4. developing an intellectual approach toward development  and testing of hypotheses;
5. conducting a piece of original research under the supervision of appropriate faculty.

C.  Humanics Orientation - Springfield College is dedicated to the education of the whole person - spirit, mind, and body.  The focus of education at
     Springfield College is not only imparting knowledge and the search for knowledge but also applying wisdom in the use of that knowledge in service to
     people.  This implies:

1. wide gauged sophistication of the student and not merely a narrow specialization in any given field;
2. achievement of an optimal balance of knowledge, skill, attitude and purpose;
3. attainment of a personal integration of thought, feeling, and action in terms of a philosophy of life.

The desired data stated above are not matters that can be fully measured by tests and examinations.  In the doctoral program, there is an atmosphere that emphasizes these values and stimulates the student to achieve a personal system of values.  One purpose of the doctoral preparation is to produce professional persons who add the goal of serving humankind to scholarly and scientific interests.

D.  Accepted Standards - The doctoral program at Springfield College is distinctive in accordance with the overall objectives of the College and fully meets
     generally accepted standards for the highest professional attainment in graduate education in the United States.

The following sections of this document describe the specific requirements and procedures for the Ph.D., with specializations in exercise physiology, sport and exercise psychology, and teaching and administration.  The doctoral degree is awarded by the College, but the College must look to the faculty of the student’s field of specialization for high-level preparation in that field.

II. Admission to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Physical Education Program

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The objective of the Ph.D. program in harmony with the philosophy of the College is educating the whole person in spirit, mind, and body for leadership in service to others.  It is concerned not only with imparting of knowledge and the search for knowledge but also with wisdom in the use of that knowledge in service to others. Persons who wish to study toward the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Physical Education degree at Springfield College must submit a formal application at least six weeks prior to the beginning of the semester in which they wish to enroll. Application forms may be obtained on line from Graduate Admissions.

The requirements for admission are as follows:

• A bachelor’s degree and master’s degree with satisfactory record from an accredited college or university.
• An undergraduate major in physical education equivalent to that offered at Springfield College. If this preparation is incomplete, it must be made up by study in addition to doctoral requirements.
• A superior record at the master’s level or in the first thirty semester hours of graduate study. In some cases, particularly well-qualified persons may by admitted to doctoral study following the completion of their bachelor’s program
• Evidence of personal and professional qualities that show promise of outstanding educational, scholarly, and social leadership.
• A personal interview, prior to registration, with the Department Chair/Program Coordinator, Graduate Coordinator, the School Dean and at least one representative from the faculty in the School  of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation.
• Submission of GRE scores taken within five years of the date of the application.

III. Doctoral Advisement for the Ph.D. Program

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The process of advisement of doctoral students is as follows:

A program coordinator/graduate coordinator assists each doctoral student in selecting an academic advisor. The advisor is appointed during the first semester of the student’s attendance or not later than the completion by the student of ten semester hours of work. The advisor shall call a meeting with the student to discuss the student’s training and experience, strengths and weaknesses, and professional objectives. On the basis of this discussion, along with an evaluation of the student’s credentials and doctoral requirements, the advisor shall identify the specified requirements of the student’s doctoral program. A copy of this individualized program tracking sheet shall be given to the student, the Department Chair, and the Program Coordinator/Graduate Coordinator.

IV. Residence Requirement

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The minimum requirement of the Doctor of Philosophy degree is 86 semester hours of graduate academic credit. The student must spend at least one academic year in full-time graduate study at Springfield College after admission to doctoral study. Residence for the master’s degree at Springfield College or elsewhere does not meet this requirement. Academic credit accepted for the master’s degree may be counted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the doctorate provided it fits into the student’s program and falls within the acceptable time limit for doctoral credit.

V. Transfer of Credit

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Students with Springfield College bachelor’s degrees must complete at least forty-five semester hours of Springfield College graduate work. Those with bachelor’s degrees from other institutions must complete at least sixty semester hours of Springfield College graduate work. Beyond this condition, graduate courses in which the student earned a grade of B or better from accredited institutions may be transferred and applied toward the Doctor of Philosophy degree provided that:

• Such work fits into the student’s doctoral program
• It falls within the acceptable time limit for doctoral credit.
• Ph.D. students who have received both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Springfield College must submit a minimum of thirty semester hours of approved graduate work from one or more other institutions. The regulations pertaining to transfer of credit apply in this situation.

VI. Time Limits for the Ph.D.

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In view of the present rate of expansion of knowledge and the general desirability of completing the requirements for the Ph.D. within a definite period of time, the following time limitation will be observed: Graduate academic work, to be given full credit toward the requirements for the Ph.D., whether in transfer or completed in residence, must have been secured within ten years prior to the date of one’s candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. In special circumstances, credit for work completed beyond the ten-year limit will be recognized, but only upon special recommendation of the student’s advisor and approval by the Program Coordinator/Graduate Coordinator.

All requirements for the Ph.D. degree, including the dissertation must be completed within a period of five years after the student has passed the qualifying examinations and has been matriculated as a candidate for the degree. Failure to complete the requirements within the time limit stated above will mean that the student will be expected to repeat the qualifying examination in order reestablish candidacy.  Following requalification, a maximum of three years of additional candidacy is prescribed. A student who does not complete all requirements by the end of this three-year period is subject to dismissal from the doctoral program.

VII. Publication

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As part of the requirement for the Ph.D. degree, upon passing the oral examination, candidates must make the necessary arrangements to provide for the publication of the dissertation at their own expense. The dissertation may be published completely in book form, professional journal, or in microform.

VIII. Academic Integrity and Honesty

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Springfield College strongly believes in the importance of teaching students to honestly represent their work. The faculty will hold students accountable to do so. The possible situations when a student could violate these expectations range from not providing credit by appropriately footnoting resource material to cheating on an examination or assignment by unauthorized communication or collaboration with other students. Other examples include purchasing papers or projects; using crib sheets, aides, or unauthorized materials during an examination; or presenting the same written work as the requirement for more than one course without the permission of the instructors involved.

Academic dishonesty can also occur by misrepresenting or misusing College affiliation in assignments, projects, internships, pre-practica, practical or other field placements, or in projects and work outside of College assignments. Other examples include misrepresenting course requirements to other students; submission of fictitious materials in assignments; or misusing a position of authority in pre-practica, practical internships, or other field placements. Sanctions for academic dishonesty may include dismissal from the graduate program.

IX. Plagiarism

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Plagiarism is defined as the appropriation of, and use as one’s own, the writings and ideas of another. Intent to deceive does not have to be present for plagiarism to occur. Students should be cautious when “borrowing” material from other sources. Rewording (paraphrasing) of an author’s ideas does not absolve the student from giving credit and making the appropriate citation. Students who plagiarize are subject to dismissal from the graduate program.

Per APA Rule 6.02 “Self-plagiarism refers to the practice of presenting one’s own previously published work as though it were new” (p. 170). “The core of the new document must constitute an original contribution to knowledge, and only the amount of previously published material necessary to understand that contribution should be included, primarily in the discussion of theory and methodology” (p. 16). “Avoid charges of self-plagiarism by familiarizing yourself with the ethical standards regarding duplicate publication and the legal standards of fair use (see also section 1.10)” p. 170.

X. Academic Grievance Procedure

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If a student believes that she or he has been treated unfairly in his or her academic work (grade, departmental/program standards, etc.), the student has the right to seek resolution of the concern through informal and formal processes. At any step in the process, the student may consult with his or her academic advisor or any other faculty or staff member for advice.

Step 1 (informal process):

Within 30 calendar days of the disputed action, the student must raise the concern with the instructor or appropriate party. The instructor or other party should respond to the student regarding this concern within 14 calendar days. (If the 30 days are interrupted by the close of a term or semester break, the remaining days will extend into the beginning of the following term or semester. In situations in which the instructor is on leave or no longer employed by the College, the student should proceed to Step 2.)

Step 2 (informal process):

If the student and the instructor do not agree to a resolution, the student has 14 calendar days from the instructor’s response to raise the concern with the chairperson of the department in which the grievance occurred or the campus director. The chairperson or campus director should respond to the student regarding this concern within 14 calendar days and must notify the instructor of the continuation of the grievance process.

Step 3 (formal process, if needed):

If accord is not yet reached through the steps above, the student may file a written grievance using the Academic Grievance Form. The grievance form must be submitted to the dean of the school in which the grievance occurred within 14 days following the chairperson or campus director’s response to the student. Upon receipt of the form, the school dean will conduct whatever review is needed to arrive at a resolution, including, if necessary, a meeting with the student and instructor. The dean will notify all parties involved in writing of her or his decision and any subsequent actions. The decision of the school dean regarding the grievance is final.

Note: A student should also use this process to resolve a dispute with a department, program coordinator, department committee, etc. In such a case, the student should raise the concern with the relevant department chair or campus director within 30 calendar days of the disputed action (extending into the next semester or term if necessary). The chairperson should respond within 14 days. If accord is not reached, the student should proceed to Step 3, filing a written grievance with the appropriate dean within 14 calendar days of the chairperson or campus director’s response.

This policy is not intended to supersede the Academic Integrity and Honesty Policy or the Harassment/Discrimination Policy.

XI. Candidacy Process for the Ph.D. degree

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A. A student becomes a candidate for the doctoral degree after successfully passing the doctoral qualifying examinations (DQE).

B. To be admitted to the qualifying examinations, the student must:

1. have completed a minimum of 45 semester hours of graduate credit, with at least two semesters or 18 semester hours at Springfield College, be in good academic standing, and
2. be officially enrolled in the Ph.D. program and
3. be recommended by the academic advisor as ready for the examination.

C. The DQE consists of written examinations in research and the area of specialization (exercise physiology, sport and exercise psychology, and teaching and
    administration), each of six to eight hours in duration, as follows:

1. Research:  tests student understanding of, and competence in, different research methods, interpretation of research data, and critical analysis of research studies. The School of HPER administers the research portion of the examinations in June. If a student fails the research portion of the research qualifying exam, he/she may take a second and final examination the following June. The student will be removed from the doctoral program following failure of the second examination.
2. Area of Specialty (exercise physiology, sport and exercise psychology, or teaching and administration:: examines the student’s understanding of, and competence in, these areas and their application in the professional field. The Exercise Physiology Examination is conducted in August, the Sport and Exercise Psychology Examination in July or December, and the Teaching and Administration Examination in June.  If a student fails the Exercise Physiology Examination, or the Sport and Exercise Psychology Examination, or the Teaching and Administration Examination, he/she may take a second and final examination the following June. The student will be removed from the doctoral program following failure of the second examination.
3. For all written portions, the evaluators consider the student’s facility and clarity of correctness in English usage

D. Oral Examination: A committee composed of three faculty members in the department plus two others appointed by the Program Coordinator/Graduate Coordinator conducts an oral examination.  In the Exercise Physiology and Sport and Exercise Psychology specialization areas, the oral examination is scheduled following evaluation of the written specialization exam.  In the Teaching and Administration specialization, the oral examination is scheduled only if the student passes the Teaching and Administration and Research written examinations.  If a student fails the oral examination portion of the DQE, he/she may take a second and final examination no earlier than 6 months following the initial exam and no later than 1 year following the initial exam. The Program Coordinator/ Graduate Coordinator chairs this two-hour examination, which covers:

1. elaboration on items covered within the written specialization examination, as well as the student’s understanding of physical education-related coursework, and issues related to physical education and physical activity and the interrelationship with his/her profession; and
2. competence in organized thinking and oral expression.

D. Evaluation and Criteria of the DQE

    1.In grading these examinations (both written and oral), the College uses a rating system in as follows:

Grade	Value
A+	9
A	8
A-	7
B+	6
B	5
B-	4
C+	3
C	2
C-	1
F	0

    2.The student must satisfy the following minimum requirements:

• an average of  5.0 on all written portions of the exam and
• 5.0 rating from every member of the oral examination committee
• If a student fails one or more parts of the qualifying examinations and is, therefore, not admitted to candidacy, the Program Coordinator/Graduate Coordinator suggests a program of study to strengthen weak points.
• the student has one additional attempt for the written and oral portions of the DQE

E.  Specific Information for the DQE: The academic advisor recommends to the Program Coordinator/Graduate Coordinator an appropriate time for the 
     administration of the area of specialization portion of the Qualifying Examination pending the student’s completion of a significant portion of the
     coursework specific to sport and exercise psychology, exercise physiology, or teaching and administration.  All written portions of the DQE are taken on
     college-owned computers. Failure to show up on the assigned date of any portion of the DQE can result in failing that DQE portion. The protocols for the
     examinations are:

1. Exercise Physiology

• The examination is offered within the last 2 weeks of August.
• Students must petition in writing the academic advisor and the Program Coordinator no later than a month prior to the examination date for permission to take the examination.
• The examination format is essay.
• The content of the questions includes, but may not be limited to, information from the following areas:

1.      Exercise Biochemistry
2.      Cardiovascular Physiology
3.      Questions from two additional areas, which are determined by the Program Coordinator, academic advisor and the student.

• The student takes two written sections on Tuesday and two written sections on Thursday. Each session lasts two hours, for a total of eight hours.
• A minimum of three faculty members who wrote the examination and have the expertise to evaluate the student’s answers, evaluate the examinations.
• If there is significant disparity in the grading, another expert in exercise physiology will further evaluate the student’s answers.
• Upon completion of faculty review of the written portion of the examination, the student is permitted to participate in the oral portion of the Exercise Physiology Examination.
• In order to pass, the student must earn a combined written and oral grade of 5 on the grading scale.

2.  Sport and Exercise Psychology

• Students petitioning to take the Sport and Exercise Psychology Examination must have taken all Special Topics in Sport Psychology offered while in the Doctoral Program in Sport and Exercise Psychology;
• The examinations may be offered during the second week of December or the in July/August.
• Students intending to take the exam must petition the academic advisor and Program Coordinator in writing one month prior to the time of the exam, for permission to take the exam.
• The examination format is essay and students have 6 hours to take the exam.
• The content of the questions may include, but may not be limited to, information from the following areas:

Special Topics in Sport Psychology Seminars

Sport and Exercise Psychology

 

Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology

Sport Psychometrics

Two faculty members with knowledge of, and background in, sport and exercise psychology grade the examination.  The final grade is the average of the two independent grades.

If there is significant disparity in the grading, another expert in sport psychology will further evaluate the student’s answers.

Once a student has completed the written Research and Sport and Exercise Psychology written qualifying exams, the oral examination can be scheduled.

Teaching and Administration

The College offers this examination in mid-June.

Students must petition in writing the academic advisor and the Graduate Coordinator no later than a month prior to the examination date for permission to take the examination.

The examination format is essay and students have 6 hours to take the exam.

The content of the exam will be parallel to the components of the Physical Education: Teaching and Administration doctoral program: Teaching, Administration, Applied Sciences, Cognate Studies, and Preparing Future Faculty series.

Two to Three faculty members grade each response on the examination.

Evaluators are selected for each question based on knowledge, expertise, and experience in the topic area. The final grade on each question is the average of the independent grades. The final grade on the written exam is the average of the scores on all questions.

If there is significant disparity in the grading, another expert in the content area will further evaluate the student’s answers.

Once a student has passed the written Research and Teaching and Administration qualifying exams, the oral examination can be scheduled.

Research

All Ph.D. students, regardless of specialization take the Research portion of the DQE.

The examination is offered within the first two weeks of June.

Students must petition in writing the academic advisor and the Program Coordinator no later than a month prior to the examination date for permission to take the examination.

The examination format is essay and students have 6 hours to take the exam.

The content of the questions includes but may not be limited to, information from the following areas:

Research Methodology & Design

Statistical Concepts including but not limited to - descriptive, experimental, correlational, and non-parametrics

Ethics

Validity and Reliability

Qualitative Research

Two to three faculty members grade each response on the examination. The final grade on each question is the average of the independent grades. The final grade on the written exam is the average of the scores on all questions.

Upon passing the qualifying examinations, a student becomes a matriculated candidate for the doctoral degree.  At this point, the student’s academic advisor makes a final re- evaluation of the candidate’s records and plans the remainder of the program with a view to strengthen the candidate’s overall professional preparation as a doctoral candidate. Also, at this point, the candidate may be authorized to begin formal work on the dissertation.

XII. Dissertation

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The dissertation demonstrates the student’s competence in the conduct and reporting of independent research.  The problem selected should grow out of the student’s personal and professional interests.  The dissertation may be an original contribution to knowledge or an original application of existing knowledge to the solution of a practical problem in the field. The steps involved in the dissertation procedure are:

1. The student originates the topic, prepares a tentative proposal and discusses it with the academic advisor. The dissertation should reflect the specialization area of the student’s degree. The academic advisor may recommend additional coursework be completed to support completion of the dissertation.
2. After approval of the proposal as having promise for a dissertation, the academic advisor, in consultation with the Program Coordinator/Graduate Coordinator, Department Chair and student, appoint the Dissertation Committee. The academic advisor may, but does not necessarily, serve on the Dissertation Committee.  Members of a dissertation committee must hold a terminal degree or demonstrate expertise in the subject matter of the dissertation.
3. Following consultation with the Chair of the Dissertation Committee, the Program Coordinator/Graduate Coordinator schedules the Dissertation Colloquium, and provides pertinent information regarding the colloquium to the Coordinator of Academic Affairs.
4. The Coordinator of Academic Affairs sends notification of the colloquium, including the dissertation topic, the composition of the Dissertation Committee, and date of the Colloquium to Springfield College faculty members, HPER doctoral students, and other interested parties.
5. The members of the Dissertation Committee, academic advisor, and interested students, faculty, and guests attend the Colloquium, which is chaired by the Dean of the School of HPER.
6. Following completion of the Colloquium and with approval of the Dissertation Committee, the Chair of the Dissertation Committee notifies, in writing, the Department Chair and School Dean of the approved proposal.
7. After the Colloquium and approval of the proposal, it is the candidate’s responsibility to seek Institutional Review Board approval and to proceed with the work on the dissertation and to seek advice and assistance from the members of the Dissertation Committee. At the discretion of the Chair, the Dissertation Committee may meet with or without the candidate present as many times as it deems desirable.
8. The Chair of the Dissertation Committee has general responsibility for the supervision of the dissertation.  The College requires that dissertations be written in acceptable English and appropriate format.
9. When the Dissertation Committee decides that the candidate’s work on the dissertation is completed to its satisfaction, the Chair will organize the Dissertation Defense, and provide defense logistical information to the Coordinator of Academic Affairs. The doctoral candidate, in consultation with the Dissertation Committee, is responsible for securing two additional readers, who will read and provide comments on the dissertation and serve on the defense examining committee.
10. The Coordinator of Academic Affairs will announce the date, time, location, and topic of the defense along with the composition of the Defense Examining Committee to Springfield College faculty members, HPER doctoral students, and other interested parties.
11. The Examining Committee includes the members of the Dissertation Committee and the two readers selected by the doctoral candidate and Dissertation Committee.  The function of the defense is to hold an oral examination primarily on the dissertation prepared by the candidate and also on his/her general preparation for the degree.  The candidate must submit to the Examining Committee the typed dissertation in final form, including the abstract one week prior to the oral examination for review by members of the Examining Committee.
12. At the conclusion of the defense, the members of the Examining Committee vote, in accordance with the rating scale (refer to the Evaluation and Criteria section), to decide whether the candidate passes or fails.  All examining members must rate the student with a score of 5 or higher in order for the student to pass the dissertation defense.
13. For a student who fails this examination, the Dissertation Committee with the approval of the Program Coordinator/Graduate Coordinator may grant a second and final oral examination after an interval of no less than one academic semester and no more than one calendar year.
14. If the candidate is recommended for the Ph.D. following the oral examination, he/she must make any changes prescribed by the Dissertation Committee to the final copy of the dissertation and submit the final copy to the Office of Academic Affairs for review of format prior to receiving the degree.

Degree Concentrations and Requirements

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Doctor of Philosophy with a Specialization in Exercise Physiology  

Doctor of Philosophy with a Specialization in Sport and Exercise Psychology  

Doctor of Philosophy with a Specialization in Teaching and Administration