UCF’s kinesiology Ph.D. program ranked No. 8 in the National Academy of Kinesiology’s (NAK) 2026 size-adjusted doctoral program evaluation, advancing from No. 18 in 2023. The accomplishment underscores the program’s emergence as a national leader in kinesiology education, research excellence and student success.
“We want our graduates to leave UCF with more than a degree, equipped with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to conduct meaningful research, think independently, and make an impact in their respective fields,” says Associate Professor, Division Chair and Program Director Grant Norte. “That starts with a culture of mentorship, collaboration, and high expectations, where faculty and students challenge and support one another to succeed. This recognition reflects the environment we’ve built together and our shared commitment to student success.”
The UCF program – which prepares students to become researchers, professors, sports scientists, and industry leaders – stands on the NAK’s adjusted list as the highest-ranked participating program in Florida and the state’s only program in the top 10.
The program boasts a 100% employment rate, with 60% of the students graduating during the assessment period earning tenure-track faculty positions and the remainder entering postdoctoral fellowships or careers in the health and wellness industry. All full-time doctoral students enrolled in the program are provided with full financial support.
Modesto Lebron ‘26PhD, whose research at UCF centered around developing peak performance tests to help coaches, personal trainers and tactical leaders, graduated in Spring 2026 and accepted a position as an assistant professor at Mississippi State University.
“My time at UCF was invaluable,” Lebron says. “At every stage, the program was preparing me not just for the next step, but for an entire career. It’s demanding, there’s no doubt about that, but for good reason. I left knowing I had the tools to succeed wherever my career takes me. My faculty mentors were my biggest advocates, consistently putting me in positions to grow as both a student and an early-career researcher. That preparation and support are what I lean on every day.”
Doctoral students participate in a wide variety of research and professional opportunities with local healthcare practitioners, fitness facilities and sports organizations. These experiences provide opportunities to apply science to practice in real-world settings while contributing to advancements in human performance, health and wellness.
Students also partner with faculty to conduct mechanistic and translational research through the School of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences’ human performance and health laboratories. These laboratories bring together expertise in kinesiology, physical therapy and athletic training to investigate interventions that support human performance, recovery and lifelong wellness.
Faculty and students in the program together published almost 280 journal articles with faculty serving in 14 editor or section-editor roles during the assessment period of 2023 to 2025.
NAK evaluates programs on metrics that include faculty and student publications, research awards, professional leadership, student funding support and employment outcomes. The adjusted analysis accounts for faculty size and the applicable student enrollment or graduate counts, recognizing accomplishments relative to program size.
“This recognition belongs to the faculty and doctoral students who do this work every day,” Pegasus Professor and School of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences Director Jeff Stout says. “I am particularly proud of the research our students are producing and the academic careers our graduates are beginning. That is the kind of doctoral education we want UCF to be known for.”
UCF’s kinesiology doctoral program initially launched in Fall 2022, evolving from the Education Ph.D. track in Exercise Physiology. To date, 13 students have earned doctoral degrees in kinesiology at UCF and an additional 19 students are currently enrolled.
