Ph.D. in Kinesiology - New Mexico Tech

2. Consistency with Role and Scope of NMSU and the College of Education
The proposed PhD degree program in Kinesiology is perfectly consistent with the NMSU
Mission, which reads,
“New Mexico State University is the state’s land grant university, serving the
needs of New Mexico’s diverse population through comprehensive programs
of education, research, extension education and public service.”
Insofar as it is the mission of NMSU to offer “comprehensive programs of education,
research, extension education and public service,” then it is absolutely critical that the
department of HPDR fully participate in the mission of the university by providing a
dynamic research agenda and graduate education.
The primary focus of the proposed program is training of scientists and dissemination of
knowledge regarding the exploration of translational research questions (those that evaluate
how well and in what manner we can translate theory into practice), and the development of
evidence-based best practices in the area of physical activity and health outcomes. Thus, it is
the development, implementation, and maintenance of community-based and school-based
health and physical activity programming that is at the heart of the proposed PhD program.
As such, the graduate activity will contribute to the successful fulfillment of outreach and
extension that are central to mission of NMSU.
Furthermore, the proposed program will promote scholarship in critical areas of national,
state, and local need. Of particular relevance are the national epidemics of sedentary
lifestyle, obesity, type-2 diabetes, and other hypokinetic diseases. Moreover, current
statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate a
disproportionate prevalence of obesity and diabetes among lower socioeconomic classes and
certain racial/ethnic groups, including Hispanics and Native Americans. As a result, federal
and state agencies, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and CDC are calling for
translational research in the areas of health promotion and disease prevention, and are
specifically seeking participation from minority scientists, students, and communities.
Finally, the implementation of this program of study will facilitate synergy with basic
research scientists who will benefit from the emergence of translational research projects. Of
particular importance in this regard is the potential for translational projects to inform basic
science in ways that drives questions regarding control of human physiology at the cellular
and molecular level.
Likewise, the proposed program of study will also serve the mission of the College of
Education at New Mexico State University, which is,
“… to serve the people of New Mexico through education, research, extension
education, and public service with specific emphasis on innovative practices,
overcoming barriers to learning, international activities, technology, and literacy
for the diverse populations of New Mexico, surrounding states and border
communities.”
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