Doctorate in Physical Activity and Sports

Presentation

The doctorate program allows to take subjects and perform the doctorate research within one of the lines of research that are offered, in accordance with an on-line education model. In this way, the PhD student takes part of an advanced postgraduate study that can adapt to one’s learning pace and working style.

During the program, the PhD student will have the support and advice of teaching staff, tutors and thesis directors who will ease the learning and academic performance in the subjects, research papers, and in the thesis thanks to the new technologies.

The doctorate’s Committee will assign and supervise the study plan that will be appropriate to the training and thesis topic chosen by the PhD student. In addition, this committee will appoint a thesis director that will support and facilitate the studies and the thesis work of the PhD student.

Structure

LENGTH PURPOSE STUDY PLAN
PHASE I: TEACHING - CORE COURSES
18 months Acquiring the knowledge and skills needed to provide solutions that contribute to human development, scientific and technological development of the PhD candidate. Taking on-line subjects related to the research process, as well as its different methodological perspectives.
PHASE II: TEACHING - SPECIALIZATION COURSES
6 months Acquiring specific knowledge from the research area chosen by the PhD candidates, that help them to deepen into their knowledge, and to focus the thesis’ research line. Taking a total of 3 subjects belonging to the specialization chosen by the PhD candidates.
PHASE III: RESEARCH
1 year Helping to define the PhD thesis topic, objectives, hypothesis and methodology, as well as to develop the thesis. Developing research works conducive to the project execution.
PHASE IV: THESIS DEVELOPMENT
1 - 2 years Drafting the PhD thesis. Developing the PhD thesis under the supervision of the Director.

Educational Methodology

The educational model promotes collaboration and cooperation to enhance people’s education. This ensures a process that provides effective results with regard to the educational investment assumed versus the return in knowledge, personal and organizational learning. Nowadays, the educational model consists of many educational and pedagogical innovations that facilitate, strengthen and drive a formative process in a quality learning environment. This includes:

  • Making it easy for students, professors and both groups to be in contact.
  • Fostering cooperation and reciprocity: learning as a collective effort.
  • Considering the student as the center of the learning process in which the student actively participates.
  • Encouraging and promoting the continuous communication and interaction between professors and students.
  • Instilling that the training process implies and requires temporary dedication and continuous effort.
  • Using motivation as a constant stimulus so the student perceives that the expected learning results are achievable.
  • Personalizing the learning, taking into account the differences between students and their different ways of learning.

Diploma

The doctorate student who meets the academic requirements and passes the doctorate thesis’ defense in accordance with the rules of the universities which offer the doctorate program, will get the following diploma:

  • Doctorate in Sport and Exercise from the International Iberoamerican University Mexico.

Study Plan

The doctorate in Physical Activity and Sports is designed to train university teaching staff and professional researchers who are trained to generate scientific knowledge at the highest level, trained to conduct joint research at the physical activity and sports field.

This doctorate program aims at the need for researchers and teaching staff to be able to make that scientific studies are well founded, have their objectives be focused on preventing and solving the main problems caused by a sedentary lifestyle and the lack of exercise affecting the global population. With that in mind, it is necessary to have some knowledge on the area as it is being able to make the community get involved to solve the situation.

Likewise, there is the need to optimize the use of all the tools and advances made in the Sport Sciences field to optimize its use in the sports initiation, physical education, health and sports performance fields.

The doctorate’s teaching phase is based on scientific research of excellence by training the PhD student in acquiring the knowledge that will enrich the learning process, deepening in the different research methodologies, as well as in the lines of research, among which the student will have to choose one.

The PhD in Physical Activity and Sports consists of the following phases:

  • INTRODUCTION PHASE
INTRODUCTION PHASE

INTRODUCTION PHASE During this first period, the objective is that the student learns to use the Virtual Campus and its tools, in addition to receive the information about the academic program and the study dates.

In addition, the contact with the syllabus begins with a series of discussions that are related to the diverse subjects of the general courses associated with the research world.

  • PHASE I - TEACHING: CORE COURSES
PHASE I - TEACHING: CORE COURSES
# SUBJECTS
1 The research process in the Physical activity and Sports field
2 Research methodology 1. Experimental, nearly-experimental and observational
3 Research methodology 2. Qualitative and correlational selective
4 Reviews and metaanalysis
5 Bases design and data analysis
6 Guidelines to present and release research works in the Physical activity and Sport area
7 New technologies applied to physical activity and sport
8 Psychosocial aspects influencing the research process in the physical activity and sport
9 Research Seminar I
  • PHASE II - TEACHING: ELECTIVE MODULE (THE PHD CANDIDATE STUDIES THE ONE THAT HAS BEEN CHOSEN)
PHASE II - TEACHING: ELECTIVE MODULE
# MODULE 1: SPORTS AND PERFORMANCE
1 Analysis of the sports performance
2 High performance physiology physical training
3 Planning and periodization models in sports training
4 Research Seminar II
# MODULE 2: PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND PRESCRPITION FOR A GOOD HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE
1 Physical activity quantifying methods and the measurement of their effects on health
2 Epigenetics and physical activity
3 Quantifying and prescribing doing exercise to special population groups
4 Research Seminar II
# MODULE 3: PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, NUTRITION AND ERGOENIC AIDS
1 Anthropometric and nutritional assessment in the athlete
2 Nutrigenomics for health and sports
3 Ergogenic aids, doping substances and Genetic doping in sports
4 Research Seminar II
# MODULE 4: PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SPORTS INITIATION
1 Physical activity and sports initiation didactics New approaches and didactic resources
2 Diversity and special needs in the physical activity and sports initiation
3 Educating in values from Physical Activity and sports
4 Research Seminar II
# MODULE 5: PREVENTION AND READAPTATION OF INJURIES
1 Biomechanical factors in sports injuries
2 Prescribing doing exercise as a means for prevention and sports readptation planning
3 Research in sports injuries
4 Research Seminar II
# MODULE 6: WATER ACTIVITIES AND SAFETY
1 New trends and innovation in water activities
2 Safety while making a physical activity and sports
3 Efficacy in the professional lifeguard’s intervention
4 Research Seminar II
  • PHASE III - RESEARCH
PHASE III - RESEARCH
# SUBJECTS
1 Research Work I
2 Research Work II
3 PhD Thesis’ Proposal
  • PHASE IV - THESIS DEVELOPMENT.
PHASE IV - THESIS DEVELOPMENT.
# SUBJECTS
1 Development of the Thesis
2 Dissertation Thesis

Lines of Research

PHD IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SPORTS LINES OF RESEARCH:
# SPORTS AND PERFORMANCE
1 Variables determining the performance in individual and team sports.
2 New technologies to control sports performance.
3 Training in individual and team sports.
4 Load control and evaluation.
5 Conditional abilities for the performance in team sports.
6 Training methodology.
# PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND PRESCRPITION FOR A GOOD HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE
1 Physical activity quantifying methods and the measurement of their effects on health
2 New trends for a healthy physical activity.
3 Kineanthropometric assessment, physical activity and energy expenditure.
4 Prescribing healthy physical activity adapted to the population group.
5 Epigenetics and physical activity
# PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, NUTRITION AND ERGOENIC AIDS
1 Assessing the athlete’s nutritional status.
2 Nutrigenomics applied to the sports and healthy nutrition.
3 Ergogenic aids and performance.
4 Nutrition, feeding and sports performance.
5 Hydration, physical activity and performance.
# PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SPORTS INITIATION
1 New approaches and didactic resources in Physical Activity.
2 Intervention strategies in Physical activity and sports initiation.
3 Cooperative Methodology and education in values in Physical Activity.
4 Intervention strategies in Physical activity and sports initiation
# PREVENTION AND READAPTATION OF INJURIES
1 Pathology, physiopathology and mechanism of injury.
2 Functional assessment, postural hygiene and association with the sports injuries.
3 Design of protocols to prevent sports injuries.
4 Design of protocols in the readaptation of sports injuries.
# WATER ACTIVITIES AND SAFETY
1 New trends and innovation in water activities.
2 Water activities to improve the health status.
3 Innovation in equipment and materials in water activities.
4 Safety in the sports and water spaces.
5 Preventive strategies as a safety element in water spaces.
6 Techniques and rescue materials for intervention in water spaces.
7 Lifeguard, environment and efficacy in the rescue.

Direction

Academic Administration

  • Dr. Antonio Pantoja Vallejo. Doctor in Philosophy and Educational Sciences, National University of Distance Education (UNED). Professor at the University of Jaen (Spain).
  • Dr. Álvaro Velarde Sotres. Doctor in Health Projects from the International Iberoamerican University. Professor at the European University of the Atlantic.

Teaching staff and Authors

  • Dr. Alberto Pérez López. Doctor of the Health Sciences from the University of Alcalá. Specialized in the Physiology of Exercise.
  • Dr. Alexis Padrón. Doctorate in Sports Science, Physical Education, and Healthy Physical Activity Professor at the University of Vigo.
  • Dr. Álvaro Velarde Sotres. Doctor in Health Projects from the International Iberoamerican University. Professor at the European University of the Atlantic
  • Dr. Anton Kalen. Doctoral student in Sports Science at the University of Vigo. Basketball coach.
  • Dr. Antonio Jesús Bores. Doctorate in Sport and Physical Activity Sciences. Professional physical trainer and professor at the European University of the Atlantic.
  • Dr. Archit Navandar. Doctor in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences from the Polytechnic University of Madrid. Professor at the European University of Madrid.
  • Dr. Aurelio Olmedilla. Doctor in Psychology. Professor at the Catholic University of San Antonio de Murcia.
  • Dr. Carlos Lago Fuentes. Doctor in Sports Science, Physical Education and Healthy Physical Activity from the University of Vigo. Academic Director of the Degree in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences at the European University of the Atlantic.
  • Dr. César Octavio de Loera. Doctorate in Biomedical Sciences. Professor at the University of Guadalajara.
  • Dr. Cristian Abelairas Gómez. Doctor in Physical Activity, Sport and Health Research, University of Vigo Professor at the Faculty of Educational Sciences of the University of Santiago de Compostela.
  • Dr. Enrique Garcés. Doctor in Psychology. Professor in the University of Murcia.
  • Dr. Ezequiel Rey Eiras. Doctor in Physical Activity Sciences from the University of Vigo. Professor at the Faculty of Education and Sports Sciences, University of Vigo.
  • Dr. Felipe García Pinillos. International Doctorate in Sport and Physical Activity Sciences, University of Jaen. Professor at the European University of the Atlantic.
  • Dr. Iker Muñoz. Doctor in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences from the European University of Madrid. Training and research specialized in analysis and performance optimization in long distance athletes.
  • Dr. Jerónimo Aragón. Doctor in Human Nutrition. Master of Research in Physical Activity and Sport. Research on the physiological impact of oxidative stress, sport, physical activity, and health.
  • Dr. Juan Francisco Mielgo. Doctor in Biomedical Research and a Master in Nutrition and Health from the University of the Basque Country.
  • Dr. Moisés Vila. Doctor in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences from the University of Barcelona. Professor at the University - Tecnocampus of Mataró
  • Dr. Pedro Angel Latorre. Doctor in Physical Education from the University of Granada. Head Professor at the University of Jaén. 
  • Dr. Roberto Barcala. Doctor in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, University of Vigo Professor at the University of Vigo.
  • Dr. Salvador Baena. Doctor in Activity and Sport Sciences from the University of Granada. Professor at the University of Alicante.
  • Dr. Alexandra Pérez. Doctor in Sports Science, Physical Education, and Healthy Physical Activity. Specialized in performance analysis in team sports.
  • Dr. Amélia Cristina Stein. Doctorate in Sport and Physical Activity Sciences, University of León. Professor at the International Iberoamerican University.
  • Dr. Andrea Arreguín. Doctor and Master's Degree in Nutrigenomics and Personalized Nutrition from the University of the Balearic Islands. Professor at the International Iberoamerican University.
  • Dr. Carlota Díez Rico. Doctor in Intra and Outpatient Health Research at Alfonso X el Sabio University. Secretary of the Colegio Oficial de Licenciados en Actividad Física y Ciencias de la Actividad Física y el Deporte (COPLEF, Official College of Graduates in Physical Activity and Science of Physical Activity and Sport) of Madrid.
  • Dr. Jana Gallardo Pérez. International Doctor in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences. Lecturer at the Camilo José Cela University and the International University of La Rioja.
  • Dr. María José Daniel Huerta. Doctor in Pedagogy from the University of Salamanca. Professor of the Faculty of Education at the University of Salamanca.
  • Dr. Mercedes Briones. Doctor in Human Nutrition and Dietetics in the international program between the University of Granada and the Institute of Chemical, Biological, Biomedical, and Biophysical Research of the Mariano Galvez University of Guatemala. Professor at the International Iberoamerican University.
  • Dr. Olalla García Taibo.  International Doctor in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences from the University of A Coruña. Teaching and Research Staff at CESAG Pontifical University of Comillas.
  • Dr. Raquel Pedrero Chamizo. Doctor and Master's degree in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences from the Polytechnic University of Madrid. Professor at the Polytechnic University of Madrid.
  • Dr. Sara Márquez. Professor in the Area of Physical Education and Sports at the University of Leon. President of the Spanish Federation of Sports Psychology (FEPD).
  • Dr. Sonsoles Hernández. Doctor with International Mention in Biomedicine from the University of Granada. Specialized in physical exercise for people with chronic diseases and transplants.
  • Dr. Susana Martínez. Doctor in Biology from the University of León. Professor at the European University of the Atlantic.

Scholarships

The Iberoamerican University Foundation (FUNIBER) has created the following program: “Doctorate Scholarships” aimed at people with an excellent academic record. Other foundations, institutions and universities have joined this program. This PhD scholarship program is aimed at university teaching staff, with the objective of contributing to an increase in the percentage of PhDs in universities. It is also aimed at professionals from the business and public administration world, in order to contribute to the R+D departments and to generate innovation.