The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Department of Health and Kinesiology(HK) has been forming scientists and specialists considering that 1874. Part of the College of Applied Health Sciences, it provides graduate programs spanning health, rehabilitation, and human movement, the department draws students severe about both research study and practice– with professors mentorship and an interdisciplinary neighborhood at the heart of the experience.
We caught up with Nicolette Suchon, a Wisconsin native with a background in mentor and training, who finished her PhD in Kinesiology in 2025 and is now a tenure-track assistant teacher at the University of Wisconsin– La Crosse– to provide you a direct look at what graduate study in the department is truly like.
Her path reflects precisely the sort of journey the department is developed for: someone with deep applied experience who was available in to establish a research identity, discovered the ideal professors match, and left placed for an academic profession. She shares what the program gave her listed below.
I have no previous research experience. Will I still be accepted into PhD in Kinesiology program?
Yes, you can be accepted. There are no requirement courses needed for admission. The personal statement brings one of the most weight, asking you to identify which faculty member you want to deal with and why you’re a great suitable for their work. Intellectual positioning with a professor matters more than a formal research study CV.
Suchon came in with years of class and training experience but minimal formal research skills. What mattered more was discovering the ideal professors fit.
The Pedagogical Kinesiology Lab is led by Drs. Kim Graber and Amelia Woods, along with Partner Teacher Kevin Richards– scholars whose deal with teacher preparation and socialization specify the field.
“I was drawn to how their research and teaching matched my interest in preparing future teachers and saw the program as a place to grow towards an academic career,” she states.
Can I handle the coursework without a research study background?
Yes, the program is developed to establish your research study abilities, even if you’re starting from scratch. The Kinesiology PhD needs a minimum of 64 credit hours, with a strong focus on advanced data and research study techniques. Suchon found those early courses requiring and intimidating, but they ended up being the most developmental part of her doctoral training. “They not just prepared me for my argumentation, however likewise totally shifted how I comprehend and value research,” she says.
When asked how those skills built in the program help at her current task, she says, “They offered me the structure and self-confidence to think seriously, design meaningful studies, and engage with research study in ways I could not in the past.”
At the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, trainees can build strong relationships
with peers, with a real sense of shared support. Source: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign What is social life like for newbies? It’s a welcoming, community-driven environment where you can construct connections, find interests, and prepare for what comes next. For Suchon, her lab mates quickly ended up being like a 2nd family– encouraging and continuously motivating her to do her best, making her time at Illinois significant.
A huge part of settling in was Julie Jenkins, the graduate administrator, who made a point of knowing every student by name. “From my first year, she knew my name and constantly welcomed me with enjoyment,” Suchon states. “She made time to link, and she played such a big function in making Freer Hall seem like home.”
Does the program include hands-on experience?
Yes, it does. The department runs iPALS (Illinois Exercise and Life Abilities)– a free summertime program with Champaign System 4 Schools delivering physical activity, nutrition education, and social-emotional discovering to children from low-income households.
Suchon was included across several summers, eventually stepping into the Program Director function in her last year. “That experience taught me a lot about the complexities of running a program– from company and communication to problem-solving and versatility,” she says.
For Suchon, the program surpassed academics, using real-world insight and the confidence to step directly into a professors function. Source: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
How strong is the program’s profession assistance?
The department pairs structured professional development with direct professors mentorship that continues after graduation. Department-sponsored conferences build networks that equate into real research study cooperations. Working along with faculty also provides students a ground-level view of what an academic career looks like in practice.
“Much of those relationships have led to ongoing collaborations in my research,” says Suchon. Her consultant stayed invested well past the argumentation too and continues to play an active role in her career advancement. “Whether it was working through ideas, navigating research, or simply checking in, I constantly understood I had someone in my corner,” Suchon states.
What do you want you knew before beginning your PhD program?
Build your support system early– it will carry you through the tough stretches, Suchon recommends. The department offers pre-doctoral training through frequent workshops and symposiums where peer relationships form that last well beyond graduation.
“Having a strong support system makes the difficult minutes more manageable and the great minutes feel a lot more significant,” Suchon says.
Learn more about University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Department of Health and Kinesiology.
Follow the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, College of Applied Health Sciences on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram.