博士学位的课程工作和研究计划是在与学生咨询委员会协商后确定的。建议每个学生参加与学术背景和研究兴趣适当相关的课程。博士生必须完成与顾问一起在批准的博士课程计划表上定义的学习课程。从先前获得的硕士学位中最多可获取24个学分，这可算作博士后所需的70个学分的要求的学后学位，总共为46个硕士学位。硕士后水平所需的学分可能更高，这取决于硕士水平上的具体课程工作。研究生课程的工作选自基础科学基础主题，例如高级解剖学，生理学，微生物学，遗传学和药理学。所选课程记录在博士课程计划表上，必须在第一学期末提交。
The Exercise and Rehabilitation Science master's and PhD program is a clinical research program based in the College of Health Sciences highly competitive Department of Physical Therapy, which ranks in the top 10 percent of the more than 200 accredited physical therapy programs nationwide. It is also part of the Clinical and Translational Science Institute of Southeastern Wisconsin (CTSI), which is funded by the National Institutes of Health. The Exercise and Rehabilitation Science program is one of only a few CTSI programs in the country specifically geared toward clinical research training in physical therapy and rehabilitation science. The doctoral program is suited for practicing physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, physician assistants and nurses with post-baccalaureate degrees interested in a translational research and clinical research training. The doctor of philosophy builds upon the core competencies of clinical degrees (anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, medical ethics and patient care) with course work in rehabilitation systems physiology, applied neurophysiology, statistics, molecular genetics and research methodology. Students have access to state of the art research techniques in the exercise, rehabilitation and movement disorders research core laboratories housed within the exercise science program and the Department of Physical Therapy. Deliver an effective oral presentation of the dissertation proposal. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of pertinent literature. Identify research questions or problems that are pertinent and significant. Gather, organize, analyze and report data using an appropriate conceptual framework. Adhere to requirements for protection of human subjects.