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The Movement Science Graduate Program at UT Austin pursues a highly unique approach to the study of movement
by integrating both biomechanical and neurophysiological approaches to understand how humans move in the world
and how their nervous systems control those movements.
Our faculty and students study a variety of issues, such as how adults, children, and others initially learn to perform
complex motor skills, how movement and coordination change in the face of practice, varying environmental con-
straints, neuromuscular aspects of training and fatigue, disease, and disability, and how movement and coordination
develop and change over time as both children and older adults age. Specific emphasis is placed on clinical and
rehabilitation applications.
Students graduating from our Ph.D. program typically go on to pursue out- The Program is grounded
standing careers in academia and/or biomedical research. Students graduating
on a broad science-based
from our Master’s degree program are well positioned to pursue careers in
Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, clinical gait analysis, ergonomics, the curriculum that includes
sports sciences, or motion analysis for the medical or entertainment indus- rigorous work in biome-
tries, or to pursue further doctoral studies. chanics, motor control,
The University of Texas at Austin is the academic flagship of the UT System’s motor learning, and the
15 academic and health institutions. UT Austin is consistently ranked as one developmental sciences.
of the country’s best graduate schools in Biological Sciences, Education, and
Engineering, among others. The Biomedical Engineering Department and
Institute for Neuroscience in particular provide additional opportunities for many of our faculty and students. The
university enrolls about 51,000 students, about 25% of whom are in graduate and professional programs.
The Movement Science Graduate Program is grounded on a broad science-based curriculum that includes rigorous
work in biomechanics, motor control, motor learning, and the developmental sciences spanning pediatrics through
advanced aging. These topics are presented at the basic science level, where students learn the fundamental core
scientific principles of each sub-discipline, and also at the applied level, where students learn how to apply these core
scientific principles to topical research questions. Supporting coursework typically includes bioengineering, neurosci-
ence, biological sciences, or psychology.
Graduate students in Movement Science can specialize in one of the following research areas:
Biomechanics: Our research in biomechanics is dedicated to applying quantitative experimental and computation-
al modeling approaches from engineering and the analysis of nonlinear dynamical systems to understand the mechani-
cal characteristics and neuromuscular control processes that underlie complex adaptive human movements. These
approaches are used to examine both basic and applied questions related to issues such as maintaining dynamic
stability during standing and walking, quantifying changes in coordination during fatigue, repetitive stress injuries, learn-
ing of complex skills, or understanding the role of neuronal noise in movement coordination. These ideas are studied
in healthy adults, geriatric populations, and in clinical patients with amputation and traumatic brain injury. Students
entering the Biomechanics program are expected to have strong backgrounds in mathematics (at least calculus) and
physics. Computer programming experience (e.g., Matlab, C++, etc.) is also desirable.
Developmental Science: Pediatrics and Aging: The purpose of this program of study is to develop knowledge of
the mechanisms underlying motor competence changes across the life span. The program of study includes devel-
opment of research skills in the study of physical function, including neurological, biomechanical, and physiological
parameters. Topics of current research include fitness and cognition in older adults, changes in manual dexterity in
older adults, the development of force production skills in different age groups, and changes in balance and locomotor
skills from infancy through advanced aging.
Motor Control and Learning: Control of movement is being investigated in both basic and applied research
projects. The primary emphasis is on using electromyographical intramuscular and surface recording techniques to
study neuromuscular and behavioral correlates of performance that are regulated by the central nervous system.
Topics include learning-related adaptations, control of posture and locomotion, intersegmental coordination, functional
electrical stimulation, and the effects of aging, exercise, training, fatigue, and neurological disorders on both reflexive and
voluntary motor performance.