Graduate seminars

Exchanging ideas

All graduate students in the three programs offered by the School of Health and Human Performance are encouraged to attend research seminars during their studies. These informal seminars are scheduled on a weekly basis throughout the academic year for all current graduate students, full or part-time. Seminars usually consist of a 20-minute presentation followed by a question period.

Grad seminars provide a gathering place for students, where they can exchange ideas about research and topics of interest with each other, with faculty members, and with visitors to the campus. Past seminar topics have provided students and faculty with opportunities to

  • conceptualize their research projects
  • present the results of completed research projects
  • discuss new concepts in statistical techniques
  • present relevant professional issues

On occasion, graduate students and faculty have collaborated in presenting a seminar. 

The grad seminars are chaired by the associate director of graduate programs, who selects an appropriate time for the seminars to help ensure maximum participation by faculty and students. A schedule of seminar topics and speakers is distributed in September and January. 

The seminars are an important part of the intellectual exchange in the School of Health and Human Performance. Graduate students are encouraged to present at least once during their program residency and to attend the seminars regularly.

The success of the seminars depends upon active participation by graduate students and faculty, as well as the support they provide to those presenting. During the process, students and faculty alike often gain new perspectives about their research as they share viewpoints about important professional issues.