Doctoral Program
Physical Education in the Education System

Field of Higher Education: 1. PEDAGOGICAL SCIENCES

Professional Field: 1.3. PEDAGOGY OF TEACHING IN...

Educational and Scientific Degree: DOCTOR

Doctoral Program: PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

Modes of Study: Full-time / Part-time / Independent study

Duration of Study: 3 (4) years

Total Number of Credits: 181 ECTS

Head of the Doctoral Program: Assoc. Prof. Korneliya Naidenova, PhD

The Doctoral Program "Physical Education in the Educational System", conducted within professional field 1.3. Pedagogy of Teaching in Physical Education is aimed at acquiring the third degree of higher education and enhancing the educational and research qualifications of the doctoral students. The training in the doctoral program aims to prepare highly qualified specialists with experience and knowledge in research, experimental, and teaching activities in the field of the theory and methodology of physical education and sports.

The necessity of preparing specialists with an acquired educational and scientific degree of "Doctor" in the doctoral program "Physical Education in the Educational System" is driven by the following facts:

1. The continuous changes in the educational system generate higher requirements for the training of pedagogical specialists in the field of physical education and sports, and consequently, the need to develop and improve scientifically sound methodologies and teaching approaches.
2. The improvement and updating of competencies specific to professional qualifications are required by the labor market.
3. The strong interaction between science and practice in the field of physical education and sports ensures the development and testing of modern approaches to teaching and education.
4. The adaptation to modern challenges in physical education practice, such as digitalization, reduced physical activity, and growing psychosocial problems among children, etc.

In the process of developing their doctoral dissertations on current scientific problems, doctoral students receive training in general theoretical and specialized educational modules. These modules aim to develop competencies in understanding and applying modern approaches and methods for structuring, planning, and conducting scientific research; data analysis and interpretation; and substantiating and discussing existing research in comparison with their own, etc.

The selection of the dissertation thesis field and topic is carried out in accordance with current problems in physical education and sports and the doctoral student's scientific interests, with the active participation of the training department and the doctoral student's scientific supervisor. This ensures, on the one hand, the maintenance of the PhD student's interest and, on the other hand, the development of modern, relevant, and scientifically rigorous topics.

Doctoral students who successfully defend their dissertations find their place in the labor market as sports lecturers in higher education institutions in the country, physical education and sports teachers in the national education system with opportunities to conduct research, experts in various state, governmental, and non-governmental organizations, research institutions in the field of physical education and sports, researchers in scientific departments and organizations conducting fundamental and applied research in physical education and sports, leaders and members of expert teams in formal and non-formal education in physical education and sports, participants in various forms of lifelong learning to enhance professional qualifications in the scientific specialty, etc.