Nursing - Ph.D.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Generate new knowledge that contributes to the advancement of health, healthcare and nursing science.
2. Disseminate advances in scientific knowledge.
3. Use collaborative, interdisciplinary and innovative approaches to advance nursing science.
4. Assume leadership roles in healthcare and education as researchers, educators and advanced clinicians.
5. Serve as stewards of the diversity within the body of knowledge for the discipline of nursing.

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

• Active, unrestricted U.S. registered nurse license (international students need to show proof of legal ability to practice as a registered nurse in country of origin)
• Bachelor's or master's degree in nursing or related field, or a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, from an accredited program¹
• Minimum overall 3.000 graduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• Résumé or curriculum vitae
• Essay (two pages, single-spaced), see guidelines below
• Three letters of reference from health care professionals or academic faculty members who can speak to the applicant's professional and academic abilities (two of the three references from doctoral-prepared individuals are preferred)
• Interview
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:²
  • Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
  • Minimum 58 PTE score
  • Minimum 110 DET score

¹

A bachelor's degree in a closely related health field may be considered if the applicant has a master's degree in nursing or a D.N.P. degree from an accredited program. A master's degree in a closely related field may be considered if the applicant has a bachelor's degree in nursing from an accredited program.

²

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.

Guidelines for the Essay

• Applicants should begin their essay with the "why" for pursuing the Ph.D. degree in Nursing and the "how" this degree will help them achieve their research and professional goals.
  • Introduce the population or phenomenon of interest that will be investigated.
• In the body of the essay, applicants should explain why they are interested in this population and/or phenomenon and how their work will impact or advance science in that area.
  • Consider including scientific gaps and significance in that area of research.
  • Elucidate the effect the research will have on the health outcomes of the proposed population or on those who are affected by the phenomenon on interest.
  • Indicate how the work may reflect diversity, equity and inclusion in the area of research.
• In the closing paragraph, applicants should provide one to two key aspects of their research and propose ways to disseminate their scientific discovery.

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Priority deadline: March 1
• Spring Semester
  • Priority deadline: November 1
• Summer Term
  • Priority deadline: March 1

Applications submitted by these deadlines will receive the strongest consideration for admission.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

Elective courses support the student's research interest and are selected with the approval of the student's academic advisor. The courses will supplement the student's program of study in a substantive area of research or specific method of research, including advanced statistical approaches, or assist the student with career goals following graduation.

²

Each doctoral candidate, upon admission to candidacy, must register for NURS 80199 for a total of 30 credit hours. It is expected that a doctoral candidate will continuously register for Dissertation I, and thereafter NURS 80299, each semester, until all requirements for the degree have been met.

Candidacy Examination

At the conclusion of coursework, students sit for the candidacy examination. The examination provides the basis for evaluation of the student’s readiness for completing the dissertation. Students must successfully pass candidacy and a proposal defense before beginning dissertation work.

Progression Requirements

• Students who do not earn a minimum B grade in a course must repeat it and cannot take other courses that require that course as a prerequisite until the course is successfully retaken. Students who do not earn a minimum B grade in the second attempt may be dismissed from the Ph.D. degree.

Graduation Requirements

• Minimum B grade required in all courses to earn the Ph.D. degree.
• Passage of the candidacy examination
• Submission and successful defense of a dissertation

Students with a D.N.P. degree may receive permission to have coursework waived if supported by the appropriate and recent coursework; however, maximum 12 credit hours may transfer to the Ph.D.. The waiver of each specific course will be determined by the relevant academic department. These students may graduate with less than 72 credit hours but no fewer than 60 total credit hours.

Roadmaps

Post-Baccalaureate Track

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Post-Master's Track

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus