Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing

The PhD in Nursing is a research-focused degree. There is substantive content and experiential learning in three areas:

the conducting of research
scholarship on chronic illness
scholarship and leadership in nursing education
This innovative program prepares the Nurse Scientist Educator (NSE) who will:

develop the science of nursing by conducting and disseminating theory guided research in the chronic illness experience and nursing education
integrate research, teaching, mentoring, and service to the organization and/or profession
contribute to the development of future nurses through discovery, application, and integration
The NSE student will learn:

qualitative and quantitative research methods
the nature of, and criteria for, scientific inquiry
to build, synthesize, and apply nursing knowledge
research designs and theoretical perspectives in chronic illness
interdisciplinary approaches to the issues of chronic illness
strategies for developing a program of research
about publication, grant development, curriculum design and evaluation
NSE Foundational Educational Concepts:

Boyer's (1990) model of scholarship with its four domains of scholarshipDiscovery, Integration, Application, and Teaching
research on the prevention of chronic illness and the care of people with chronic illness
comprehensive curriculum that provides learning, training, and mentorship
cohort education, assigned mentors, and structured activities leading to publication and funding
The program is designed to assist the student to develop the knowledge, skills, and habits of an NSE through mentoring, didactic teaching, and experience.
The BS-PhD is a 73-credit, post-BS curriculum that is designed to be completed in 60 months of full-time study. After completing 39 credits, students may apply for the MS degree. There is a one-year residency requirement. A Certification Examination demonstrates the student's mastery of nursing science in promoting health, guiding the illness experience, shaping the health system for people with chronic illness, and/or addressing innovations in nursing education. The Qualifying Examination consists of developing one article that is submitted to a peer-reviewed journal. Additionally, a qualifying exam is given at the conclusion of first-year courses.

Candidates must submit the required application materials, university requirements and program-specific requirements, for consideration.

Bachelor's degree minimum GPA of 3.0 and Master's degree minimum GPA of 3.3.
One of these two degrees is from an accredited nursing program.
Master's level courses that include exposure to theory and research, and a course in multivariate statistics. For BS-PhD applicants, these will be completed in the program.
For BS-PhD applicants, BS minimum GPA of 3.5.
International students are not eligible to apply to the BS-PhD program.
Requirements
Two letters of recommendation from people who have supervised the applicant in the academic, professional, or community service setting. If possible, at least one recommendation should be from a doctorally-prepared faculty member who is familiar with the applicant's academic work and capacity. The recommendations should address the applicant's ability to do graduate work, and potential to advance the discipline of nursing through scholarship. Applicants will be required to provide the recommenders name and email address so we can contact the recommender for the letter of recommendation.
Statement of purpose should include research interest and intent. In the first part (up to 250 words), give your reasons for wishing to pursue graduate study. In the second part (up to 1,000 words), indicate your research interests and goals for doctoral study.
Scholarly writing samples (for example, a peer reviewed publication or a paper from school), minimum of 10 pages of writing.
Applicants must be registered nurses and submit copy of RN license.
International students should have a minimum English Proficiency score of TOEFL iBT 84 with the speaking session minimum 24, IELTS 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each section, or the Pearsons PTE Academic 55 with no individual score below 50.