PhD Curriculum & Tracks

You can enter the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) as a post-Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) student. BSN graduates interested in a research degree are encouraged to consider doctoral study early in their careers. This “Fast Track” program option is for academically talented BSN graduates who are passionate about research and committed to becoming a nurse researcher. The curriculum is designed as a full-time, four-year, 79-credit BSN-PhD program. Coursework in nursing and other sciences is emphasized during the earlier portion of an individualized program of study. As you continue through the program, time is increasingly devoted to research conducted under the supervision of a faculty researcher.

BSN to PhD Academic Program Guide

The BSN-PhD pathway includes the Nursing major and a minor. The Nursing major includes coursework in the following areas: Substantive Area of Research, Scientist/Academic Role, Core Courses, Advanced Research Methods and Dissertation.

The minor requirement can be met in one of two ways, both of which must receive prior approval from the advisory committee and the and the PhD Program Director.

1. Nursing Minor: Students may select an area of study within the nursing curriculum, such as Informatics, Rural Health, Border Health, Biological Injury, Reducing Risks and Promoting Health in Vulnerable Populations, or Managing Consequences of Aging or Chronic Illness.
2. Outside Minor: A student may choose another area or discipline for a minor. Other areas may include Anthropology, Psychology, Management & Policy or Sociology. Note: This coursework may not be available via online technology. In addition, departments or colleges may require more than 9 credits to qualify as an official minor. While outside minors are possible, students will need to make special arrangements with the minor department, as well as their academic advisors. Students are strongly encouraged to complete an inside minor.

Time Limitation: Students must successfully defend their dissertation within five years of completion of the oral written comprehensive examination.

You can enter the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) as a post-Master of Science (MS) in Nursing student. The PhD is for academically talented nurses prepared at the master’s level who are passionate about research and committed to becoming a nurse scientist. The MS-PhD pathway curriculum is designed as a full-time, three-year, 64-credit PhD program. PhD students who have not taken a graduate statistics course will be required to do so during the first fall semester of the program. Coursework in nursing and other sciences is emphasized during the earlier portion of an individualized program of study. A As you continue through the program, time is increasingly devoted to research conducted under the supervision of a faculty research mentor. If you have a masters degree in another health discipline and wish to consider a PhD in nursing, please contact the PhD program director for more information.

MS to PhD Academic Program Guide

The MS-PhD pathway includes the Nursing major and a minor. The Nursing major includes coursework in the following areas: Substantive Area of Research, Scientist/Academic Role, Core Courses, Advanced Research Methods and Dissertation.

The minor requirement can be met in one of two ways, both of which must receive prior approval from the advisory committee and the and the PhD Program Director.

1. Nursing Minor: Students may select an area of study within the nursing curriculum, such as Informatics, Rural Health, Border Health, Biological Injury, Reducing Risks and Promoting Health in Vulnerable Populations, or Managing Consequences of Aging or Chronic Illness.
2. Outside Minor: A student may choose another area or discipline for a minor. Other areas may include Anthropology, Psychology, Management & Policy or Sociology. Note: This coursework may not be available via online technology. In addition, departments or colleges may require more than 9 credits to qualify as an official minor. While outside minors are possible, students will need to make special arrangements with the minor department, as well as their academic advisors. Students are strongly encouraged to complete an inside minor.

Time Limitation: Students must successfully defend their dissertation within five years of completion of the oral written comprehensive examination.

If you are interested in attaining broader advanced clinical practice skills with strong research competencies, consider taking advantage of our dual Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Family Nurse Practitioner. You will be prepared at the highest level of nursing science and professional nursing practice, and with advanced skills for engaging in research to create, apply and translate new knowledge to improve health care – in practice domains and/or academia. You will work closely with clinical faculty mentors to develop specialty competencies, as well as faculty research mentors to create a program of research. The PhD-DNP Dual Degrees option is available upon admission to the Family Nurse Practitioner doctoral program. Dual degree students must satisfy both DNP and PhD admission and enrollment requirements. The College of Nursing can accept up to 17 units in common from PhD or DNP coursework to meet requirements. For more information access the Dual Degree FAQs or contact Ruth Taylor-Piliae, Interim PhD Program Director.

This dual PhD-DNP program is ONLY available for full-time study. The coursework needs to be taken as prescribed to assure timely completion. Contact Dr. Taylor-Piliae for information about the dual degree plan of study for nurses who are nurse practitioners and have completed a master's degree.

If you are interested in attaining strong research competencies, consider taking advantage of our Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) to Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree. You will be prepared to engage in research to create, apply and translate new knowledge to improve health care – in practice domains or academia. You will work closely with faculty research mentors to create a program of research. Post DNP-PhD students must satisfy the PhD admission and enrollment requirements. Your plan of study will be individualized upon admission to the PhD program. The College of Nursing can accept up to 21 units from your DNP program to meet requirements. Contact Ruth Taylor-Piliae, Interim PhD Program Director, for more information.

The DNP-PhD pathway includes the Nursing major and a minor. The Nursing major includes coursework in the following areas: Substantive Area of Research, Scientist/Academic Role, Core Courses, Advanced Research Methods and Dissertation.

DNP to PhD Academic Program Guide and Plan of Study

The minor requirement can be met in one of two ways, both of which must receive prior approval from the advisory committee and the and the PhD Program Director.

1. Nursing Minor: Students may select an area of study within the nursing curriculum, such as Informatics, Rural Health, Border Health, Biological Injury, Reducing Risks and Promoting Health in Vulnerable Populations, or Managing Consequences of Aging or Chronic Illness.
2. Outside Minor: A student may choose another area or discipline for a minor. Other areas may include Anthropology, Psychology, Management & Policy or Sociology. Note: This coursework may not be available via online technology. In addition, departments or colleges may require more than 9 credits to qualify as an official minor. While outside minors are possible, students will need to make special arrangements with the minor department, as well as their academic advisors. Students are strongly encouraged to complete an inside minor. DNP students may use transfer credits for the minor requirement.

Time Limitation: Students must successfully defend their dissertation within five years of completion of written and oral examinations.