Nursing (PhD)
Preparing nurse scholars to improve health through research, education, and leadership. The PhD in Nursing prepares graduates to advance the scientific foundation of nursing practice and health care delivery. Under the guidance of our faculty, students are prepared to launch a program of research addressing the social, cultural, political and ethical issues related to an area of nursing scholarship.
Curriculum
The PhD in Nursing requires 49 credit hours for students entering with a Master of Science in Nursing.
Classes meet on campus one weekend each month throughout the semester. Classes are held in Fall, Spring, and Summer sessions and meet on a rotating basis between the Lake Shore and Health Sciences campuses.
Required Courses
For students who enter the PhD program with a BSN, their first 24 credit hours of graduate level coursework will be chosen in concert with their advisor and taken through the MSN or DNP program. The remaining coursework makes up the body of the PhD in Nursing, and totals 49 hours depending on internship credit.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GNUR 432 | Philosophy of Science | 3 |
| GNUR 440 | Systematic Inquiry I: Scholarly Writing | 2 |
| GNUR 500 | Phenomena and Theories for Nursing Science I | 2 |
| GNUR 501 | Phenomena and Theories for Nursing Science II | 2 |
| GNUR 508 | The Nurse Scientist Role | 2 |
| GNUR 509 | Teaching Methods | 3 |
| GNUR 510 | Teaching Practicum | 3 |
| GNUR 512 | Quantitative Methods & Design for Nursing Research | 3 |
| GNUR 513 | Qualitative Methods in Nursing Research | 3 |
| GNUR 519 | Measurement for Nursing Research | 3 |
| GNUR 520 | Systematic Inq II: Reviewing & Synthesizing Lit | 2 |
| GNUR 523 | Health Care Policy and Economics | 3 |
| GNUR 539 | Innovative Science, Theory and Methods | 3 |
| GNUR 542 | Grant and Proposal Writing | 3 |
| GNUR 546 | Advanced Statistics I 2 | 3 |
| GNUR 547 | Advanced Statistics II | 3 |
| GNUR 600 | Dissertation Supervision | 0 |
| Two (2) Courses in Cognate Area | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 49 | |
- 1
GNUR 510 Teaching Practicum is required for students who receive funding through the Nurse Faculty Loan Program. Students in that program will complete 52cr hours of coursework.
- 2
Students who have not taken a graduate level statistics course prior to entering the PhD program may be required to take an additional three credit hour graduate statistics course before enrolling in GNUR 546 Advanced Statistics I or GNUR 547 Advanced Statistics II. The pre-requisite will not replace one of the above required courses and students will graduate with 49 credit hours.
Qualifying Examination
At the completion of coursework, students are required to successfully complete a qualifying examination consisting of both written and oral components. The examinations are designed to assess the depth, breadth, comprehension, integration, and synthesis of knowledge that forms the foundation for conducting dissertation research.
Dissertation
A directed dissertation is required to complete a PhD in Nursing. All students in the Graduate School who write a dissertation must successfully complete UNIV 370 Responsible Conduct in Research and Scholarship. It is recommended that this course be taken prior to beginning research.
Suggested Sequence of Courses
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| GNUR 432 | Philosophy of Science | 3 |
| GNUR 440 | Systematic Inquiry I: Scholarly Writing | 2 |
| GNUR 500 | Phenomena and Theories for Nursing Science I | 2 |
| Hours | 7 | |
| Spring | ||
| GNUR 501 | Phenomena and Theories for Nursing Science II | 2 |
| GNUR 508 | The Nurse Scientist Role | 2 |
| GNUR 512 | Quantitative Methods & Design for Nursing Research | 3 |
| Hours | 7 | |
| Summer | ||
| GNUR 513 | Qualitative Methods in Nursing Research | 3 |
| Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| GNUR 519 | Measurement for Nursing Research | 3 |
| GNUR 520 | Systematic Inq II: Reviewing & Synthesizing Lit | 2 |
| GNUR 546 | Advanced Statistics I | 3 |
| Hours | 8 | |
| Spring | ||
| GNUR 523 | Health Care Policy and Economics | 3 |
| GNUR 539 | Innovative Science, Theory and Methods | 3 |
| GNUR 547 | Advanced Statistics II | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| GNUR 509 | Teaching Methods | 3 |
| Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| GNUR 510 | Teaching Practicum | 3 |
| GNUR 610 | Doctoral Study | 0 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| GNUR 542 | Grant and Proposal Writing | 3 |
| GNUR 600 | Dissertation Supervision | 0 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| GNUR 600 | Dissertation Supervision | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Spring | ||
| GNUR 600 | Dissertation Supervision | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Total Hours | 49 | |
Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations
Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.
Program Goal
The goal of the PhD in Nursing program is to prepare scholars who improve human health through the development and expansion of knowledge.
Learning Outcomes
At the completion of the program the graduate has the knowledge and skills to:
- Initiate a beginning program of research that expands nursing and healthcare knowledge.
- Incorporate social, cultural, political, economic, and ethical considerations into nursing scholarship and practice.
- Participate in the international community of scholars to further the Jesuit mission of generation and dissemination of knowledge in the service of humanity.
- Assume leadership roles in nursing research, education, practice, policy development, and/or administration in order to improve the health of society.