Curriculum Requirements
MS-PhD students who matriculate in Fall 2026 or after complete 41 credits of required coursework + 18 required dissertation credits (total: 57 credits). In addition to meeting the 3-credit graduate-level introductory statistics matriculation requirement*, BS-PhD students complete 9 credits of additional coursework (total: 66 credits).
Plan of Study by Semester
| Term 1 | Fall, Year 1 | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURSING 708 (Formerly N790F) | History & Political Economies of Philosophy of Science: Big Ideas in Nursing | 3 |
| NURSING 709 (Formerly N790FR) | Edge-runners in Nursing’s Research, Scholarship & Innovation | 3 |
| NURSING 711 (Formerly N790E) | Experiential & Community-guided Approaches to Nursing’s Research and Innovation | 3 |
| N790A* | Introduction to Statistics (offered as an asynchronous online course) | 3* |
| TOTAL TERM 1: | 9-12 credits |
*Students who have not satisfactorily completed a graduate level introductory statistics course within the 3 years prior to matriculation must also enroll in N790A Introduction to Statistics.
| Term 2 | Spring, Year 1 | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURSING 712 (Formerly N790SP) | Theory and Connections to Nursing Praxis: Putting Ideas to Work | 3 |
| NURSING 713 (Formerly N790SR) | Research Design I: Working with Accountability Partners to Define the Research Focus | 3 |
| NURSING 714 (Formerly N790SC) | Deductive Reasoning | 3 |
| NURSING 717 (Formerly N890ZX) | Pre-Dissertation Seminar: Funding | 1 |
| Option for additional electives including those associated with Certificate programs | variable | |
| TOTAL TERM 2: | 10+ credits | |
+ 1st Year PhD Portfolio submitted following completion of semesters 1 and 2. This is the first of two portfolios required for progression to PhD candidacy.
| Term 3 | Fall, Year 2 | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURSING 801 (Formerly N890FP) | Leadership for Health Justice: Developing Accountable, Sustainable, Transformative Praxis | 3 |
| NURSING 802 (Formerly N890FC) | Inductive & Complex Reasoning (previously known as “Qualitative & Mixed Methods”) | 3 |
| NURSING 718 (Formerly N890YX) | Pre-Dissertation Seminar: Professional Development | 3 |
| XXXX | Nursing PhD Required Graduate Level Elective (any department on campus, choice of elective should complement dissertation goals & by approved by the PhD advisor and PhD Program Director) | 1 |
| Option for additional electives including those associated with Certificate programs | variable | |
| TOTAL TERM 3: | 9+ credits | |
| Term 4 | Spring, Year 2 | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURSING 803 (Formerly N890SP) | Create New Futures: Policy, Pedagogy & Dissemination for Impact | 3 |
| NURSING 804 (Formerly N890SR) | Research Design II: Operationalizing the Research & Project Management | 3 |
| XXXX | Nursing PhD Required Graduate Level Elective (any department on campus, choice of elective should complement dissertation goals & by approved by the PhD advisor and PhD Program Director) | 3+ |
| Option for additional electives including those associated with Certificate programs | variable | |
| TOTAL TERM 4: | 9+ credits | |
+ 2nd Year PhD Portfolio submitted following completion of semesters 3 and 4. This is the second of two portfolios required for progression to PhD candidacy. The portfolio must be holistically reviewed and approved by a committee of the faculty for progression to PhD candidacy.
+ Completion of a 120-hour mentored research residency is required prior to approval of the dissertation prospectus.
| Term 5 & Beyond | Beyond completion of first 4 terms of coursework and with successful passage of comprehensive exam assessment. | Credits |
| NURSING 893A (fall) or NURSING 893B (spring)** | Dissertation Seminar | 1 |
| NURSING 899 | Dissertation credits (usually taken as 5-9 credits per semester) | 18 |
| Option for additional electives including those associated with Certificate programs | ||
| TOTAL TERM 5+: | Variable* |
TOTAL CREDITS = 57 credits
Post-master's students
Post-masters students who are matriculated before Fall 2023 complete the following 59 credits of coursework:
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| N700 | History of Nursing Science and Philosophy | 3 |
| N710 | Quantitative Methods in Nursing Research | 3 |
| N716 | Intermediate Statistics for Health Research | 3 |
| N720 | State of the Discipline of Nursing | 3 |
| N730 | Qualitative Methods in Nursing Research | 3 |
| N775 | Measurement in Health Research | 3 |
| N810 | Advanced Nursing Research | 3 |
| N820 | Emerging Nursing Theory | 3 |
| N870 | Role of the Scholar and Leader | 3 |
| N897A | Special Topics in Health Research | 3 |
| Advanced Methods Elective | 3 | |
| N893A | Dissertation Seminar (Fall) | 1 |
| N893B | Dissertation Seminar (Spring) | 1 |
| N899 | Dissertation | 18 |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 59 |
+ Comprehensive Examination
+ Mentored Research Experience (120 hours minimum)
Post-baccalaureate students
Post-baccalaureate students must also complete course requirements for the Masters in Nursing Science (MSNS), including 12 additional credits of coursework:
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NURSING 614 | Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning | 3 |
| NURSING 615 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 |
| NURSING 619 | Advanced Pharmacology | 3 |
Note: Some courses are offered online through Flexible Education (formerly University Without Walls).
Note: The plan or study[ML1] of applicants with DNP degrees or master’s degrees in other fields will be tailored to the learning needs of the applicant.
In addition to academic coursework, students must:
- Successfully pass a 2-stage Portfolio-based Comprehensive Examination qualifying them as a PhD candidate.
- Complete a 120 hour (minimum) mentored research residency.
- Submit and orally defend a scholarly dissertation prospectus.
- Implement, write, and defend an original dissertation study.
Full-time students are required to take a minimum of two courses (6 credits) per semester and are encouraged to complete degree requirements within four (post-master) to six (post-baccalaureate) years.
PhD students must also fulfill the Graduate School’s residency requirement.