College of Nursing:

PhD in Nursing

The PhD in Nursing offers three entry options: BSN-PhD, Master's-PhD, and DNP to PhD Bridge Option. See specialization pages for details on minimum required credits by specialization and entry option.

• Foundation course (1 credits)
• Core courses (45 credits or 20 credits, depending upon BSN-PhD or Master's-PhD/DNP Bridge entry option)
• Research courses (20 credits)
• Doctoral Seminar (5 quarter credits)
• Focus area courses (15 credits)
• Completion of the Doctoral Capstone
  • Dissertation (minimum 20 quarter credits, taken continuously until completion of the dissertation)
• Doctoral Writing Assessment (0 credits)
• Four PhD residencies

BSN-PhD entry: This entry option is for registered nurses (RN) who have earned their bachelor’s in nursing degree.

Master's-PhD entry: This entry option is for registered nurses (RN) who have earned their master’s in nursing degree or a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s degree in a business or non-nursing health related field.

DNP-PhD entry: This entry option is for registered nurses (RN) who have earned their doctor of nursing practice degree.

Foundation Course (1 credits)

Core Courses (45 credits or 20 credits)

BSN-PhD entry students take 45 credits of core courses. See each focus area for MSN level core course information.

20 credits of MSN level core courses based on the focus area

Master's-PhD and DNP Bridge entry students take 20 credits of core courses.

Research Courses (20 credits)

Foundation Research Courses (15 credits)

Advanced Research Course (5 credits)

OR

OR

Doctoral Seminar (5 credits)

See each focus area for course information.

Students take this course for a minimum of four quarters and are continuously enrolled until completion of their dissertation with final chief academic officer (CAO) approval.

To complete a doctoral dissertation, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the chief academic officer. Students must also publish their dissertation on ProQuest before their degree is conferred. Learn more about the dissertation process in the Dissertation Guidebook.

• Complete Residency 1 as soon as you begin your program; required in order to advance into RSCH 8110.
• Complete Residency 2 prior to entering NURS 8750.
• Complete Residency 3 prior to entering NURS 9000.
• Complete Residency 4 after your prospectus is approved and you are enrolled in NURS 9000, complete residency 4 during your third year or beyond as:
  • Residency 4 General (RESI 8404) OR
  • Residency 4 Proposal Writing (RESI 8404Q) OR
  • Residency 4 Methods & Data Collection: Qualitative (RESI 8404R) OR
  • Residency 4 Methods & Data Collection: Quantitative (RESI 8404S) OR
  • Residency 4 Publishing & Presenting (RESI 8404T) OR
  • a dissertation intensive (DRWI 8500). Contact Student Success Advising to register. 
• Optional: Complete a PhD dissertation intensive retreat (DRWI 8500) during your dissertation (in lieu of residency 4). Contact Student Success Advising to register.