Doctoral students will find a rigorous nursing science curriculum, a dynamic range of faculty expertise and multiple opportunities for creative interdisciplinary collaboration at the college across core areas of the doctoral program, knowledge building (nursing theory and research) and nursing practice and patient care.

The required courses prepare students to address significant problems through research that will add to the knowledge base of nursing and serve to inform practice, health policy, and nursing education. The coursework also enables students to develop significant research questions early in the program that may lead to dissertation research and/or external funding.

Cognate Area of Study: The cognate area of study consists of 12 to 15 semester hours. Students, in conjunction with the major advisor, select a cognate area of study to support the focus of the student's dissertation.

Electives: Required for degree completion are 3 semester hours of elective course work in research methods. Electives may include courses recommended or approved by the student's advisory committee.

Dissertation: The College of Nursing requires a minimum of 12 credit hours of dissertation and may elect up to 24 hours. Students may register for dissertation hours the semester following admission to candidacy. After candidacy approval, students must enroll for a minimum of two dissertation hours each semester while working on the dissertation and using university resources.

Disclaimer

Past experience has proven that new nursing students are more successful if they begin the program with an orientation. Therefore, students accepted to any program at the College of Nursing are required to attend a new student orientation. This is the final step in the application and acceptance process and it cannot be waived or postponed.

Accepted students should not make final plans for travel, studying abroad, or other activities that may interfere with attendance at the mandatory orientation. In addition, students are encouraged to clear attendance at the mandatory orientation with their current professor if they are enrolled in a class at the time of orientation.

Students who are unable to attend the orientation will not be permitted to enter the program that semester and may apply again to be accepted for a later term.