The Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing's PhD program offers a variety of entry points and scheduling options to best serve prospective PhD candidates at any stage of their academic career.
- Traditional Format (Post MSN)
- Fast-Track Format (BSN to PhD)
- Dual DNP/PhD Program Plan
- PhD Program Plan (Post DNP)
- Part-Time Option (PhD)
Traditional Format Curriculum
If you have already earned the MSN degree, you can enter the PhD program directly and complete the PhD core coursework during fall and spring semesters.
- A minimum of 3 credits of proposal development is required; however, students may need more time to complete their candidacy exam and proposal development and may therefore need to take more credits of proposal development.
- Concurrent enrollment in proposal development credits and dissertation credits is not permitted.
- Full time status = 9 credits per semester; up to 9 dissertation credits may be taken in a single semester.
- Total required credit hours for the nursing PhD (post MSN) = 57 credits
| Fall - 1st Year | Spring - 1st Year | Summer - 1st Year |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 504: Nursing Knowledge Development (3) | NURS 533: Data Science (3) | Research Practicum |
| NURS 530: Research Methods I (3) | NURS 531: Research Methods II (3) | |
| NURS 532: Applied Statistics (3) | NURS 518: Qualitative Research in Health Care (3) |
| Fall - 2nd Year | Spring - 2nd Year | Summer - 2nd Year |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 524: Genomics (3) | Outside Elective (3) | NURS 671: Proposal Development (3) |
| NURS 615: Topical Seminar (3) | NURS 631: Multivariate Analysis (3) | |
| NURS 630: Linear Models (3) | NURS 609 Health Policy (3) |
| Fall - 3rd Year | Spring - 3rd Year |
|---|---|
| NURS 701: Dissertation (9) | NURS 701: Dissertation (9) |
| Fall - 1st Year | Spring - 1st Year | Summer - 1st Year |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 518: Qualitative Research in Health Care (3) | Research Practicum | |
| NURS 532: Applied Statistics (3) | ||
| NURS 533: Data Science (3) |
| Fall - 2nd Year | Spring - 2nd Year | Summer - 2nd Year |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 504: Nursing Knowledge Development (3) | NURS 531: Research Methods I (3) | Research Practicum |
| NURS 530: Research Methods I (3) | NURS 609: Health Policy (3) | |
| NURS 630: Linear Models (3) | NURS 631: Multivariate Analysis (3) |
| Fall - 3rd Year | Spring - 3rd Year | Summer - 3rd Year |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 524: Genomics (3) | NURS 671: Proposal Development (3) | NURS 701: Dissertation (6) |
| NURS 615: Topical Seminar (3) | ||
| Outside Elective (3) |
| Fall - 4th Year | Spring - 4th Year | Summer - 4th Year |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 701: Dissertation (6) | NURS 701: Dissertation (6) |
Fast-Track Curriculum
If you have a BSN or equivalent, you can pursue the PhD degree without earning an MSN. Learn More about Our Entry Options.
- A minimum of 3 credits of proposal development is required; however, students may need more time to complete their candidacy exam and proposal development and may therefore need to take more credits of proposal development.
- Concurrent enrollment in proposal development credits and dissertation credits is not permitted.
- Full time status = 9 credits per semester; up to 9 dissertation credits may be taken in a single semester.
- Total required credit hours for the nursing PhD (post BSN or equivalent) = 63 credits
- BSN/MN to PhD Transition Course Waiver Form
| Fall - 1st Year | Spring - 1st Year | Summer - 1st Year |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 504: Nursing Knowledge Development (3) | NURS 507: Clinical Problems / MSN Course (3) | |
| NURS 530: Research Methods I (3) | NURS 518: Qualitative Research in Health Care (3) | |
| NURS 532: Applied Statistics (3) | NURS 531: Research Methods II (3) |
| Fall - 2nd Year | Spring - 2nd Year | Summer - 2nd Year |
|---|---|---|
|
NURS 508: Context of Care / MSN Course (3) |
NURS 533: Data Science (3) | Research Practicum |
| NURS 524: Genomics (3) | NURS 609: Health Policy (3) | |
| NURS 630: Linear Models (3) | NURS 631: Multivariate Analysis (3) |
| Fall - 3rd Year | Spring - 3rd Year | Summer - 3rd Year |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 615: Topical Seminar (3) | NURS 701: Dissertation (9) | |
| NURS 671: Proposal Development (3) | ||
| Outside Elective (3) |
| Fall - 4th Year | Spring - 4th Year | Summer - 4th Year |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 701: Dissertation (9) |
| Fall - 1st Year | Spring - 1st Year | Summer - 1st Year |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 507: Clinical Problems / MSN Course (3) | Research Practicum | |
| NURS 518: Qualitative Research in Health Care (3) | ||
| NURS 532: Applied Statistics (3) |
| Fall - 2nd Year | Spring - 2nd Year | Summer - 2nd Year |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 504: Nursing Knowledge Development (3) | NURS 508: Context of Care / MSN Course (3) | Research Practicum |
| NURS 530: Research Methods I (3) | NURS 531: Research Methods II (3) | |
| NURS 630: Linear Models (3) | NURS 631: Multivariate Analysis (3) |
| Fall - 3rd Year | Spring - 3rd Year | Summer - 3rd Year |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 524: Genomics (3) | NURS 533: Data Science (3) | |
| NURS 609: Health Policy (3) | NURS 671: Proposal Development (3) | |
| NURS 615: Topical Seminar (3) | Outside Elective (3) |
| Fall - 4th Year | Spring - 4th Year | Summer - 4th Year |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 701: Dissertation (9) | NURS 701: Dissertation (9) |
Dual DNP/PhD Program Plan
Notes:
- Courses designated by NURS are courses within the PhD in nursing program
- Courses designated by NUND are courses within the DNP program
- 240 hour research practicum is required for PhD program – can be taken any time before NURS 671
- At least one NURS 615 course is required
Overlapping Courses:
- Applied stats (3 credits) is cross-listed
- Health Policy (3 credits) is cross listed
- DNP Practice-focused inquiry (NUND 541) is replaced by PhD Research Methods (NURS 530 and NURS 531)
- DNP proposal development is replaced by PhD proposal development (NURS 671) – students complete a two-part proposal to meet requirements for both a scholarly project and the dissertation; the scholarly project is viewed as a stepping stone toward the dissertation.
Sample plan coming soon pending updates.
PhD Program Plan (Post DNP)
If you have a DNP and would like to enter the PhD program, you may be eligible for advanced standing.
Interested students should note that entry is only available starting in the Fall semester of each academic year.
Equivalent courses in health policy and applied statistics may be transferred in if certain requirements are met.
| Fall - 1st Year | Spring - 1st Year | Summer - 1st Year |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 504: Nursing Knowledge Development (3) | NURS 518: Qualitative Research in Health Care (3) | **Research Practicum |
| NURS 530: Research Methods I (3) | NURS 531: Research Methods II (3) | |
| NURS 630: Linear Models (3) | NURS 631: Multivariate Analysis (3) |
| Fall - 2nd Year | Spring - 2nd Year | Summer - 2nd Year |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 524: Genomics (3) | NURS 533: Data Science (3) | NURS 701: Dissertation (6) |
| NURS 615: Topical Seminar (3) | NURS 671: Proposal Development (3) | |
| Outside Elective (3) |
| Fall - 3rd Year | Spring - 3rd Year | Summer - 3rd Year |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 701: Dissertation (6) | NURS 701: Dissertation (6) |
**Research practicum hours can also be taken all year round during the first two years of course work, but must be completed before proposal development and dissertation.
Part-Time PhD Program
For more information on the part-time PhD program, see the PhD Entry Options page.
| Summer - Year 1 | Fall - Year 1 | Spring - Year 1 |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 532: Applied Statistics (3) | NURS 504: Nursing Knowledge Development (3) | NURS 518: Qualitative Research in Healthcare (3) |
| NURS 530: Research Methods I (3) | NURS 531: Research Methods II (3) |
| Summer - Year 2 | Fall Year 2 | Spring Year 2 |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 609: Health Policy (3) | NURS 524: Genomics (3) | NURS 533: Data Science (3) |
| Research Practicum | NURS 630: Linear Models (3) | NURS 631: Multivariate Analysis (3) |
| Summer - Year 3 | Fall - Year 3 | Spring Year 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Research Practicum | NURS 615: Topic Seminar (3) | NURS 671: Proposal Development (3) |
| Outside Elective (3) |
| Summer - Year 4 | Fall - Year 4 | Spring - Year 4 |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 701: Dissertation (6) | NURS 701: Dissertation (6) | NURS 701: Dissertation (6) |