Nursing: MSN-PhD Joint Degree Program

Major: Nursing
Degrees Awarded: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 90.0
Co-op Option: None
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 51.3801
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 29-1141

About the Program

The College of Nursing and Health Professions (CNHP) offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing, a community-engaged, research-based program, that prepares emerging nurse scientists to promote health and health equity using a social justice lens. The objective of the joint MSN/PhD in Nursing is to prepare nurse scientists early in their professional career to ensure they have a longer trajectory upon which to make substantive and sustained contributions to the body of knowledge for the discipline of nursing and thereby improve health services for those who receive nursing care. Doctoral students are expected to plan and launch an independent program of research, seek needed support for initial phases of the research program and begin to involve others (i.e., students, clinicians and other researchers) in their activities.

This innovative program of study prepares the nurse generalist for a dual degree: the MSN in Public Health Nursing and the PhD. The program of study builds upon a research mentorship model, which recognizes that research skills are learned most effectively by working with a faculty advisor who provides opportunities to use the tools to conduct research, design and execute original research within a focused program of study.

Innovation, leadership and interdisciplinary collaboration are strong educational values that are reflected in the Drexel University strategic plan. The PhD in Nursing program represents leadership in the field, with interdisciplinary collaboration as core administrative and curricular values basic to its philosophy and epistemology. Innovation is also central to this doctoral program as evidenced in its curriculum and research philosophy.

Additional Information

For more information, contact:

Anna Pohuly, Executive Assistant; Nursing and Student Affairs
College of Nursing and Health Professions
60 N. 36th Street
Health Sciences Building, Room 11E49
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: 267-359-5872
ap469@drexel.edu

Admission Requirements

Criteria for admission include:

• GPA of 3.25.
• GRE scores (optional).
• International applicants, as well as immigrants to the United States and U.S. permanent residents whose native language is not English and who have not received a bachelor's degree or higher in the United States, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand or the United Kingdom must show proficiency in English speaking as well as listening, writing and reading. International applicants are required to demonstrate English language proficiency by submitting scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL minimum score: 100), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS minimum Overall Band Score: 7.0) or the Duolingo Test (Duolingo minimum score: 130) unless they meet the criteria for a waiver.)
• Letters of recommendation (3). Letters must address your academic ability, professionalism and practice competence from a person in a position to appraise you: specifically, a professor, employer or professional colleague. The reference may not be from a friend, family member or workplace/organizational peer or subordinate.
• Professional accomplishments as evidenced by a current submitted vitae or resume.
• Fit with available faculty research interests and expertise.
• Personal interview with a faculty member.

Applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree in nursing prior to enrollment. Applicants who have not yet earned a BSN degree and/or hold a license to practice professional nursing will be admitted provisionally and cannot matriculate in the program until the BSN and/or the RN license is obtained.

Degree Requirements

The Joint MSN/PhD in Nursing curriculum requires a minimum of 91.0 quarter credits of course work plus candidacy/qualifying examination, and dissertation completion. Of the 91.0 credits, 42.0 credits are required for completion of the MSN, and 49.0 credits for the PhD in Nursing as follows: 15 credits in nursing science; 15 credits in interdisciplinary research and statistics; 6 credits in scientific writing and grantsmanship; 9 credits in elective courses related to dissertation research and dissertation research (4.0 credits minimum).

Elective courses can be taken anywhere within the university but must be approved by the student’s advisor and the Doctoral Curriculum Committee in advance of taking these courses. The student files a plan of study outlining courses for completion of the MSN in the winter of the first year, and a plan of study outlining courses for completion of the PhD in the winter of the second year, which is approved by the Doctoral Curriculum Committee.

Program Requirements

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Electives can be any course with the prefix Nursing (NURS, NUPR), Interprofessional Studies (IPS), Complementary and Integrative Health (CIT), Community Health and Prevention (CHP), Biostatistics (BST), Environmental and Occupational Health (EOH), Epidemiology (EPI), or Health Management and Policy (HMP) with course number ranging from 500-699.

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International students enroll in 9.0 credits of dissertation for no fewer than 3 quarters per academic year until successful dissertation defense. Non-international students have the option to enroll, once all other required courses are completed, for fewer than full-time credits of dissertation (1.0- 4.0) until successful dissertation defense as reflected in the plan of study.

Writing-Intensive Course Requirement

A [WI], Writing Intensive, next to a graduate course in this catalog indicates that the graduate course is a writing intensive course. The graduate course is a required course in your curriculum.

Sample Plan of Study

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The student is required to successfully complete a Candidacy/Qualifying Examination during this term.

Nursing PhD Faculty

Emeritus Faculty