MSN-PhD Joint Degree Program

Degree Awarded: Joint MSN-PHD (MSNPHD)
Minimum Required Credits: 66.0
Co-op Option: None
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 51.3801
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 29-1141

About the Program

Students in the Joint MSN - PhD in Nursing program gain the knowledge, skills, and scholarly preparation needed to become independent nurse scientists, educators, and leaders in advancing health. Learners develop strong foundations in nursing theory, nursing education, leadership, research design, research methods, and the responsible conduct of research. Graduates learn to design, implement, and disseminate original research that addresses complex health challenges affecting individuals, families, communities, and health systems. Through coursework, practicums, and mentored research experiences, students build competencies in critical thinking, innovative curriculum design, scientific writing, grant development, data analysis, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The program prepares learners to generate new nursing knowledge using diverse approaches, including community-engaged inquiry, clinical and translational research, and analysis of large-scale health data. Graduates are prepared to launch independent programs of research and to seek extramural funding to support their scholarly goals.

Students learn through a mentorship-driven, research-intensive experience that emphasizes active engagement in real-world scholarship. Learners work closely with faculty mentors and interdisciplinary collaborators across Drexel University and in community and clinical settings. Signature experiences include participation in funded research projects, opportunities to publish and present scholarly work, and engagement in innovative approaches such as technology-enabled interventions, advanced analytics, and research that translates evidence into practice. Small seminar-style courses, collaborative learning environments, and access to Drexel’s research infrastructure support students in developing as independent investigators. Flexible pathways allow students to pursue full-time or part-time study in in-person or hybrid formats.

Graduates are prepared for diverse career and academic opportunities. Pathways include faculty positions in universities, research scientist roles in healthcare systems and research institutes, and leadership positions in government, nonprofit, and industry settings. The program also prepares students for postdoctoral training and advanced research careers. Alumni emerge as experts who shape evidence-based practice, influence health policy, and lead initiatives that improve health outcomes locally, nationally, and globally.

Drexel’s Joint MSN and PhD in Nursing program is distinguished by its interdisciplinary collaboration, experiential learning, and focus on real-world impact. Students engage with scholars across health sciences, public health, informatics, engineering, and behavioral sciences, gaining perspectives that extend beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries. Drexel’s experiential learning model ensures that master degree and doctoral education is closely connected to practice, education, leadership, innovation, and community partnership. With dedicated mentorship, cutting-edge resources, and a collaborative academic environment, Drexel prepares nurse scientists to lead meaningful change in health and health care.

Additional Information

For more information on this program, please contact the College of Nursing and Health Professions

Admission Requirements

Degree:
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
• BSN degrees must be from an institution accredited by CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education), ACEN (Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing) or NLN CNEA (NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation).

GPA of 3.25 or higher

Standardized Tests:
GRE scores (optional)

Transcripts:
• Official transcripts must be sent directly to Drexel from all the colleges/universities that you have attended. Transcripts must be submitted in a sealed envelope with the college/university seal over the flap. Please note that transcripts are required regardless of number of credits taken or if the credits were transferred to another school. An admission decision may be delayed if you do not send transcripts from all colleges/universities attended.
• Transcripts must show course-by-course grades and degree conferrals. If your school does not notate degree conferrals on the official transcripts, you must provide copies of any graduate or degree certificates.
• If your school issues only one transcript for life, you are required to have a course-by-course evaluation completed by an approved transcript evaluation agency

Prerequisites:
N/A

References:
Three letters of recommendation required. Letters must address your academic ability, professionalism, and practice competence from a person in a position to endorse you, specifically a professor, employer, or professional colleague. The reference may not be from a friend, family member or workplace/organizational peer or subordinate.
• You may use our electronic letter of recommendation service.
• If a recommender prefers to submit an original, hard copy letter, please remind them that it must include an ink signature and be submitted in a sealed envelope.

Personal Statement/ Essay:
That addresses the following items (word processed, approximately 1000 word-length)
• Introduce yourself and describe the personal attributes and experiences that will promote your success in Drexel University’s Joint MSN-PhD in Nursing program.
• Describe why you are interested in the Joint MSN-PhD in Nursing Program.
• Your potential research interest. Identify a potential faculty member in the Nursing PhD program with whom you would like to work and offer an explanation as to how your interests fit with the proposed faculty mentor’s research platform/trajectory.

Interview/Portfolio:
Interview required.

CV/Resume:
Required

Licenses:
Copy of any current license required.

Clinical/Work/Volunteer Experience:
While specific experience is not required, previous related work experience may make applicant more competitive.

International Students:
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. American citizens born on U.S. military bases abroad may be waived from the TOEFL requirement after providing documentation of this status. Otherwise, applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
If you take the TOEFLiBT exam, you must have:
• a minimum combined score for listening, writing, and reading sections of 79 plus a speaking section score of 26 or higher.
• a minimum score of 550 or higher and a Test of Spoken English score (TSE) of 55 or higher.

Degree Requirements

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NURS 8050 Research Apprenticeship is required for students not participating in a research fellowship.

Nursing Leadership Concentration

Nursing Education Concentration

Program Learning Outcomes

Apply advanced nursing knowledge to advance initiatives in education and/or leadership to improve healthcare outcomes, demonstrating critical thinking, collaboration, and effective leadership.

Model a professional nursing identity that reflects core values and integrates emotional intelligence.

Demonstrate behaviors fostering personal growth, lifelong learning, and continued leadership development.

Evaluate the use of healthcare technologies to support quality, efficient, and equitable healthcare.

Conduct rigorous and ethical research using qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods to advance nursing science and health outcomes, demonstrating methodological expertise and scientific integrity.

Design a coherent and sustained program of research grounded in nursing theory and interdisciplinary knowledge to address significant health challenges, demonstrating scholarly independence and innovation.

Analyze research findings to generate new knowledge and inform research, practice, education, and policy, demonstrating advanced analytic competence.

Disseminate scholarly findings through professional publications, presentations, and other knowledge translation strategies to inform diverse stakeholders, demonstrating effective scientific communication.

Demonstrate proficiency in grant development by preparing a competitive funding proposal, reflecting readiness to support independent programs of scholarship.

Collaborate effectively with diverse research partners to conduct inclusive and ethically responsible research, demonstrating professionalism, leadership, and commitment to equitable health improvement.