PhD in Nursing

Major: Nursing
Degree Awarded: Doctor of Philosophy
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 Science, a research-based program embedded in social justice, which aims to prepare nurse researchers to design, conduct and lead research studies as emerging nurse scientists. The objective of the PhD in Nursing is to prepare professional nurses as scholars and researchers who will make a substantive contribution to the body of knowledge for the discipline of nursing and thereby improve health services for those who receive nursing care. Graduates 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.

Students who have earned a master's degree in nursing are eligible to apply. In addition to structured coursework, the program builds upon a research mentorship model which recognizes that research skills are learned most effectively by working with a faculty mentor, who provides opportunities to use the tools to conduct research and design, and execute an original research within a focused program of study.

Innovation, leadership, civic engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration are strong educational values which are reflected in the Drexel University emerging strategic plan. The PhD in nursing program represents leadership in the fields, with interdisciplinary collaboration and critical consciousness 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.

The College of Nursing and Health Professions (CNHP), Graduate Nursing Division in which the Doctoral Nursing Program is housed, is regarded as a forward-thinking, progressive, and interdisciplinary healthcare school within the university as well as in the larger context of advanced healthcare education.

Additional Information

For more information, contact:

Anna Pohuly
College of Nursing and Health Professions
1601 Cherry Street, Mail Stop 10501
10th Floor, Room 1011
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Phone: 267-359-5872
ap469@drexel.edu

Admission Requirements

Applicants must possess a master’s degree in nursing for admission consideration. Criteria for admission include:

  • GPA of 3.5
  • GRE scores
  • OREs (and TOEFLs, if international)
  • Letters of recommendation (3)
  • Written essay that articulates research interests, career goals, scholarly aspirations, and insights into important issues in the profession 
  • Professional accomplishments as evidenced by a submitted vitae or resume
  • Fit with available faculty research interests and expertise
  • Personal interview

Degree Requirements

The student is required to successfully complete a Candidacy Examination, Dissertation Proposal Defense, and Final Dissertation defense in addition to the Program Requirements noted below. 

Required Courses
Nursing Courses
NURS 802Epistemology, Ontology, and the Philosophy of Nursing Science3.0
NURS 806Scientific Appraisal and Knowledge Development 3.0
NURS 819Qualitative Research Methods in Nursing Inquiry3.0
NURS 820The Science of Therapeutics3.0
NURS 863Mixed-Methods Research3.0
Research and Statistics Competencies
RCRG 600An Introduction to the Responsible Conduct of Research0.0
RSCH 700Foundations in Quantitative Research3.0
RSCH 720Foundations of Biostatistics3.0
RSCH 721Intermediate Statistics in Health I3.0
RSCH 722Intermediate Statistics in Health II3.0
RSCH 723Interpretation of Data3.0
Writing Competencies
Students are required to take both of the following:
RSCH 742Scientific Writing3.0
RSCH 743Grantsmanship3.0
Dissertation Research *
NURS 988Dissertation Proposal Development3.0
NURS 992Dissertation in Nursing Science *36.0-72.0
Research Apprenticeship
Research Apprenticeship **
Independent Study in Nursing ***
Electives 12.0
Research Elective ††3.0
Total Credits90.0-126.0
*

Students enroll in 9.0 credits of dissertation for no fewer than 3 quarters per academic year until successful dissertation defense except for international students who are required to enroll in 9.0 credits of dissertation for no fewer than 3 quarters per academic year until successful dissertation defense.

**

NURS 850 is required for all students with the exception of Research Fellows. International students are required to enroll in 3.0 credits of NURS 850 during summer quarter of Year 1 and Year 2. Non-international students who are not participating in research fellowships are required to enroll in NURS 850 for minimum of 3.0 credits in each of Year 1 and Year 2.  

***

International students will require 6.0 credits of independent study planned with the approval of the faculty advisor to provide research apprenticeship experiences during Year 1 and Year 2 summer quarters.

Courses within these ranges require advisor permission: CHP 600-899, PBHL 600-899, EPI 600-899, CIT 600-698, IPS 700-899, RSCH 600-899, NURS 550-899. 

††

Course selection for the research elective requires advisor approval and includes RSCH 600-RSCH 899.

Sample Plan of Study

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
NURS 8023.0RCRG 6000.0NURS 8063.0Vacation*
NURS 8193.0RSCH 7003.0RSCH 7223.0 
RSCH 7203.0RSCH 7213.0RSCH 7233.0 
 RSCH 7423.0  
 9 9 9 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
RSCH 7433.0NURS 8203.0NURS 9883.0Vacation*
Elective**3.0NURS 8633.0Elective**6.0 
Research Elective3.0Elective**3.0  
 9 9 9 0
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
NURS 992††9.0NURS 992††9.0NURS 992††9.0NURS 992††9.0
 9 9 9 9
Total Credits 90
*

NURS 850 is required for all students with the exception of Research Fellows. International students are required to enroll in 3.0 credits of NURS 850 during summer quarter of Year 1 and Year 2. Non-international students who are not participating in research fellowships are required to enroll in NURS 850 for minimum of 3.0 credits in each of Year 1 and Year 2.International students will require 6.0 credits of independent study planned with the approval of the faculty advisor to provide research apprenticeship experiences during Year 1 and Year 2 summer quarters.

**

Courses within these ranges require advisor permission: CHP 600-899, PBHL 600-899, EPI 600-899, CIT 600-698, IPS 700-899, RSCH 600-899, NURS 550-899. 

Course selection for the research elective requires advisor approval and includes RSCH 600-RSCH 899.

††

Students enroll in 9.0 credits of dissertation for no fewer than 3 quarters per academic year until successful dissertation defense. The actual number of credits required will vary dependent upon student's dissertation and research topic. Consult with dissertation advisor.

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