A graduate of the doctoral program in nursing will be prepared to:
1. evaluate the theoretical, philosophical, and historical concepts of
nursing and examine critically the multiple dimensions of contemporary
research;
2. design and test theoretical explanations about phenomena of concern to nursing;
3. design, conduct, and evaluate original research;
4. provide leadership in creating and disseminating new knowledge;
5. collaborate effectively with scholars in the scientific and professional communities.
The Ph.D. curriculum requires 59 credits beyond the master`s degree. Of
that total, 14 to 17 credits must come in nursing courses, which
include 12 credits in theory development and research and 2 credits in
contemporary issues in nursing. A student may take 3 additional credits
in a special topics course in nursing that is related to his or her
research interest.
Another 18 to 21 credits are required in
the following areas: research methodology, statistics, and cognate
courses. Finally, the Graduate School-Newark requires students to take
a minimum of 24 credits in research toward the degree and follow all
other policies of GS-N.
In addition to the 59 credits of study, students seeking the doctorate must:
1. take a qualifying examination for admission to candidacy. This
examination is given after a student has completed 26:705: 678 Theory
Development and Research in Nursing II and the major portion of the
course requirements;
2. submit a dissertation proposal;
3. complete a dissertation that is based on original research in a significant aspect of nursing;
4. make an oral defense of the dissertation.
The faculty believes that theory development and theory testing are
integral parts of the research process. Therefore, students entering
the doctoral study program are expected to have passed a master`s-level
course in nursing theory and nursing research and have completed
successfully a basic statistics course before they enroll in the
nursing sequence. As an initial course or before admission, the student
also must complete successfully 26:705:570 Management of Health Data.
The credits for this course do not count toward the Ph.D. credit
requirements. Students can get a waiver on this course requirement by
passing an equivalency test offered by the College of Nursing.
Each student should work with his or her chairperson to map out the
number of credits he or she will take for dissertation research. In the
early stages of their dissertation work, students should take no more
than 6 credits per term of dissertation research.
Time Limit. Requirements for the Ph.D. degree must be completed within eight years.
Admission
The requirements for admission to the Ph.D. program are:
1. a baccalaureate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program,
2. a master`s degree with a major in nursing from a nationally accredited program,
3. a cumulative graduate grade-point average of at least 3.2 (where A = 4.0),
4. GRE scores (verbal, quantitative, and analytical and/or writing abilities) taken within five years of admission,
5. a personal interview (a telephone interview, when appropriate, may be arranged),
6. submission of the following materials:
a. current registered nurse licensure,
b. an essay describing the applicant`s goals for doctoral study and career goals relative to nursing research,
c. curriculum vitae,
d. two scholarly papers of which the applicant is sole author,
e. three letters of reference from professional sources that support
the applicant`s ability to succeed in the doctoral program. Two of
these letters must come from nurse academicians,
f. two official transcripts of all previous college work,
g. completed application form in duplicate.
