PhD in Nursing Curriculum

Required Courses

The PhD in Nursing consists of at least 40 semester credit hours of coursework beyond an MSN degree or 55 semester credit hours beyond a BSN degree plus dissertation credit hours. The core curriculum is reflected below. Equivalencies require prior approval by the program director. 

BSN-PhD & MSN-PhD Tracks:

PhD Coursework Requirements (Effective Fall 2024)

Course NumberCourse TitleCredit Hours
NURS 700Theoretical Basis of Nursing3
NURS 702Philosophy of Science3
NURS 710Qualitative Research Methods3
NURS 711Quantitative Research Methods3
NURS 712Nursing Measurement3
NURS 714Analysis of Existing Data3
NURS 715Designing Mixed Methods Research in Nursing and Healthcare3
NURS 725Analysis of Leadership and Health Policy3
NURS 735Socialization into the Role of Nurse Scientist1
NURS 736Dissemination of Research Findings1
NURS 737Grant Proposal Development1
NURS 738Responsible Conduct of Research1
XXXTwo Cognates6
LEAD 701Intermediate Applied Statistics3
LEAD 702Applied Multiple Regression3

Total Credit Hours

40

PLUS DISSERTATION HOURS

Total Credit Hours = 40

Additional Coursework Required for BSN to PhD Track 

Effective fall 2024, all BSN students must complete the following 15 semester hours of master's level courses.

Course NumbersCourse TitleCredit Hours
NURS 607Foundational Concepts of Evidence Based Practice3
NURS 657Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Culturally Diverse and Vulnerable Populations3
NURS 668Leadership in Curriculum Development, Implementation, & Evaluation3
NURS 743Epidemiology3
NURS 791

Applied Statistics for Evidence Based Practice

3

Additional Credit Hours

15

Total Credit Hours

55

PLUS DISSERTATION HOURS

MSN Applicants

Applicants accepted into the MSN-PhD program are strongly advised to have completed a three-credit masters-level statistics course (applied descriptive and inferential statistics) with a grade of B (3.0) or higher within five years before the date of enrollment. Applicants who wish to take a refresher course will be advised of available statistics courses to take prior to beginning PhD-level coursework in statistics.

DNP to PhD Track

PhD Coursework Requirements (Effective Fall 2024)

The PhD in Nursing consists of at least 31 semester credit hours of coursework beyond a DNP degree plus dissertation credit hours. Applicants accepted into the DNP-PhD program are strongly advised to have completed a three-credit masters-level statistics course (applied descriptive and inferential statistics) with a grade of B (3.0) or higher within five years before the date of enrollment. Applicants who wish to take a refresher course will be advised of available statistics courses to take prior to beginning PhD-level coursework in statistics.

Course Number

Course Title

Credit Hours

NURS 700

Theoretical Basis of Nursing

3

NURS 702

Philosophy of Science

3

NURS 710

Qualitative Research Methods

3

NURS 711

Quantitative Research Methods

3

NURS 712

Nursing Measurement

3

NURS 714

Analysis of Existing Data

3

NURS 715

Designing Mixed Methods Research in Nursing and Healthcare

3

NURS 735

Socialization into the Role of Nurse Scientist

1

NURS 736

Dissemination of Research Findings

1

NURS 737

Grant Proposal Development

1

NURS 738

Responsible Conduct of Research

1

LEAD 701Intermediate Applied Statistics3
LEAD 702Applied Multiple Regression3

Total Credit Hours

31

PLUS DISSERTATION HOURS