Nursing, Ph.D.
The Ph.D. in Nursing requires 57 credit hours. Up to 15 credits may be transferred into the program.
Please refer to the enrollment requirements for all graduate nursing students.
For information regarding deadlines and requirements for admission, please see the Guide to Graduate Admissions.
The Associate Dean for Academic Programs reviews the credentials of each applicant in collaboration with faculty from each specialty area. Exceptions to the requirements can be made on the recommendation of the faculty. The Associate Dean for Academic Programs forwards the admission recommendation to the Vice Provost for Graduate Education who makes the final decision.
Applicants must have the following credentials:
- Current unrestricted licensure as a registered nurse in one of the fifty states or validated credentials by CGFNS for international applicants. Residents of North Carolina must hold unrestricted North Carolina licensure as a registered nurse.
- Master’s degree in nursing from a school accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency.
- In addition to the application materials required by The Graduate School, applicants must submit a 300-word statement of research goals in doctoral program related to promotion of optimal health for ethnic minorities, women, children, or older adults.
- Selected applicants must participate in an interview with Graduate Nursing Faculty.
- Please refer to the preceding enrollment requirements for all graduate nursing students.
Degree Program Requirements
Required: 57 credit hours
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses (18 credits) | ||
| NUR 710 | Philosophy of Knowledge Development in Nursing | 3 |
| NUR 712 | Theory Analysis in Nursing Science | 3 |
| NUR 741 | Nurse Scientists in Academia and Industry I | 3 |
| NUR 781 | Health Promotion Models and Interventions | 3 |
| NUR 782 | Health Disparities and Outcomes | 3 |
| NUR 783 | Advanced Health Policy and Ethics | 3 |
| Research Methodology and Statistics (15 credits) | ||
| NUR 701 | Statistical Applications for Nursing Research | 3 |
| NUR 702 | Statistical Applications for Nursing Research II | 3 |
| NUR 703 | Qualitative Methods for Nursing | 3 |
| NUR 704 | Quantitative Research in Nursing | 3 |
| NUR 707 | Measurement in Nursing and Healthcare Research | 3 |
| Directed Research (3 credits) | ||
| NUR 790 | Directed Research | 3 |
| Cognates (6 credits) | ||
| Select 6 credits of cognate courses | 6 | |
| Electives (3 credits) | ||
| NUR 742 | Nurse Scientists in Academia and Industry II | 3 |
| Dissertation (12-18 credits) | ||
| NUR 799 | Dissertation | 12-18 |
| Total Credit Hours | 57 | |
Required Withdrawal for Ph.D. Students
Students will become academically ineligible to continue if any of the following occur:
- Grades of U, F, or WF for any credit hours.
- Grades of C, C+, or B-in 6 credit hours.
- Degree requirements not completed within the time limit (7 academic years).
Required Milestones*
- Residency (Immersion)
- Plan of Study
- Preliminary Exams
- Research Competency
- Comprehensive Exam (Written & Oral)
- Dissertation Proposal
- Admission to Candidacy
- Dissertation Defense
- Filing the Final Approved Dissertation
| * | General information about milestones for doctoral programs is available in Section III of the Graduate Policies page in the University Catalog. For information about how milestones are accomplished for a specific program, please refer to the doctoral program's handbook. |