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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing Program

Merit Scholarship Opportunity - $20,000 for Qualified Candidates

Admission Guidelines

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing graduate is prepared as a nurse scientist with the investigative skills of a researcher and the clinical and leadership skills necessary to influence the health care system.

Online but Hands On
The PhD program has been developed so that students maintain continuous online progress throughout the year and focus on discourse, debate and integration of ideas through yearly campus visits. Students benefit from innovative teaching and mentoring strategies, multiple methods of curriculum delivery matched to course objectives and a faculty comittment to prepare students for a career in clinical research and academia.

Program Requirements
The PhD program of study requires a minimum of 125 quarter hours of postbaccalaureate study plus the completion of a clinical defense and dissertation. The curriculum is designed to enhance the quest for knowledge essential for professional nursing practice. It combines core courses in research, theory and role development with cognate and supporting courses in the area of the student’s research. Clinical practical arrangements are individually tailored to the student’s area of interest. Under the guidance of the faculty advisor, practica may be completed within the Rush network or at other approved sites. The PhD program allows completion of program requirements through online coursework and yearly campus visits either on a full (three year) or part-time (four year) basis. Students are expected to progress through the program with their cohort group, adhering to the outlined program of study. Students do have the option of completing cognate requirements either at Rush or at other colleges or universities during the academic year. Please note, students in the PhD program will need internet access.

Students begin their matriculation spring quarter as a classified student, in order to complete the statistics requirement (NUR 586, Multivariate Statistics). Students must have completed a minimum of 8 quarter/6 semester hours of graduate statistics prior to the beginning of the summer quarter. If a student has previously taken a course equivalent to NUR 586, a grade of "B" or better is necessary for acceptance as a transfer course. If transfer credit is given, students begin matriculation in the summer quarter.

It is important that students address in their application essay the following questions/issues: 1) Why have you chosen to pursue a research doctorate? How does this fit with your career plans? 2) Describe a research area in which you are interested. What researchable question(s) would you be interested in answering about this topic? Tell us about the literature you have read that supports the need for scholarly inquiry in this area. 3) Please comment on your qualifications and readiness for doctoral study.

PhD Program of Study - Spring start
Credit	Theory Courses
4	NUR 601A*/B Theory Development
3	* NUR 681 Theoretical Frameworks for Research
Subtotal 7 credit hours
Credit	Research Courses
4	NUR 510 Biostatistics (prereq. to NUR 586)
4	NUR 586 Introduction to Multivariate Statistics
Equivalent statistics courses may be transferred in for NUR 510 & NUR 586. The program requires a minimum of 8 quarter hours of transfer credit.
6	NUR 671*/672 Research Design and Methods I & II
1	HHV 505 Ethics in Research (or equivalent)
3	NUR 675 Qualitative Methods
2	NUR 674 Nursing Outcomes Research
3	NUR 665A/B/C Research Seminars
3	* NUR 676 Issues in Clinical Research
Subtotal 26 credit hours
Credit	Role Courses
1	NUR 661 PhD Seminar
1	NUR 662 PhD Seminar
2	NUR 663 PhD Seminar
3	NUR 689 A/B/C Research Grantsmanship
Subtotal 7 credit hours
Credit	Clinical Inquiry Residency
12	NUR 691 Clinical Scholarship
3	* NUR 692 Clinical Defense
Subtotal 15 credit hours
Cognates
16 credit hours
Dissertation
12 credit hours

* Campus visit.

Part-time Program of Study
Year	Summer	Fall	Winter	Spring
1**	2 NUR 601A	2 NUR 601B	2 NUR 674	3 NUR 681
	3 NUR 671**	3 NUR 672	3 Cognate	3 NUR 675
Total	5 credit hours	5 credit hours	5 credit hours	6 credit hours
2	1 NUR 661	1 HHV 505	1 NUR 662	3 NUR 676
	1 NUR 689A	1 NUR 689B	1 NUR 689C	3 Cognate
	4 Cognate	3 Cognate	3 Cognate
Total	6 credit hours	5 credit hours	5 credit hours	6 credit hours
3	4 NUR 691	3 NUR 691	5 NUR 691	3 NUR 692
	1 NUR 665A	2 NUR 663	1 NUR 665C
		1 NUR 665B
Total	5 credit hours	6 credit hours	6 credit hours	3 credit hours
4	3 NUR 699	3 NUR 699	3 NUR 699	3 NUR 699
Total	3 credit hours	3 credit hours	3 credit hours	3 credit hours

Cognate courses may be taken at Rush or other appropriate institutions. This is planned with your academic advisor.
** Prerequisite: 8 quarter hours or 6 semester hours of graduate level statistics. Students may need to register for the Spring prior to the first Summer term for NUR 586, Mutivariate Statistics, in order to complete the statistics requirement.

Full-time Program of Study
Year	Summer	Fall	Winter	Spring
1**	2 NUR 601A	2 NUR 601B	2 NUR 674	3 NUR 681
	3 NUR 671**	3 NUR 672	6 Cognates	3 NUR 675
	1 NUR 661	1 HHV 505	1 NUR 662	3 NUR 676
		3 Cognate
Total	6 credit hours	9 credit hours	9 credit hours	9 credit hours
2	4 NUR 691	5 NUR 691	3 NUR 691	3 NUR 692
	1 NUR 689A	1 NUR 689B	1 NUR 689C
	1 NUR 665A	2 NUR 663	1 NUR 665C
	3 Cognate	1 NUR 665B	4 Cognate
Total	9 credit hours	9 credit hours	9 credit hours	3 credit hours
3	3 NUR 699	3 NUR 699	3 NUR 699	3 NUR 699
Total	3 credit hours	3 credit hours	3 credit hours	3 credit hours

Cognate courses may be taken at Rush or other appropriate institutions. This is planned with your academic advisor.
** Prerequisite: 8 quarter hours or 6 semester hours of graduate level statistics. Students may need to register the Spring prior to the first Summer term for NUR 586, Mutivariate Statistics, in order to complete the statistics requirement.