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Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Program (MSN-PhD)

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 MSN-PhD program of study requires a minimum of 70 quarter hours of post-master's 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 in the fall quarter and come to the Rush campus for their first Learning Intensive Visit (LIV). Campus visits are each summer term thereafter. Students must have completed a minimum of 4quarter/3semester hours of graduate statistics prior to the beginning of the fall 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 - Fall start 2008
Credit Theory Courses
3 NRS 601 Understanding Scientific Paradigms
3 NRS 602 Developing a Conceptual Understanding of Clinical Phenomena
2 NRS 603 Integrating Models for Framework Development
Subtotal 8 credit hours
Credit Statistics 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 that includes experience with a SPSS or a comparable statistical package.
Subtotal 8 credit hours
Credit Research Courses
4 NRS 671 The Research Process: Multi-Method Perspectives
3 NRS 672 The Research Process: Quantitative Design
3 NRS 673 The Research Process: Quantitative Methods
3 NRS 674 The Research Process: Qualitative Design
3 NRS 675 The Research Process: Qualitative Methods
Subtotal 16 credit hours
Credit Role Courses
2 NRS 604 Developing Professional Writing Skills
3 NRS 661 Developing a Leadership Plan
3 NRS 662 Examining Core Leadership Competencies
2 NRS 689 Developing Grantsmanship Skills I
2 NRS 690 Developing Grantsmanship Skills II
Subtotal 12 credit hours
Credit Ethics Course
2 NRS 605 Ethical Conduct in Research Settings
Subtotal 2 credit hours
Credit Clinical Inquiry Residency
12 NRS 691 Advanced Clinical Research Practicum (ACRP)
Subtotal 12 credit hours
Teaching Practicum
6 credit hours (Required for students with no prior teaching experience)
Cognates
12 credit hours
Dissertation
12 credit hours
Total Minimum Credit Hours (exclusive of dissertation) = 70-76

Annual campus visits are in the first fall term of matriculation and each summer term thereafter.

Fall 2008 Campus Visit: September 15-19, 2008

Summer 2009 Campus Visit: June 22-26, 2009

Full-time Program of Study
Year Fall Winter Spring Summer
1 3 NRS 601
 3 NRS 602
 2 NRS 603
3 NRS 674
  4 NRS 671 3 NRS 672 3 NRS 673 2 NRS 605
  2 NRS 604 2 NRS 689 2 NRS 690 4 NUR 586*
Total 9 credit hours 8 credit hours 7 credit hours 9 credit hours
2 3  NRS 675  
4 NRS 691
4 NRS 691
4 NRS 691
  3 NRS 661
 3 NRS 662
 3 Teaching Pract.
 3 Teaching Pract.
  3 Cognate 2 Cognate 4 Cognate 3 Cognate
Total 9 credit hours 9 credit hours 8-11 credit hours 7-10 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 to NUR 586: 4 quarter hours or 3 semester hours of graduate level statistics.

Part-time Program of Study
Year Fall Winter Spring Summer
1 3 NRS 601
 3 NRS 602
 2 NRS 603
3 NRS 674
  4 NRS 671
 3 NRS 672
3 NRS 673
4 NUR 586*
Total 7 credit hours 6 credit hours 5 credit hours 7 credit hours
2 3  NRS 675  
2 NRS 689
2 NRS 690
2 NRS 605
  2 NRS 604
 4 Cognate
 4 Cognate
 4 Cognate
Total 5 credit hours 6 credit hours 6 credit hours 6 credit hours
3 3 NRS 661 3 NRS 662
 3 NRS 691 
3 NRS 691
  3 NRS 691 
3 NRS 691  3 Teaching Pract. 3 Teaching Pract.
Total 6 credit hours 6 credit hours 3-6 credit hours 3-6 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 to NUR 586: 4 quarter hours or 3 semester hours of graduate level statistics.

Click here to access the PhD program of study for students enrolled prior to the fall of 2008.

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