Academic Plan of Study and Requirements Purpose and Objectives of PhD Program
Purpose and Objectives of PhD Program
The PhD Program in Nursing aims to prepare faculty scholars, health care policy advocates, and clinical innovators who are highly capable and driven to engage in research and scholarly activities that enhance the health of individuals, families, and communities, increase the effectiveness of health care systems, and further the translation of research into practice.
The PhD program in Nursing at CON provides the foundation for the preparation of nurse scientists who develop and utilize knowledge in many roles, including:
- Research Investigator
- Educator
- Administrator
- Clinician
- Health care policy advocate
PhD preparation in Nursing promotes knowledge development, organization, and application of theory and evidence-based scholarly nursing practice. PhD students’ program of study, including their dissertation research, will be congruent with the
expertise of one or more faculty members with a focus on health equity promotion in diverse populations. Working closely with their faculty mentors, students will gain experiences that promote socialization to the role of research scientist and acquisition of knowledge and skills for launching a successful program of independent research.
PhD Competencies
PhD students are expected to master a set of core competencies designed to prepare them for meeting the terminal objectives established for the PhD program. These expected outcomes and the core curricular elements are consistent with The Research-Focused Doctoral Program in Nursing: Pathways to Excellence (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2022).
Table 1. Expected Outcomes and Curricular Elements of PhD Programs in Nursing
| Role Domain | Expected Outcomes | Core Curricular Elements |
|---|---|---|
| I) Develop the Science | • Master in-depth knowledge in a substantive area • Appreciate the history and philosophy of science • Understand the evolving nature of the nursing discipline • Critique and integrate different science perspectives in the conduct of research • Generate new ideas based on a critical evaluation of existing knowledge • Conduct original research • Utilize professional and research ethics and judgment in the conduct of research • Assume leadership in the conduct of culturally competent scholarship to improve nursing practice • Communicate research findings to lay and professional audiences and identify implications for policy, nursing practice, and the profession |
• Sufficient formal and informal learning experiences to build scientific depth in an identified area of study • History and philosophies of science • Scientific methods, including team science • Advanced research design and statistical methods • Research ethics • Data, information and knowledge management, processing, and analysis • Ways of knowing and habits of the mind • Concepts and components of scholarship • Mentored research experiences, including interdisciplinary mentors • Preparation of research grants and manuscripts for publication • Structured/guided clinical or practice experiences as needed to inform one’s area of science and its application |
| II) Steward the Discipline | • Integrate the components of scholarship: research, teaching, mentoring, and service to the profession • Communicate scholarship including peer-refereed publications and presentations for professional, interdisciplinary audiences • Understand the evolving roles and responsibilities of a nurse scholar • Integrate the components of scholarship: research, teaching, mentoring, and service to the profession |
• Theoretical/scientific underpinnings of nursing and other disciplines • Practice knowledge that informs nursing science and its application • Culture of nursing and practice environments • Strategies to influence health policy • Professional values • Scholarly writing • Leadership related to health policy and professional issues |
The desired Expected Outcomes of all PhD Graduates in Nursing include the effective verbal articulation of knowledge and its application; knowledge of research methodology; comprehensive knowledge of general literature in the selected areas for study; a critical, analytic approach to the areas for study; knowledge of the relationship of relevant basic and social sciences to the selected areas for study; the ability to synthesize theory and research; and identification of areas of needed investigation and appropriate use of research methodology to address these questions. These outcomes will be evaluated through a PhD General Examination and defense of the dissertation.
Overview of the PhD Program Curriculum
The PhD curriculum builds upon the content of the CON master’s degree in science with a nursing major. Transfers of master's degrees from other accredited institutions must be approved by both the PhD Program's Graduate Advisory Committee and the Graduate College. Depending upon the specific master’s track selected, an OUCN master’s graduate will have completed 32 to 50 credit hours. Admission to the PhD program will be limited to applicants with either a baccalaureate or master’s degree in nursing. No more than 44 hours of master’s level credit can count toward completion of the PhD.
Required Courses
Three domains of coursework comprise the required courses for the OU PhD program with a nursing major. These domains and the approximate number of courses include: Nursing Science Core (5), Research Methods Core (8), and substantive focus area (3+, varies). OU dissertation requirements must also be met. Research content is integrated into the majority of the PhD nursing courses. Courses taken in the focus area may be established courses, Special Studies in Nursing Science (N6990) courses, NEXus courses or non-Nursing courses offered in a specific area of a student’s research focus. For example, such courses could include topics related to physiology, psychology, nutrition, in-depth analysis of content related to a faculty’s clinical expertise, or education.
PhD Curriculum in Nursing
For course descriptions, visit the OUHSC Graduate Course Catalog at: http://apps.ouhsc.edu/studentinfo/Courses.aspx?College=NURS
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing Science Core (5 courses) | ||
| NURS 6101 | Responsible Conduct of Research | 1 |
| NURS 6103 | Philosophy of Science and Ways of Knowing | 3 |
| NURS 6153 | Foundations of Scientific Inquiry | 3 |
| NURS 6302 | Advancing Health Equity in Diverse Populations | 2 |
| NURS 6513 | Translational Science for Practice | 3 |
| Research Methods Core (8 courses) | ||
| NURS 6113 | Quantitative Methods in Research | 3 |
| NURS 6213 | Qualitative Methods in Research | 3 |
| NURS 6313 | Research Measurement and Instrumentation | 3 |
| NURS 6123 | Applied Statistics I | 3 |
| NURS 6223 | Applied Statistics II | 3 |
| NURS 6402 | Community Engagement in Research with Diverse Populations | 2 |
| NURS 6300 | Research Practicum (must take a minimum of 6 credits) | 6 |
| NURS 6502 | Prospectus Seminar | 2 |
| Substantive Focus Area (3+ courses, variable) | ||
| Cognates: Coursework in the content, context, or methodology supporting the student's program of study. | 6 | |
| Select one of the following: 1 | 3 | |
| Special Focus in Applied Statistics: | ||
| Special Focus in Qualitative Methods | ||
| Electives that can be used as one of the 9 credit hours of supporting substantive coursework: | ||
| Directed Readings in Nursing Science: | ||
| Special Studies in Nursing Science: | ||
| Dissertation | ||
| NURS 6980 | Dissertation Research (enroll in following admission to candidacy, 12 credit hours minimum) | 12 |
| Total Hours | 58 | |
- 1
Students conducting a quantitative dissertation must complete Special Focus in Quantitative Methods; those conducting qualitative dissertations must complete Special Focus in Qualitative Methods.
Total Graduate College post-baccalaureate hours required for PhD inclusive of transfer hours from prior Masters degree and/or graduate courses taken during the PhD program: 90
Minimum Credits Required
The minimum required number of semester hours for the PhD degree, combining both formal graduate level courses and hours of dissertation research hours is 90 (also referred to as post-baccalaureate hours). This includes hours transferred in from a prior master’s degree. [Graduate College Bulletin, Section 4.1]
Transfer Credits
The acceptance of transfer credit from another institution for a PhD degree at OUHSC is determined in accordance with the following criteria [Graduate College Bulletin, 4.6.1]:
- A maximum of 44 semester hours from individual graduate level courses and/or a completed master’s degree may be applied toward a PhD degree. Exceptions can be made for additional non-OU coursework taken by electronic media, following enrollment in an OUHSC PhD program.
The coursework transferred must represent valid graduate credit earned in graduate level courses from an accredited college or university. - The credit must carry a grade of A, B, or S.
- The credit must be applicable to the degree program.
- Individual courses applied must not be more than six years old at the time of admission to the degree program. In special cases, credit more than six years old may be transferred if recommended and validated by the department and approved by the Graduate Dean. The departmental procedures to validate the student's current knowledge and competency must have the approval of the Graduate Dean.
- A completed master's degree, all of which is to be used, may be applied toward a PhD degree regardless of age, if approved by the department/program and the Graduate Dean. The total number of credit hours transferred toward the PhD degree cannot exceed 44 semester hours. (Please note: Graduate College Bulletin, 4.6.3, clarifies that “no more than 23 credit hours [transfer credit and resident credit] applied toward a doctoral degree can be more than nine years old at the time of graduation for students entering with a master’s degree”.)
- Credit from a professional degree program such as the M.D., D.D.S., or D.V.M. degree maybe applied toward a graduate degree as transfer credit, provided that such courses carry a grade of A, B, or S and have been approved for graduate credit by the academic institution of origin.
- Graduate coursework completed in PhD granting departments at the University of Oklahoma Norman Campus will be considered as residence credit, and upon approval of the department and the Graduate Dean, may be used without limitation as credit toward a PhD degree.
- Credit hours previously counted for one PhD degree may not be applied toward a second PhD degree. No more than six hours of transfer thesis research credit from a completed master's degree may be applied toward a PhD degree.
- Credit by correspondence or by advanced standing examination will not apply toward a graduate degree.
- Graduate coursework taken in Tulsa from the University of Oklahoma is not considered transfer credit. OSU Tulsa consists of five cooperating universities that provide undergraduate and graduate level courses as well as some degree programs. Credit taken from the other cooperating universities through OSU Tulsa is considered transfer work and must comply with the transfer policies.
- All transfer coursework must be approved by the department [by the Graduate Advisory Committee for Nursing] and by the Graduate Dean. Departments with transfer rules more stringent than those listed in this section have specified them in the departmental section of the bulletin. These more stringent rules take precedence over the general rules described in this section Substitution and Transfer of Coursework
Students who have taken coursework at another institution that is similar to one or more of the required CON courses may request that the courses be reviewed for substitution and transfer credit. The CON Graduate Advisory Committee is responsible for determining the transfer and substitution of non-CON coursework to the CON PhD program. Students who have taken doctoral level coursework at another institution may request evaluation of the course as a substitute for a required CON course.
Steps for Processing Course Transfer and Substitution
- Once admitted to the CON PhD Program, the student may petition the Graduate Advisory Committee to accept a course for transfer AND substitution for a required CON course.
- The petitioner secures the necessary form and returns it to the PhD Program Office. The application must be complete in order to have the petition considered (completed form for each course along with a copy of the course syllabus).
- The PhD Program Director will review the petition and request a faculty member who is familiar with the CON course and/or is a content expert review the syllabus from the proposed substitute course. The faculty member will provide the PhD Program Director with a written memo documenting his/her review and recommendation to accept or reject the course as a substitute.
- The Graduate Advisory Committee will meet and review the petition and the faculty member’s recommendation and make the final decision. For individual courses there is a time limit imposed per Graduate College Policy [Graduate College Bulletin, Section 4.6.1].
- If the petition is denied, the PhD Program Director informs the petitioner and notes the applicant’s file as appropriate with a copy to Student Affairs.
- If the petition is approved, the PhD Program Director informs the petitioner, and Student Affairs.
- During the first year of study, the transfer and substitution will be documented on the “Report of the Doctoral Advisory Conference” and submitted for Graduate College approval.
NEXus (Nursing Education Xchange Collaborative)
The University of Oklahoma College of Nursing is a member of NEXus (The Nursing Education Xchange). NEXus is collaboration between participating doctoral programs in nursing that allows doctoral students enrolled at member colleges and universities to take courses that may not be offered at his/her home institution for a common price. Our NEXus liaison, Maurissa Trujillo, Campus Staff Coordinator, facilitates the registration and transcription of these courses from partner institutions. You can view currently available courses in the Course Catalog at NEXus.
To learn more about the CON policies and procedures including registration deadlines, enrollment procedures, and transcript requests, please consult the OU CON website at: http://nursing.ouhsc.edu/Programs-Academics/PhD#937755350-nexus
Nursing PhD Courses and Prerequisites
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing Science Core | ||
| NURS 6101 | Responsible Conduct of Research | 1 |
| NURS 6103 | Philosophy of Science and Ways of Knowing 1 | 3 |
| NURS 6153 | Foundations of Scientific Inquiry 1 | 3 |
| NURS 6302 | Advancing Health Equity in Diverse Populations 2 | 2 |
| NURS 6513 | Translational Science for Practice 3 | 3 |
| Research Methods Core | ||
| NURS 6113 | Quantitative Methods in Research 4 | 3 |
| NURS 6213 | Qualitative Methods in Research 5 | 3 |
| NURS 6313 | Research Measurement and Instrumentation 6 | 3 |
| NURS 6123 | Applied Statistics I 7 | 3 |
| NURS 6223 | Applied Statistics II 8 | 3 |
| NURS 6402 | Community Engagement in Research with Diverse Populations 9 | 2 |
| NURS 6300 | Research Practicum (minimum of 6 cr required/may take 1-6 cr per semester) 10 | 6 |
| NURS 6502 | Prospectus Seminar 11 | 2 |
| Substantive Focus Area (need minimum of 9 credits of cognates) | ||
| NURS 6323 | Special Focus in Applied Statistics: 12 | 3 |
| NURS 6423 | Special Focus in Qualitative Methods 13 | 3 |
| NURS 6990 | Special Studies in Nursing Science: 14 | 1-4 |
| NURS 6980 | Dissertation Research (12 cr minimum) 15 | 2-21 |
| Total Hours | 46-68 | |
- 1
Prerequisites: Graduate Standing
- 2
Prerequisites: Permission of instructor and acceptance into doctoral program
- 3
Prerequisites: Enrollment in PhD or DNP program or permission of instructor
- 4
Prerequisites: Basic Stats Course
- 5
Prerequisites: NURS 6103 Philosophy of Science and Ways of Knowing
- 6
Prerequisites: 3 credit stats course and NURS 6103 Philosophy of Science and Ways of Knowing
- 7
Prerequisites: Intro or Basic Stats Course, admission to PhD or DNP program or permission of instructor
- 8
Prerequisites: NURS 6123 Applied Statistics I or permission or instructor
- 9
Prerequisites: NURS 6302 Advancing Health Equity in Diverse Populations or permission of instructor
- 10
Prerequisites: Permission of faculty member
- 11
Prerequisites: Last semester of coursework
- 12
Prerequisites: NURS 6123 Applied Statistics I and NURS 6223 Applied Statistics II or two equivalent stats courses
- 13
Prerequisites: NURS 6213 Qualitative Methods in Research or permission of instructor
- 14
Prerequisites: Permission of instructor
- 15
Prerequisites: Candidacy and all required coursework must be completed. Only students who have completed the General Examination and have been admitted to candidacy may enroll in NURS 6980 Dissertation Research
Plan of Study
It is anticipated that full-time students entering with a MS or MSN degree in Nursing will take three to five years to complete the program. Coursework can be completed in two years of full-time study. [See Graduate Bulletin, 4.6.3]
- A doctoral student who enters with a bachelor's degree is expected to pass the departmental General Examination within five calendar years of the student's first graduate enrollment in the department.
- A student who enters with a master's degree is expected to pass the departmental General Examination within four calendar years of the student's first graduate enrollment in the department.
A doctoral candidate is normally expected to complete all the degree requirements within five years after admission to candidacy.
The BSN-to-PhD track is also offered to encourage nurses wishing to conduct research in an academic environment to go directly into a PhD program and emerge at an earlier age and stage in their careers.
The program was developed with a logical progression to conceptualize a program of research. The research coursework encompasses describing the existing science surrounding a problem, identifying a testable research question, testing instruments or analyses, and developing a coherent proposal.
Combining both formal coursework and hours of dissertation research, the minimum required number of semester hours for the PhD degree is 90 post-baccalaureate hours. A minimum of 12 credits is required for dissertation research.
PhD Nursing Curriculum Block Schedule
Pink offered every year, green-practicum, blank-individualized semester credit hours (SCH)
Full Time
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| NURS 6101 | Responsible Conduct of Research | 1 |
| NURS 6103 | Philosophy of Science and Ways of Knowing | 3 |
| NURS 6153 | Foundations of Scientific Inquiry | 3 |
| NURS 6123 | Applied Statistics I | 3 |
| Hours | 10 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| NURS 6113 | Quantitative Methods in Research | 3 |
| NURS 6313 | Research Measurement and Instrumentation | 3 |
| NURS 6223 | Applied Statistics II | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| NURS 6302 | Advancing Health Equity in Diverse Populations | 2 |
| NURS 6402 | Community Engagement in Research with Diverse Populations | 2 |
| NURS 6300 | Research Practicum | 3 |
| Hours | 7 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| NURS 6213 | Qualitative Methods in Research | 3 |
| Cognate | 3 | |
| Cognate | 3 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| NURS 6513 | Translational Science for Practice | 3 |
| Cognate | 3 | |
| NURS 6300 | Research Practicum | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| NURS 6502 | Prospectus Seminar | 2 |
| Hours | 2 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| NURS 6980 | Dissertation Research | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| NURS 6980 | Dissertation Research | 2 |
| Hours | 2 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| NURS 6980 | Dissertation Research | 2 |
| Hours | 2 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| NURS 6980 | Dissertation Research | 2 |
| Hours | 2 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| NURS 6980 | Dissertation Research | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 58 | |
Part Time
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| NURS 6101 | Responsible Conduct of Research | 1 |
| NURS 6103 | Philosophy of Science and Ways of Knowing | 3 |
| NURS 6153 | Foundations of Scientific Inquiry | 3 |
| Hours | 7 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| NURS 6113 | Quantitative Methods in Research | 3 |
| NURS 6313 | Research Measurement and Instrumentation | 3 |
| NURS 6300 | Research Practicum | 2 |
| Hours | 8 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| NURS 6302 | Advancing Health Equity in Diverse Populations | 2 |
| NURS 6402 | Community Engagement in Research with Diverse Populations | 2 |
| Hours | 4 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| NURS 6213 | Qualitative Methods in Research | 3 |
| NURS 6123 | Applied Statistics I | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| NURS 6513 | Translational Science for Practice | 3 |
| NURS 6223 | Applied Statistics II | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| NURS 6300 | Research Practicum | 4 |
| Hours | 4 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Cognate | 3 | |
| Cognate | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| NURS 6502 | Prospectus Seminar | 2 |
| Cognate | 3 | |
| Hours | 5 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| NURS 6980 | Dissertation Research | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| NURS 6980 | Dissertation Research | 2 |
| Hours | 2 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| NURS 6980 | Dissertation Research | 2 |
| Hours | 2 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| NURS 6980 | Dissertation Research | 2 |
| Hours | 2 | |
| Year 5 | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| NURS 6980 | Dissertation Research | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 58 | |