Sample Plan of Study 2
The following plan of study option is based on four (4) courses per semester. Each student’s program of study will be determined in conjunction with the student’s academic advisor.
Year 1:
Fall
Concentration Course 1 |
Concentration courses are intended to support the dissertation. These courses may be in a particular content areas (e.g. genetics, health disparities) that are related to the planned dissertation, or methods courses teaching specific approaches (e.g. clinical trial design). Courses may be taken in nursing or a different discipline at the University. The student should discuss possible content and methods courses with their advisors and search for courses that support the dissertation topic. |
NURS7500 |
This course introduces students to the process of intellectual inquiry. It explores the intellectual foundations of scholarly disciplines in general and the discipline of nursing in particular. Emphasis is placed on the process of knowledge development, with particular emphasis on historical, philosophical, positivist, and gendered and phenomenological ways of knowing. Emphasis is also placed on having students develop their particular intellectual approach to disciplinary inquiry and on formulating ideas for publications and presentations. |
NURS8130 |
Study of selected qualitative paradigm empirical research approaches, including design and methodology. Critique of selected qualitative research reports from the literature of nursing and related disciplines. Fieldwork exercise and research proposal required. |
Statistics Course 1 |
Choose one of the following:
|
Spring
Concentration Course 2 |
Concentration courses are intended to support the dissertation. These courses may be in a particular content areas (e.g. genetics, health disparities) that are related to the planned dissertation, or methods courses teaching specific approaches (e.g. clinical trial design). Courses may be taken in nursing or a different discipline at the University. The student should discuss possible content and methods courses with their advisors and search for courses that support the dissertation topic. |
NURS7530 |
A consideration of contemporary nursing research as it pertains to the current state of the art and directions for future study. Advanced analysis of methodology, assumptions, and theoretical structures that underpin the work. |
NURS7540 |
This one semester survey course provides an overview of quantitative clinical research design and methods. Ethical and legal considerations in human subjects research, access to patient populations, sampling designs and power analysis, experimental and non-experimental designs, measurement of variables, data collection techniques, and data management are included. This course is intended for doctoral students in the health sciences. |
Statistics Course 2 |
Choose one of the following:
|
Year 2:
Fall
Concentration Course 3 |
Concentration courses are intended to support the dissertation. These courses may be in a particular content areas (e.g. genetics, health disparities) that are related to the planned dissertation, or methods courses teaching specific approaches (e.g. clinical trial design). Courses may be taken in nursing or a different discipline at the University. The student should discuss possible content and methods courses with their advisors and search for courses that support the dissertation topic. |
Concentration Course 4 |
Concentration courses are intended to support the dissertation. These courses may be in a particular content areas (e.g. genetics, health disparities) that are related to the planned dissertation, or methods courses teaching specific approaches (e.g. clinical trial design). Courses may be taken in nursing or a different discipline at the University. The student should discuss possible content and methods courses with their advisors and search for courses that support the dissertation topic. |
Concentration Course 5 |
Concentration courses are intended to support the dissertation. These courses may be in a particular content areas (e.g. genetics, health disparities) that are related to the planned dissertation, or methods courses teaching specific approaches (e.g. clinical trial design). Courses may be taken in nursing or a different discipline at the University. The student should discuss possible content and methods courses with their advisors and search for courses that support the dissertation topic. |
Defend Qualifying Exam |
Students must complete the Qualifying Examination. Typically a full-time student will defend the Qualifying Exam in the fall semester of the second year. The Qualifying Examination determines the student’s potential for completing doctoral study. Successful completion of the examination signifies the student’s potential and the faculty’s commitment to provide scholarly resources needed to complete continuing course work and the dissertation. |
Spring*
Candidacy Exam |
The purpose of the Candidacy Exam, also referred to as the dissertation proposal defense, is to demonstrate an understanding of knowledge in the concentration area that supports the student’s dissertation research. The preparation for the exam occurs under the guidance of the Dissertation Committee. |
NURS8000 |
Advanced study and research in nursing leading to the completion of the dissertation proposal. |
NURS8900 |
The purpose of this required one semester teaching residency is to enhance the expertise of students in the role of educator. The residency will be tailored to the student’s individual learning needs. At the minimum, students with no or minimal prior teaching experience will gain a beginning level of expertise in course planning, course evaluation, dealing with difficult student situations, test construction, paper assignment construction and grading, content delivery methods, as well as other aspects of the faculty teaching role. Students with more extensive teaching experience will tailor their residences with their residency supervisor to enhance their expertise in these various areas. |
NURS8970 |
The purpose of this required one semester research residency is to enhance student research training early in the doctoral program by providing a mentored research experience. The residency is designed to be a tailored hands-on experience to provide students with exposure and the opportunity to participate in one or more aspects of an on-going research project. Research residencies are experiential activities designed to meet the student’s individual learning needs. At the minimum, students with no or minimal prior research experience will gain a beginning level of experience on a variety of components of an ongoing research project. Students with more extensive research experience will tailor their residences with their residency supervisor to enhance their expertise in these various areas. |
Year 3:
Fall
NURS9950 |
Once the student has completed all course requirements, they will be registered for NURS 995: Dissertation Status. Dissertation status carries full-time registration status, and will be rostered in each semester until the dissertation defense. |
Spring
NURS9950 |
Once the student has completed all course requirements, they will be registered for NURS 995: Dissertation Status. Dissertation status carries full-time registration status, and will be rostered in each semester until the dissertation defense. |
*NURS 8900 and 8970 may be completed at any time prior to graduation, but registration may occur in a different semester to ensure the student has full-time registration status.
Students who entered the PhD program in Fall 2018 or earlier should refer to the PhD Student Handbook for sample plans of study.