PhD in Nursing Science
The School of Nursing Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing Science program prepares researchers and academic faculty for positions in college, university, and health care settings. Graduates are prepared to advance the art and science of nursing and to assume leadership positions in the profession. They will take responsibility for shaping and advancing healthcare, with a goal of improving individual, family and population health through the integration of theory, research, and evidence-based practice. The PhD in Nursing Science program emphasizes specific areas of study in which nursing makes a significant contribution to health. These areas are defined by the research expertise of faculty in the context of interdisciplinary resources available at the University of Delaware and Delaware Health Sciences Alliance campuses and the local, national, and international communities. Graduates are prepared to collaborate with other scientists and health professionals to contribute to the development of knowledge. The breadth of focus of the PhD in Nursing Science curriculum ranges from nursing research in the bio-behavioral sciences to health services and nursing education.
Core Courses (16 credits):
- NURS 801: Research and Writing for the Interdisciplinary Scientist (3)
- NURS 810: Philosophical and Theoretical Basis of Nursing Science (3)
- NURS 843: Policy and Finance for Healthcare Delivery (3)
- NURS 849: Philosophy, Theory & Curriculum in Nursing Education (3)
- NURS 870: Writing for Dissemination (2)
- NURS 891: Teaching Practicum (3)
Research/Methods/Analysis Courses (19 credits):
Statistics from BHAN, EDUC, PSYCH, SOC, STAT (6) NURS 812: Responsible Conduct of Research (1)
NURS 814: Advanced Quantitative Research in Nursing Science (3) NURS 816: Advanced Qualitative Research in Nursing Science (3)
NURS 892 Research Practicum (3)
Research Methodology Course (3) (offered by other departments, relevant to student’s research focus
Cognate Electives (6-9 credits)**
Post-BSN Bridge Coursework (9 credits):
For BSN to PhD students, the following three bridge courses are taken in the first year of the program:
- NURS 813 Leadership & Innovation in Population Health (3 credits)
- NURS 844 Population Healthcare Informatics (3 credits)
- NURS 881 Population Health I (3 credits)
Dissertation (9 credits)
**Students entering post-BSN will take 9 credits; post-MSN students will take 6 credits.
Due to a College of Health Sciences Dean’s Scholarship, the student tuition rate is lower than the published UD graduate tuition rate. The final tuition rate for all students in the PhD in Nursing Science program is $1,116/credit. Please contact the department for more information.
- Competitive graduate assistantships
- Area of study defined by applicant’s fit with research expertise of Nursing and interdisciplinary faculty
- School of Nursing areas of research emphasis:
- Aging / Healthy Aging
- Symptom Science / Self-Management
- Health Services
- Interdisciplinary resources at UD
- Only PhD in Nursing Science program in the State of Delaware
- Individualized attention in small cohort of students
- Our faculty are recognized experts in their areas of interdisciplinary research
- Immersion in the research process through assistantships on funded studies
- Full-time study allows completion in three to four years
- Students may enter with post-BSN or with post-MSN degree
PhD in Nursing Science admission requirements originate at two levels: The University and the School of Nursing. The University-level requirements may be found in the Graduate Admissions section. Students will be admitted to the program based on enrollment availability, identification of an appropriate and available committee advisor, and their ability to meet the following minimum recommended entrance requirements:
- A baccalaureate in nursing degree from an accredited college/university (minimum GPA 3.0).
- Official results from the TOEFL or IELTS exam taken within the last 2 years (for non-native English speaking applicants only); it is required that all students in the program be proficient in both the verbal and written English language.
- A written statement of goals and objectives (the personal statement) that clearly identifies the applicant’s research and curriculum interests and describes how admission to the program will facilitate their professional objectives. The statement should indicate how the applicant’s research interest is consistent with the research expertise of a SON faculty member.
- Three letters of recommendation from an academic, employer, and/or other professional sources who can address the scholarship potential of the applicant.
- Active United States Registered Nurse (RN) license.
- A curriculum vitae or resume.
- Demonstrated competence in oral and written communication. A critical writing sample is required. This sample should demonstrate the student’s ability to critique and synthesize the literature on a specific topic related to their dissertation area of interest.
- Knowledge of statistics; completion of a master’s level statistics course in the past five years is recommended.
- An interview with the SON graduate faculty and/or Director of Graduate Programs.
Those applicants who meet the stated minimum academic requirements for admission are not guaranteed admission, nor are those applicants who fail to meet those minimum requirements necessarily precluded from admission if they offer other appropriate strengths.
Q: Can I work full-time and take classes in the PhD in Nursing Science program part-time, on course at a time?
A: Part-time enrollment options are available. Programs of study will be tailored to meet individual student situations. However, UD’s PhD in Nursing Science Program requires one year of full time study during the period of earning a PhD. All requirements of the program through dissertation defense must be completed within 10-14 semesters per University policy. See question and answer below about maximum time to complete the Ph.D.
Q: If I am accepted into the PhD in Nursing Sciences Program as a full-time students can I continue to work part-time in my position outside of UD?
A: Students who are funded and are employed as graduate assistants may seek approval from the UD Graduate College and provide a rationale for their request including evidence that their graduate studies will progress as indicated in their plan of study. Priority is given to employment associated with development as a researcher.
Q: What financial support is available to . me as a full-time or part-time student in UD’s PhD program?
A: Students accepted into the PhD in Nursing Science Program may be offered graduate assistantships that will pay a stipend in exchange for working 20 hours per week as a research assistant or a teaching assistant. See the UD Graduate College website for guidelines and Graduate Funding Policy with stipend rates for the current academic year.
Q: What is the research focus of UD’s PhD program?
A: Research foci of doctoral students must fit within one of the three broad research foci of the School of Nursing and compliment the program of research of one of the School of Nursing faculty who will serve as the doctoral student advisor/mentor. The three areas are:
- Aging / Healthy Aging
- Community Based Research / Health Disparities
- Symptom Science / Self Management
Please visit our website for more information about our research program, a description of selected funded nursing studies and profiles of individual School of Nursing faculty.
Q: How long will it take me to complete the PhD Program?
A: Students enrolled full time can complete course work within two years, after which students must pass a comprehensive exam, and defend a proposal comprised of the first three chapters of their dissertation research. Depending on the timeframe of these requirements and the nature and complexity of the dissertation research the PhD program can be completed within three to four years. Time to completion for part time students will depend upon the customized plan of study determined at time of admission but must meet the UD requirement of 10-14 semesters.
Q: Can the PhD in Nursing Science program be completed online?
A: UD’s PhD in Nursing Science Program is a hybrid delivery method. PhD level nursing courses are offered online, either in synchronous or asynchronous format. Statistics, cognate and methodology elective courses are offered by departments outside the College of Health Sciences and may or may not be offered online.
Q: What is the maximum allotted time for completing the PhD in Nursing Science Program?
A:Students are expected to complete the program 10-14 semesters, when entering with a Master's degree or BSN, respectively, University policy.
Q: Are applicants to the PhD program required to be nurses?
A: Yes; a copy of a current registered nurse license must be uploaded as “other documents” in the application
Q: Do you admit nurses with a BSN only to UD’s PhD program?
A: Yes, you can enter as a BSN prepared nurse.
Q: Are GRE’s required for admission into the PhD in Nursing Science program?
A: No. Effective for Fall 2016 admissions, GREs are no longer required.
Q: What kind of jobs, positions and opportunities are available for PhD nurses?
A: There is a severe shortage of PhD nurses. Of the more than 3 million nurses in the United States less than 1% is PhD-prepared and most of the PhD prepared nurses are working in academic institutions. The Future of Nursing report (2011) by the Institute of Medicine recommends a doubling of the number of nurses with doctorates by 2020. Consequently, PhD nurses are needed to fill roles in:
- Academia (e.g., clinical and research faculty),
- Acute care (e.g., research facilitators, project directors, administrators, data managers),
- Community/public health (e.g., administrator, population-based projects),
- Pharmaceutical industry (e.g., research and development, managing drug trials),
- Biomedical industry (e.g., testing new mechanisms, interventions and inventions),
- Non-profits (e.g., advisory and trustee boards), and
- Government sectors (e.g., advisor/consultant at state or federal agencies, elected roles).
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program and post graduate APRN certificate program at the University of Delaware are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
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