College of Nursing and Health Science
Nursing, Ph.D.
The Ph.D. program in nursing builds on the M.S.N. degree and requires 60 credits
beyond the master's degree. The objective of the program is to prepare nurses
for executive roles in selected areas of nursing and health care. The graduate
of the Ph.D. program in nursing will do the following:
1. Exemplify administrative and leadership characteristics essential
to assuming executive roles
2. Conduct and support research in nursing and health care ethics,
health care administration, and health policy
3. Influence the formation and implementation of public policy
in health care through analysis of sociocultural, economic, fiscal, political,
ethical, and governmental processes
Admission Requirements
In addition to fulfilling the admission requirements for graduate degree status,
the applicant must have earned a master's degree from an accredited program and
have a minimum GPA of 3.250 on a 4.000 scale in the master's program. The applicant
must submit evidence of at least one year of professional nursing experience,
and Miller Analogies Test (MAT) scores, along with evidence of current licensure
to practice professional nursing. (Students on foreign student visas must present
evidence of professional standing in their respective countries.) Three letters
of recommendation are required from professional or academic sources. At least
two of the references must be from persons in contact with the applicant within
the last two years. An interview with one or more persons on the Graduate Admissions
Committee and a short essay describing the applicant's doctoral study goals also
are required. A graduate bivariate statistics and organizational behavior course
must be completed before enrollment.
The Graduate Admissions Committee may offer provisional admission to a degree-seeking
applicant even though all admission requirements for degree status have not been
met if there is sufficient evidence to suggest capacity to pursue graduate work.
Students admitted provisionally must resolve all deficits and be moved to degree
status by completing 12 credits of doctoral-level courses.
Degree Requirements
In addition to meeting graduate admission requirements, students must satisfy
the specific Ph.D. degree requirements. To earn the Ph.D. degree at George Mason
University, the doctoral candidate must have earned a minimum of 90 graduate credits
beyond the baccalaureate degree and a minimum of 60 graduate credits beyond the
master's degree. A minimum of 48 graduate credits after admission to degree status
in the Ph.D. program at George Mason University is required, 36 of which must
have been earned at George Mason University. The candidate may apply a maximum
of 12 graduate transfer credits toward the Ph.D. degree but may only present graduate
credits with satisfactory grades that meet the requirements of the Ph.D. curriculum.
A written comprehensive examination must be successfully completed in addition
to the program of study outlined in the curriculum for the Ph.D. in nursing program.
Successful completion of a dissertation, for which 9 credits are awarded but to
which no grade is assigned, and the final oral doctoral examination are required.
A graduate course in which a grade of C or below is earned may be repeated
only once. Graduate students (both master's and doctoral students) may repeat
no more than two courses in the total program of study.
Program of Study
The curriculum of the Ph.D. program in nursing includes the nursing core (26
credits), research core (22 credits), and nursing and related discipline electives
(12 credits). Before advancing to candidacy and enrolling for dissertation credit,
the student must have his/her program of study approved by the College of Nursing
and Health Science and by the coordinator of the doctoral program in the College
of Nursing and Health Science.
Internship in Health Care Administration/Policy/Ethics
Students are required to enroll in a one-semester internship, NURS 874 Internship
in Health Care Administration/Policy/Ethics (5 credits), which includes planned
seminars, for experiential learning in health care administration. For the internship,
a student is assigned to a doctorally prepared executive who serves as the preceptor
in the student's field of emphasis.
A field experience of at least 150 hours is required and NURS 874 Internship
is scheduled at the end of the course sequence in the program of study.
Advancement to Candidacy
After a student has successfully completed the qualifying examinations and
all required course work, the coordinator of the doctoral program of the College
of Nursing and Health Science approves advancement to candidacy.
Doctoral Dissertation Committee
The Doctoral Dissertation Committee is composed of at least three George Mason
University faculty members: a director and reader in nursing, and a reader from
outside nursing. The Doctoral Dissertation Committee must be approved by the dean
of the College of Nursing and Health Science. Additional members of the George
Mason University faculty or individuals from outside the university who present
credentials equivalent to criteria for faculty may join the committee at the discretion
of the committee and with the approval of the dean of the College of Nursing and
Health Science.
Doctoral Dissertation Proposal
The proposal must focus on a topic in nursing and must be approved by the Doctoral
Dissertation Committee, doctoral program coordinator, and College of Nursing and
Health Science dean. The dissertation proposal and written dissertation must be
consistent with the guidelines of the university outlined in Guide for Preparing
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Projects.
Doctoral Dissertation
Before enrolling for dissertation credit, the student must have advanced to
candidacy. The student also must have an approved program of study and an approved
doctoral dissertation proposal. The student's completed dissertation must be approved
by the Doctoral Dissertation Committee, doctoral program coordinator, and College
of Nursing and Health Science dean.
Final Oral Doctoral Examination
The chair of the Doctoral Dissertation Committee, upon preliminary approval
of the doctoral dissertation by the committee, petitions the doctoral program
coordinator in the College of Nursing and Health Science to schedule the final
oral doctoral examination, which includes a defense of the doctoral dissertation.
The final oral doctoral examination also demonstrates the candidate's intellectual
command and maturity of judgment in the area of emphasis chosen by the candidate
and approved by the Doctoral Dissertation Committee. At the close of the final
oral doctoral examination, the Doctoral Dissertation Committee makes a final judgment
regarding approval of the doctoral dissertation and successful completion of the
Ph.D. degree requirements. As outlined in the Guide for Preparing Graduate Theses,
Dissertations, and Projects, copies of the approved doctoral dissertation must
be submitted to the doctoral program coordinator.
Time Requirements
The student must complete all planned course work, excluding electives, and
must advance to candidacy within six years of admission to degree or provisional
status in the Ph.D. program. The student must successfully complete the doctoral
dissertation, final oral doctoral examination, and all Ph.D. degree requirements
within five years following the semester of advancement to candidacy.
Continuing Professional Development
Continuing nursing education is a commitment of the College of Nursing and
Health Science and the university. Activities are planned to meet the special
needs of individuals and groups in the community. The College of Nursing and Health
Science offers opportunities for credit and noncredit courses. Contract courses
are offered in a variety of health care agencies in the Northern Virginia area.
These credits can be applied to a program of study in nursing.
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