2014-2015 University Catalog 
  
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2014-2015 University Catalog

Nursing, PhD

Banner Code:  HH-PHD-NURS

Unit: School of Nursing 

The PhD in Nursing program builds on the MSN degree and requires a total of 78 credit hours of work (a minimum of 48 credit hours beyond the master’s). The objective of the program is to prepare nursing scholars who will pursue intellectual inquiry and conduct research for the purpose of extending knowledge to contribute to the health of all populations. Graduates of the program conduct independent and collaborative research, advance nursing science, and provide leadership to the nursing profession.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet the admissions standards and application requirements specified in the Admissions  section of the catalog and apply using the online Application for Graduate Admission. Nursing PhD applicants must hold a master’s degree in nursing from an accredited program equivalent to 30 credits or a master’s degree in a related health field with a baccalaureate degree in nursing. The application process is competitive, and applications are considered for the fall semester only. For application deadlines and detailed application requirements, please refer to the CHHS Admissions website.

Reduction of Credit

Students must have a master’s degree before being admitted to the PhD in Nursing program. Up to 30 hours of relevant graduate credit may be awarded for past master’s-level courses, and students will complete the minimum of 48 additional credits following the curriculum below.

Transfer of Credit

Students may transfer a maximum of 9 credits into the PhD in Nursing program from graduate courses taken at other institutions or taken at Mason in non-degree status, including courses offered through the college’s Academic Outreach program. Transfer credit is governed by university transfer of graduate credit policy  and the university requirements for doctoral degrees , and transfer credit must be approved by the assistant dean of the doctoral division and by the dean. Students who enroll initially through non-degree studies or the Academic Outreach program should seek course advising through the department and should submit their application to the PhD program as soon as possible after beginning in their study in non-degree status.

Program Requirements

To complete the PhD in nursing, students must:

  • Complete the program of study outlined in the PhD curriculum.
  • Pass a written doctoral candidacy comprehensive exam after completing all PhD credit requirements, except NURS 998  and NURS 999  .
  • Pass the final oral dissertation defense and submit a doctoral dissertation approved by the doctoral dissertation committee, the Assistant Dean of the doctoral program, and the Director of the School of Nursing. (The dissertation is submitted in the approved format to University Libraries and the director of the doctoral program.)
  • Complete application material for graduation in accordance with prevailing Mason policies.

Time Requirements

Students must complete all requirements for the PhD in nursing within 9 calendar years from the time of first enrollment as a doctoral student in the program or with provisional status. PhD students are expected to progress steadily toward their degree and to complete all course work and the written exam in order to advance to candidacy within no more than 6 years.

Degree Requirements

The PhD in Nursing program offers an individualized area of concentration (minimum 48 credits) based on the student’s interests and career goals. A student develops his/her program of research through required course work, selection of supporting electives, independent studies, and dissertation research.

▲ Concentration in Individualized Study (INDV)

Scientific Base/Research Core (27 credits)

Cognate Courses (9 credits)

Students must complete a cohesive set of existing doctoral-level university cognate courses designed with their advisor and program director to contribute to the student’s program of research. Examples may include course work in areas such as: women’s health, sleep symptoms in aging populations, mental health issues post-traumatic brain injury, depression in diverse populations, maternal and child health, preventive care, quality indicators, nursing administration, research methodologies, and biostatistics. These are just suggested areas and not intended to be collectively exhaustive.

Dissertation (minimum 12 credits combined)

Before advancing to candidacy and enrolling for dissertation credit (12 credits), students must have their program of study approved by the Assistant Dean of the doctoral program.

Advancement to Candidacy

After students have completed all required course work and the qualifying exam, the director of the School of Nursing approves advancement to candidacy.

Dissertation Proposal

The proposal must focus on a research topic in nursing or health care and be approved by the doctoral dissertation committee, the Assistant Dean of the doctoral program, and the Director of the School of Nursing. The dissertation proposal and dissertation must be consistent with the guidelines outlined in Mason’s Guide for Preparing Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Projects.

Doctoral Dissertation

Before enrolling for dissertation credit, the student must have advanced to candidacy. The completed dissertation must be approved by the doctoral dissertation committee, the Assistant Dean of the doctoral program, and the Director of the School of Nursing.

Final Oral Doctoral Exam

The doctoral dissertation committee chair, on preliminary approval of the doctoral dissertation by the committee, petitions the Assistant Dean of the doctoral program in the School of Nursing to schedule the final oral doctoral exam, which includes a defense of the doctoral dissertation. The final oral exam also demonstrates the candidate’s intellectual command and maturity of judgment in the area of emphasis chosen by the candidate and approved by the dissertation committee. At the close of the final oral exam, the committee makes a final judgment regarding approval of the doctoral dissertation and completion of PhD degree requirements.

Concentration Total: 48 credits

Total: 78 credits