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 their 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)
The final requirement for the PhD degree in nursing is submission of an acceptable dissertation. The dissertation will be a report of an original, independent research project completed by the student and approved by the doctoral committee. During the process of writing the dissertation, students must register for a minimum of 3 credits of NURS 998 - Doctoral Dissertation Proposal and at least 9 credits of NURS 999 - Doctoral Dissertation . The following steps must be followed to complete this requirement:
Advancement to Candidacy
The student must complete all course work, pass the qualifying exam, and advance to candidacy for the doctoral degree. The assistant dean, doctoral division of the School of Nursing, will approve the student’s program of study and recommend advancement to candidacy to the director of the School of Nursing, who will render final approval for candidacy.
Dissertation Committee
With the advice of the assistant dean, doctoral division of the School of Nursing, and approval of the director of the School of Nursing, the student will choose a dissertation committee, composed of at least 3 members of the graduate faculty, who will direct the dissertation research. The committee will be composed of a chair from the School of Nursing, a second member from the SON, and the third member from a Mason school or department other than the SON.
Dissertation Proposal
The student will enroll in 3 credits of NURS 998 - Doctoral Dissertation Proposal , and, in consultation with the dissertation committee, write an acceptable dissertation proposal. If an acceptable proposal cannot be completed within the semester the student is registered for the course, the student may enroll for one additional regular 3-credit offering of NURS 998 , or she/he may continue working on the proposal under the direction of the committee, registering for at least one credit of NURS 998 each semester until the proposal is approved.
- Credits: 1-9
Students must enroll for 3 credits the first time NURS 998 is taken.
Doctoral Dissertation
Once the student’s dissertation committee has approved the proposal, the student may begin registering for NURS 999 . Registration normally will be for 3 credits per semester and must be continuous until the dissertation is completed and approved by the committee. The student must have registered for no fewer than 9 credits of NURS 999 in order to be granted the PhD degree, but there is no upper limit on the number of such credits that may be earned.
Final Oral Exam
After the dissertation committee gives preliminary approval to the dissertation, the chair will petition the assistant dean, doctoral division of the School of Nursing, to schedule a final oral exam, which includes a defense of the dissertation. At the close of the final oral exam, the committee makes a final judgment regarding approval of the dissertation and completion of the PhD degree requirements.
Additional Requirements
The student, with the approval of the assistant dean, doctoral division of the School of Nursing, must apply for graduation and submit the completed dissertation to the University Library by the appropriate deadlines.
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