PhD - BSN to PhD Curriculum
This program is designed for students who hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and want to directly pursue a PhD. With a strong emphasis on research, the BSN to PhD program prepares graduates for academic and leadership roles in nursing.
The curriculum features two core areas, research and statistics, and a section dedicated to personalized scientific inquiry. Condensed and detailed versions of the curriculum are available below.
Nursing - BSN to PhD Track, PhD
Curriculum
Students are expected to enroll full-time.
The BSN to PhD Track consists of a minimum of 72 credits (cr.):
- 22 cr. from the Research Core
- 9 cr. from the Statistics Core
- 41 cr. for Personalized Scientific Inquiry (PSI) courses (PSI consists of 12 cr. Dissertation, 6 cr. Apprenticeship Practicum, and 23 cr. additional PSI credits, which foster knowledge and skills in the students research focus area and are chosen by the student in conjunction with the academic advisor.)
Fall Term (YR 1)
OR
-
NUR 3112 - APPLIED PARAMETRIC AND NON-PARAMETRIC STATISTICS FOR THE HEALTH SCIENCES 1
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Personalized Scientific Inquiry: Professional Development (2 cr)
Spring Term (YR 1)
OR
Summer Term (YR 1)
OR
-
Personalized Scientific Inquiry: (2 cr)
Fall Term (YR 2)
-
Personalized Scientific Inquiry: Intensive Methods (2 cr)
-
Personalized Scientific Inquiry: Content Expertise (2 cr)
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Personalized Scientific Inquiry: Content Expertise (2 cr)
Spring Term (YR 2)
-
Personalized Scientific Inquiry: Intensive Methods (2 cr)
-
Personalized Scientific Inquiry: Content Expertise (2 cr)
-
Personalized Scientific Inquiry: Advanced Statistics (2 cr)
Summer Term (YR 2)
-
Personalized Scientific Inquiry: Content Expertise (2 cr)
-
Personalized Scientific Inquiry: (2 cr)
-
Personalized Scientific Inquiry: (3 cr)
Fall Term (YR 3)
- FTDP Full-Time Dissertation
Spring Term (YR 3)
- FTDP Full-Time Dissertation
Summer Term (YR 3)
- FTDP Full-Time Dissertation
Total Credits: Minimum of 72 Credits
Note:
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See School of Nursing Policy 230 regarding the taking of the Preliminary Examination and School of Nursing Policy 235 regarding the Comprehensive Examination/Overview
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FTDP (full-time dissertation 0 credits) can only be taken after completing the minimum 12 credits of
Preliminary and Comprehensive Examinations and Dissertation Overview
The preliminary examination is taken after completing the following required courses.
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Philosophical Underpinnings (3 cr)
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Theoretical Foundations for Research (3 cr)
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Research Design & Methods (3 cr) **
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Apprenticeship Practicum (2 cr)
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Research Measurement (2 cr)
-
Intervention Development (2 cr)
-
and Statistics Courses
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Applied Parametric and Non-Parametric Statistics for the Health Sciences 1
OR
-
Applied Parametric and Non-Parametric Statistics for the Health Sciences 1
-
Applied Parametric and Non-Parametric Statistics for the Health Sciences 2
OR
-
Applied Parametric and Non-Parametric Statistics for the Health Sciences 2
-
**MSN-PhD students should have completed this course in their prior degree program
By following the established curriculum plan, all full-time students should sit for their Preliminary Examination early in their fourth term of study. The examination is designed to assess the student's breadth of knowledge of the discipline of nursing and potential ability to apply research methods independently. Remediation work may be required if deficiencies are identified that may impede the student's success in program completion. See School of Nursing Policy 230.
The comprehensive examination assesses the student's mastery of the general field of doctoral study, acquisition of depth and breadth of knowledge in a focused area of study, and the ability to use the research methods of the discipline. The comprehensive examination is taken after completion of all required course work and concurrent with the dissertation overview. See School of Nursing Policy 235.
The dissertation overview requires the student to formulate a research plan and to justify the selected approach for studying the topic before the student's dissertation committee.
Dissertation Committee
Prior to the comprehensive examination and the dissertation overview, the student and research advisor propose, subject to approval by the director of the PhD program and the Dean, a committee of four or more members, one of whom must be from another school within the University and the majority of whom must be from the School of Nursing. A majority, including the major advisor, must also be full members of the Graduate Faculty of the University.
See Doctoral Committee under Regulations Pertaining to Doctoral Degrees of the University bulletin.
Admission to Candidacy for the Doctor of Philosophy
Admission to candidacy for the Doctor of Philosophy degree constitutes a promotion of the student to the most advanced stage of graduate study and provides formal approval to devote essentially exclusive attention to the research and the writing of the dissertation. To qualify for admission to candidacy, students must be in full graduate status, have satisfied the requirement of the preliminary examination, have completed formal courses and the minimum dissertation credit requirements with a minimum grade point average of 3.00, have passed the comprehensive examination, and have received approval of the proposed dissertation research by the dissertation committee. Admission to candidacy is granted by the Dean.
Residency Requirement
Students seeking the PhD degree are required to engage in a minimum of one term of full-time doctoral study (nine credits), which excludes any other employment except as approved. The doctoral student must notify the PhD program director in writing the term that this occurs.
Dissertation and Abstract
The date and title of the dissertation defense must be submitted to the PhD program director one month prior to the final defense. For definitions and detail on what constitutes an acceptable dissertation, please see Dissertation and Abstract under Regulations Pertaining to Doctoral Degrees of this bulletin.
Personalized Scientific Inquiry (BSN to PhD)
The University of Pittsburgh values personalization of students' educational experiences. To that end, the PhD program allows students to develop a personalized approach to choosing additional coursework congruent with knowledge and skill development in their chosen areas of focal research concentration.
Students are encouraged to take Personalized Scientific Inquiry (PSI) courses to develop an understanding of essential knowledge to a focused area of study in nursing.
- Consists of a minimum of 23 credits in the BSN to PhD track.
- Students are encouraged to take PSI courses outside of the School of Nursing and outside of the nursing discipline.
- It is suggested that one PSI course be an advanced statistics/research methods course.
- No more than one of the PSI courses is recommended to be taken as NUR 3060 Independent Study, so as to provide for a richer experience in the presence of other students and other disciplines.
Research Apprenticeship Model
The PhD program includes an apprenticeship model of research training that combines rigorous coursework and an apprenticeship with successful research mentors. This model includes a formalized series of Apprenticeship Practica (minimum of 6 credits under the direction of a research mentor), with recommended experiences and a series of defined deliverables. This experience allows for the opportunity to acquire individualized and tangible research skills within a mentored research application environment, which is additive to and precedes the dissertation experience.
All mentors are experienced nurse researchers. During their apprenticeships, students acquire tangible skills in research methodology, grantsmanship, professional skills, the responsible conduct of research, and dissemination of research findings through publications and presentations. Students receive an intense and comprehensive research experience resulting in publications and pilot data to support applications for independent research funding and dissertation work.
The BSN to PhD Track consists of a minimum of 72 credits (effective Fall 2017):
- 22 cr. from the Research Core
- 9 cr. from the Statistics Core
- 41 cr. for Personalized Scientific Inquiry (PSI) courses (PSI consists of 12 cr. Dissertation, 6 cr. Apprenticeship Practicum, and 23 cr. additional PSI credits)
I. RESEARCH CORE (22 REQUIRED CREDITS)
A. Knowledge Development (KD)
KD Core 1—NUR 3285 Philosophical Underpinnings of Nursing Research(3 cr.)
KD Core 2—NUR 3286 Theoretical Foundations for Research (3 cr.)
B. Methods and Analysis
MA Core 3—NUR 3287 Research Design and Methods (3 cr.)
MA Core 4 –NUR 3288 Research Measurement (2 cr.)
MA Core 5—NUR 3289 Intervention Development (2 cr.)
MA Core 6—NUR 3290 Advanced Quantitative Analytic Methods Seminar (3 cr.)
C. Professional Development (PD)
PD Core 7 – NUR 3291 Responsibilities and Activities of Scientists I (2 cr.)
PD Core 8—NUR 3292 Responsibilities and Activities of Scientists II (2 cr.)
PD Core 9—NUR 3293 Art and Science of Teaching and Learning (2 cr.)
II. STATISTICS CORE: 9 REQUIRED CREDITS
NUR 2112/3112 Applied Parametric and Non-Parametric Statistics for the Health Sciences I (3 cr.)
NUR 2113/3113 Applied Parametric and Non-Parametric Statistics for the Health Sciences 2 (3 cr.)
NUR 2114/3114 Applied Regression for Health Science Research (3 cr.)
III. PERSONALIZED SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY: 41 REQUIRED CREDITS
A. PHD DISSERTATION: NUR 3010 Dissertation (12 cr. required minimum)
B. APPRENTICESHIP PRACTICUM: NUR 3071 (6 cr. required minimum)
C. Additional Personalized Scientific Inquiry Courses (23 cr. required minimum; may take more)
Students are required to take:
C1. Intensive Methods course(s) (4 cr. minimum)
C2. Intensive Professional Development course (2 cr. minimum)
C3. Advanced Statistics course(s) (2 cr. minimum)
C4. Content Expertise courses (8 cr. minimum) from:
C.4.A. State of the Science: Research course(s)
C.4.B. State of the Science: Applied Clinical course(s)
C5. Additional Personalized Scientific Courses (7 cr. additional).
These courses can be from any of III.C.1 thru C4 categories, or otherwise helpful to the focal research area.
View the per-term chronologic sequence of courses for the BSN to PhD program, as well as the timeline for the mentored research experiences (the Apprenticeship Practicum and the Dissertation Project) and Milestones.
The University of Pittsburgh values personalization of students' educational experiences. To that end, the PhD program allows students to develop a personalized approach to choosing additional coursework congruent with knowledge and skill development in their chosen areas of focal research concentration.
Students are encouraged to take Personalized Scientific Inquiry (PSI) courses to develop an understanding of essential knowledge to a focused area of study in nursing.
- Consists of a minimum of 23 credits in the BSN to PhD track.
- Students are encouraged to take PSI courses outside of the School of Nursing and outside of the nursing discipline.
- It is suggested that one PSI course be an advanced statistics/research methods course.
- No more than one of the PSI courses is recommended to be taken as NUR 3060 Independent Study, so as to provide for a richer experience in the presence of other students and other disciplines.
The PhD program includes an apprenticeship model of research training that combines rigorous coursework and an apprenticeship with successful research mentors. This model includes a formalized series of Apprenticeship Practica (minimum of 6 credits under the direction of a research mentor), with recommended experiences and a series of defined deliverables. This experience allows for the opportunity to acquire individualized and tangible research skills within a mentored research application environment, which is additive to and precedes the dissertation experience.
All mentors are experienced nurse researchers. During their apprenticeships, students acquire tangible skills in research methodology, grantsmanship, professional skills, the responsible conduct of research, and dissemination of research findings through publications and presentations. Students receive an intense and comprehensive research experience resulting in publications and pilot data to support applications for independent research funding and dissertation work.