Read the detailed version of an organized curriculum split by two core areas (Research and Statistics), and a section on Personalized Scientific Inquiry (PSI). A condensed version of the curriculum by class term is available below.
- Curriculum
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Nursing - BSN to PhD Track, PhD
- Detailed BSN to PhD Curriculum
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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.
- Personalized Scientific Inquiry (PSI)
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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
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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.