Requirements
Program Overview for Ph.D. In Nursing Education
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Nursing Education program is a terminal degree designed for D.N.P.-prepared nurses to serve as nurse scholars as well as nurse educators. Graduates will be prepared for the educator role including the ability to use sound educational concepts, principles, and knowledge in order to develop undergraduate and graduate nursing students who will be able to contribute to the health and well-being of diverse populations across the lifespan. Graduates will also be able to assume leadership and upper level administrative roles in nursing education in order to assure accountable clinical nursing practice.
Graduate Outcomes for Ph.D. in Nursing Education
The following graduate competencies were adapted from the NLN educator core competencies (NLN, 2005) AACN Essentials for Master’s Education for Advanced Practice Nursing, 2011.
The graduate will:
- Utilize concepts, knowledge, and skills to create an environment that facilitates classroom and clinical learning in the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains.
- Facilitate students’ development as professional nurses.
- Utilize sound principles to develop strategies to assess academic achievement in the classroom and clinical settings and in the cognitive, affective, and psycho-motor domains.
- Design, implement, evaluate, and revise nursing curricula and program outcomes that reflect the academic institution’s mission and goals, reflect current trends and evidence-based practice, and prepare graduates to function as professional nurses.
- Function as a change agent in order to promote the profession of nursing.
- Develop and articulate a vision for the professional nursing practice within the healthcare delivery system.
- Utilize information and communication technology effective in the global environment of nursing and education.
- Establish relationships with the community of interest.
- Demonstrate proficiency in scholarly writing.
- Utilize Christian principles as a nurse educator.
Admissions Requirements for the DNP to Ph.D. in Nursing Education Program
To be admitted as a regular student, the applicant will:
- Submit a completed application to William Carey University and the graduate school.
- Pay the application fee.
- Submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
- Submit a scholarly narrative of 1-2 pages of personal philosophy of nursing education and goals.
- Submit a current curriculum vita.
- Submit three letters of references: two from individuals who can attest to research and scholarship and one personal reference.
- Submit the completed and notarized criminal background check affidavit.
- Have earned an D.N.P. from an accredited school of nursing
- Have earned a GPA of >3.0 or higher on D.N.P. courses.
- Have an active, unencumbered Registered Nurse license with no pending legal or state board action.
- Be eligible to re-enter any previously attended college or university in good standing. If previously enrolled in a Ph.D. program, the applicant must be in good standing with that program and must provide a letter of good standing from that program.
- Demonstrate computer literacy involving proficiency in word processing, email correspondence, and the internet.
Admission Status
An applicant for the Ph.D. program in nursing is admitted to regular or nondegree graduate status as follows:
Regular—Regular graduate status will be granted to those students who meet all requirements for admission to the program and are actively pursuing a degree.
Nondegree—Nondegree status may be assigned to those students who meet the requirements for admission, but do not wish to become a candidate for a degree. No more than nine hours of credit earned in a nondegree status may apply toward a degree.
Incomplete admission status may be granted for one term for a student who appears to be eligible for admission but is unable to supply certain required records prior to registration.
D.N.P. to Ph.D.—Students with a D.N.P. degree from an accredited program will be admitted with advanced status within the Ph.D. program.
Transfer credit is available for any student. A maximum of 6 hours may be transferred from another university. Approval of transfer hours is considered on an individual basis. The student must apply for transfer credit to the program coordinator prior to the first term in the nursing program. Master’s level credit cannot be accepted for doctoral level courses. Transfer credit cannot be received for NUR 753, NUR 801, NUR 802, NUR 803, NUR 804, and NUR 805.
Attendance
Students are to attend class meetings and participate in courses and to verify and submit course work on a weekly basis either online or in person as required. Refer to the College of School of Nursing Graduate Student Handbook and individual course syllabi for specific course requirements.
Progression
Successful progression through the program requires the following:
- Demonstrate competency in scholarly writing through one of the following options: (1) successful review of the writing submission, (2) submission of a GRE Writing Score of 4.0 or better within the last five years, or (3) passing the NUR 799 - Academic Writing for Doctoral Students with a grade of B or better prior to taking courses in the program.
- Demonstrate basic competence in statistics as evidenced by successful completion, with a grade of B or better, in an undergraduate or graduate level statistics course within the past ten years or substantial experience in nursing research projects prior to taking NUR 752 and NUR 800.
- Complete all assignments with a passing grade. All courses must be completed with no grade below a B. The student is allowed to repeat two courses with a C to improve the grade to a B.
- See Graduate Catalog-Academic Regulations-Academic Standing for grades below a B.
- Any student who makes an F in a Ph.D. course will be dismissed from the program and be ineligible to readmit.
- Student grades will be reviewed at the end of each term by the administrator of the graduate program and other WCU SON administration to determine status in achieving the GPA necessary to progress and graduate.
- The student must successfully complete NUR 801 , NUR 802 , NUR 803 and NUR 804 in sequence.
- The student will be admitted to doctoral candidacy upon successful completion of comprehensive examination and the dissertation proposal defense.
- The student must successfully complete the comprehensive examination to indicate mastery of program content. The student must have to have completed all courses of the curriculum (except NUR 724 and NUR 726 ) and all other degree requirements. This excludes dissertation hours.
- The student must successfully complete a dissertation.
Graduation
Graduation requires:
- successful completion of all degree requirements with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- the student to be nominated by the dean.
- the student must submit a degree application to the Registrar’s Office and follow the required guidelines from the Registrar’s Office.
Curriculum of the PhD in Nursing Education (DNP to PhD)
The PhD in Nursing Education program (DNP to PhD) is designed to be completed in two years, including summer terms. Students are allowed to attend on a part-time basis, but the student must complete all required work within a period of six years. The total number of hours required is 59 hours. Students receive 20 hours of Ph.D. course validation credit with 39 hours to be completed within the program. The student will take courses with a nursing education focus and dissertation classes to complete the Ph.D. in Nursing Education program. The program is in a hybrid (web-enhanced) format. Doctoral classes will meet face-to-face two weekends a year and synchronous online two weekends a year; the rest of the content and student activities will be conducted via Canvas learning management system.
Each student must complete a dissertation. The dissertation process will begin in the fall term and continue for six trimesters. The research courses will be developed to help the student design the essential components of a dissertation. Each student will have a committee of four Ph.D. program faculty members. There will be a written comprehensive examination during the second year to determine mastery of the Ph.D. content. Students will enroll for didactic courses along with the dissertation courses. One (1) theory credit hour equates to 1.25 contact hours. One (1) clinical credit hour equates to 40 contact hours. The faculty reserves the right to make curricular changes to maintain standards consistent with the changing needs of society and of the profession.
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