Graduate Ph.D. Nursing Courses

NURSING SCIENCE CORE

The Nursing Science Core includes a minimum of 15 credits, all prescribed. The core of required nursing courses is designed to address the philosophical base and the essence of nursing science to provide students with the requisite knowledge to conceptualize and operationalize nursing science and practice. Courses are designed to develop skill in critical thinking, synthesis, technical writing, and mastery of nursing science. 

NURS 579 - Overview of Nursing Scholarship (1 credit). In this course, students will develop foundational skills for engaging in nursing research and scholarship.

NURS 580 - Theoretical and Philosophical Basis of Nursing (3 credits). This course gives students an overview of the process of intellectual inquiry, exploring the foundations of scholarly disciplines in general and the discipline of nursing in particular.  

NURS 582 - Literature Synthesis for Nursing Science (3 credits). In this course, the scientific basis of nursing will be critically and systematically appraised. Students will focus their inquiry on a self-selected area of research with the goal of developing the foundation of the literature review for their dissertation. 

NURS 583 -Advanced Seminar in Nursing Science (1 credit, repeatable). Interactive seminar for developing a dissertation and discussing dissertation-related issues. Through a seminar format, this course will review the components part of a dissertation through the lens of giving and receiving both peer and faculty feedback.   

NURS 584 - Roles and Responsibilities of the Nurse Scientist (3 credits) This course provides students with an overview of career opportunities and responsibilities related to nursing science.  

NURS 587 - Ethics in Health Research (1 credit). This course provides the theoretical and practical knowledge needed to design and conduct ethically responsible behavioral and health sciences research. 

NURS 589 - Grant Writing in Health Sciences (3 credits). This seminar provides a foundation for students to identify appropriate funding mechanisms and prepare research type grant applications for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as the focal point of submission; however, knowledge and skills gained in this seminar will be relevant to other funding sources and mechanisms.  

NURS 596 - Independent Study: Research with Faculty (variable credit; 3 credit minimum for students who are not research assistants on an active faculty research study, 1 credit = minimum of 45 hours). Students work on a faculty-mentored research project in order to gain a deeper understanding of how to plan, manage, and disseminate nursing research. Note: This requirement may be met through coursework completed with a faculty researcher in a related discipline; however, such an approach should be coordinated with the academic adviser. 

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND STATISTICS CORE 

The Research Methodology and Statistics Core includes a minimum of 18 credits. The research methods component is designed to enable graduates to critically evaluate published research reports and to conduct independent research within a well-defined specialty area. Competency is expected in qualitative and quantitative research methods, as well as in-depth knowledge about specific research methods that are most relevant for pursuing the student’s selected research program. A minimum of 18 credits approved by the student's adviser and/or doctoral committee is required to meet this component. 

NURS 578 - Mixed Methods in Health Research (3 credits). This core PhD nursing research course gives an overview of the design and conduct of mixed methods research, in which both qualitative and quantitative data are collected, analyzed, and integrated within a single study, enabling a multi-faceted understanding of nursing phenomena.   

NURS 585 - Qualitative Methods in Health Research (3 credits). Provides an overview of qualitative research methodologies useful in the conduct of social and behavioral health research. 

NURS 586 - Quantitative Methods in Health Research (3 credits). An overview of methodological considerations specific to quantitative health research. 

STAT 500 - Applied Statistics (3 credits) AND  

NURS 851 - General Linear Modeling in Health Research (4 credits). An overview of the process of developing and testing hypotheses including hypotheses testing mediation and moderation. Prerequisite: Stat 500 or PHS 520 or HDFS 519 or EDPSY 406  

or STAT 501 - Regression Methods (3 credits) 

-OR- 

PHS 520 - Principles of Biostatistics (3 - 4 credits) and PHS 521 - Applied Biostatistics (3 credits) 

Research Methods or Statistics Elective (3 credit minimum) 

COURSES FOR INDIVIDUAL SPECIALITY

The courses for individual specialty are intended to build the student’s knowledge base about the specific domain that they will study. These must include a minimum of 12 credits (15 credits for a minor). The student is expected to develop in-depth knowledge of the area of specialization through relevant course work and independent study in nursing and/or other Colleges of the University. A minimum of 6 individual specialty credits must be from other disciplines (non-nursing). 

In order to satisfy this requirement, students have two options: 

Complete an interdisciplinary graduate minor (e.g., gerontology). A minor is not required by the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. Students choosing to complete a graduate minor should carefully adhere to programmatic requirements and required documentation with the sponsoring unit. When a graduate minor is completed, one doctoral committee member must represent the minor area. The committee member representing the minor may serve as the outside member if his or her budgetary appointment satisfies the criteria set by the Graduate School. The Chair of the dissertation committee cannot serve as the student’s minor adviser. 

[https://bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/programs/minors/for a listing of approved graduate minors; and http://gradschool.psu.edu/graduate-education-policies/gcac/gcac-600/gcac-602-Ph.D.-committee-formation/ for committee specifications.] 

Select courses from a mix of interdisciplinary areas to build a coherent program of study in support of the planned dissertation work. It is not necessary to include nursing courses in the mix; all 12 credits may be taken from academic units other than nursing.  

It is critical to note that courses designated as Courses for Individual Specialty Area on the plan of study must be meaningfully integrated into a coherent program of study; this is not a simple credit count. All course selections should be discussed with the academic adviser. Once a dissertation chair is named, the chair assumes responsibility for ensuring that the plan of study for individual specialty courses is appropriate and adequately supports the dissertation plan. The Chair (in collaboration with the Doctoral Committee) may recommend additional courses prior to dissertation. 

DISSERTATION 

The Graduate School defines the dissertation as “the ability to do independent research and competence in scholarly exposition must be demonstrated by the preparation of a dissertation on some topic related to the major subject. It should represent a significant contribution to knowledge, be presented in a scholarly manner, reveal an ability on the part of the candidate to do independent research of high quality, and indicate considerable experience in using a variety of research techniques. The contents and conclusions of the theses must be defended at the time of the final oral examination.” https://bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/programs/majors/nursing/. 

The dissertation focuses on a well-defined, researchable problem relevant to the knowledge domain of nursing. The research topic originates from the student who writes a research proposal and presents it to the doctoral committee in a formal hearing. The doctoral committee also designs and grades the oral and written comprehensive examination and evaluates the oral defense and the written doctoral dissertation. 

A minimum of 2 credits in dissertation are required, but in special circumstances, may be completed by post- comprehensive by registering for non-credit NURS 601. It is anticipated that most students will take additional credits to become well-grounded in their research area prior to completing the doctoral dissertation. 

SUPERVISED EXPERIENCE IN COLLEGE TEACHING 

Students who do not have teaching experience in the United States are required to take a minimum of 3 credits in NURS 602. The NURS 602 has the following restrictions: 

1. NURS 602 will not be counted in fulfilling any specific credit requirement for an advanced degree. 

2. NURS 602 will be graded (A, B, C, D, F). The grade will appear on the student’s transcript. 

3. NURS 602 will not be used in calculating grade-point averages. 

Students are also encouraged to pursue a Graduate School Teaching Certificate or a Certificate in Online Teaching (information about these certificates are listed in the section, University Resources, in this handbook). 

GRADUATE PH.D. NURSING COURSES 

NURS 578 - Mixed Methods in Health Research (3 credits) 

NURS 579 - Overview of Nursing Scholarship (1 credit) 

NURS 580 - Theoretical and Philosophical Basis of Nursing (3 credits) 

NURS 582  - Literature Synthesis for Nursing Science (3 credits) Prerequisite: N580 

NURS 583  - Advanced Seminar in Nursing Science 1 SH Repeatable (1 credit; Repeatable) Prerequisites: N580, N582, N585, N586, N578 

NURS 584 - Roles and Responsibilities of the Nurse Scientist (3 credits) 

NURS 585 - Qualitative Methods in Health Research (3 credits) 

NURS 586  - Quantitative Methods in Health Research (3 credits)   

NURS 587  - Ethics in Heath Research (1 credit) 

NURS 589 - Grant Writing in Health Sciences (3 credits) 

NURS 590 - Colloquium (Variable credit, 1-3 credits). 

NURS 594  - Research Topics (Variable credit, 1-18 credits). 

NURS 596 - Individual Studies and Research with Faculty (Variable credit, 1-9 credits). 

NURS 597  - Special Topics (Variable credit, 1-9 credits). 

NURS 602  - Supervised Experience in College Teaching (Variable credit, 1-3 per semester, does not count toward degree requirement). 

NURS 600 (on campus) or NURS 610 (off campus) Dissertation Research (variable credit). 

NURS 601 (full-time) or NURS 611 (part-time) Dissertation Preparation (non-credit; special registration for dissertation preparation; special fees apply). 

NURS 851 - General Linear Modeling in Health Research (4 credits) 

For more information see: https://bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/programs/majors/nursing/ 

PH.D. REQUIRED CORE COURSES

Required core courses include prescribed courses in the Nursing Science and Research Methodology/Statistics cores (as defined by the Ph.D. Program Curriculum). The academic standards adopted by the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing for all students apply to students enrolled in the Ph.D. program: 

1. Successful completion of prerequisite courses is defined as a grade of “B” (83%) or better according to the University grading scale. 

2. Successful completion of required core Ph.D. courses (Nursing Science and Research Methodology/Statistics cores) is defined as a grade of “B” (83%) or better according to the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing grading scale. 

3. All prerequisite courses and required core Ph.D. courses may only be repeated one time. 

4. A student who earns a “B-” or lower in any two required core Ph.D. courses will be dismissed from the program. 

5. Students who wish to return to the University after a leave of absence or to re-enroll after withdrawing will apply to resume study, and if accepted, re-enter under the curricular requirements at the time of re-enrollment. If a significant amount of time has lapsed, additional coursework may be required. Scheduling may depend on availability of space. 

Approved by Graduate Affairs Committee February 6, 2023.

OTHER COURSES FOR PH.D. PROGRAM

All other courses included in a doctoral student’s program of study contribute evidence of successful academic progression. The designation of “other courses” includes individual specialty course, and any other course in the program of study (typically designated as electives). Evidence of successful progression in these courses is evidenced by a grade of B or higher. Achievement of a B- or lower in any course is considered unsatisfactory and results in a formal review of academic progress (regardless of cumulative/semester GPA).

Approved by Graduate Affairs Committee February 6, 2023.