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The requirements for your PhD in Nursing may vary based upon your term of admission. Please click the section below that reflects your first term in the program to view your requirements and program plans.
Advanced Research Practicum - NURS 8177
Advanced Research Practicum - NURS 8177
NURS 8177 is a required independent study where students collaborate with a researcher or research team under supervision of a faculty mentor in designing/conducting a health-related research project. The practicum does not need to be completed with the student’s advisor. Students are welcome to contact faculty for consideration of a practicum experience who are doing research in an area of interest, using a method the student would like to learn or has other research skills the student would like to learn. Students taking part in this experience need to meet with the faculty member with whom they are conducting the practicum to discuss the expectations and scope of the project, and complete the 8177 Research Practicum Contract form. The work plan/objectives of the practicum needs to be approved by the advisor and practicum course faculty. You will be instructed to upload the contract form to the Canvas site at the beginning of the semester.
Pre Dissertation & Dissertation Credits
Pre Dissertation & Dissertation Credits
Pre Dissertation Credits - NURS 8666
Pre Dissertation Credits - NURS 8666
NURS 8666 is a registration option for students who must be registered for a specific number of credits (usually to be in compliance with requirements of the University and/or external agencies such as employment as a graduate assistant, loan deferment, visa requirements, etc.), and for whom coursework registration is not an option. Policies limit the number of credits of 8666 (Doctoral Pre-Thesis Credits) to six for which a doctoral student may register in any fall, spring or summer term. The Graduate School will also limit registrations of 8666 to two instances and 12 credits without departmental (SoN) permission. With SoN consent, students may register for 8666 up to four times, for a total accumulation of 24 credits in 8666 registration. Regular tuition rates apply.
To register for NURS 8666 credits students must develop a detailed work plan using the work plan template for the work to be completed during the term and review it with their advisor. Once the plan is agreed upon, the student emails the plan to the Director of Graduate Studies to request a permission number for NURS 8666.
Dissertation Credits - NURS 8888
Dissertation Credits - NURS 8888
After successfully completing the preliminary oral exam, all PhD students are required to register for 24 semester thesis credits (listed under NURS 8888—Thesis Credits: Doctoral). The 24 credits must be taken over two or more terms (e.g. typically taken as eight credits over three semesters). Students are advised to register for the number of credits that are equivalent to the amount of work they can/will accomplish within the given term. To register for NURS 8888 credits students must develop a detailed work plan using the work plan template for the work to be completed during the term and review it with their advisor. Once the plan is agreed upon, the student emails the plan to the Director of Graduate Studies and Ifeyinwa Ikegwuani at gophernursing@umn.edu to request a permission number for NURS 8888.
Students cannot enroll for thesis credits until the completion of the preliminary oral exam has been recorded in the Graduate School record system. Refer to the Special Registration Options section if coursework is completed, but not the preliminary written exam(s)s as pre-dissertation credits (NURS 8666) are likely the best option in this case. Students cannot register for dissertation credits (NURS 8888) until they have passed the preliminary oral exam. Students who complete their preliminary oral exam prior to the last day of instruction for the term may request to convert their NURS 8666 credits to NURS 8888 registration. Consult with the GPC for guidance in converting the credits.
Registration
Registration
The University’s online registration system is housed within the MyU Portal and run by the One Stop Student Services. One Stop has a variety of online tutorials to familiarize users with registration and other processes within the MyU Portal. We expect that all students are registered for the upcoming semester TWO WEEKS prior to the semester starting. More information about coursework is in the Milestone #1 section.
Class Time Conflicts
Because some courses are not taught within the School of Nursing, there can be class time conflicts that are unavoidable. While the nursing PhD courses are arranged not to conflict in class time, those outside the School can be challenging at times to schedule. If the faculty from both courses where there are conflicting times agree to a time-sharing arrangement, students may submit the Class Time Conflict Approval form to facilitate the registration. However, this is rarely approved because the courses will be compromised if students are absent.
Special Registration Options
Special Registration Options
Occasionally doctoral students may find themselves in a position where they have taken all the courses they need/can take, but they are not at the next milestone step to advance in the program (e.g., have not taken the oral preliminary exam, but have completed their coursework; have taken all required thesis credits but have not defended their dissertation). As previously mentioned, students are still required to register every fall and spring to maintain active student status in the Graduate School and PhD program regardless of this situation.
To better meet the needs for students in this situation, the Graduate School has developed several special registration categories to help fill the registration gap until a student is back on track. These are not meant to be long-term place holders. While these course options will not apply towards a degree, they will maintain a student’s active status in the program. Below is a brief summary of the main options available to doctoral students depending on individual circumstances and needs. Full details on all the special registration categories below can be found on the One Stop Student Services website.
NURS 8444
NURS 8444
The Office of the Registrar and the Graduate School have developed procedures which will permit eligible doctoral candidates to be certified as full-time students when registered for only one credit. This course is intended only for doctoral students who have completed all their program coursework and required thesis credits, but still are working full-time on the research or writing of their dissertation. The main impetus for this procedure is to certify as full-time for loan deferment purposes, teaching or research assistants who could be employed in the low-tuition-fringe job classes. An application is required to take NURS 8444 every semester it is taken and must be completed before the registration period ends for the given semester. To apply for NURS 8444 registration, follow the same process as you would for NURS 8888.
GRAD 999
GRAD 999
You must contact the Director of Graduate Studies and PhD Program Coordinator before registering for GRAD 999.
GRAD 999 is a zero-credit, zero-tuition registration option intended for graduate students who have completed all coursework and (if applicable) thesis credit requirements, and who must maintain registration to meet the continuous enrollment requirement.
While students can register for GRAD 999 to maintain their active student status, they cannot use GRAD 999 to meet any other requirements of the University or external agencies. Students who must maintain full-time status to, e.g., hold an assistantship, defer loans, and/or receive financial aid cannot use GRAD 999 to meet registration requirements. Please talk to the DGS and Ifeyinwa Ikegwuani before registering for GRAD 999.
Transfer Credits
Transfer Credits
At least 60% of the coursework listed on a student’s Graduate Degree Plan or GPAS must be taken as a degree-seeking University of Minnesota graduate student. Courses are considered transfer courses if they are taken at other institutions. If a student has taken courses in a program at the University of Minnesota that is not part of the Graduate School (e.g., School of Public Health), or courses were taken before being admitted to the PhD Program in the School of Nursing as a non-degree seeking student, please consult with the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) to see if a petition is required. All transfer coursework must be at the graduate level. Talk to the DGS before you complete the petition if you have questions about what courses can be transferred into the program. Most University of Minnesota courses taken previously do not need to be approved through the Equivalency Petition procedure.
School of Nursing Procedure: To use a course from another institution to fulfill program requirements for the PhD program:
Access and complete the School of Nursing Course Equivalency Petition including:
Unofficial transcripts showing completion of the prior course
Course syllabi
If petitioning an elective course, use the comments section to describe how the course prepares you for or is relevant for your research.
Meet with your advisor to discuss the request. The advisor(s) will indicate their decision and provide comments.
Submit the Course Equivalency Petition and accompanying documents to the Office of Student and Career Advancement Services at gophernursing@umn.edu.
The petition will be provided to the DGS who will ask faculty teaching in the course or a closely related course to review the petition and make a recommendation about accepting the transfer course for the PhD program.
The DGS will notify you via email of the final decision regarding the petition.
If a petitioned course is accepted as part of the PhD coursework, it is then listed as a course(s) on the Graduate Degree Plan form and a copy of the official transcript with the transfer course on it is submitted to the Graduate School.
Work Plan Template
Work Plan Template
Use the linked document below to create a semester by semester work plan for your pre dissertation and dissertation work. This should be a running document that is created and revised along with your advisor. This work plan will be used to request pre dissertation or dissertation registration permission numbers. This document should be copied, stored in your google drive and shared with your advisor.
Writing Standards
Writing Standards
The School of Nursing has adopted the writing standards from the American Psychological Association (APA). All written assignments must conform to the stylistic requirements outlined by the APA. Students in the School of Nursing are required to have a copy of the most recent edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, which describes correct stylistic formats. Refer to https://apastyle.apa.org/ for more information.
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