Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing
About This Program
The Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Program is built on a foundation of prior nursing education and prepares the student for original research and theory development. The PhD in Nursing Program prepares nurse scientists to meet the health needs of a rapidly changing, culturally diverse society and improve human health outcomes by innovating nursing practice, testing healthcare innovations, and conducting responsible health-related research.
The Nursing PhD admits students with the MSN, an alternative BSN to PhD degree option is available.
Competencies
- Synthesize theoretical and empirical health-related knowledge from nursing and other disciplines.
- Evaluate resources and strategic health priorities to advance a program of research.
- Analyze local, national, and global social, economic, environmental, ethical, cultural, and health care issues and policies related to a program of research.
- Conduct responsible original health-related research.
- Demonstrate evidence-based leadership and teaching.
- Disseminate health-related knowledge developed from original research.
Admissions Criteria
The applicant for the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) degree must meet the general requirements of graduate admissions and hold a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN-PhD entry) from a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or proof of equivalent education at a foreign institution. Applicants must submit official transcripts from each college or university attended.
Additional Requirements
All applicants must meet the following additional criteria.
- A faculty member agrees to be the student's research mentor and future dissertation chair.
- Evidence of current professional nursing licensure/registration in at least one political jurisdiction, evaluated by Associate Dean or designee. Licensure/registration must be maintained throughout the program. If a PhD student is going to perform direct patient care activities or supervise students in clinical agencies, they will be required to obtain an RN license in Texas or a compact state.
Unconditional Admission
For unconditional admission the applicant must meet the following requirements:
- A minimum 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale for all master's coursework as calculated by UTA Admissions.
- Completion of a graduate level statistics course from an accredited college or university of 3 or more credit hours with a minimum grade of B.
- An interview scoring in the 75th percentile or higher on rating scale, evaluated by the Admissions Committee.
- A written statement of goals scoring in the 75th percentile or higher on rating scale, evaluated by Admissions Committee.
Probationary Admission
The Nursing PhD program may offer probationary admission to applicants meeting the following criteria. When on probation, a student must maintain a 3.0 GPA in the first two semesters of enrollment in the graduate program.
- A minimum 3.0 - 3.49 GPA on a 4.0 scale for all master's coursework as calculated by UTA Admissions.
- Completion of a graduate level statistics course from an accredited college or university of 3 or more credit hours with a minimum grade of B.
- An interview scoring in the 70th percentile or higher on rating scale, evaluated by the Admissions Committee.
- A written statement of goals scoring in the 70th percentile or higher on rating scale, evaluated by Admissions Committee.
Provisional Admission
Applicants who are unable to supply all required documentation prior to the admission deadline but who otherwise appear to meet admission requirements may be admitted provisionally.
Deferred Status
Deferred decision is granted when a file is incomplete or when a denied decision is not appropriate.
Denial of Admission
An applicant will be denied admission if he/she has less than satisfactory performance on a majority of admission criteria listed in the table below. The PhD Admissions Committee will make a recommendation for denial.
Health Insurance Coverage
All UT Arlington nursing students enrolled in clinical course(s) will be required to provide verification of medical insurance coverage that includes Emergency Department evaluation and follow-up treatment for needle-stick and blood borne disease exposure. This mandatory clinical requirement has been authorized by The University of Texas System Board of Regents.
As such, UT Arlington will not cover initial and follow up treatment for needle-stick injuries and/or exposure to blood borne diseases which may occur while students are enrolled in clinical courses.
While the UT Arlington College of Nursing and Health Innovation recognizes the financial impact this clinical requirement presents for students, we also support the need for students to have health coverage for sudden illness, accidents, emergencies and exposure treatments that may occur in the clinical setting in a variety of clinical agencies.
Fees
Course fee information is available at www.uta.edu/fees. Additional costs beyond tuition, fees and books that may be incurred by a nursing student will include those items listed on the CONHI website. In addition, some clinical agencies charge a nominal fee for parking passes.
E-mail Accounts
Each student will be provided a UT Arlington e-mail address. Official communications from the College of Nursing will be distributed to this e-mail address and learning management system accounts required by many courses. Students will be held responsible for information distributed in this manner.
Requirements Curriculum
Students are required to have each semester’s planned program approved by the Research Mentor and Graduate Advisor before registration.
| Core Courses | ||
| NURS 6301 | THEORY IN NURSING SCIENCE | 3 |
| NURS 6302 | ISSUES IN STUDYING THE HEALTH OF CULTURALLY DIVERSE AND VULNERABLE POPULATIONS (Complete 6 hours of the following: 6102 and/or 6203) | 6 |
| NURS 6304 | MEASUREMENT IN HEALTH RESEARCH | 3 |
| NURS 6305 | QUALITATIVE RESEARCH | 3 |
| NURS 6306 | RESEARCH DESIGN | 3 |
| NURS 6308 | STATE OF THE SCIENCE | 3 |
| NURS 6318 | PARAMETRIC STATISTICS FOR HEALTHCARE RESEARCH | 3 |
| NURS 6319 | PSYCHOMETRIC AND NONPARAMETRIC STATISTICS FOR HEALTHCARE RESEARCH | 3 |
| NURS 6381 | RESEARCH PRACTICUM | 3 |
| NURS 6382 | HEALTH CARE POLICY | 3 |
| Electives (Individual Area of Study) | ||
| Electives may be taken in area of concentration or in other departments and may use the following course designators. | 3 | |
| INDEPENDENT STUDY IN NURSING and INDEPENDENT STUDY IN NURSING and INDEPENDENT STUDY IN NURSING and INDEPENDENT STUDY IN NURSING | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN NURSING and SPECIAL TOPICS IN NURSING and TOPICS IN NURSING and TOPICS IN NURSING and TOPICS IN NURSING | ||
| Dissertation | ||
| Select 9 SCH from the following: | 9 | |
| DISSERTATION | ||
| DISSERTATION | ||
| DISSERTATION | ||
| DOCTORAL DEGREE COMPLETION | ||
| Total Hours | 45 | |
Program Completion
Academic standing
To graduate from the PhD program, the student must have a 3.0 GPA.
- Student who does not earn at least a B in a course or independent study is required to submit to graduate advisor an evaluation of his or her engagement in the course, reason for less than satisfactory performance, and plan to acquire knowledge and skills to continue.
- Student who earns a second course or independent study grade that is C or lower will be dismissed from the program
program milestones
Diagnostic Evaluation
Before the completion of the first 18 hours beyond appropriate master’s level coursework to assess progress and potential for completion
Comprehensive Examination/Dissertation Proposal Defense
The comprehensive examination is the student's dissertation proposal defense. The examination is scheduled no earlier than during the last nine hours of coursework. If the student has completed all coursework and electives, the student should register in dissertation proposal development until the dissertation proposal is successfully defended. The student's dissertation committee reviews the dissertation proposal and meets with the student privately to approve or not approve the proposal.
Dissertation Defense
Open meeting during which student presents study findings and responds to questions posed by the dissertation committee and other members of the scientific community in attendance. Successful defense of the dissertation is the final step toward completion of the doctoral degree.
Advising Resources
Graduate nursing students will be assigned a degree plan once admitted to the program. They are encouraged to make phone, in-person, or virtual appointments as needed to discuss their academic progression.
Location:
554 Pickard Hall
Email:
msnadvising@uta.edu
Phone:
817-272-2776