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Indiana University

Degree Options

Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Science

Degree Requirements

The PhD curriculum consists of six core areas of 90 credit hours. Thirty of these credits can be satisfied through MSN course work. BSN to PhD Curriculum plan available on request.

  • Professional development core (6-8 credits)
  • Nursing theory core (9 credits)
  • Research and methods core (21 credits)
  • Nursing major core in a focus area (24 credits)
  • Minor, external or internal (9-12 credits)
  • Dissertation (16 credits)

Please note: Some course revisions are under university approval process.

MSN to PhD requirements

Review the list of School of Nursing course descriptions.

Professional Development Core (6-8 cr.) Credits
D701 Nursing Inquiry and Scholarship: Introduction to Doctoral Study 3
D602 Responsible Conduct of Research (or equivalent) 1-3
T800 Preparing Future Faculty 2
Nursing Theory Core (6 cr.) Credits
D607 Theory II 3
D608 Middle–Range Theory 3
Research and Methods core (18 cr.) Credits
R603 Research Designs and Methods in Nursing 3
R604 Experimental and Quasi–Experimental Designs and Methods in Nursing 3
R607 Advanced Statistics in Nursing Research 3
R608 Multivariate Statistics in Nursing Research 3
R601 Instrumentation and Measurement 3
R610 Survey of Qualitative Methods 3
R611 Advanced Qualitative Research Methods

3 (Optional)

R605 Design and Applications of Advanced Research Designs/Interventions 3 (Optional)
W540 Writing for Publication

3 (Optional)

Nursing Major Focus Area (6 cr.) Credits
D751 Elective (various titles) 3
D752 Directed Research Practicum 3
Internal or External Minor (9-12 cr.)

Cognate or supporting course work from inside or outside nursing. May include a minor in an alternate focus area, other approved minors, or individualized plans in areas such as:

  • Anthropology
  • Communication studies
  • Educational psychology
  • Informatics
  • Nursing education science
  • Nursing administration
  • Public health
  • Sociology
  • Women’s studies
Dissertation (16 cr.) Credits
R899 Dissertation in Nursing 16

NOTE: Courses transferred from MSN for the MSN to PhD program of study are determined by a student's program planning advisory committee. BSN to PhD Students need additional course work.