PHD BSN to PhD Nursing Leadership

The BSN to PhD Nursing Leadership program is designed to prepare experienced nurses for leadership roles in healthcare settings with a focus on research and the scholarship of discovery. The masters degree offers a comprehensive curriculum integrating advanced nursing knowledge, leadership principles, and practical experiences tailored to their respective focus areas: education, informatics, or administration. Graduates emerge equipped with the skills and expertise needed to excel as a leader in their chosen field and make meaningful contributions to improving patient care and healthcare delivery. To achieve expertise as beginning level nurse scientist, students are educated and socialized for their roles both didactically through course work, seminars, and experientially through research assistantships, collaboration with faculty mentors, and independent research. Students receive a strong foundation in scientific inquiry for advancing and disseminating nursing knowledge through research. Critical research focuses on health promotion, family health, health disparities, and improving the outcomes of care. The development of nursing science, interdisciplinary collaboration, dissemination of research, and innovative ideas are significant aspects of the program. The program requires a minimum of 84 units of course work. Required courses primarily focus on leadership, nursing science, and research. Students select 9 units of emphasis courses to support the focus or design of their dissertation. Six units per semester is considered full time enrollment, with additional offerings in the intersession and summer session. The BSN to PhD degree may be completed in 4-5 years.

General Regulations

1. Residency Requirement
   Students must fulfill this requirement by enrolling in:

   1. 12 units of on-campus doctoral coursework during a 12-month period

2. Transfer of Credit
   (See here for more information on Transfer of Graduate Credit). Students may transfer up to 12 units of post-master’s work with approval. Extension credit is not transferable.

3. Admission to Candidacy
   Admission to candidacy (not equivalent to admission to the program) is achieved when the student has an approved dissertation proposal.

4. Time Limit
   Students are allowed a maximum of two years from completion of course work to admission to candidacy.