Coursework
- Course Requirements
- Study Progression and Graduation Requirements
- Leaves of Absence
- Examinations
- Dissertation
Course Requirements
| Knowledge/Theory (6 courses required) | 24 units | |
|---|---|---|
| GNRS 700 | Philosophy of Science | 4 |
| GNRS 701 | Nursing Knowledge Development | 4 |
| GNRS 702 | Nursing Theory | 4 |
| GNRS 703 | Spirituality and Health | 4 |
| GNRS 704 | Faith Integration and Nursing Scholarship | 4 |
| GNRS 705 | Social Ethics and Social Change | 4 |
| Statistical Analysis (1 course required) | 4 units | |
| GNRS 713 | Advanced Statistical Analysis | 4 |
| Research (3 courses required) | 3 units | |
| GNRS 706 | Methods of Inquiry | 3 |
| GNRS 707 | Quantitative Nursing Research Designs | 3 |
| GNRS 708 | Qualitative Research Designs | 3 |
| Method of Inquiry | 3 units | |
| (Students are required to choose one of following courses.) | ||
| GNRS 709 | Advanced Quantitative Methods | 3 |
| GNRS 710 | Advanced Qualitative Research Methods | 3 |
| GNRS 711 | Advanced Research Methods in the Humanities | 3 |
| GNRS 712 | Advanced Evaluation Research | 3 |
| Total | 40 units | |
Study Progression and Graduation Requirements
Progression in the program requires active enrollment status and maintaining a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA. Graduation requirements include a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA, successful completion of the preliminary and qualifying exams, and completion of student’s original dissertation research.
Leaves of Absence
Students in good standing and making satisfactory progress toward their degrees who must interrupt their studies for a compelling reason (e.g., illness, study abroad, family conditions, or crises) may petition for a leave of absence for a stated period of time not to exceed two years. Requests for a leave must be in writing and state both the reasons for the leave and the semester in which the student will re-enroll. Leaves of absence must be approved by the chair of doctoral studies in nursing and the dean of the School of Nursing in advance of the semester for which the leave is requested.
The petition for return to enrolled status should be filed one full term before the intended date of re-enrollment. If the student went on leave with conditions for re-enrollment, these must be fulfilled before re-enrollment may occur. If a student is on leave for two years, the Doctoral Admissions Committee, as well as the student’s advisor, the doctoral studies chair, and the dean, will review her/his re-enrollment petition. Depending upon the amount of time elapsed, the student’s stage of study in the program, and the student’s academic activity during the leave, readmission may be contingent.
Examinations
Preliminary Examination
Students take the preliminary examination upon the completion of a minimum of 22 units and not more than 32 units of study of doctoral work. (Students must petition for exceptions.) The initial 22 units must include the following five courses: GNRS 700 (4 units), GNRS 701 (4 units), GNRS 702 (4 units), GNRS 704 (4 units), and GNRS 706 (3 units). These courses encompass philosophical foundations of scientific theories, theory development, research, and faith integration. GNRS 702 includes formal preparation for the preliminary examination.
The 25-35-page paper examination includes an oral exam. The oral exam includes a 20-30 minute PowerPoint presentation of the paper, followed by questions from the Preliminary Examination Committee.
The purpose of the paper is to encourage synthesis of the first-year coursework as it relates to the student’s current research interest area. The focus of the paper specifies the student’s interest area with potential researchable questions and methodological approaches together with relevant aspects of philosophical foundations of scientific theories, nursing theory, nursing knowledge development, and faith integration.
The subsequent oral examination provides students an opportunity to synthesize their thinking in an oral presentation and in response to questions from the Preliminary Examination Committee.
Qualifying Examination
The qualifying examination is taken at about the time coursework is completed. The examination is comprised of three papers that may be related to the student’s area of research or may be the first three chapters of the dissertation proposal.
Students are expected to complete their qualifying examination within approximately one academic year of the completion of their preliminary examination.
The examination tests:
- Familiarity with the state of the science in a particular area.
- Awareness of currently active topics of investigation in the area.
- Theoretical dimensions and design issues related to potential questions.
- Recognition of potential practical and ethical challenges arising at the intersection of questions, population, and instruments.
The ability to analyze and synthesize in written form within each of the three papers and extemporaneously across exam areas in the oral examination is the focus of the committee’s assessment.
Dissertation
The dissertation reports the results of original, independent research of substantial but circumscribed scope, undertaken in consultation with the student’s dissertation committee. The student presents a prospectus or proposal specifying the question, method, design, data collection instruments or strategy, projected data analysis, plan for access to subjects/participants/data, and projected timeline for data collection, analysis, and dissertation completion.
Successful completion of a dissertation proposal signifies competence to pursue independent research with the advice and guidance of a sponsor and other dissertation committee members.
The dissertation committee serves in an advisory capacity to the student and ensures that the dissertation research and the written dissertation demonstrate the student’s competence to conduct independent research in the discipline. Committee members work with the student throughout the process of data collection, analysis, and writing, with primary responsibility for support by the chair/sponsor.
When the student has substantially finished the work to the satisfaction of each committee member, the committee meets to hear the student’s defense of the overall work and the decisions it entailed, and to discuss the student’s plans for publication and post-degree program of research.
Students may not participate in commencement or have the degree posted to their transcript until the dissertation document has been accepted by the library.
For more information, please consult the Dissertation Manual.
