Curriculum
The curriculum is designed to provide students with discipline-specific and interdisciplinary, theoretical, and empirical knowledge that is essential for the conduct of original research and for the advance of the profession’s knowledge for both practice and education.
The core courses in nursing science, theory construction, research methodology, statistical analysis, ethics, and spirituality are designed to prepare students in the process of scientific inquiry, enabling them to articulate, conceptualize, critique, and test theory, and utilize methods of scientific inquiry in researching questions in their substantive area of interest. Coursework in the substantive area of interest will enable students to identify and formulate a research focus and to create and conduct original research toward the development of a program of scientific inquiry. The core courses are offered sequentially and are designed to:
- Provide students with the scientific and theoretical foundations of the discipline.
- Enable students to utilize frameworks for understanding sources of knowledge in nursing, modes of inquiry, and models of scholarship.
- Enable students to critique, articulate, test, utilize, and develop theories.
- Enable students to articulate how the nursing profession is informed by the Christian faith.
- Empower students with the knowledge base and ethical framework to promote social change.
The overarching rubric of the curriculum is wellness promotion and health maintenance within which specific areas of concentration have been identified. These areas of concentration are:
- Health of the Family and the Community
- International Health (specifically including health missions)
- Sub-specialization in Nursing Education
These areas of concentration and the sub-specialization reflect the changing trends in health care and accommodate the diverse research interest of students.
Coursework consists of 52 units beyond the Master of Science in Nursing with an additional 12 units allocated for dissertation research. The 52 units of required and elective courses include an area of concentration. A total of 37 units are allocated to core courses in nursing science, theory development, research methodologies and statistical analysis.
Based on the student’s area of interest and chosen method of inquiry, another three-unit course is required in one of the following research methods:
- Advanced Quantitative Methods
- Advanced Qualitative Research Methods
- Advanced Research in the Humanities
- Advanced Evaluation Research
A maximum of nine doctoral level semester units may be transferred from another regionally accredited university with approval of the program chair.
Ruth Mielke ’08
PhD Mid Wife/Ob. Gyn. Part-time Adjunct |
“When I started teaching in the undergraduate program, I began to see why APU’s School of Nursing enjoys such an outstanding reputation in the field. The faculty impressed me with a high level of collegiality among both peers and students that produces an atmosphere of intense interest and dynamic exchange. When I decided to explore new territory in my field by pursuing a doctoral degree, I knew APU was the right place for clinical research, comprehensive support, and the next step in my scholarly journey.” |
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