DNP to PhD

We value the foundation in evidence-based practice that you have received in your Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. Our DNP to PhD in Nursing track will allow you to augment your DNP education and conduct research related to your DNP project in order to further improve patient care.

Curriculum

Our DNP to PhD track is a total of 38 credits (29 credits coursework plus nine credits of dissertation).

Intro & Orientation

Summer - Foundations

Course #

Course Name or Program Requirement

Credits

GPNG 901 State of the Science and Discovery 3 credits
  Doctoral Week*  

*Required on-campus visit

Year 1

Fall - Science, Truth and Knowledge
Course # Course Name or Program Requirement Credits
GPNG 922 Philosophy of Science and Theory 3 credits
  Structure of Nursing Knowledge 3 credits
Spring - Scientific Tools
GPNG 943 Methods of Scientific Inquiry in Nursing I 3 credits
GPNG 940 Statistics II 3 credits
Summer - Global View
GPNG 944 Methods of Scientific Inquiry in Nursing II** 3 credits
GPNG 903 Measurement Issues** 3 credits

**Required Study Abroad

Year 2

Fall - Immersion and Articulation
Course # Course Name or Program Requirement Credits
GPNG 931 Applied Qualitative Practicum 3 credits
  Research & Theory in Health Behavior 3 credits
Spring - Advanced Application
  Advanced Population Health 3 credits
GPNG 930 Applied Quantitative Practicum 3 credits
Summer - Preparation and Formation
  Elective (OPTIONAL) 3 credits
  Seminar: Topic Defense* (in May) Pre-work for Fall Lit. Review course 3 credits

*Required on-campus visit

Year 3 (end of coursework)

Fall - Dissertation and Dissemination

Course #

Course Name or Program Requirement

Credits

GPNG 915 Dissertation Research Seminar: literature review manuscript 3 credits
Spring - Dissertation and Dissemination
GPNG 925 Grant Writing (considered dissertation credits for DNP-PhD students) 3 credits
Summer - Dissertation and Dissemination
GPNG 915 Dissertation* 3 credits

*Required on-campus visit

Full Time Dissertation

Fall - Dissertation and Dissemination

Course #

Course Name or Program Requirement

Credits

  Continuous Registration until Dissertation Defense 1 credit
Spring - Dissertation and Dissemination
  Continuous Registration until Dissertation Defense 1 credit
Summer - Dissertation and Dissemination
  Continuous Registration until Dissertation Defense 1 credit

 

 

Program Information

The Doctor of Nursing Practice to PhD is a specialty track in the online PhD in Nursing program. This track prepares you to become an independent researcher and nurse scholar while allowing you to augment your DNP education and conduct research related to your DNP project.

Program Type

Major

Degree

Doctorate

Required Credit Hours

38

 

Program Details

Application Cycle

Apply anytime between August 1 and February 1. There is no GRE or application fee required.

Program Start

The program begins in May with doctoral week residency. You can find exact start dates on the University's academic calendar.

 

Residencies

Doctoral Week (May of Year 1)

Every student admitted to the PhD program is required to come to the Pittsburgh, PA, campus for the first residency, usually held during the second or third week of May. This week includes an orientation to the PhD program and provides an opportunity for students to meet faculty and participate in live classes for the courses in which they are enrolled that summer.

Topic Approval and Writing Intensive (May of Year 2)

This residency provides an opportunity for students to meet with their faculty mentor on campus for discussion and writing around dissertation topic development in preparation for approval.

Study Abroad (Summer of Year 2)

Students enrolled in GPNG 924 Methods of Scientific Inquiry II will take part of the course as a study abroad experience (approximately 10-14 days) in Dublin, Ireland, where students will have housing at Trinity College.

*Please note that any tuition discounts that graduate students receive are not applicable to study abroad courses.