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PhD in Nursing Science

Curriculum

The PhD curriculum consists of 90 total credit hours across six core areas: Professional Development, Nursing Theory, Nursing Science Research Major, Nursing Science Concentration, the Minor, and Dissertation. MSN to PhD students can transfer up to 30 graduate credit hours from their Master of Science in Nursing course work. BSN-PhD students complete 12 Masters-level bridge core credits and an additional 18 graduate level credits, resulting in a 90 credit hour PhD.  The 18 graduate credits are selected by the student and their faculty mentor to enhance the student's PhD research focus.

Core BSN to PhD track MSN to PhD track
Professional Development Core 6 credits 6 credits
Nursing Theory Core 6 credits 6 credits
Nursing Science Research Major 15 credits 15 credits   
Nursing Science Concentration 8 credits 8 credits
Minor, external or internal 9-12 credits 9-12 credits
Dissertation 16 credits 16 credits
MSN "Bridge" core courses 12 credits  0 credits
Additional graduate credits 18 credits 0 credits
Graduate level transfer credits 0 credits 30 credits
TOTAL PROGRAM CREDITS 90 credits 90 credits

For a complete outline of the courses required for each core, visit the Indiana University School of Nursing PhD program website.

As a PhD graduate, you are well positioned for a successful career as a leader within academic and practice settings to:

  • Master and synthesize knowledge from nursing and other disciplines to conduct original research, generate, and disseminate new ideas;
  • Critique and integrate perspectives from diverse disciplines in the development of new knowledge for the discipline;
  • Assume leadership in the conduct of culturally competent, ethical research and scholarship to improve nursing practice and health outcomes;
  • Incorporate the components of scholarship, namely: research, teaching, mentoring, and service within your professional role;
  • Prepare the future generation of nurses.

Last updated March 2020