Online Doctoral (Phd) Program

Overview  

The Online Doctoral Program in Nursing (PhD) is designed to prepare nurse scientists for a lifetime of intellectual inquiry through creative scholarship and research.  Our graduates enjoy careers in academic, social, governmental, and healthcare organizational settings.  The program requires students to critically analyze and develop research, educational, policy and administrative strategies that address the needs of both individuals and communities.  Our courses focus on the health care needs of vulnerable populations and the development of community partnerships in delivering health care.

The MUSC Online Doctoral (PhD) Program enables students to:

1. Utilize philosophical, theoretical, and conceptual foundations to guide the  generation of new knowledge in health care.  
2. Develop expertise within an area of inquiry, identifying critical gaps in knowledge and reflecting a nursing and transdisciplinary perspective.
3. Conduct theory-guided research to test, generate, and extend knowledge that informs health care systems, health policy, and the evidence base for practice.
4. Demonstrate proactive leadership related to a selected area of scholarship.
5. Model values consistent with integrity in science and professional nursing.

The phd program includes a core foundation in theory development, research, ethics, and knowledge translation, and is further supported by courses in methodology, analysis, measurement, grant writing, epidemiology, and cognates in the student’s chosen focal area of interest. Situated within an academic health sciences center ranked within the Top 100 in the nation for receipt of federal funding, the student has access to expert clinicians and basic scientists from multiple disciplines. With ongoing support from a designated advisor,  mentored teaching, research and health policy courses allow students to design unique learning experiences with ‘masters’ in their field.

Application for the Fall, 2008 program is due by February 1, 2008.  Applications received after the deadline will be considered on a space available basis, or for the following year.

Programs

Students may enter the program with either a BSN or MSN.  Applicants without a master's degree may be required to take additional nursing courses during the doctoral (PhD) program, depending on previous course work and work experiences. We accept and highly  encourage students from our accelerated BSN and BSN/MSN programs to apply to our PhD program.  Sample plans of study are found below.

• Post BSN PhD in Nursing
• Post MS PhD in Nursing

Faculty

The experienced faculty in the PhD program will guide you through coursework and the research process to facilitate your transition to nurse scientist.  With approval, students may also include outside scholars to advise on their dissertation committee.  

• Faculty directory and research interests

Current Students

The College of Nursing at the Medical University of South Carolina has a high quality, established doctoral PhD program that has graduated successful nurse scientists who are recognized for their leadership by receipt of funded research, teaching in schools of nursing, and setting direction in health policy.

• Current doctoral students and their research interests, awards, and publications
• Graduate students and dissertation abstracts

Technical Requirements

Applicants to this online program must be computer literate and are encouraged to seek extra training on weak computing skills before the start of the program.  The course work requires use of word processing,  spreadsheet managment and presentation graphics.  Students are expected to manage files, navigate the internet, and use a headset, computer camera, scanner and fax machine. 

The College of Nursing uses WebCT as a course management program to deliver online courses. Additionally, the doctoral program uses a video-conferencing system to allow visual and audio feed among several persons at one time. Access to broadband (Cable or DSL) connections is necessary.  Students will need a VGA or better web camera and microphone as well as a laptop computer meeting the minimal hardware requirements and running Windows. Our multimedia content is optimized for Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player.

The Nursing Technology Center website provides information regarding technology hardware and software requirements, computer purchases, computer policies, and who to contact for assistance.

Residency

All new students are required to come to campus for a week before the first semester of their matriculation. Residency cannot be waived and all costs associated with travel and living expenses are the student’s responsibility. Reasonable accommodations will be arranged in historic Charleston with opportunities to enjoy this world-class travel destination!  For 2008, the residency week is July 21st - 25th. 

During the initial residency, students meet fellow classmates and the faculty, become familiar with online learning, learn the principles of systematic search and review, receive program advisement, and hear special presentations on available financial and academic resources.   Considerable time will be spent orienting to WebCT and the software applications used in course work.  Students are encouraged to bring their laptops to residency so that needed software and hardware  installations can be completed while on campus. Relaxed evening social events are planned so that students can further meet peers and faculty.

For returning students, Summer Residency focuses on continuing interaction among students and faculty, student and faculty presentations, preparation for transitions (Candidacy, Defense and Dissertation), immersion learning, and guest lectures. Events are planned to enhance the socialization of students. The Initial and Summer Residencies are concurrent so that incoming students are on-campus with returning students, further supporting our sense of community.

Students are strongly encouraged to join, attend, and present at their regional research societies: Southern Nursing Research Society, Eastern Nursing Research Society, Midwest Nursing Research Society, and Western Institute of Nursing.

Financial Aid

Several avenues are open to students seeking support for their doctoral education. Students may apply early for funding through the prestigious National Science Research Award (NRSA) mechanism of the National Institutes of Health. The MUSC Financial Aid Office offers other mechanisms that are often dependent on completion of FAFSA forms. Small scholarships are generously given by the College’s Alumni Association; students should check with their own professional organizations for funding opportunities. Depending on funding, federal loan forgiveness programs are sometimes available for full-time (9 credits in fall/spring, 7 credits in summer) students who teach in schools of nursing upon receipt of their degree. Small awards are available to support dissertation research through the College of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International chapters, and through the American Nurses Foundation Awards given through the regional research organizations (SNRS, ENRS, MNRS, WIN).

Requirements for Admission

Regulations governing admission to graduate study in nursing include those established by both the College of Graduate Studies and the College of Nursing at the Medical University of South Carolina.

Applicants to both the BSN to PhD and MSN to PhD programs are recommended to have:

• A baccalaureate in nursing (BSN) from a program accredited by the NLNAC or CCNE.
• A grade point average of at least 3.5 (A=4.0) from the undergraduate or graduate degree-granting institution.  
• Scores of 500 or better on both the Verbal and Quantitative portions of the GRE aptitude test, taken within the past 5 years.
• Documentation of current RN licensure in their state of residence.
• Evidence of scholarship in nursing science (published article, thesis, written innovation, research report).
• Curriculum Vita.
• Personal statement summarizing immediate and long-term professional goals, motivation for doctoral study, and a proposed area of research (1-2 pages, 12 point font).
• Three College of Graduate Studies reference forms and letters of reference that address research and scholarly potential and academic motivation.
• Interviews with two nursing faculty (scheduled via videoconference or telephone after the complete application package is recieved). 
• Computer literacy through experience or completed courses in  word processing, spreadsheets, database management, and presentation graphics.
• Applicants may submit other credentials which they believe reflect their abilities.

Acceptance decisions are made in February of each year for the fall admission, with notification mailed by March 1st.  Late applications (received after February 1st) will be considered on a space available basis after the March 1st notification mail out.  

Upon acceptance, all matriculated students are required to attend a one week campus residency, held July 21-25, 2008.

How to Apply

Students can apply online at http://www.musc.edu/em/admissions/apply.html

FAQs

Why should I apply to the MUSC College of Nursing?
The College of Nursing at the Medical University of South Carolina has a high quality, established doctoral program that has graduated successful nurse scientists who are recognized for their leadership by receipt of funded research, teaching in schools of nursing, and setting direction in health policy. Our experienced faculty guide you through coursework and the research process to facilitate your transition to nurse scientist. In addition, the MUSC College of Nursing has been a leader in online academic programs.

How does an online program differ from one that is campus-based?
The integrity of our doctoral coursework, mentoring, and interaction with faculty and students is preserved in our online doctoral program through the use of synchronous and asynchronous technology. The only thing that differs between an online and campus-based program is the method through which access is achieved – through advanced technology and yearly Residency programs. 

What is special about the Medical University of South Carolina?MUSC is an academic health sciences center ranked within the Top 100 in the nation for receipt of federal funding. With a focus on Translational Science – bench to bedside to community - nursing plays a critical role in transforming health care within the state and nation. With numerous funded research centers and special initiatives, the possibility for interprofessional collaboration to nurture student projects is tremendous!

What opportunities are open to me through the College of Graduate Studies?
All PhD students within the university are enrolled in the College of Graduate Studies and thus have access to their resources including faculty, pre-doctoral training grants, and laboratory experiences. Currently, on-campus students may participate in the interprofessional Southeastern Predoctoral Training in Clinical Research Program, one of 10 sites in the US to receive a NIH Roadmap grant to train students.

What is the focus of your program?
The foci of our program are vulnerable populations and community partnerships; students critically analyze and develop research, educational, policy and administrative strategies that address the needs of individuals, families, and communities and groups. Faculty researchers have an emphasis on community-based participatory research, with strengths also in clinical, epidemiological, and health systems investigation. Learn more about our doctoral faculty and their research interests.

Does your coursework allow for specialization?
With a commitment to prepare the next generation of nursing faculty, our doctoral students can take coursework in and have mentored teaching experiences with master educators and may chose to earn a Certificate in Health Care Education. Additionally, students interested in careers in health administration and health policy make take supplementary coursework and have mentored experiences with leaders in these fields (MS Nurse Administrator). All students are required to participate in mentored research experiences with faculty or associates who are engaged in funded research.

Who would be a good match for your program?
We seek to admit a small cadre of future leaders who bring diverse interests and experiences to our program. Alignment with faculty interests is key to establishing the necessary guidance for successful completion of the program.

How long will it take me to achieve the PhD?
The student with a Masters in Nursing can complete the Doctoral Program in three to four years of full-time study or four to five years of part-time study. Students entering with a BSN will take four years of full-time and five to six years of part-time study. All work applied toward the PhD must be completed within eight years of initial enrollment in the program. Doctoral level coursework may be transferred, pending approval after admission. Full and Part-time plans of study exist for both Post-BSN and Post-MS/MSN entry:

• Post BSN Full time
• Post BSN Part time
• Post MS/MSN Full time
• Post MS/MSN Part time

What is the access to faculty, mentors, and technology support?
Online students will have access to College of Nursing faculty and advisors through established “office hours” when synchronous communication can occur via videoconferencing, email, or telephone. Faculty and students may chose to make additional arrangements to meet. Technology support is available Monday – Friday via pager, email or phone.

You can also arrange for a mentor outside the MUSC faculty to be involved in your program of research! Students at a distance can use regional experts who will be designated as Distant Mentors and may apply for College of Graduate Studies status. If these individuals meet the criteria, they will be given Associate or Full membership in the College of Graduate Studies.

Can I receive financial aide?
Several avenues are open to students seeking support for their doctoral education. See information for applying for financial aid.

Gail A. Barbosa, ScD, RN Director of Doctoral Program Director of Online Education Associate Professor