The South Carolina Experience
“The executive model implemented for the Ph.D. program is innovative and will open up the opportunity for more nurses interested in seeking a doctoral degree. The faculty in the College of Nursing is committed to the success of the students, and their dedication is evident.”
Beth Schultz, Ph.D. gaduate and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholar
Curriculum Entry
The Ph.D. program offers four entrance pathways:
- DNP entry. About 39 hours of required coursework.
- MSN entry. About 57 hours of required coursework.
- BSN entry. About 75 hours of required coursework.
- Master’s degree in another field entry. About 57 hours of required coursework plus master’s-level nursing courses.
Fall semester 1
- NURS 800 - Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Science
- NURS 804 - The Role of the Nurse Scientist
Spring semester 2
- NURS 801 - Theory Analysis and Application for Nursing Science
- NURS 810 - Nursing Research Methods I
Summer semester 3
- NURS 817 - Application of Statistics for Evidence Based Nursing Practice
Fall semester 4
- NURS 811 - Nursing Research Methods II
- NURS 870 - Grant Proposal Development
Spring semester 5
- NURS 803 - Scientific Knowledge in Nursing
- NURS 813 - Nursing Research Methods III
- NURS 898 - Research Internship +
Summer semester 6 *
Fall semester 7
- NURS 899 - Dissertation Preparation **
Spring semester 8
- NURS 899 - Dissertation Preparation **
Fall semester 7
- NURS 899 - Dissertation Preparation **
Spring semester 8
- NURS 899 - Dissertation Preparation **
TOTAL 39 credit hours
+research immersion with mentor faculty
*Qualifying/Candidacy Exam is taken after completion of all core courses (may be taken summer semester)
**N899 plan to be developed with the Ph.D. chair (may take longer than 2 semesters)
Fall semester 1
- NURS 800 - Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Science
- NURS 804 - The Role of the Nurse Scientist
Spring semester 2
- NURS 801 - Theory Analysis and Application for Nursing Science
- NURS 810 - Nursing Research Methods I
Summer semester 3
- NURS 817 - Application of Statistics for Evidence Based Nursing Practice
- Elective
Fall semester 4
- NURS 811 - Nursing Research Methods II
- NURS 870 - Grant Proposal Development
- Elective
Spring semester 5
- NURS 803 - Scientific Knowledge in Nursing
- NURS 813 - Nursing Research Methods III
- NURS 898 - Research Internship +
Summer semester 6 *
- Elective
- Elective
- Elective
Fall semester 7
- NURS 899 - Dissertation Preparation **
Spring semester 8
- NURS 899 - Dissertation Preparation **
Summer semester 9
- NURS 899 - Dissertation Preparation **
Fall semester 10
- NURS 899 - Dissertation Preparation **
TOTAL 57 credit hours
+research immersion with mentor faculty
*Qualifying/Candidacy Exam is taken after completion of all core courses (may be taken summer semester)
**N899 plan to be developed with the Ph.D. chair
Fall semester 1
- NURS 800 - Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Science
- NURS 804 - The Role of the Nurse Scientist
Spring semester 2
- NURS 801 - Theory Analysis and Application for Nursing Science
- NURS 810 - Nursing Research Methods I
Summer semester 3
- NURS 817 - Application of Statistics for Evidence Based Nursing Practice
- Elective
- Elective
Fall semester 4
- NURS 811 - Nursing Research Methods II
- NURS 870 - Grant Proposal Development
- Elective
Spring semester 5
- NURS 803 - Scientific Knowledge in Nursing
- NURS 813 - Nursing Research Methods III
- NURS 898 - Research Internship +
Summer semester 6 *
- Elective
- Elective
Fall semester 7
- NURS 899 - Dissertation Preparation **
Spring semester 8
- NURS 899 - Dissertation Preparation **
Summer semester 9
- NURS 899 - Dissertation Preparation **
Fall semester 10
- NURS 899 - Dissertation Preparation **
TOTAL 57-66 credit hours
+research immersion with mentor faculty
*Qualifying/Candidacy Exam is taken after completion of all core courses (may be taken summer semester)
**N899 plan to be developed with the Ph.D. chair
NOTE: Non-MSN master’s entry students who do not have beginning level graduate courses in nursing theory (NURS 700), research (NURS 790), or statistics equivalent (NURS 717) to those required in the UofSC College of Nursing Master of Science in Nursing degree program will need to complete these courses prior to beginning the PhD core courses.
Fall semester 1
- NURS 700 - Theoretical and Conceptual Foundation for Nursing A
- NURS 717 - Application of Basic Statistics for Nursing Practice and Service Management B
- MSN course
Spring semester 2
- NURS 790 - Research Methods for Nursing A
- MSN course
- MSN course
Summer semester 3
- Elective
- Elective
Fall semester 4
- NURS 800 - Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Science
- NURS 804 - The Role of the Nurse Scientist
Spring semester 5
- NURS 801 - Theory Analysis and Application for Nursing Science
- NURS 810 - Nursing Research Methods I
Summer semester 6
- NURS 817 - Application of Statistics for Evidence Based Nursing Practice
- Elective
- Elective
Fall semester 7
- NURS 811 - Nursing Research Methods II
- NURS 870 - Grant Proposal Development
- Elective
Spring semester 8
- NURS 803 - Scientific Knowledge in Nursing
- NURS 813 - Nursing Research Methods III
- NURS 898 - Research Internship +
Summer semester 9 *
Fall semester 10
- NURS 899 - Dissertation Preparation **
Spring semester 11
- NURS 899 - Dissertation Preparation **
Summer semester 12
- NURS 899 - Dissertation Preparation **
Fall semester 13
- NURS 899 - Dissertation Preparation **
TOTAL 75 credit hours
Aindicates A term, Bindicates B term. If not noted, full semester course.
+research immersion with mentor faculty
*Qualifying/Candidacy Exam is taken after completion of all core courses (may be taken summer semester)
**N899 plan to be developed with the Ph.D. chair (may take longer than 2 semesters)
Contact the Nursing Ph.D. Program Office
Have additional questions about the Ph.D. Program?
Call us at 803-777-9173, email or stop by our office:
Williams-Brice Building, Room 208
1601 Greene Street
Columbia, SC 29208