Program Prerequisites
Students with a variety of nursing backgrounds may apply to the Ph.D. program. Additional prerequisites may be required depending on the previous degrees held.
- Applicants with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from an NLN-accredited School of Nursing who present an exceptional academic record may apply directly to the Ph.D. program without having completed a Master of Science in Nursing degree. Applicants without a Master's degree in nursing are required, in the first year of Ph.D. level coursework, to complete 15 semester credits in Master's level coursework to include content in: nursing theory, scientific research methods, statistics, and graduate level didactic content of clinical practice course(s).
- Applicants holding a BSN and a Master's degree in a field other than nursing, who have completed courses containing the content noted above, may pursue exemption from repeating this content in the Ph.D. program. A transcript validating completion of the equivalent course(s) and a syllabus for each non-UNC course submitted for exemption consideration are required for review.
- Applicants with a Master of Science in Nursing degree from an NLN-accredited School of Nursing, and have no additional coursework required if the content listed above was completed as part of the applicant's MSN program*. Students who have completed an RN to MSN program and are without a bachelor's degree in any field may need to submit additional documentation about the curriculum of their RN to MSN program. Please contact the Office of Admissions and Student Services for details.
- Exception*: Students who have not completed a master's level statistics course prior to admission, must enroll in NURS 777 during the first year of doctoral study. All students who completed a master's level statistics course must take the Statistics Placement Test. The results of this test will determine whether NURS 777 is required or exempted.
