PhD Courses and Curriculum

Ways to Study

  • On-Campus

Course Offerings

Required Courses

NURS 903 Scientific Reasoning I: Defining and Articulating a Researchable Nursing Problem

This course introduces scientific reasoning, methods and ethical principles guiding scientific inquiry. Includes an introductory review of the literature and formulation of a researchable problem and purpose statement within a focused area of nursing inquiry. Corequisite: All first semester core courses in PhD program; offered every fall semester, 2 credits.

NURS 904 Scientific Reasoning II: Creating and Articulating Specific Aims

This course explores the structure and scientific premise of investigation through construction of Specific Aims using the National Institutes of Health guidelines for a grant application. Prerequisite: All first semester core courses in PhD program; Corequisite: All second semester core courses in PhD program; offered every spring semester, 1 credit.

NURS 905 Scientific Reasoning III: Articulating Significance and Innovation

This course provides foundational knowledge and methods needed to situate a particular scientific question within the current state of the science and create an argument for scientific innovation. Prerequisite: All first-semester core courses in PhD program; Scientific Reasoning II; Corequisite: All second semester core courses in PhD program; offered every spring semester, 1 credit.

NURS 906 Scientific Reasoning IV: Crafting Methods and Analysis to Meet Specific Aims

This course focuses on knowledge and application of foundational scientific theory, design, methods and analysis to the creation of a research proposal within the National Institutes of Health proposal model. Prerequisite: All first semester, and 10-week second semester core courses in PhD program; Corequisite: PhD Seminar II; offered every spring semester, 2 credits.

NURS 908 Carolina PhD Seminar I: Introduction to Nursing Science and Syndemics

This course introduces the ontological and epistemological basis of nursing science and the application of syndemic thinking as a lens for conducting nursing science. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the SON PhD program; Corequisite: All first semester core courses in PhD program; offered every fall semester; 2 credits.

NURS 909 Carolina PhD Seminar II: Biological, Physiological, Psychological, and Behavioral Determinants of Health

This course examines the biological, physiological, psychological, and behavioral determinants of health and their interactions. Prerequisite: All first semester core courses in PhD program; Corequisite: All second semester core courses in PhD program; offered every spring, 2 credits.

NURS 910 Carolina PhD Seminar III: Social Determinants of Health

This course examines social determinants of health at multiple levels, and their interactions, and characteristics that differentiate structural from non-structural social determinants. Prerequisite: All first semester core courses in PhD program; offered every fall, 2 credits.

NURS 911 Carolina PhD Seminar IV: Synthesizing Multiple Determinants of Health, Syndemics, and Nursing Science

This course evaluates the interplay among biological, physiological, psychological, behavioral, and social determinants, whether the relationships are consistent with a syndemics framework, and the potential for novel relationships across determinants in these areas to advance nursing science. Prerequisite: All first-year core courses in PhD program; Carolina Core Seminar III; offered every spring, 2 credits.

NURS 913 Knowledge Synthesis I: Organizing & Evaluating Evidence

This course develops students’ competence in identifying, organizing and critiquing the evidence in a focused area. Prerequisite: Successful completion of Scientific Reasoning I; Corequisite: PhD Lab I; offered every fall semester, 1 credit.

NURS 914 Knowledge Synthesis II: Disseminating Evidence

This course continues to develop the knowledge synthesis with a focus on synthesizing the evidence and writing the review for publication. Prerequisite: Successful completion of Knowledge Synthesis I; Corequisite: PhD Lab II; offered every spring, 1 credit.

NURS 912 Theoretical Foundations of Scientific Inquiry

This course develops student competence in analyzing and applying philosophical and theoretical orientations in the conduct and critique of scientific and scholarly work. Corequisite: All Core Courses in Fall, Y1 of the Program; offered every fall, 2 credits.

NURS 916 Design, Measurement, and Analysis I: Descriptive and Associational Research

This course offers an in-depth examination of quantitative and qualitative descriptive and associational research, including design, sampling, measurement, data collection, data analysis, and interpretation of results. Corequisite: All Core Courses in Fall, Y1 of the Program; offered every fall, 4 credits.

NURS 917 Design, Measurement, and Analysis II: Explanatory and Predictive Research

This course offers an in-depth examination of qualitative and quantitative explanatory and predictive research, including design, sampling, measurement, data collection, data analysis, and interpretation of results. Corequisite: All Core Courses in Fall, Y2 of the Program; offered every spring, 4 credits.

NURS 918 Intermediate Statistics: Regression Analysis

This course focuses on the use of advanced regression techniques to analyze various types of response variables with multiple predictors, interaction terms, or longitudinal data. Prerequisite: Design, Measurement and Analysis I and II; offered every fall, 3 credits.

NURS 924 Experiential Learning I

This course serves as a synthesis hub to guide students in developing the cognitive and psychomotor skills needed to search the scientific literature, develop conceptual models, analyze data, and interpret findings. Corequisite: All first semester core courses in PhD program; offered every fall, 1 credit.

NURS 925 Experiential Learning II

This course serves as a synthesis hub to guide students in developing the cognitive and psychomotor skills needed to complete a knowledge synthesis, hone select grant writing skills, analyze data, and interpret findings. Prerequisite: All first semester core courses in PhD program; Corequisite: All second semester core courses in PhD program; offered every spring, 1 credit.

NURS 985 Research Seminar & Practicum: Guided Individual Research Experience

Directs students to develop research skills related to dissertation and future research. Minimum of 3 credits required; offered every spring and fall semester and both summer sessions; 1-3 credits.

NURS 994 Dissertation

Dissertation credits. Minimum of 6 credits required; offered every spring and fall semester and both summer sessions; 3 credits.

ELECTIVES

NURS 671 Nursing Inquiry to Advance Evidence-Based Practice and Scholarship

This course is an introduction to scientific inquiry, evidence-based practice, and nursing/healthcare innovations. Emphasis is on: theory, ethics, problem identification, question development, design selection, data analysis and interpretation, statistical applications, and appraisal of research reports. Prerequisite: admission to an undergraduate BSN program and eligible to take required undergraduate nursing research course; the Hillman Scholars program; or PhD in Nursing Program; 3 credits.

NURS 675 Hillman Scholars in Nursing Innovation: Integrative Seminar

Prerequisite: Admission to the Hillman Scholars Program in Nursing Innovation. This seminar will cultivate personal and professional skills essential for students’ development and socialization as nurse innovators, leaders, researchers, and scholars. Content is iterative and progressive in depth and scope. Offered every fall and spring semester; 1 credit.

NURS 899 Special Topics

Independent study with an authority in the field. Elective; offered every spring and fall semester and both summer sessions. Offered every fall and spring semesters, and both summer sessions; 1-6 credits.

NURS 901 Clinical Scholars in Nursing Innovation I

Prerequisite: Students must be Hillman Scholars; licensed as an RN in North Carolina, and enrolled full-time in the PhD program. The first of two courses designed to enhance scholars’ understanding of nursing practice and care delivery within clinical microsystems. Students engage in individualized, precepted clinical experiences and guided scholarly reflection. Offered every fall semester, 6 credits.

NURS 902 Clinical Scholars in Nursing Innovation II

Prerequisite: NURS 901. Second sequential course for doctoral students designed to extend scholars’ understanding of nursing practice and develop identity as a nurse scientist. Scholars engage in individualized, precepted clinical experiences and guided scholarly reflection. Offered every spring semester; 6 credits.

NURS 915 Health Organization Policy

Examines interrelated changes in nursing, ethical and legal expectations, and the organization of health care and health policy. Ways that nurse leaders in health care organizations adapt to and challenge public policies throughout the policymaking process and consequences for organizations and for health, practice, research and education are explored. Offered as needed; 3 credits.

NURS 928 Organizational Theories

Examines the major theoretical paradigms, perspectives, and issues in organization theory, particularly as applied to organizations providing health care services. Offered as needed; 3 credits.

NURS 930 Children at Risk: Prenatal Period Through Emerging Young Adulthood

This course will apply ecological and developmental perspectives to research with children at risk for conditions that threaten life and quality of life, and resilience under risk. Emphasis is on critically evaluating conceptual models, designs and methods, and responsible conduct of research that aims to understand, prevent or manage risk. Offered as needed; 3 credits.

NURS 932 Families and Health

Explores theoretical, methodological, and ethical issues related to research in families and health across the life span. Content includes family research related to health promotion, risk reduction, vulnerability, and health risk, and the family in the context of acute and chronic illness. Cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic issues are included. Offered as needed; 3 credits.

NURS 933 Health Care Quality and Patient Outcomes: Conceptual and Empirical Approaches

Prerequisite: NURS 976 or permission of instructor. Examines literature on quality of care – effectiveness, safety, efficiency, equity, timeliness and patient-centeredness. Critically evaluates conceptual frameworks, research designs, sources of data, analytic approaches, and implications for health care policy. Offered as needed; 3 credits.

NURS 950 Analysis of the Academic Role in Nursing Education

This course examines knowledge, theories and skills necessary for transition into an academic teaching role in university schools of nursing. Particular emphasis on the teaching-learning process as utilized in higher education. Elective; offered every other spring semester, odd years; 3 credits.

NURS 951 Mentored Teaching Practicum

Prerequisite: NURS 875 or NURS 950 or permission of the instructor. Provides doctoral students with a mentored teaching experience through which educational theory and methods can be applied while engaging in teaching activities with the mentor. The practicum will provide opportunities to analyze course design, implement objectives, evaluate student competencies and practice a variety of teaching methods: Offered every fall and spring semester and both summer sessions; 1-3 credits; may be repeated for up to 3 credits in total.

NURS 957 From Theory to Intervention

Prerequisite: NURS 912 or graduate level theory course. In-depth exploration of selected programmatic research in nursing and related fields on prevention and management of chronic conditions in order to generate and evaluate treatment theory and intervention protocol. Offered every fall semester; 3 credits.

NURS 958 Designing Intervention Studies

Prerequisite: NURS 957 or permission of instructor. Examines methodological, ethical, and practical issues in the design and implementation of theory-based intervention studies. Offered every spring semester; 3 credits.

NURS 968 Writing the Pre-/Post-Doctoral Training Plan for a Research-Intensive Career

This course explores components of and rationale for a pre-/post-doctoral training plan and its relevance for planning a research-intensive career. Students will write a personalized training plan following grant criteria. Prerequisite: Graduate status or permission of the instructor; completion of all first semester core courses in PhD program; permission of primary mentor; offered every summer; 2 credits.

NURS 979 Qualitative Analysis

Prerequisite: NURS 977 or equivalent doctoral level qualitative methods course. Emphasizes the work of analysis and interpretation. Students apply relevant qualitative techniques to their own data. Offered as needed; 3 credits.

Updated July 2019

PhD Curriculum Map

First Year

Second Year Specialization

Third Year (And Beyond) Dissertation

Course Sequencing

This course sequencing applies to the new curriculum, beginning fall 2020. Curriculum Courses for our PhD program will be offered at the following times:

Every Fall +

NURS 671      Nursing Inquiry to Advance Evidence-Based Practice and Scholarship

NURS 675      Hillman Scholars in Nursing Innovation: Integrative Seminar

NURS 899      Special Topics

NURS 901      Clinical Scholars in Nursing Innovation I

NURS 903      Scientific Reasoning I: Defining and Articulating a Researchable Nursing Problem

NURS 908      Carolina PhD Seminar I: Introduction to Nursing Science and Syndemics

NURS 910      Carolina PhD Seminar III: Social Determinants of Health

NURS 912      Theoretical Foundations of Scientific Inquiry

NURS 913      Knowledge Synthesis I: Organizing & Evaluating Evidence

NURS 916      Design, Measurement, and Analysis I: Descriptive and Associational Research

NURS 918      Intermediate Statistics: Regression Analysis

NURS 924      Experiential Learning I

NURS 951      Mentored Teaching Practicum

NURS 957      From Theory to Intervention

NURS 985      Research Seminar & Practicum: Guided Individual Research Experience

NURS 994      Dissertation

Every Spring +

NURS 675      Hillman Scholars in Nursing Innovation: Integrative Seminar

NURS 899      Special Topics

NURS 902      Clinical Scholars in Nursing Innovation II

NURS 904      Scientific Reasoning II: Creating and Articulating Specific Aims

NURS 905      Scientific Reasoning III: Articulating Significance and Innovation

NURS 906      Scientific Reasoning IV: Crafting Methods and Analysis to Meet Specific Aims

NURS 909      Carolina PhD Seminar II: Biological, Physiological, Psychological, and Behavioral Determinants of Health

NURS 911      Carolina PhD Seminar IV: Synthesizing Multiple Determinants of Health, Syndemics, and Nursing Science

NURS 914      Knowledge Synthesis II: Disseminating Evidence

NURS 917      Design, Measurement, and Analysis II: Explanatory and Predictive Research

NURS 925      Experiential Learning II

NURS 951      Mentored Teaching Practicum

NURS 958      Designing Intervention Studies

NURS 985      Research Seminar & Practicum: Guided Individual Research Experience

NURS 994      Dissertation

Every Summer +

NURS 899      Special Topics

NURS 951      Mentored Teaching Practicum

NURS 968      Writing the Pre-/Post-Doctoral Training Plan for a Research-Intensive Career

NURS 985      Research Seminar & Practicum: Guided Individual Research Experience

NURS 994      Dissertation

Electives Offered as Needed +

NURS 915      Health Organization Policy

NURS 928      Organizational Theories

NURS 930      Children at Risk: Prenatal Period Through Emerging Young Adulthood

NURS 932      Families and Health

NURS 933      Health Care Quality and Patient Outcomes: Conceptual and Empirical Approaches

NURS 950      Analysis of the Academic Role in Nursing Education (every other spring, odd years)

NURS 979      Qualitative Analysis

Updated July 2019