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 What
is the purpose of the program?
This PhD
program is designed to prepare nurses as teachers of diverse student populations
in a variety of classroom and clinical settings within in academic programs. In
addition, nurses who complete this program will be well-prepared to establish
programs of scholarship.
What
can I do with a PhD in nursing besides teach?
While
this program is designed to address the nation’s shortage of qualified nursing
faculty, PhD-prepared nurses are employed in a wide variety of settings,
including health care systems, corporations offering health-care products and
services, research institutions, government agencies as well as their own
businesses.
How
many nurses in the United States have a PhD?
The best
data from the federal government suggest that fewer than one percent of American
nurses have doctoral degrees in nursing or a related field.
Will a
PhD allow me to do independent nursing research?
Yes. The
doctoral program is designed to provide students with the skills needed to
design and implement research projects, publish and prepare grants. New
graduates may enter academic systems at the entry level, that is, as assistant
professors. Some new faculty may find it necessary to work in collaboration
with senior investigators to get their research programs established. Upon
graduation some students who intend to focus on their programs of research may
undertake post-doctoral fellowships.
Which is
preferred--full-time or part-time study?
Students select full-time or part-time study based on their personal
circumstances.
How are the
distance learning courses scheduled?
Fall and spring distance learning courses are synchronous online seminars. They
are scheduled during two weekday evenings, Eastern U.S. time.
Do
applicants need prior preparation or experience in the field of nursing
education?
Students
need not come with preparation in the area of nursing education or with teaching
experience. The focus of their master’s degree is not a consideration.
How
many credits are required?
The
typical program of study entails 51 semester credits.
Where
can I find the curriculum plan?
The
program plan is included on this website.
How
long will it take to complete the program?
Full-time
students should be able to complete course work in just over two years.
Part-time students can complete course work in three years. Completion of
the dissertation requirement will probably take an additional two years, but may
be less depending on the study.
"The final reason I have chosen Villanova's program is because of the high quality of the institution which includes the expert faculty members, the comprehensive resources and the national recognition for the outstanding nurses that have graduated from the program over the years."
Cathy Poillon Lovecchio, PhD, RN
BSN '85, PhD 2008
Doctoral student
Will
there be opportunities for individual attention?
The
program is planned so that numbers remain relatively small and will facilitate
student-professor interaction.
Is
there a mentoring system in place for the program?
Doctoral
students will work closely with a faculty advisor until they select the primary
sponsor (chair) for their dissertation work. They will work closely with their
primary sponsor throughout completion of the program.
Are
any courses offered on-line?
In fact,
all fall and spring courses will be offered using various distance learning
technologies. Summer courses will be offered on campus during Summer Sessions,
using traditional modalities.
When did the program begin?
We began teaching the first group of students in June 2004. The first graduates completed the
program in Spring 2008.
When
are applications being accepted?
Complete
application packets for each annual cycle of admissions should be received by
January 15.
Is
there any financial assistance available?
Yes, you can obtain information about financial assistance at the Financial Assistance web site.
Can I still
work while in the program?
Most doctoral students are employed while in doctoral studies. Full-time
students typically work on a part-time basis. We strongly discourage full-time
students from attempting to work full-time. Full-time employees can study on a
part-time basis, and most of our students to date have been part-time.
What
practicum sites will be used?
Students in this program
will have a practicum experience in or related to nursing education. Students
with little or no experience as teachers will have a precepted teaching
experience; others may have an experience that focuses more on administration,
regulatory or accreditation processes or advocacy for nursing education.
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