MU requires a minimum of 72 credit hours, including 15 hours of 8000-9000 level coursework exclusive of readings, research, problems and independent study experiences, beyond the bachelor’s degree for the PhD. The student’s doctoral committee may recommend that up to 30 hours of post-baccalaureate graduate credit from a regionally accredited university be transferred toward the total hours required for the doctoral degree. All transfer credits are considered general electives. They cannot be used toward the 8000-level requirement but are considered as credit hours toward the completion of the degree. It is the responsibility of the doctoral committee to determine whether it is appropriate to transfer credit; however, the Office of Graduate Studies must make the final review of the transfer request to determine if the credit meets the minimum guidelines. Ultimately, the student’s doctoral committee, in collaboration with the student, determines the student’s plan of study and total credit hours necessary to adequately prepare the student to successfully complete their dissertation research. Typical post-baccalaureate student takes ~77 credits. Typical post-master’s student takes ~59. Typical post-clinical doctorate student takes ~48 credits.
The PhD program at the MU SSON can be completed in three to five years of full time study, depending on whether the student entered as a post-baccalaureate or a post-graduate degree student. International Residential PhD students are required to be enrolled in full-time study. Part-time study also is available for students in the Online option.
Overview of PhD Curriculum
Foundational Core (29-36 credit hours):
- Leadership & Technology Institute – 1 cr
- Responsible Conduct of Research – 1 cr
- Philosophical, Theoretical & Scientific Basis – 6-10 cr
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics &/or Data Science – 9 cr
- Research Design, Qualitative and Quantitative Methods – 9-12 cr
- Grant Writing – 3 cr
- On-campus Intensive Immersions (Residencies)
Individualized Specialty Area (27-39 credit hours):
- Research Focus Area seminars – 3-6 cr
- Innovations to Improve Health & Health Systems
- Symptom and Health Behavior Science
- Population Health & Health Disparities
- Special topics research seminars
- Faculty Mentored Research Practica – 6-9 cr
- Interdisciplinary Collateral Coursework – 6-12 cr
- Dissertation Research – 12 cr
- Electives (minimum 0 cr)
- Nurse Education Minor Option – 10 cr
- Leadership/Health System Innovation Minor Option – 9-12 cr
- Participatory Health Research Certificate Option – 15 cr
- Nursing & Health Applied Sciences (For BS-PhD only) – 9 cr
