Course Descriptions
Pathway courses (NUR 800-803)
The pathway courses offer series one-credit hour courses relative to the development of the nurse scholar. The pathway courses include four seminar/online-hybrid courses for four consecutive semesters, one-credit hour each semester.
The first course focuses on a “NUR 800 Pathway to Scholarship.”
This course is designed to provide learners with the opportunity to engage in discussion surrounding professional development as a scholar. Learners engage in discussion regarding models of scholarship, relationships between scholarship and the profession, and the application of scholarship. Scholarly writing and presentation skills are also cultivated in this course. Prerequisite: Admission to the program (1 – hour)
The second course focuses on “NUR 801 Pathway to Scholarly Writing”
This course is designed to provide learners with the opportunity to engage in scholarly writing. The emphasis is on the process of producing a manuscript for submission to a referred journal. Prerequisite: NUR 800 (1 – hour)
The third course focuses on “ NUR 802 Pathway to Grant Writing”
This course is designed to provide learners with the knowledge and skills necessary to develop a grant proposal. Throughout the course, learners explore the various funding opportunities for nursing research, educational training, and programmatic initiatives. The emphasis is placed on the evaluation of grant proposals and learning the stages of grant writing. The course culminates with the development of a grant proposal related to the learner’s area of scholarly inquiry. Prerequisite NUR 801 (1 – hour)
The fourth course focuses on “NUR 803 Pathway to Success as a Nurse Scholar”
This course is designed for analysis and evaluation of strategies that facilitate knowledge dissemination. The course culminates in the development of a proposed plan for dissemination of dissertation research and successive scholarly endeavors. Prerequisite: NUR 802 (1 – hour)
NUR 805 Quantitative Research in Nursing, Education, and Health Care
This course builds on a master's level knowledge of the quantitative research process by providing an in-depth analysis of quantitative research methodology. The course includes formulation of research questions and hypotheses that are supported by an in-depth critical review of the literature and a conceptual or theoretical framework and analysis of quantitative research designs, sampling strategies and sample size estimation, data collection methods and planning for data analysis. Emphasis is also placed on the design and critique of nursing clinical trials and epidemiologic, educational, and social science studies. Co-requisite: NUR 807 (3 – hours)
NUR 806 Qualitative Research in Nursing, Health Care, and Education
The purpose of this course is to examine the philosophical, historical, and theoretical foundations and epistemological perspectives of qualitative research. The course focuses on engaging the learner in activities that enhance the practical application of a wide range of methodological and analytical research techniques. Learners examine ethical and scientific issues related to the research process. Integral to this course is the emphasis upon the collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of qualitative data. Prominence is given to the use of qualitative approaches in theory development and the contribution of qualitative research to expanding nursing knowledge. Prerequisite: Admission to the program; Co-requisite recommended: NUR 812 (3 – hours)
NUR 807 Applied Statistical Methods
This course is designed to provide students with a graduate-level foundation in statistical design and analysis of data. Students learn to use a statistical software program for data entry and analysis. The focus is on bivariate and multivariate regression and correlations, principles of variance and covariance, univariance ANOVA, multiple ANOVA, ANCOVA, and repeated measures ANOVA. Throughout the course, the emphasis is on the application of these methods in the analysis of healthcare and educational related data. Prerequisite: Admission to the program (4 – hours)
NUR 808 Principles of Measurement in Research
This course provides knowledge base and experience in the inductive and deductive process for constructing and evaluating instruments to measure psychosocial, behavioral, biophysiological, and clinical phenomena in nursing. Students have the opportunity to locate, select, and evaluate instruments for use in research. Key aspects of measuring reliability and validity are examined. Prerequisite: NUR 805, NUR 807 (3 – hours)
NUR 809 Mixed Methods Research in Nursing, Education, and Health Care
This course provides a foundation in mixed methods research with an emphasis on applicability to nursing, health care and higher education. Building on knowledge acquired from the quantitative and qualitative research courses, learners explore select phenomena of interest from a mixed methods research approach. Attention is directed to mixed methods design selection, data collection, analyses, and discussion of findings. Implications and opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration on research projects utilizing mixed methods research are also addressed. Prerequisite: NUR 805, NUR 806 (3 – hours)
NUR 810 Ethics in Health Care and Research
This course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to critically examine ethical issues and dilemmas encountered in health care delivery and research. Students will explore intersections of personal convictions, professional responsibilities, legal obligations, and situational dilemmas utilizing a variety of interdisciplinary approaches. Classic and current bioethics literature will be referenced throughout the course. Prerequisite: Admission to the program (2 – hours)
NUR 811 Philosophical Influences on Nursing Science
The purpose of this course is to explore the structure of science by analyzing historical and contemporary ways of knowing. An examination of the epistemological and ontological underpinnings of science enables the student to consider the strengths and limitations of science. The course provides an opportunity to explore challenges and controversies in developing nursing knowledge and nursing. Prerequisite: Admission to the program (2 – hours)
NUR 812 Knowledge and Theory Development in Nursing
The purpose of this course is to explore the scholarly development of the discipline of nursing. Historical, contemporary, educational, scientific, and professional influences on the development of theoretical knowledge in nursing are explored. Various methods of theory development are examined with emphasis on the skills needed for theory analysis and theory development. The development and analysis of theory in nursing and methods for derivation of concepts and theories to generate nursing knowledge are examined. The conceptual basis of selected nurse theorists is analyzed. The relationship between research and clinical practice to theory generation and testing is explored. Prerequisite: Admission to the program; NUR 811 (2 – hours)
NUR 814 Health Care Systems Analysis
The purpose of this course is to provide students the opportunity to critically assess economic, cultural, political, and sociological factors which influence health care and health care policy. Health systems and health policies are specifically addressed as they impact nursing education, practice, and research. Prerequisite: Admission to the program (2 – hours)
NUR 815 Dissertation Guidance
Students work independently with faculty on his/her approved dissertation proposal. May be repeated as often as necessary until successful dissertation defense. Prerequisites: Successful completion of other core courses. Prerequisite: Successful completion of other core courses(Variable 3-6 credit hours)
Independent Study in Nursing
An elective course which gives the student an opportunity to explore a topic of special interest. Prerequisite: Admission to the program (Variable 1-3 credit hours)
Cognate Series Courses
Cognate courses are designed for students to study specifically in their area of research interest. The College of Nursing offers a cognate series for doctoral students with foundational and advanced applications in nursing by offering directed programs of study in one of three areas of concentration: Clinical Scholarship, Education, or Ethics. The student will choose the cognate series which most closely corresponds with her/his chosen area of interest. This focus will provide the student with the opportunity to work with faculty members from nursing or related disciplines with expertise in the selected area. Students shall consult with their advisors for selection of cognate courses. Prerequisite: Admission to the program.
Cognate Series: Ethics
A student who completes the cognate series in ethics at the doctoral level is expected to apply ethical principles to contemporary moral dilemmas and issues in nursing and related disciplines. By choosing the cognate series in ethics, the student will incorporate advanced knowledge of ethics, bioethics and nursing ethics into the development of innovative practice, education, or research strategies. Prerequisite: Admission to the program.
Cognate Series: Clinical Scholarship
The clinical scholarship cognate series provides the student with the opportunity to integrate advanced knowledge and clinical experience for informed, intelligent and clinically grounded analyses of nursing problems. The student will be encouraged to incorporate interdisciplinary resources for in-depth research aimed at improving nursing care and achieving positive health outcomes in their chosen specialty area. Prerequisite: Admission to the program.
Cognate Series: Education
The education cognate will focus on advanced knowledge to prepare the student for increasing responsibility as educational leaders and scholars in the rapidly changing and complex environments of academe, health care, government or accreditation agencies and organizations.