University of Tennessee
Health Science Center
PhD and Dual DNP/PhD Programs
Carolyn Graff, PhD, RN
PhD in Nursing Science
Program Director
jgraff@uthsc.edu
901-448-6544
Topics:
• Which Program? PhD, DNP or dual
DNP/PhD
• Admissions process
• Faculty mentors and how to “match”
• Recent graduates and their research
• Curriculum schedule
• Expectations for graduation
• RA and TA opportunities
Which Program Is Right for Me?
• The PhD degree (with a focus in nursing)
prepares nurse scientists who contribute to the
development of scientific knowledge.
• The DNP program prepares nurses for the
practice degree in nursing.
– Options include: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care, Family
Nursing, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, Nurse
Anesthesia, Pediatric Nursing, Neonatal Nursing.
– Dual options include: Adult-Gerontology Acute
Care/Family Nursing; Psychiatric Mental Health/Family
Nursing.
Which Program is Right for Me?
• The dual DNP/PhD program provides highly
motivated and qualified students with an
integrated advanced clinical and research
program of study. Students focus on a clinical
research area in the PhD program and a clinical
specialty area in the DNP program.
• The combined program
– reduces the time normally required to complete both
degrees
– yields expert practice leaders who can contribute to the
development of scientific knowledge.
PhD Admissions:
Application Component
• Application materials must be submitted by February 1st (see
website for additional details)
• Be prepared to have identified three individuals who will
provide written references on letterhead addressing your
research capabilities
• Write an essay on your research and clinical interests and
why you are seeking to attain a PhD
• In the essay, address potential issues: poor grades one
term/course, switching schools, gaps in employment
Application Process
• Applications materials are submitted through
NursingCAS, an online, centralized application
system at http://www.nursingcas.org/
• Additional packet components:
– Official transcripts (must use NursingCAS transcript form)
– Official test scores (GRE)
– A proposed plan of study (if you have not yet completed all preprofessional courses)
– Copy of unencumbered RN license (scan/upload into NursingCAS)
– Current CPR card (scan/upload into NursingCAS)
•
Note: If accepted for admission, UTHSC will require official transcripts also be sent to the Office of Enrollment
Services.
DNP/PhD Application
• NursingCAS
– Prospective students apply to
the DNP Program through
NursingCAS. Specific
instructions are provided at the
NursingCAS portal at
http://nursingcas.org/
– Applicants must obtain
transcripts from every institution
to enter courses AND request
transcripts for NursingCAS to
verify coursework
Dual DNP/PhD Program
• If applying to the dual DNP/PhD program, must
be accepted first into the DNP program
concentration (e.g., family nursing, pediatric
nursing, psych-mental health nursing).
• You may be accepted into DNP but not PhD.
• If not accepted into DNP program, can request
application be considered for PhD program.
• Consider personally contacting DNP
concentration coordinator and PhD program
director before applying to the dual program.
Timelines
Deadlines for application:
• Jan. 15 - DNP/PhD program -- NursingCAS
•
•
•
•
•
Feb. 1-PhD program –NursingCAS
March-DNP/PhD applicants interviewed
March - PhD applicants interviewed
Apr -Applicants notified of admission decision
May -DNP/PhD Students' Letter of Intent and
$200 Guaranteed Enrollment Deposit due
• August-Classes begin
Admissions Questions?
• College of Nursing Office of Student Affairs:
Jamie Overton, Director of Student Affairs
Email: joverton@uthsc.edu
Phone: 901-448-6139
Shawn Boyd, Coordinator of Student Affairs
Email: sboyd15@uthsc.edu
901-448-6141
Roylynn Germain, Administrative Coordinator
Email: rgermain@uthsc.edu
Phone: 901-448-6125
Faculty Match for Research
• Two main areas of research:
– Bio-behavioral
– Health outcomes
• Match on population, concepts, methods
• Faculty who advise/chair dissertations
Bio-Behavioral and Health
Outcomes Researchers
Dr. Donna Hathaway
quality of life, transplant populations
Dr. Mona Wicks
caregiver health, burden, depressive
symptoms; minority
health/disparities
Bio-Behavioral
Researcher
Dr. Anne Alexandrov
Intracranial blood flow augmentation in
acute stroke, emergency and critical
care with concentrations in
neuroscience and vascular dynamics
Bio-Behavioral Researchers
Dr. Kristen H. Archbold
pediatric sleep, cognition, behavior,
transplant, and sleep
Dr. Patty Cowan
lifestyle effects on obesity,
cardiometabolic outcomes in teens/
adults with chronic illness
Bio-behavioral Researchers
Dr. Michael Carter
geriatrics, nursing home, pain
Dr. Carolyn Graff
intellectual and developmental
disability, parent-child interaction and
environment
Bio-Behavioral
Researcher
Dr. Wendy Likes
women’s health-gynecological
oncology, HPV/VIN, cytology, sexual
function, quality of life
Number of Students Accepted
• Accept 4-8 students yearly, based on
match and availability of faculty advisor
• Each advisor maximum of 3-5 students
mentored throughout program.
• Fall 2012, 2013, 2014: 17, 15, and 15
students in PhD in Nursing Science
Program, respectively
Recent Graduates
Dissertation Topics
1. Metabolic Syndrome, Inflammation, Heart Rate Variability and Fitness in Obese African
American Youth
2. Effect of Obesity on the Traditional and Emerging Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in
African American Women
3. Symbiotic Caregivers: A Qualitative Case Study of African American Custodial
Grandparents and Their Grandchildren
4. Evaluating the Impact of the Guatemalan Nursing Program on Staff, Organizational, and
Clinical Outcomes
5. Pain Management in Nursing Home Residents with Cancer and Dementia, with and
without Hospice Services
6. Characterizing Dietary intake and Physical Activity Affecting Weight Gain in Kidney
Transplant Recipients
7. Emergency Physicians’ Perspectives on the Usability of Health Information Exchange
8. Inflammatory Proteins, Genetic Variation, and Environmental Influences on Health CareAssociated Infection Development in Sepsis
9. The Relationship of Body Mass Index to Left Lower Extremity Bone Mineral Concentration
in Adolescents from NHANES 2002-2006
10. Spatial Distribution of Obesity Among West Virginia 5th Grader Children: Analysis of the
Socioeconomic, Physical, and Personal Environment
11. Nurses’ Information Appraisal within the Clinical Setting
12. Military Sexual Trauma Exposure and Heart Rate Variability Outcomes in Female
Veterans
Time to Graduation
• PhD student: can be full or part-time
– Majority graduate in < 4 years
– MSN prepared: 3 year curriculum
– BSN prepared: 3.5-4 year curriculum
• DNP/PhD students: full or part-time
– Reduces time to complete both programs
separately by ½ to 1 year (1-2 terms)
– Students entering with post-BSN and postMSN have varying sequence of courses
PhD Curriculum: Post-BSN
Year 1 Fall
Year 1 Spring
BIOE811 Biostatistics 4(3-1)
BIOE821 Biostatistics 4(3-1)
NSG912 Theory Construction and Analysis 3(3-0)
HOPN851 Health Policy 3(3-0)
NSG913 Qualitative Research Methods 3(3-0)
NSG934 Theoretical and Methodological Issues 2(2-0)
NSG919 Nursing Science Seminar 1(1-0) I
IDPT801 Integrity in the Conduct of Scientific Research 1(1-0)
Total 11 (10-1)
Total 10 (9-1)
Year 2 Fall
Year 2 Spring
BIOE:XXX Advance Statistical 3(3-0)
NSG 924 Scientific Dissemination 3(3-0)
NSG910 Theory and Philosophy 4(4-0)
NSG960 Directed Study or Elective 3(3-0)
NSG923 Quantitative Research Methods 3(3-0)
NSG900 Dissertation 3(3-0)
NSG919 Nursing Science Seminar 1(1-0)
XXX Elective 3(3-0)
NSG960 Directed Study or Elective 3(3-0)
Total 14 (14-0)
Total 12 (12-0)
Year 3 Fall
NSG 900 Dissertation 9(9-0)
NSG 960 Directed Study 3(3-0)
Total 12(12-0)
Year 3 Spring
NSG 900 Dissertation 9(9-0)
Total 9(9-0)
Year 4
Fall Year 4
NSG Dissertation 9(9-0)
Total program credit hours 77
NOTE: Courses selected for advanced statistics, electives, and directed study are based on development needs of the student and
decided in conjunction with the faculty advisor and dissertation committee.
PhD Curriculum: Post-MSN
Year 1 Fall
Year 1 Spring
BIOE811 Biostatistics 4(3-1)
NSG912 Theory Construction and Analysis 3(3-0)
NSG913 Qualitative Research Methods 3(3-0)
NSG919 Nursing Science Seminar 1(1-0) I
Total 12 (11-1)
BIOE821 Biostatistics 4(3-1)
HOPN851 Health Policy 3(3-0)
NSG934 Theoretical and Methodological Issues 2(2-0)
IDPT801 Integrity in the Conduct of Scientific Research 1(1-0)
Total 10 (9-1)
Year 2 Fall
Year 2 Spring
BIOE:XXX Advance Statistical 3(3-0)
NSG910 Theory and Philosophy 4(4-0)
NSG923 Quantitative Research Methods 3(3-0)
NSG919 Nursing Science Seminar 1(1-0)
NSG960 Directed Study or Elective 3(3-0)
Total 13 (13-0)
NSG 924 Scientific Dissemination 3(3-0)
NSG960 Directed Study or Elective 3(3-0)
NSG900 Dissertation 6(6-0)
Total 12 (12-0)
Year 3 Fall
Year 3 Spring
NSG 900 Dissertation 9(9-0)
Total 9(9-0)
NSG 900 Dissertation 9(9-0)
Total 9 (9-0)
Total program credit hours 65
NOTE: Courses selected for advanced statistics, electives, and directed study are based on development needs of the
student and decided in conjunction with the faculty advisor and dissertation committee.
DNP/PhD Curriculum: Full-Time
Year 1 Fall
BIOE811 Biostatistics 4(3-1)
NSG912 Theory Construction 3(3-0)
NSG913 Qualitative Research 3(3-0)
NSG919 Nursing Science Seminar 1(1-0) I
Total 11 (10-1)
Year 1 Spring
BIOE821 Biostatistics 4(3-1)
HOPR 851 Health Policy 3(3-0)
NSG934 Theoretical and Methodological Issues 2(2-0)
IDPT801 Integrity in the Conduct of Scientific Research 1(1-0)
Total 10 (9-1)
Year 2 Fall
BIOE712 Epidemiology3(3-0)
HOPR 877 Health Care Economics 3(3-0)
NSG910 Theory and Philosophy 4(4-0)
NSG919 Nursing Science Seminar 1(1-0)
NSG:923 Quantitative Research 3(3-0)
Total 14 (14-0)
Year 2 Spring
BIOEXXX Advanced Statistics 3(3-0)
NSG924 Scientific Dissemination 3(3-0)
NAPS Advanced Practice 4(2-2)
Total 10 (8-2)
Year 3 Fall
NSG819 Evaluation of Practice 3 (3-0)
NAPS Advanced Practice Specialty 4 (2-2)
NSG900 Dissertation 3(3-0)
Total 10 (8-2)
Year 3 Spring
NSG926 Synthesis Practicum 6(0-6)
NSG900 Dissertation 3(3-0)
Total 9 (3-6)
DNP awarded
Year 4 Fall
Dissertation 9(9-0)
Total 9 (9-0)
Year 4 Spring
Dissertation 9(9-0)
Total 9 (9-0)
Total Hours 82(72-10) 600* Clinical Hours
*Excludes lab hours in BIOE 811 and BIOE 821
PhD awarded
Time on Campus
• Throughout program: on-campus week beginning
and end of term (DNP, PhD, DNP/PhD programs)
• PhD courses: courses in first two terms meet
Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays face to face
of each week; distance technology available for
Thursday class
• Research can be conducted in Memphis or other
location
• DNP advanced practice clinical/selective
experiences in proximity where student resides.
Expectations for Graduation
• Candidacy exam after core PhD courses
completed (3rd or 4th term)
• Presentations and publications on literature
reviews, pilot studies
• Dissertation proposal
• Dissertation research (24 credits)
• Dissertation defense (final exam)
• Advanced practice credentialing exam
(DNP/PhD graduates)
RA/TA Opportunities
• Tuition waived for 6-8 hours of service
weekly
• RA/TA duties on a non-class day
• Examples of RA activities:
– recruit/participate research of faculty
– data entry
– literature reviews
– developing posters, abstracts, presentations
– assist with on-line or face-to-face course
We take great pride in
our students’
accomplishments and
look forward to their
continued contributions
to the improvement of
health care following
graduation.
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