Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 Graduate Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Nursing (Doctor of Philosophy)


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Academic Programs of Study

The Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing program is designed to develop student’s ability to conduct research and provide leadership through scientific inquiry. Students will gain confidence in the role of nurse researcher, faculty, leader, and scholar while building a strong foundation in theory development, nursing research methods, and approaches to the development of new knowledge. Students choose a research focus based on a nursing practice problem or an educational issue. 

Nurses with doctorate degrees are in high demand as our country’s population ages and increasingly complex global health nursing issues emerge. With our forward-thinking, patient-centered nursing education program, Endicott College prepares students to lead the way in nursing practice, research, and academia.

Highlights include:

• Hybrid learning model with flexible meeting schedules during evening hours and weekends 
• Individualized advising 
• Skilled mentoring for nursing doctoral dissertation writing

Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (Ph.D.) Program Mission
Situated within the School of Nursing, the mission of the Ph.D. in Nursing program is to develop nursing scholars, faculty, leaders and researchers who can provide leadership through scientific inquiry. The Ph.D. program addresses the critical nursing shortage to prepare nurse scholars and researchers with the analytical skills to both enhance and develop new nursing knowledge. Graduates of the program will acquire the knowledge and skill to function as nurse leaders, scholars and researchers. Doctoral studies build upon the knowledge and skills acquired in Baccalaureate and Master degree programs in nursing. The program will emphasize and explore the interrelationships among theory, research, and nursing practice. The Ph.D. program is built upon the belief that the field of nursing can be expanded using knowledge from within and outside the discipline of nursing through the careful selection, integration, and expansion of interdisciplinary knowledge and its application to the practice of nursing with the ultimate goal to advance nursing practice.

The Ph.D. program uses the National League for Nursing (2010) Competency Model with the following defined outcomes for the Research Doctorate level:

     • Human Flourishing

     • Nursing Judgment

     • Professional Identity, and

  • Spirit of Inquiry

The four dimensions constitute the framework for the program. Program and course learning objectives are congruent with the NLN Competency Model outcomes for a Research Doctorate. In addition, Kim’s (1983; 2011) Conceptual Model for Nursing Practice helps to frame the domains of practice. Kim’s Domains of Client, Client and Nurse, and Practice provide structure for Ph.D. nursing courses that can be related to the NLN (2010) Competency Model outcomes of Nursing Judgment and Human Flourishing. The NLN Competency Model outcomes of Professional Identity and Spirit of Inquiry provide definitions and support for Ph.D. nursing courses in Philosophy, Theory Development and Research. The program graduates will be rigorously prepared to pursue careers in research environments and as leaders of the profession.

References

Kim, H.S. (2011) The Nature of Theoretical Thinking in Nursing, (3rd Edition), New York, Springer Publishing

AACN, (2010) The Research-Focused Doctoral Program in Nursing: Pathways to Excellence.

 

Program Overview
The Ph.D. program integrates technology across the curriculum. The courses will be delivered through a blended hybrid model with online synchronous, asynchronous,  and face-to-face activities at the Beverly campus using the Canvas platform. This model appeals to busy professionals who are seeking a rigorous doctoral educational experience in a convenient and modern format.

Students are expected to complete a minimum of 45 credits beyond the master’s degree. Reflecting the interdisciplinary intent of the program at least 9 credits must be taken beyond the core nursing courses in research methods. The curriculum is organized within four components of the National League for Nursing (NLN) Competency Model (2010): Spirit of Inquiry, Professional Identity, Human Flourishing, and Nursing Judgment and is designed to meet the competency for each category. Underpinning the curriculum is the synthesis of knowledge related to nursing theory, research, practice, teaching and collaboration across disciplines.

 

Program Components

Phase I.

Students accepted to the Ph.D. program will be admitted in cohort groups. Students will complete 45 required credits of coursework in Spirit of Inquiry that is addressed in the core required nursing courses and research methods. The nursing courses lay the theoretical groundwork for knowledge development and include courses in philosophy of science, theory basis for nursing science, and analytical approaches to reasoning. Research supporting analytical approaches will also be explored. The core research method courses, including qualitative and quantitative research, provide in-depth review of research inquiry and various methodological approaches to study phenomena. A minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.3 must be maintained at all times. 

Phase II. 
In Phase II of the Ph.D. program, all students are required to pass a comprehensive exam that is based on the core courses. Students will take the exam when all the required courses are completed. Students must pass the exam before beginning Phase III. The Director of the Doctoral Program will write and evaluate the comprehensive exam. A student will advance to Phase III-Doctoral Candidate after successfully completing the comprehensive exam. 


Phase III-Doctoral Candidate. 
This is the final phase of the program and includes the completion of a dissertation. By enrolling in - NUR 760 Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation Advisement and Doctoral Seminar (12 credits) for 1-12 credits a semester. The dissertation is research-based and must include original research. Students will develop dissertation proposals in consultation with their dissertation committee. 

Admission Requirements


Doctoral applicants are required to have earned a master’s degree from an accredited college or university. Candidates for the doctoral program must apply to the Endicott College using the online application found at endicott.edu/admission/information-for-graduate-students/apply ​. General application requirements for all doctoral programs include submission of:

  • Official transcripts of all post-secondary academic work sent directly from the institution(s) including confirmation of undergraduate degree, date confirmed, and any other graduate work;
  • Non-refundable $50.00 application fee (check made payable to Endicott College, cash or online) Application fee waived for veteran and military students;
  • Current resume and/or curriculum vitae;
  • Three letters of recommendations. Recommendations should address scholarly potential;
  • Personal Statement: An original 6-10 page (double-spaced, 12 pt. font) personal statement should address the following questions.
    • 1. What relevant knowledge, skills, and experiences will you contribute to your doctoral study?
    • 2. In what ways will doctoral study support your academic, professional and/or personal goals?
    • 3. What would be your ideal apprenticeship and why?
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for all students whose native language is not English; minimum score of 550 (pa- per-based) or 79 (iBT) is required. Endicott also accepts an IELTS score of 6.0 or better.
  • All students are required to meet the college’s current standards for medical entrance compliance and to provide documentation of licensure as a professional nurse.
  • After admission, compliance requirements are based on the student’s program of study. For example, doctoral students who conduct research at a clinical site are required to meet all requirements related to orientation, immunizations, CPR, malpractice insurance, and any background checks required by the facility;
  • Submit examples of published works or scholarly papers;
  • Basic registered nursing preparation;
  • A 3.0 grade point average at the master’s level is required;
  • Writing sample: In addition to the personal statement, doctoral applicants are asked to submit any published work or scholarly papers. The paper should be short, limit 10 pages, (double-spaced, 12 point font) on an issue related to the nursing profession. The writing sample will be evaluated for evidence of: thoughtful analysis, ability to develop main points and support claims, focus and organization, academic style, use of sentence variety and vocabulary to convey meaning clearly, control of sentence structure, language, grammar and punctuation. Please be sure that your full name is on the document;
  • An admission interview is required of all candidates, which will be scheduled after application review.

International Applicants for Graduate Admission
Endicott College welcomes and encourages applicants from around the world. International applicants are required to hold a college or university degree equivalent to a four-year American baccalaureate degree. Educational documents in a foreign language are required to be translated into English. All transcripts and translations of transcripts must be official originals and must show courses completed, grades received, grading scale, duration of study, degree or diploma received, and the date conferred. Endicott College reserves the right to request verification of the credentials by an external agency.

International applicants must submit current TOEFL scores when their native language is not English or when their baccalaureate transcript is not from an institution where English is the language of instruction. Once students have been admitted as degree candidates, Endicott College will send detailed instructions about the process for acquiring an Endicott-sponsored student visa.

Program of Study


Learning Outcomes


Upon completion of the program, students will: 

  • Incorporate mastery of knowledge from nursing and other disciplines to engage in activities that extend disciplinary knowledge as a scholar and researcher.
  • Combine logical, critical and scientific thinking with ethical integrity in the design, conduct, analysis, interpretation and dissemination of nursing research.
  • Integrate the philosophical foundations of knowledge into theory and research development that contributes to improving nursing care and practice.
  • Select theories and research relevant to the care of diverse, ethnic and cultural populations.
  • Collaborate and Communicate as a scholar within nursing and interdisciplinary community in the conduct and application of research.
  • Pursue lifelong learning and ongoing personal development through excellence in scholarly activities within and beyond the discipline.
  • Embraces the diversity of opportunities for career development, professional roles and disciplinary leadership as a nurse scientist, scholar, educator or mentor.

Total Required Credits - 45 cr.


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Academic Programs of Study