Loewenberg College of Nursing

Credit Hours:

To qualify for graduation, students must meet all U of M Graduate School requirements, including a minimum of:

• • 80 credit hours beyond the BSN degree
  • 60 credit hours beyond the Master’s degree
  • 54 credit hours beyond the DNP degree (including transfer of up to 15 credit hours from the DNP)

The student's advisory committee may consider transferring previously earned doctoral credits, with the last thirty semester hours (including 9 dissertation hours) earned at the U of M.

Transfer Credit: 

Previously earned doctoral credits may be considered for transfer by the student's advisory committee, but residency requirements mandate the final thirty semester hours (including 9 dissertation hours) be completed at U of M. Graduate work from accredited programs may be accepted, subject to content relevance and time limitations. Evaluation must occur by the end of the second semester, with official transcripts directly from the issuing institution. Approved transfer credit may apply for one-half of the course credit hours, pending advisory committee approval. Proposed courses must meet specific contact and class time requirements, with grades "B" or higher for transfer consideration. Approval by the PhD Program Director is required for credit transfer.

Enrollment:

Full-time students are expected to carry a minimum of 9 credit hours per semester and to devote full time during their enrollment to the pursuit of degree-related activities. Full-time students with graduate assistantships are required to enroll for 9 credit hours each semester. Part-time students are expected to carry a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester unless permission is granted from the advisor and PhD Program Director for a reduced course load.

Research:

All doctoral students will participate in a research internship experience and are encouraged to participate in research collaboratively with members of the faculty each semester they are enrolled.

Retention Requirements:

A doctoral student in Nursing will be retained continuously in the program provided that the following conditions are met:

• A GPA of at least 3.0 must be maintained. If the student’s GPA falls below 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), a period of one semester or one full summer term will be allowed to correct for deficiency. The student is dropped from the PhD program if he/she fails to regain a minimum GPA of 3.0. This period may, at the discretion of the student’s Major Professor and PhD Program Director, be extended one additional semester or full summer term. Any student not meeting these conditions will be placed on academic probation by the program.
• Any student who is placed on academic probation for a second semester will be dismissed before enrolling in another semester.
• Accumulation of more than 7 hours of graduate coursework with a grade of C or lower will result in dismissal from the PhD program.
• Satisfactory completion of the written and oral PhD Qualifying Examination.
• Submission of a written research progress report by the student to the Major Professor, Dissertation Committee, and PhD Program Director at the end of each semester after dissertation hours have started.

Comprehensive Examination:

Before enrolling for dissertation hours (NURS 9000), a student must complete both a written and oral comprehensive examination. The examination will assess mastery of areas covered in the doctoral program. The content of the examination will consist of theory and methodology, and nursing issues central to the student’s main research area.

Prior to initiating the examination process, a student must have completed at least 26 credit hours of coursework in the program. Additionally, the student is required to be enrolled during the semester proposed to take the comprehensive exam.

• The committee will review the student’s comprehensive examination in relation to:
  • Quality of written and oral examination
  • Ability to conceptualize and analyze the topic in depth
  • Capacity for original thought and substantive knowledge in the focused area
  • Integration of state-of-the-art knowledge

University policy does not consider comprehensive examinations to be a course; therefore, the results of the examination are not appealable. University policy allows you to take the comprehensive examination twice; failure to pass on the second attempt results in dismissal from the university. The dismissal may be appealed (see Retention Appeals in the Graduate Catalog).

Dissertation:

To fulfill the PhD in Nursing requirements, the student must write and defend a dissertation proposal. Students will then select whether they prefer to complete a 5-chapter dissertation or a proposal and two data-driven manuscripts submitted for publication. The dissertation must adhere to the format outlined by the UofM Graduate School. The student will determine the dissertation topic in consultation with the advisor and input from the advisory committee.

The Post BSN to PhD program is an accelerated pathway to the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing available for highly qualified Bachelor of Science in nursing graduates. The program is streamlined, enabling BSN graduates to proceed to doctoral-level courses after completion of core MSN courses (25 credit hours), including academically designed clinically-focused practica (4 credit hours) to expose students to clinical experience guided by clinical experts and faculty.

Students opting to earn a Master of Science in Nursing while in the post-BSN to PhD program must complete additional credit hours for the desired master’s degree and concentration as outlined in the respective degree program requirements.

The applicant must meet all criteria for admission to the graduate school. A Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) degree is required for admission, and international applicants who will be attending the University on a student visa who are not native speakers of English and are not graduates of The University of Memphis must meet the minimum language proficiency requirements set by the University of Memphis Graduate School. Refer to the graduate catalog.

Additionally, applicants will:

• possess an unencumbered RN license or equivalent in the student’s state/nation of residence.
• earned a BSN with a minimum GPA of 3.0. If a GPA is not available, the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required, with scores from the last five years with a minimum verbal and quantitative score of 140 and an analytical writing score of at least 3.0.
• provide three letters of reference from individuals familiar with the applicant’s capabilities for doctoral study and for future performance as a nurse scholar and researcher. Generally, two letters from former professors will be expected.
• submit a personal statement of approximately 750-1000 words indicating his/her present interests and career goals, including how the PhD in Nursing will prepare the student to achieve those goals.
• provide a writing sample (e.g., a published paper or coursework from a previous degree program is acceptable).
• provide a copy of the applicant’s curriculum vitae (CV) or resume.
• interview via phone, face-to-face, or Skype will be required.

The PhD Program Committee will review all submitted materials. Admissions decisions are made on the overall quality of the applicant’s professional background in nursing, scholarship, academic ability, as well as the applicant’s “fit” for the program in terms of, research interests, academic background, and career goals.

 

The applicant must meet all criteria for admission to the graduate school. A master’s degree is required for admission, and international applicants who will be attending the University on a student visa who are not native speakers of English and are not graduates of The University of Memphis must meet the minimum language proficiency requirements set by the University of Memphis Graduate School. Refer to the graduate catalog.

Additionally, applicants will:

• possess an unencumbered RN license or equivalent in the student’s state/nation of residence.
• earned a master’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0. If a GPA is not available, the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required, with scores from the last five years with a minimum verbal and quantitative score of 140 and an analytical writing score of at least 3.0.
• provide three letters of reference from individuals familiar with the applicant’s capabilities for doctoral study and for future performance as a nurse scholar and researcher. Generally, two letters from former professors will be expected.
• submit a personal statement of approximately 750-1000 words indicating his/her present interests and career goals, including how the PhD in Nursing will prepare the student to achieve those goals.
• provide a writing sample (e.g., a published paper or coursework from a previous degree program is acceptable).
• provide a copy of the applicant’s curriculum vitae (CV) or resume.
• interview via phone, face-to-face, or Skype will be required.

The PhD Program Committee will review all submitted materials. Admissions decisions are made on the overall quality of the applicant’s professional background in nursing, scholarship, academic ability, as well as the applicant’s “fit” for the program in terms of, research interests, academic background, and career goals.

The Post DNP-PhD Program is designed for those with a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree who desire to pursue a research doctorate to help advance knowledge that guides nursing practice.

The applicant must meet all criteria for admission to the graduate school. A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree is required for admission, and international applicants who will be attending the University on a student visa who are not native speakers of English and are not graduates of The University of Memphis must meet the minimum language proficiency requirements set by the University of Memphis Graduate School. Refer to the graduate catalog.

Additionally, applicants will:

• possess an unencumbered RN license or equivalent in the student’s state/nation of residence.
• earned DNP with a minimum GPA of 3.0. If a GPA is not available, the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required, with scores from the last five years with a minimum verbal and quantitative score of 140 and an analytical writing score of at least 3.0.
• provide three letters of reference from individuals familiar with the applicant’s capabilities for doctoral study and for future performance as a nurse scholar and researcher. Generally, two letters from former professors will be expected.
• submit a personal statement of approximately 750-1000 words indicating his/her present interests and career goals, including how the PhD in Nursing will prepare the student to achieve those goals.
• provide a writing sample (e.g., a published paper or coursework from a previous degree program is acceptable).
• provide a copy of the applicant’s curriculum vitae (CV) or resume.
• interview via phone, face-to-face, or Skype will be required.

All applicants must apply to the Loewenberg College of Nursing PhD program through the University of Memphis Graduate School portal, Tiger Tracks Portal. International students must also meet additional admission requirements.

Application & Interview dates
Spring Admission: May 1 - December 1
Fall Admission: October 1 - July 1