Program Overview
Dual DNP/PhD Program
The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing offers a Dual Doctor of Nursing Practice/Doctor of Philosophy (DNP/PhD) program. This program admits BSN-prepared nurses to simultaneously achieve their DNP and PhD degrees, emerging as both advanced practice nurses and nurse researchers.
Overview
The Dual DNP/PhD program is designed for dedicated, passionate nurses with a drive and desire to impact nursing research and healthcare delivery. Students graduate with two separate degrees, with 30 credits shared between the two programs. The program is available in the Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist concentration.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Dual DNP/PhD program will have a range of career opportunities, including:
- Nursing faculty at highly ranked universities
- Nurse leaders of health systems and organizations
- Advanced practice nurses with highly advanced skills in nursing research and clinical practice
Curriculum
The BSN-DNP/PhD track consists of a minimum of 121 credits, including:
- 104 credits of didactic courses from the Nursing PhD and AG-CNS DNP Curriculum
- 17 credits of Clinical Hours (1020 hours)
The curriculum is structured over four years, with the following courses:
Fall Term (YR 1)
- NUR 3285 - Philosophical Underpinnings of Nursing Research
- NUR 3291 - Responsibilities and Activities of Scientists 1
- NUR 3010 - PhD Dissertation
- NUR 3071 - PhD Research Apprenticeship
- NUR 3112 - Applied Parametric and Non-Parametric Statistics for the Health Sciences 1
Spring Term (YR 1)
- NUR 3113 - Applied Parametric and Non-Parametric Statistics for the Health Sciences 2
- NUR 3286 - Theoretical Foundations for Research
- NUR 3287 - Research Design & Methods
- NUR 3071 - PhD Research Apprenticeship
- NUR 3010 - PhD Dissertation
Summer Term (YR 1)
- NUR 3114 - Applied Regression for Health Science Research
- NUR 3288 - Research Measurement
- NUR 3289 - Intervention Development
- NUR 3071 - PhD Research Apprenticeship
- NUR 3010 - PhD Dissertation
Fall Term (YR 2)
- NUR 2010 - Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Culturally Diverse Populations
- NUR 3290 - Advanced Quantitative Analytic Methods Seminar
- CLRES 2107 - Comparative Effectiveness Research and PCOR
- CLRES 2120 - Cost Effectiveness Analysis in Healthcare
- NUR 3010 - PhD Dissertation
Spring Term (YR 2)
- NUR 3099 - The Science of Healthcare Delivery
- NURSP 2098 - Healthcare Quality
- NUR 2682 - Human Genetics and Clinical Applications
- NUR 3292 - Responsibilities and Activities of Scientists 2
- Clinical Research Cognate (CLRES)
Summer Term (YR 2)
- NUR 2034 - Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan
- NUR 2031 - The Diagnostic Physical Exam Across the Life Span
- NUR 3031 - Methodologies for DNP Projects
- NURCNS 2850 - CNS Role Implementation
- NUR 3010 - PhD Dissertation
Fall Term (YR 3)
- NUR 2033 - Differential Diagnosis Theory Across the Life Span
- NURSP 2062 - Organizational and Systems Management for Healthcare Leaders
- NURCNS 2851 - CNS Clinical Practicum 1
- NUR 3010 - PhD Dissertation
Spring Term (YR 3)
- NURNP 2100 - Management of Adult Episodic/Chronic Health Problems in Acute Care Theory
- NURCNS 2852 - CNS Clinical Practicum 2
- NURSP 2099 - Financial, Business, and Economics Drivers in Healthcare Management
- NUR 3293 - Art and Science of Teaching and Learning
- NUR 3010 - PhD Dissertation
Summer Term (YR 3)
- NURNP 2104 - Management of Complex Health Problems of the Acutely and Critically Ill Adult
- NURNP 2526 - Management: Geriatric Health Theory
- NURSP 3096 - Data Analytics and Clinical Systems Design
- NUR 3010 - PhD Dissertation
Fall Term (YR 4)
- NURSP 2388 - Database Management
- NURCNS 2853 - Clinical Emphasis Specialty
- NURSP 2075 - Introduction to Health Informatics
- NURCNS 3039 - DNP-CNS Role Practicum
- NUR 3010 - PhD Dissertation
Spring Term (YR 4)
- NURCNS 3039 - DNP-CNS Role Practicum
- NUR 3037 - DNP Project Clinical
- NUR 3052 - Manuscript Development
- NUR 3032 - Data Analysis for DNP Projects
- NUR 3010 - PhD Dissertation
Preliminary and Comprehensive Examinations
The preliminary examination is taken after completing the required courses, including:
- NUR 3285 - Philosophical Underpinnings of Nursing Research
- NUR 3286 - Theoretical Foundations for Research
- NUR 3287 - Research Design & Methods
- Statistics courses
The comprehensive examination assesses the student's mastery of the general field of doctoral study and is taken after completion of all required coursework and concurrent with the dissertation overview.
Dissertation Overview
The dissertation overview requires the student to formulate a research plan and justify the selected approach for studying the topic before the student's dissertation committee.
Dissertation Committee
The dissertation committee consists of four or more members, one of whom must be from another school within the University, and the majority of whom must be from the School of Nursing.
Admission to Candidacy
Admission to candidacy for the Doctor of Philosophy degree constitutes a promotion of the student to the most advanced stage of graduate study and provides formal approval to devote essentially exclusive attention to the research and writing of the dissertation.
Residency Requirement
Students seeking the PhD degree are required to engage in a minimum of one term of full-time doctoral study, excluding any other employment except as approved.
Research Apprenticeship Model
The PhD program includes an apprenticeship model of research training that combines rigorous coursework and an apprenticeship with successful research mentors. This model includes a formalized series of Apprenticeship Practica, with recommended experiences and a series of defined deliverables.
Adult-Gerontology CNS-BSN to DNP Concentration
The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who can have a significant impact on direct patient care and on both the effectiveness and efficiencies of healthcare systems. CNSs diagnose, develop plans of care, treat, and provide ongoing management of complex patients. They can prescribe medication, durable medical equipment, and therapies in many states, and act as consultants to other nurses and medical professionals.