General Information
The PhD in nursing program provides rigorous training in scholarship and research. Graduates are prepared for careers as university academics, research scientists, educators and leaders of healthcare systems. The program contributes to building the capacity of the health workforce in Lebanon and the region.
The PhD program focuses on the following areas of research and beyond:
- Healthcare systems research
- Biobehavioral research in health and illness
- Determinants of health and disease in individuals, families, and communities
- Stress and coping
- Health promotion and risk reduction research
Program Learning Outcomes
Students are expected to:
- Demonstrate theoretical and empirical expertise in a current area of study in their discipline.
- Produce original and independent research in a priority area of healthcare that contributes to knowledge in their discipline.
- Analyze qualitative and/or quantitative information while conducting research related to their graduate program.
- Apply professionalism and ethical research conduct in their discipline.
- Demonstrate scholarly communication skills to disseminate research findings in scientific oral and written format.
- Employ teaching activities based on student learning related to their discipline.
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements and procedures as outlined in the AUB Graduate Catalogue are followed. The PhD is a 3-4-year program, with a maximum of five years permitted for its completion. Admission to the program is on a competitive basis. To be eligible for admission, applicants should have an outstanding academic record, demonstrate a genuine interest in contributing to improving healthcare outcomes, hold a master’s degree in nursing from a recognized institution, with a minimum cumulative GPA 3.7 or its equivalent, and have satisfactory GRE results. Applicants with a non-nursing master’s degree will be considered on a case-by-case basis and may be required to take prerequisite courses prior to enrolling in the PhD program.
Only holders of master’s degree in nursing or a related field will be considered for admission into the program.
PhD Program Requirements
The PhD program requires a minimum of 48 credit hours of coursework beyond the master’s degree, including the PhD thesis work. The coursework consists of a minimum of 18 credits of core courses, 6 credits of electives and 24 credits of PhD thesis work.
Candidacy Requirements
All students admitted to the PhD program must register for the Qualifying Exam Part I: Comprehensive Exam and the Qualifying Exam Part II: Defense of Thesis Proposal. Refer to both qualifying exams sections under the General University Academic Information of this catalogue.
Admission to Candidacy
Refer to the Admission to Candidacy paragraph under the General University Academic Information section of this catalogue.
Thesis Requirements
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of doctor of philosophy, students must submit a thesis that is expected to make a significant and original contribution to their field of research. The research work is to be carried out under the supervision of a full-time faculty member of the Hariri School of Nursing. Faculty members will provide co-mentoring from FHS, FM, and adjunct faculty from partner universities from the US and Europe, as needed.
Thesis requirements follow AUB regulations outlined in the graduate catalogue. More information about the PhD Thesis Committee, the thesis defense and the residency requirements can be found in the General University Academic Information section of this catalogue.
Graduation Requirements
Refer to the General University Academic Information section of this catalogue.
Curriculum for PhD in Nursing
|
Year
|
Fall Term
|
Credits
|
Spring Term
|
Credits
|
|
Year 1
| NURS 601 Philosophical and Theoretical Perspectives in Nursing Science | 3 | NURS 602 Quantitative Research Designs | 3 |
| NURS 605 Bivariate Analysis and Linear Regression | 3 | NURS 603 Ethical issues in Health Research | 1 |
| NURS 606 Qualitative Research | 2 | NURS 604 Measurement in Health Research (equivalent to EPHD 411) | 3 |
| NURS 610 Advanced Searching of the Scientific Literature | 0 | | |
|
Total
| |
8
| |
7
|
|
Year 2
| NURS 609 Research Seminar | 0 | NURS 607 Multivariate Analysis, Causal Modeling and Factor Analysis (equivalent to EPHD 410) | 3 |
| EDUC 401 Teaching in Higher Education Theory I | 0 | NURS 608 Scholarship in Nursing | 0 |
| Qualifying Exam I | 0 | EDUC 402 Teaching in Higher Education – Theory II & Practicum | 0 |
| Elective | 3 | NURS 982 PhD Thesis | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | | |
|
Total
| |
6
| |
6
|
|
Years 3 & 4
| Qualifying Exam II | 0 | NURS 983 - 987 PhD thesis | 21 |
Course Descriptions