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Nursing

  • Program Overview

    School of Nursing

    Courses offered in hybrid format, ask for more details.

    The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) represents the highest level of formal education for a career in nursing research and the scholarship of discovery. It prepares scholars for expression and communication of the knowledge base in the profession of nursing.  PhD graduates develop the scientific foundation, steward the profession, define its uniqueness, maintain its professional integrity and educate the next generation of nurses. The PhD in Nursing program at Stony Brook University (SBU) School of Nursing (SON) will have a strong scientific emphasis within the discipline of nursing and an understanding of the science of related disciplines and translation science.  The program is designed in a broad, cross-functional perspective to prepare nurse scientists to collaborate across disciplines to solve complex problems and address multiple issues facing individuals, families, communities and populations. Translational and innovative research, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration at the highest level, will be foundational to the program. The PhD program in nursing will attract candidates oriented towards developing new nursing knowledge who will select an area of research congruent with interdisciplinary faculty expertise in basic and clinical sciences. To foster success and promote transformational, far-reaching opportunities, students will engage in a diversified curriculum.

    The 54-credit curriculum is designed for Master’s-prepared nurses who aspire to research and academic roles within health care and educational settings.  It will build on the foundation of research and scholarship gained at the master’s level.  The part-time, cohort-based program, to be offered on-site (one day/week) with web-enhanced technologies, contains three phases:  Coursework, Proposal Development and Dissertation. Coursework and proposal development will take two and one-half years to complete with an additional minimum of one year for dissertation completion.  The PhD candidate will select an area of research congruent with interdisciplinary faculty expertise.  The SBU intensive research environment provides opportunities for mentorship by faculty within and outside the SON.  Our Office of Nursing Research assists faculty and doctoral students in meeting research goals by providing administrative support, grant preparation support and management, statistical consultation, and dissemination of research findings through poster/podium presentation and manuscript preparation.

     

    School of Nursing

    Chairperson
    Dr. Ann-Margaret Navarra,, School of Nursing, Health Sciences, Room 2-246  (631) 638- 0859 - 

    PhD Program Director
    Dr. Sylvia K. Wood, School of Nursing, Health Sciences, Room 2-245 (631) 444-3299

    Program Assistant
    Amy Prokop School of Nursing. Health Sciences, Room 2-236 (631) 444- 3549

    Degree Awarded
    PhD in Nursing

    Web Site
    https://nursing.stonybrookmedicine.edu/

    Application
    https://graduateadmissions.stonybrook.edu/apply/

  • Admissions

    Admission Requirements and Application Procedures

    Application procedures and requirements as set forth in this Bulletin must be followed.  Applications will be reviewed by PhD in Nursing program faculty and the Committee on Admissions and Academic Standards.  All admissions for the PhD in Nursing will begin annually in May.  The number of openings for the PhD in Nursing program is small and acceptance is competitive.  Additionally, congruency of the applicant’s research interest with faculty expertise may impact admission decisions.   

    Requirements for admission include:

    1. Applicants to the Ph.D. in Nursing Program must hold a Master's degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program or its international equivalent. Students with a master's degree in a related discipline (i.e, MPH) and a Bachelor’s in Nursing may also be considered.
    2. A current unencumbered license to practice as a registered professional nurse
    3. One official copy of any transcript from any undergraduate college or university attended, from which a degree was conferred. Applicants must submit one official copy of any transcript relating to any graduate level work undertaken, regardless of whether or not a degree was earned. Note:  Educational systems that cannot be compared to the United States must be evaluated by a US credentials evaluation service before admission can be finalized.
    4. Minimum overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
    5. Three letters of recommendation attesting to your academic ability and
    6. Curriculum Vitae including education and employment history; honors and awards; and publications and grantsmanship. Must demonstrate a progressive record of professional development in nursing
    7. A personal interview with PhD program faculty
    8. An exemplar of scholarly writing (e.g., publications)
    9. A statement of professional goals and research interests including reference to Stony Brook University School of Nursing PhD faculty whose current research is aligned with your areas of interest and expertise.
    10. Documented proficiency in English for international student (see the English Proficiency Requirements for Non-Native Speakers of English in the Graduate Bulletin  ( http://www.stonybrook.edu/sb/graduatebulletin/current/degrees/phd/index.php )
    11. International Applicants: Each person planning to study in the United States is required to have the appropriate immigration status.  The immigration documents for F-1 and J-1 student status are issued by Visa and Immigration Services at Stony Brook University based on receipt of required supporting documentation, including evidence of admission, English language proficiency, and proof of financial support for the program of study.  (see the International Students section in the Graduate Bulletin  ( http://www.stonybrook.edu/sb/graduatebulletin/current/degrees/phd/index.php )

    These admission requirements constitute the minimum expectations for applicants.  Applicants should be aware that students selected for admission generally exceed these requirements.

  • Degree Requirements

    Requirements for the PhD in Nursing Program

    A. Curriculum Requirements

    The part-time cohort-based program, to be offered on-site (one day/week) with web-enhanced technologies, contains three phases:  Coursework, Proposal Development and Dissertation. Coursework and proposal development will take two and one-half years to complete with an additional one year for dissertation completion.  All students will follow an approved program of courses, called the Academic Program Plan, determined to meet his or her needs and to satisfy program requirements.  The Academic Program Plan, developed by the student in consultation with the faculty advisor, should provide sufficient depth and breadth for the chosen area of research, including specific content areas, methodological and analytic approaches.  Any changes to the plan must be approved by the faculty advisor and submitted to the Director of the PhD in Nursing Program for final review.  The following includes minimum curriculum requirements:

     

    COURSE

    CREDIT

    PRE-REQUISITE

    Statistics/Research Design

    NUR 635 Biostatistics

    3

     

    NUR 636 Advanced Statistical Methods

    3

    NUR 635

    NUR 647  Doctoral Research Seminar

    3

     

    NUR 660 Quantitative Methods in Nursing Research

    3

     

    NUR 661  Qualitative Methods in Nursing Research

    3

     

     

    Philosophy/Theory/Foundations

    NUR 630 Philosophical Foundations of Nursing Science

    3

     

    NUR 631 Concepts, Theories and Knowledge Development in Nursing Science

    3

    NUR 630

    NUR 680 Integrating Big Data to Evaluate Population Health (2 credits) AND VIP 695 Multidisciplinary Project Leadership (1 credit)

    3

     

    COM 565 Foundations of Science Communication 

    3

     

    NUR 662 Data Management and Informatics for Clinical Scientists

    3

    NUR 635

    NUR 636

     

     

    Research Practicum

    Cognates (2)

    6

     

    NUR 690 Dissertation Seminar I

    3

    Successful completion of Qualifying Examination

    NUR 691 Dissertation Seminar II

    3

    Successful completion of Comprehensive Qualifying Examination

     

    Doctoral Role Formation

    NUR 697 Seminar Series: Investigator Role and Research
    Practicum

    3

     

    NUR 698 Seminar Series: Academic Role and Teaching Practicum

    3

     

                                                                                                                           

    By Advisement

     Qualifying Examination

    N/C

    To be taken prior to dissertation phase

    NUR 699 PhD Dissertation Research – On campus; or,

    NUR 700 PhD Dissertation Research – Off campus (Domestic); or,

    NUR 701 PhD Dissertation Research – Off campus (International)

    (until Dissertation Defense)

    (6)

    Following completion of all core courses and Qualifying Exam students will register for a minimum of 2 semesters (spring and fall semesters) of 3 credits each. Additional enrollment of (1-6) credits per semester is required until dissertation is completed and successfully defended

    TOTAL CREDITS   

     54

     


    B. Cognates
    Students will select a minimum of two cognate courses (6 credits) to support the dissertation.  They individually and collectively enhance the depth of understanding of the student’s chosen area of research.  Cognate courses are taken after the first year of coursework when a student’s chosen research area has become more clearly defined.  Cognates are typically in specific content areas (i.e., self-management, biomarkers, biomedical informatics) or in specific methodological or analytical approaches (i.e., research design methodologies or data analytical methods).  These courses must be at the graduate level and taught by doctorally prepared faculty either from with the School of Nursing or the University community at large.  Students should consult with their faculty advisor regarding possible content and methodological areas that will support the chosen area of research.

    C. Teaching Practicum Requirement
    All doctoral students in the PhD in Nursing Program at Stony Brook University must complete at least one semester of practicum in teaching under supervision.  Students in the PhD in Nursing Program will register for NUR 698 Seminar Series:  Academic Role and Teaching Practicum to enhance their expertise in the role of an academician.  The practicum will be individualized according to the student’s prior experiences in the academic role.  The practicum will provide students with expertise in course development, teaching pedagogies and strategies for curriculum delivery, test construction and evaluation methodologies for didactic and clinical learning, approaches to teaching diverse learners and difficult student situations, and professional role development among others.

    The practicum may include making seminar or class presentations, assisting in laboratories, or leading discussion sessions. Grading experience by itself will not be considered sufficient for satisfaction of this requirement. Faculty are responsible for providing informal feedback and formal evaluation. Following (or in some cases, concurrent with) proper training through a teaching practicum and after having fulfilled other requirements for teaching (e.g., demonstration of spoken English proficiency for non-native speakers of English), a graduate student may serve as a teaching assistant (TA) in courses at Stony Brook University, where the instructor of record is a faculty member. An advanced graduate student may act as the instructor of record for an undergraduate course offered at Stony Brook University only if he or she is appointed to an adjunct faculty position as a lecturer. No student shall be appointed to such a position until he or she has been advanced to candidacy (G5 only). It is not required that such students be enrolled in full-time status, although this is recommended. Appointment procedures follow the same process as regular faculty appointments. Graduate students at G4 level or below cannot be designated as the Instructor of Record for any course offered at Stony Brook University. They may be appointed as Teaching Assistants. In addition, there must be a designated faculty supervisor who serves as the Instructor of Record for the course.

    Each student, with the help of their faculty advisor, will identify the semester during which they will complete the teaching practicum, develop individualized student learning outcomes based on prior experiences in the academic role and identify a faculty preceptor. The faculty advisor, faculty preceptor and student will develop the structure of the practicum and plan activities to accomplish the student learning outcomes.

    D. Research Practicum Requirement
    All doctoral students in the PhD in Nursing Program at Stony Brook University must complete at least one semester of practicum in research under supervision.  Students in the PhD in Nursing Program will register for NUR 697 Seminar Series:  Investigator Role and Research Practicum to enhance their expertise in the role of an investigator.  The practicum will be individualized according to the student’s prior experiences in the investigator role.  The practicum will provide students with expertise in selected aspects of the research process, including development of the conceptual/theoretical foundation of the study, study implementation (e.g. start-up activities, consent, intervention, fidelity management), data collection, data management, data analysis, participate in preparation of grant proposal and dissemination of findings.

    Each student, with the help of their faculty advisor, will identify the semester during which they will complete the research practicum, develop individualized student learning outcomes based on prior experiences in the investigator role and identify a faculty preceptor.  The faculty advisor, faculty preceptor and student will develop the structure of the practicum and plan activities to accomplish the student learning outcomes.

    E. Qualifying Examination

    Qualifying Examination

    The overarching goal of the SON PhD program is to prepare nurse scientists to conduct independent original research to advance nursing science.

    Successful completion of the Qualifying Examination demonstrates the necessary competencies needed to progress toward independent work in dissertation development and achieve the program outcomes.

    Students will be eligible to take the Qualifying Examination after completing the first year of the PhD program.

    The scholarly product of the Qualifying Examination is the PhD student’s independent preparation of a manuscript of publishable quality for submission to a peer-reviewed journal and a separate oral defense of the manuscript. Acceptable scholarly products include an integrative review or concept analysis.

    The PhD student’s faculty advisor must approve the topic for the qualifying examination. As in any academic evaluative examination, the Qualifying Examination must be an individual scholarly product reflecting the student’s efforts.

    F. Dissertation Proposal Defense
    The purpose of the Dissertation Proposal Defense is to demonstrate an understanding of knowledge in the concentration area that supports the student’s dissertation research.  Students may not progress to the proposal defense until all required coursework is complete. Written permission from the program director will be required for students who previously obtained permission to progress on an alternate academic pathway.

    The proposal defense contains a written and oral component, both requiring a passing grade to advance to dissertation phase.  Preparation of the proposal defense occurs under the guidance of the Dissertation Committee, facilitated by the Dissertation Committee Chair.


    G. Dissertation
    The three requirements for the Ph.D. are assessed in the final defense of a dissertation.

    1. The dissertation should demonstrate significant original work.
    2. The final dissertation should be presented with clarity of thought and excellence of exposition that make it suitable for publication as a book or a series of papers in learned journals.
    3. The dissertation should demonstrate a breadth and depth of the candidate’s knowledge beyond the confines of his or her own research and is also critically assessed in the defense and at various examinations during the student’s studies.

    Successful oral defense of the dissertation to the candidate’s dissertation committee and the University community at large is required.  The dissertation committee will include the candidate’s dissertation advisor, at least two faculty members from the program and may include one or more members from outside the University or program.

    H. Residence Requirement
    At least two consecutive semesters of full-time study at Stony Brook University in the program granting the degree (or three consecutive semesters of a minimum of six credits for part-time students) are required.

     I. Program Time Limit
    The time limit for a doctoral degree, including coursework, examinations, practicums, and dissertation is seven (7) years from date of matriculation in the PhD in Nursing Program.  In exceptional cases where the program cannot be completed within these periods, students may petition for an extension of the time limit. The Request for Waiver of Graduate Time Limit form can be found by selecting the forms link from the Graduate School Web site. These petitions require the approval of the student’s faculty advisor and Director of the PhD in Nursing Program. Requests for a time limit extension must be filed before the limit is exceeded and must contain a significant justification. The final decision rests with the Dean of the Graduate School, who may impose additional requirements.

     

  • Facilities
  • Faculty

    PhD in Nursing Faculty

    Professors

    Shurpin, Kathleen (1), Ph.D., 1989, Adelphi University: symptom distress: family support; cancer prevention and screening.

    Bruckenthal, Patricia (1), Ph.D., 2004, University of Massachusetts, Amherst: health behavior change; pain management; health screening and health promotion; novel health promoting technologies.

    Clinical Professors

    Buhse, Marijean (1), Ph.D., 1997, Adelphi University: multiple sclerosis; caregiver burden.


    Associate Professors

    Navarra, Ann-Margaret, CPNP-PC, FAAN, Ph.D., Columbia University, 2011: youth and families; HIV and chronic illness; health equity; technology-enabled behavioral interventions; academic-community-partnerships 

    Shoenfeld, Elinor (2) Ph.D., 1987, University at Buffalo: community-engaged research; health disparities; sensor data for health; cancer epidemiology; data management and informatics.

    Saltz, Mary (3) MD., (1983).  Duke University School of Medicine: interventional radiology, artificial intelligence and deep learning, population health analysis.

    Clinical Associate Professors

    Della Ratta, Carol (1), Ph.D., 2015, Adelphi University: intra-inter-professional educational strategies; active learning strategies; qualitative methods; new graduate nurse role transition; nurse preceptors.

    Kenneth Faulkner (1), Ph.D., 2018, New York University: heart failure; cognitive impairment in older adults; biostatistics.

    Wood, Sylvia, K (1), Ph.D., 2021, Adelphi University: cancer survivorship; aging cancer survivors; theory development; knowledge translation; implementation science; qualitative methods.

    Assistant Professors

    Ginex, Pamela K. (1) EdD., 2008, Columbia University Teachers College, New York: cancer survivorship, implementation science, systematic review.

    Giselle, Gerardi. (1)  Ph.D., 2022, City University of New York: self-efficacy, health management in underserved populations, maternal-child health, health informatics.

    Whitney, Clare (1) Ph.D., 2020, University of Pennsylvania: bioethics; clinician communication; substance use and pregnancy; qualitative inquiry.

     

    1. School of Nursing
    2. School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry
    3. School of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Department of Biomedical Informatics, Community Practice Initiatives

  • Contact

    School of Nursing

    Chairperson
    Dr. Ann-Margaret Navarra,, School of Nursing, Health Sciences, Room 2-246  (631) 638- 0859 - 

    PhD Program Director
    Dr. Sylvia K. Wood, School of Nursing, Health Sciences, Room 2-245 (631) 444-3299

    Program Assistant
    Amy Prokop School of Nursing. Health Sciences, Room 2-236 (631) 444- 3549

    Degree Awarded
    PhD in Nursing

    Web Site
    https://nursing.stonybrookmedicine.edu/

    Application
    https://graduateadmissions.stonybrook.edu/apply/