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About the Program
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Program in Nursing prepares nurse scientists for research-intensive academic careers. The program emphasizes interdisciplinary knowledge development and dissemination through biobehavioral nursing research. Our faculty is involved in ground-breaking research in such vital areas as health disparities, cancer prevention and control, cardiovascular risk reduction, and smoking cessation. The program is designed for advanced students interested in working closely with faculty mentors in nursing and related disciplines with the context of established programs of research.
This program prepares graduates to:
- Critically evaluate behavioral and biological theories of health and illness
- Generate, test, and extend knowledge of linkages between behavioral and biological dimensions of health and illness
- Design basic and clinical nursing studies to investigate behavioral and biological phenomena within a selected area
- Participate in interdisciplinary approaches to generate and apply scientific knowledge
- Apply leadership strategies to ethical, political, economic, and socio-cultural issues in nursing.
For more information, call 706-721-3162 or visit www.gru.edu/nursing/futurestudents.htm
Career Opportunities
Career opportunities for graduates consist of:
- Research – academic, community, and industry settings
- Faculty positions in higher education
- Leadership/administrative positions
Salary Information
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s reports “Salaries of Instructional and Administrative Nursing Faculty,” the middle 50% of salaries for assistant professors of nursing ranges from $79,277 to $92,928. Actual salary for an assistant professor of nursing is variable based on type of institution and region of the country.
Accreditation
The Nursing Doctoral program is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Higher Learning Commission (www.sacs.org).
Assistantships
Graduate Research assistantships for full-time students include tuition reduction and stipends of $23,000 or more per year. Students work closely with faculty mentors in nursing and related disciplines within the context of established programs of research. Selection of a concentration is individualized and developed with the approval of the student’s mentor and advisory committee based on the area of research.
Technical Requirements
Computer literacy - A laptop is required upon enrollment. See minimum laptop specifications at http://www.gru.edu/itss/computing/hardware.html.
Admissions Requirements
Completed Online Application for Graduate Programs. Please check the Office of Admissions website for fee information: http://www.gru.edu/Admissions/
Application deadlines for application and required materials and documents:
Early submission of all application materials is strongly advised.
Fall Entry: February 1. Applications received by this date receive priority consideration for Graduate Research Assistantship positions.
Note: All required application materials and documents must be received in order for an application to be considered complete and before an admission decision can be made. Applications and supporting materials received after the program deadline will only be considered on a space-available basis.
GPA: Minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Minimum overall (MSN) GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale.
Minimum Degree Requirement and Official Transcripts: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited program and an accredited college or university. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree alone may fulfill the requirement, which will be determined on a case-by-case basis. To be used to satisfy degree requirement, evaluation of foreign educational transcripts must show degree(s) earned that are the U.S. equivalency of degree(s) required by the program.
Official Transcripts: Official transcripts are required from all universities and colleges ever attended. Only in the case of transcripts from international colleges/universities will an official course-by-course transcript evaluation be accepted in lieu of an official transcript.
Official transcripts should be sent to GRU’s Office of Academic Admissions. To remain official, all transcripts must remain in the original, unopened, sealed and stamped/signed envelope from the Registrar’s office of the issuing institution. Alternatively, GRU will accept official electronic transcripts from the registrar’s office at your prior institution. Electronic transcripts should be directed to admissions@gru.edu.
Transcript/Credential Evaluation of Foreign Transcripts: An official, professional course-by-course evaluation based on official transcripts and documents is required for all foreign educational transcripts and documents from one of the following three credentials evaluation services: Josef Silny & Associates, Inc., World Education Services (WES), Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE). Silny and WES are recommended. Official evaluations based on unofficial transcripts, documents, or copies will not satisfy this requirement.
References: Recommendations (which include a reference form and letter of recommendation) from three individuals are required. Referees should be individuals qualified to critically assess the applicant’s prior academic (usually college professors), employment, artistic, research and/or clinical experience (clinical or research supervisor/mentor) and qualifications (as applicable) as well as the applicant’s potential as a graduate student in the field/program selected.
Graduate reference forms and letters of recommendation can be submitted online only. As part of the online application process, applicants provide the names and current email addresses for three individuals they have asked to serve as their referees. Once the online application is submitted, each referee will receive an email notification directing him/her to the online site where he/she can complete the reference form and submit his/her letter of recommendation. To change a referee after the application has been submitted, the applicant is instructed to log into his/her CollegeNet account and update the name and current email address for the referee. Status updates of your referees’ submissions will be provided to you directly from CollegeNet.
GRE Requirement: Test takers who took the GRE prior to August 1, 2011 were scored on the old scoring scale of 200-800. The minimum score requirement of 1000 total (combined Verbal and Quantitative Scores) will continue to be used for those who took the GRE prior to the scoring changes.
Test takers who took the GRE after to August 1, 2011 are scored on the new scoring scale of 130-170. The minimum score of 300 total (combined Verbal and Quantitative Scores) will be required for those who took the GRE after to the scoring changes.
All official GRE scores must be submitted to GRU’s Office of Academic Admissions directly from the Education Testing Service (ETS) and must be less than five years old. The institution code for submission of GRE scores to GHSU is 5406. Please do not select a department code.
TOEFL Requirement: Minimum score of 600 paper-based, 250 computer-based, or 100 internet-based.
Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores are required for applicants whose first language is not English. The institution code for submission of TOEFL scores to GHSU is 5406. Please do not select a department code.
Exemption from the TOEFL requirement is allowed for graduate students who submit proof of earning a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college/university where English is the language of instruction.
Program Specific Requirements
Prerequisite course work: Undergraduate or graduate course in Statistics from an accredited institution within the last five years, with a grade of B or higher.
Personal Interview: Interviews by invitation only. Applicants will be selected for an interview based on an initial review of submitted application materials. Selected applicants will be notified directly by the program.
Resume or CV: Including date of most recent revision.
Research Paper: Submission of an original paper reflecting research ability.
Licensure: Proof of current unrestricted Georgia RN Nursing license is required prior to enrollment.
*Substitutions and/or waivers of minimum requirements must first be supported and approved at the program level and then formally approved by the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies.
*While every effort is made to maintain this information as current, it may be subject to change. Please check with GRU’s Office of Academic Admissions for recent updates.
*Applications deferred to another semester are subject to all admission requirements and program requirements in effect for the semester to which they are deferred.
How to Apply
Apply online at www.gru.edu/Admissions.
For more information on this program, visit www.gru.edu/nursing/futurestudents.htm
Office of Academic Admissions
170 Kelly Building–Administration
Georgia Health Sciences University
Augusta, Georgia 30912
Telephone: 706-721-2725
Toll free: 800-519-3388
Fax: 706-721-7279
Estimated Tuition and Fees
For estimated tuition and fees, please see the Tuition and Fees information for students who matriculated at GHSU section of this catalog.
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