Nursing Science

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Nursing prepares students for careers as clinical nurse scientists and faculty. Admission into the program is only offered once a year and students begin the program in the fall term. Admission can occur at the Post-BSN or Post-MSN levels. The Ph.D. program is rooted in foundations of theory and research with the expectation of students to become clinical nurse scientists and disseminators of knowledge in the field of nursing.

Ph.D. Admissions Requirements

Program Length: 3 – 6 Years

Admissions Requirements:

To be considered for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Program the following factors are required:

• Bachelors in Nursing and/or Masters in Nursing from a nationally accredited school of nursing (NLNAC, CCNE, ACEN)
• Grade point average of “B” (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or higher on the student's last 60 hours of credit
• Three Professional References (Submit via EMBARK Application)
• Current resume or curriculum vita
• Interview and admission essay

Application Process

• Online application submitted via Embark (No-fees for Embark).
• Submit official transcript(s) from each post-secondary institution attended, even if no degree awarded. International transcripts must be evaluated by an accredited foreign credential service. Visit the nursing admissions website for more information regarding international applicant requirements.
• International students must meet the TOEFL/IELTS requirements of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

Requirements Upon Admission

• Licensure as a Registered Nurse in Texas or Compact State is not required for application. After admission, a valid nursing license is required in a U.S. state, preferably in Texas for engaging in clinical research or other activities involving patient care. To obtain information about nurse licensure procedures for the State of Texas, consult the Texas Board of Nursing Licensure, or telephone the Texas Board of Nursing at (512) 305-7401. 
• Students are required to submit current required immunizations, proof of current health insurance coverage, and clear criminal background check.

Application Deadline: Rolling Review of Applications

Complete applications received by April 1 will be reviewed for fall admission. Applications received after April 1st will be reviewed on a space-available basis or for the following year.

Start Term:  fall

Contact: 
​Office of Admissions
​School of Nursing
​UT Health Science Center at San Antonio
7703 Floyd Curl Drive, MSC 7945
San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900
Phone: 210-567-0341
Toll Free: 877-235-0341
FAX 210-567-6189
http://nursing.uthscsa.edu/

Ph.D. Degree Requirements and Graduation

Admission can occur at the Post-BSN or Post-MSN levels.

Full-time and part-time study options are available. Full-time study for doctoral students is defined as nine semester credit hours in the fall and spring semesters and six semester credit hours in the summer semester. Part-time study for doctoral students is defined as six semester credit hours in the fall and spring semesters and three semester credit hours in the summer semester.

Students complete a minimum of 81 semester credit hours (which includes previous graduate course work) in three to six years.

 All policies of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences http://gsbs.uthscsa.edu are applicable to this program of study.

Ph.D. Nursing Science Plan of Study

Post-BSN to Ph.D. Full-Time 

*

Part-time plan of study varies for the BSN to Ph.D., please contact program coordinator. 

§

  9 hours of Cognate courses must be completed prior to or during the same term as Qualifying Exams

Post-MSN to Ph.D. Full-Time 

*

Part-time plan of study varies for the MSN to Ph.D., please contact program coordinator. 

§

 6 hours of Cognate courses must be completed prior to or during the same term as Qualifying Exams

Ph.D. Program Outcomes

At the completion of the doctoral program the student will:

1. Advance the discipline of nursing through the generation of new knowledge and theory.
2. Demonstrate excellence as a clinical researcher in the health sciences in a focal area of nursing. 
3. Synthesize theories from natural and/or behavioral sciences for application to a specific area of nursing. 
4. Advance evidence-based clinical practice.
5. Assume nurse scientist roles within academic health centers and other interdisciplinary health sciences and educational institutions. 
6. Evaluate the value and knowledge components of philosophical and ethical dimensions of issues confronting healthcare and nursing.

The Ph.D. in Nursing program is offered by UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing (SON). The Ph.D. degree is awarded by UT Health San Antonio Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

Ph.D. Program Policies

General Information

Information about academic progression, policies or procedures, as well as curriculum information, may be obtained from the Ph.D. Program Coordinator and the School of Nursing Office for Academic Affairs.

Current Licensure as a Registered Nurse

Each graduate nursing student is required to obtain current licensure in good standing as a registered nurse in Texas, or a Compact State with multistate privileges, prior to engaging in clinical research- or practice-related activities within the graduate program. Students must provide a copy of the license verification to the Ph.D. program coordinator. Failure to maintain a current license in good standing or to produce proof of current licensure in good standing when engaging in clinical research- or practice-related activities is grounds for dismissal from the program.

Advisement

Each student enrolled in the graduate program is assigned an advisor, the Ph.D. program coordinator. 

Dissertation

The Graduate School Instructions for Preparation and Submission of Thesis, Dissertations, and Dissertation Abstracts and forms for advisor approval are available from the GSBS website. Doctoral students should obtain a copy of the guidelines that provide information about the dissertation process.

Teaching Assistants

Opportunities are available for graduate nursing students enrolled part-time to work as teaching assistants in the School of Nursing. Interested applicants should contact the Office for Academic Affairs in the School of Nursing for additional information.

Transfer of Credit

Credit for coursework taken at another institution may be transferred if the student submits a Course Waiver/Substitution Request Form available in the Office of the University Registrar. The same procedure should also be used to request transfer of credit from other schools within UT Health San Antonio. The transfer of credit is subject to approval by the COGS of the program in which the student is enrolled and by the dean or the dean's designee.

Students in Ph.D. programs are required to fulfill a minimum of 72* semester credit hours of coursework. Transfer of credit for Ph.D. students may be requested to provide evidence on the student's transcript of the completion of courses taken elsewhere which are approved by the COGS (1) to satisfy the course requirements for the Ph.D. degree or (2) to be appropriate to the specific course of study of the individual graduate student.

*Some programs may require additional hours. 

Waiver of Courses: With the approval of the COGS, graduate credit hours from other universities may be accepted in lieu of required courses. In addition, the COGS may waive certain required courses, based on the student's previous graduate course work. The hours will be accepted in the form of credit for the course material but will not be counted in the total credit hours directly on the student’s transcript.

Honors

A graduate nursing student whose grade point average is 4.0 is awarded her/his degree with High Honors.

Grades and Grade Point Average

The standing of students in their work is expressed by five grades: A (above average graduate work), B (average graduate work), C (below average graduate work), D (failing graduate work), and F (failing graduate work). D and F grades are not acceptable for graduate credit. Students may also register in certain courses on a pass/fail basis, in which case the grade is recorded as either Pass (P) or Fail (F) and no letter grade is assigned. 

Other symbols used in reporting the standing of students in their classes are: W=withdraw; I=incomplete; IP=in progress (for selected courses); S=satisfactory; U=unsatisfactory; P=pass; NP=no pass; AU records an audited course. U and NP are equivalent to a grade of F.

Courses in which a student receives a D, F, U, or NP will not be counted toward the total number of courses and/or hours required for a graduate degree in the School of Nursing or the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. However, all grades (A to F) are included in the computation of the grade point average. In computing the grade point average, the following scale of points per semester credit hour is used:

A = 4 points (90-100)

B = 3 points (80-89)

C = 2 points (75-79)

D = 1 point (66-74)

F = 0 points (65 or below)

Note:  Final numeric grades are calculated to two decimal places and rounded mathematically as follows:

• Less than 0.50 – round down to next whole number – (i.e.“89.49” would be rounded to “89”)
• 0.50 or greater – round up to next whole number – (i.e. “90.50” would be rounded to “91”)

Progression in the Graduate Program

To continue in the Ph.D. program, a student must:

• absolve any contingencies related to admission to the program within the time period stated in the letter of admission, or within the first semester if not stated;
• maintain satisfactory progress (B average in first nine hours) if conditionally admitted;
• receive no more than one C in any course;
• maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of B (3.0) for all courses taken while enrolled in the graduate program.

Should a student fail to meet the criteria for continuance in the program, her/his progress will be reviewed by the Committee on Graduate Studies (COGS) which may:

• impose conditions as requirements for continuation in the program, or
• terminate the student’s enrollment in the program, with the consent of the Dean of the School of Nursing or the Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

Scholastic Probation

A student whose cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0 will be placed on probation and warned that continuation in the graduate program is in jeopardy.

The progress of students on scholastic probation will be reviewed by the Committee on Graduate Studies (COGS) each semester. A student on scholastic probation will not be admitted to candidacy nor awarded a degree. Satisfactory progress toward the degree is required throughout the student’s enrollment. The Committee on Graduate Studies (COGS) may terminate a student’s enrollment at any time if the student does not meet the criteria for continuance in the program.

Probation Policy and Procedure

1. Definition: Probation is the status of the student whose progression in the program may be delayed, interrupted or conditional due to the criteria listed below.
2. Criteria for probation in the nursing program includes any one of the following:
   1. Earning a grade of C in a graduate course
      1. The student will be on probation the remainder of their program
   2. Earning a grade in a  graduate course that drops the GPA below 3.0
   3. Failure to meet any of the School of Nursing Policies related to academic or professional conduct
   4. Failure to meet the terms of professional integrity standards defined in the current University Catalog, the Texas State Board of Nursing Nurse Practice Act, the Texas State Board of Nursing Rules and Regulations and the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics.
3. Probation Procedure
   1. Initial Review of Recommendation for Probation
      1. A student whom receives a final grade of C in a course will be notified of his/her probation status by the Office for Academic Affairs.
      2. The student may present his/her case to the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies, if requested in writing, within three business days of notification of the probation recommendation. If the student wishes to bring a person outside of the School of Nursing to the meeting, he/she must indicate this in the request to the  Associate Dean for Graduate Studies. If the person attending the meeting with the student is an attorney, the meeting will be held with the university attorney present. 
   2. If a student is in violation of the criteria for probation one or more of the following actions will occur:
      1. Earning a Grade of C or a grade that drops the GPA below 3.0
         1. A written “Probation Letter of Expectation” that determines the length and conditions of the  probation period which may include, is not limited to, any one of the following:
         • Referral of the student to resources and support services for academic success
         • Referral of the student to the faculty to devise a written plan for academic success
         • Referral of the student to the Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Services for non-academic support
      2. Failure to meet School of Nursing Policies or failure to meet the terms of professional integrity standards defined in the current University Catalog, the Texas State Board of Nursing Nurse Practice Act, the Texas State Board of Nursing Rules and Regulations and the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics
         1. The  Associate Dean for Graduate Studies will present a recommendation for the “Probation Letter of Expectation” that determines the length and conditions of the probation to the Committee on Graduate Studies.
         2. When indicated, the incident will be reported to the local law enforcement agency and/or other appropriate agencies, institutions, and/or regulatory bodies by the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies.
         3. If the review of the recommendation for probation results in a recommendation for dismissal, the policy and procedure for dismissal will supersede the policy and procedure for probation.

Dismissal Policy and Procedure

1. Definition:  Dismissal is the removal of a student from the School of Nursing Graduate Program. A student who is dismissed from the graduate program may not continue in the graduate nursing program and is not eligible for readmission.
2. Criteria for Dismissal from the Graduate Nursing Program includes any one of the following:
   1. Earning a grade of D, F, NP, U, or Fail in any required graduate course
   2. Earning a grade of C in 6 or more credit hours of required graduate coursework  regardless of cumulative GPA or in two graduate courses regardless of  the number of credit hours and cumulative GPA
   3. Failure to meet the conditions of the School of Nursing “Probation Letter of Expectation”
   4. Failure to meet the terms of professional integrity and ethical standards defined in the current University Catalog, the Texas State Board of Nursing Nurse Practice Act, the Texas State Board of Nursing Rules and Regulations and the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics. When indicated, the incident will be reported to the local law enforcement agency and/or other appropriate agencies, institutions, and/or regulatory bodies
   5. Failure to notify the school of non-matriculation for two consecutive semesters (excluding summers)
3. Dismissal Procedure
   1. A student whom receives a grade of D, F, NP, U, or Fail in a course will be notified of his/her dismissal status by the Office for Academic Affairs
   2. When a student meets criteria in provision 2 above, he or she will be dismissed from his or her program.  The student will receive notification of dismissal via a certified letter from the Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. A copy of the letter will be sent to the Dean and the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies of the School of Nursing, placed in the student's file in the Office for Academic Affairs and sent to the Registrar for the student’s permanent record. The Associate Dean for Graduate Studies has full authority to proceed autonomously according to policy, but may choose to seek input from the Committee on Graduate Studies (COGS).
   3. A student who is dismissed from his or her program is not eligible to register for additional courses. If the student has already registered for subsequent courses, the student will be required to unenroll.
4. Student Appeal of Dismissal
   1. In the event of extenuating circumstances, a student may choose to appeal dismissal from his or her program. All appeals are presented to and reviewed by the Committee on Graduate Studies (COGS).
      1. A request for appeal of dismissal and presentation to COGS must be sent by the student in writing to the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies within three business days of receiving the certified letter of dismissal. The student must indicate in the request if he or she wishes to bring a person outside of the School of Nursing to the meeting. If the person attending the meeting with the student is an attorney, the meeting will be held with the university attorney present. The student may also request to bring other appropriate faculty to the meeting with COGS. The Committee on Graduate Studies may request university employees or supervising clinical agency personnel attend the appeal or meet with them prior to deliberating. A review of the student’s records may also be conducted
      2. The Associate Dean for Graduate Studies will notify the student, in writing via email, that his or her case will be presented to the Committee on Graduate Studies. The written communication will include the date and time of the presentation. Student presentations are limited to a maximum of 15 minutes
   2. After the student presentation is concluded, and any additional information deemed appropriate to the situation is obtained, the Committee on Graduate Studies will review all information related to the criteria set forth in provision 2 for adherence to process and outcome actions. The faculty voting members of the Committee on Graduate Studies, in closed deliberation with the  Associate Dean for Graduate Studies, can recommend one or more of the following actions:
      1. Uphold the decision to dismiss the student from the School of Nursing Graduate Program
      2. Amend the dismissal decision to probation in the Graduate Nursing Program per explicit terms and expectations deemed appropriate by COGS and the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies
      3. Reconsideration of dismissal due to adherence concerns with process; including next steps
   3. A written recommendation from the Chairperson of the Committee on Graduate Studies will be made to the Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. A copy of the recommendation will be sent to the Dean of the School of Nursing.
   4. The final decision will be made by the Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and will be delivered to the student in writing by certified letter to the student’s address of record. A student who receives probation in the Graduate Nursing Program is not eligible to re-enroll in courses the semester immediately following the semester in which the student originally met criteria for dismissal. A student who is dismissed from the School of Nursing may not continue in the Graduate Nursing Program and is not eligible for readmission

Petition

Students may petition the Committee on Graduate Studies (COGS) for the consideration of relevant issues influencing program progression and/or completion. Students who wish to petition COGS should consult with the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies, and then complete the Student Petition Form that is available from the Office for Academic Affairs. Decisions regarding the petition will be communicated in writing to the students.

Petitions for reconsideration of the decision of COGS are reviewed by the Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. The dean’s decisions are final.

Repetition of a Course

Students cannot retake nursing courses for a grade in which they have already received a passing grade. Credit for courses in which a D or F is received may not be repeated and is grounds for dismissal as indicated in the dismissal policy.

The Semester Credit Hour

The unit of measure for credit purposes is the semester credit hour. One semester credit hour is given for each one clock hour of class or one clock hour of seminar for didactic courses. Four clock hours per one semester credit hour of laboratory/practicum/computer lab experience per week, per semester is given in the Nurse Practitioner majors, Nursing Education major, Administrative Management and Clinical Nurse Leader majors and all tracks in the DNP Program.  For selected sessions and summer sessions during which the class, seminar, and practicum hours are concentrated, equivalent clock hours are provided.

Dissertation Course Report

The dissertation course may be reported as In Progress (IP) until the work is completed. The dissertation course is not counted in the grade point average.

Examinations

Examinations must be taken on the date and time scheduled. If extenuating circumstances prevent the student from taking an examination, prior approval must be granted by the course instructor to postpone the examination. If a student misses an examination without prior approval by the instructor, a grade of F will be recorded for the examination.

Readmission

Individuals who have previously been enrolled in graduate nursing courses should complete an Application for Readmission. Transcripts from any colleges or universities attended since the time of the previous enrollment in the graduate programs must be submitted. Applicants may be requested to provide recent professional references. Each graduate nursing student is required to obtain current licensure in good standing as a registered nurse in Texas, or a Compact State with multistate privileges, prior to engaging in clinical research- or practice-related activities within the graduate program.

Individuals who have not registered in two consecutive terms, including summers, must apply for readmission unless they were previously granted official permission for leave of absence. Students who do not return from a leave of absence within the three consecutive terms limit will be withdrawn from the nursing program and will have to apply for admission as a new student.

Those seeking readmission are subject to all requirements, procedures, and acceptance considerations outlined in this catalog.

Courses