Combined BS/MS Program (ETP) Master's Specialties University Statutory Certificate MS Completion Program Sub-Specialties Joint Degrees Doctoral Programs Overview Doctor of Nursing Science (DNSc) Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Course Descriptions

Doctor of Nursing Science Program (DNSc)

Program Description

NOTE: A faculty committee is developing a plan for a proposal to transition the DNSc program to a PhD program. Read about it HERE.

The DNSc program is a research-intensive curriculum preparing nurse scholars who are ready to conduct research in outcomes and health policy, independently and as part of interdisciplinary teams. To accomplish this, the program provides students with research skills, knowledge of critical frameworks for understanding outcomes and policy questions, and mentored opportunities to move toward independent research.

Graduates of the DNSc program will have knowledge of health policy and the research skills necessary to make a major impact on health care nationwide and to further clinical nursing knowledge. Specifically, graduates will be prepared to:

• Design, conduct, direct, and report research studies that increase knowledge about the outcomes of nursing and other clinical practice.
• Provide leadership in improving the health care delivery system.
• Collaborate with other professionals to evaluate and develop policies for the organization and delivery of health services.
• Translate the evidence accumulated through research into practice and policy at multiple levels.

There are two admission options to the program. The traditional post-MS admission is for nurses who hold an advanced degree in nursing or a related discipline and desire doctoral preparation in research. The second option is for post-BS in nursing admission. This second option is appropriate for exceptionally well qualified nurses whose career goals are research-focused and who desire doctoral preparation, but who do not opt for advanced nursing practice/nurse practitioner preparation at the master's level. Students in the traditional program take at least 45 credits of doctoral study. For students entering post-BS in nursing, the requirement is a minimum of 77 credits, to include 30 prerequisite and 47 doctoral credits. The exact prerequisite courses are determined individually for each student.

The Director of the Doctor of Nursing Science Program is Nancy Reame.

Admission

A complete application must be submitted by February 1 for consideration for the following September. Interviews with at least two members of the DNSc Faculty will be conducted in February and March. Admission decisions will be sent by early April. Doctoral students are admitted for Fall entry only. Please note, applications for the DNSc Program can only be submitted online.

Admission criteria include:

•  Master's degree in nursing from an NLN or CCNE accredited program. Otherwise well-qualified applicants who are nearing completion of the master's degree, can be considered for admission as non-matriculating and, if accepted, can take doctoral courses concurrently while completing the master's program.

or

•  Master's degrees in related disciplines who are otherwise well qualified. If admitted, additional nursing credits to ensure an adequate background may be required and do not count toward the doctoral degree.

or

•  Post-baccalaureate pathway: Bachelor's degree in nursing from an NLN or CCNE accredited program. Applicants for post-BS in nursing entry must have career goals that are consistent with the purposes of the DNSc program and demonstrated aptitude for research.

and

• Current New York State nursing license or eligibility.
• Satisfactory score on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
• Three references attesting to applicant's academic ability and potential (at least two should be from doctorally-prepared faculty who have taught the applicant).
• Personal goal statement that is congruent with program goals; please include anticipated program of research.
• Computer literacy and ability to work with SPSS or other statistical software programs.
• Intro to Biostatistics at Columbia (student may either take this course during the first year of study or take the Columbia waiver exam).
• Graduate couse in Health Policy.

Curriculum

The DNSc curriculum builds upon the foundation of nursing science. It provides the basis for graduates to expand the horizons of nursing by bringing together practice, health policy, research, and leadership. The building and enhancement of research, leadership and policy analysis skills are the primary foci of the program, based on two principles: 1) clinically expert nurses can bring a unique and important perspective to the improvement of health, health care and health care delivery through research ; and 2) the practice of nursing takes place within and is influenced by a complex array of policies and systems of care delivery. The minimum number of semester credits required is 47 beyond the master's degree. In addition to course work, the student must successfully complete a comprehensive examination with written and oral components, and must write and successfully defend a dissertation reporting an original research study.

The above information is current as of 07/07 and is subject to change at any time.