phd at walden university

College of Nursing: PhD in Nursing

• College of Nursing
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
• Doctor of Nursing Practice
• PhD in Nursing

Learning Outcomes

Minimum degree requirements, core curriculum, focus areas (15 credits), completion of the doctoral capstone, residency requirements, course sequence.

• Doctoral Writing Assessment

8-Year Maximum Time Frame

• Post-Master’s Certificate in Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Post-Master’s Certificate in Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Post-Master’s Certificate in Family Nurse Practitioner
• Post-Master’s Certificate in Nurse Executive
• Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing Education
• Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing Informatics
• Post-Master’s Certificate in Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care
• Post-Master’s Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Program Website  

The PhD in Nursing program prepares nursing professionals for advanced careers in nursing research, practice, and education. With a focus on readying students to contribute to nursing science, advance knowledge in nursing practice, and improve healthcare services, practices, and policies, course topics include: research methods, theoretical and scientific perspectives in nursing, strengthen scholarly writing skills, enhance critical analysis of the literature advanced quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research design; quality improvement systems and leadership which culminates in the dissertation. The doctoral dissertation enables students to conduct and publish original research that contributes to the body of knowledge in their chosen specialty. Based on their educational and career goals, students will choose from among five focus areas: Nursing Education, Healthcare Administration, Interdisciplinary Health, Leadership, and Population Health.

Graduates of this program will be prepared to:

• Conduct research to generate findings that advance the knowledge and practice of nursing.
• Demonstrate advanced competency in research design and methodology to address social problems and needs.
• Engage in scientific inquiry that advances the knowledge base of research and practice in the profession.
• Evaluate the role of research and scholarship in the field of nursing in relation to its role in improving health interventions and advancing the development of related theory.
• Demonstrate leadership by generating new knowledge that promotes positive social change and addresses the social determinants of health.
• Contribute to the science of nursing through social change and social policy initiatives.
• Apply ethical decision making and values to the profession.
• Advocate for policies and programs that improve health outcomes by addressing the social determinants of health among culturally diverse populations.
• Demonstrate professional communication that supports the discipline and practice of nursing.
• Demonstrate the ability to act as a role model and mentor to others who wish to pursue the profession (stewardship).

The PhD in Nursing offers three entry options: BSN-PhD, Master's-PhD, and DNP to PhD Bridge Option. See specialization pages for details on minimum required credits by specialization and entry option.

• Foundation course (1 credits)
• Core courses (45 credits or 20 credits, depending upon BSN-PhD or Master's-PhD/DNP Bridge entry option)
• Research courses (20 credits)
• Doctoral Seminar (5 quarter credits)
• Focus area courses (15 credits)
• Dissertation (minimum 20 quarter credits, taken continuously until completion of the dissertation)
• Doctoral Writing Assessment (0 credits)
• Four PhD residencies

BSN-PhD entry:  This entry option is for registered nurses (RN) who have earned their bachelor’s in nursing degree.

Master's-PhD entry:  This entry option is for registered nurses (RN) who have earned their master’s in nursing degree or a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s degree in a business or non-nursing health related field.

DNP-PhD entry:  This entry option is for registered nurses (RN) who have earned their doctor of nursing practice degree.

Foundation Course (1 credits)

Core courses (45 credits or 20 credits), bsn-phd entry students take 45 credits of core courses. see each focus area for msn level core course information..

20 credits of MSN level core courses based on the focus area

• Students may take this as a non-degree course.

Master's-PhD and DNP Bridge entry students take 20 credits of core courses.

Research courses (20 credits), foundation research courses (15 credits), advanced research course (5 credits).

• Students may take this a non-degree course.

Doctoral Seminar (5 credits)

See each focus area for course information.

Bridge Option for Students With a DNP

Focus area in healthcare administration, focus area in interdisciplinary health focus, focus area in leadership, focus area in nursing education, focus area in population health.

Students take this course for a minimum of four quarters and are continuously enrolled until completion of their dissertation with final chief academic officer (CAO) approval.

To complete a doctoral dissertation, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the chief academic officer. Students must also publish their dissertation on ProQuest before their degree is conferred. Learn more about the dissertation process in the  Dissertation Guidebook .

• Complete Residency 1 as soon as you begin your program ; required in order to advance into RSCH 8110.
• Complete Residency 2 prior to entering NURS 8750.
• Complete Residency 3 prior to entering NURS 9000.
• Residency 4 General  (RESI 8404) OR
• Residency 4 Proposal Writing  (RESI 8404Q) OR
• Residency 4 Methods & Data Collection: Qualitative  (RESI 8404R) OR
• Residency 4 Methods & Data Collection: Quantitative  (RESI 8404S) OR
• Residency 4 Publishing & Presenting  (RESI 8404T) OR
• a  dissertation intensive  (DRWI 8500). Contact Student Success Advising to register. 
• Optional:  Complete a PhD  dissertation intensive  retreat (DRWI 8500) during your dissertation (in lieu of residency 4). Contact Student Success Advising to register.
• BSN-PhD Entry
• Master's-PhD Entry

Bridge Option for Students with a DNP

Bsn-phd entry course sequence.

The BSN-PhD entry course sequence is as follows.

Master's-PhD Entry Course Sequence

The Master's-PhD entry course sequence is as follows.

Students who start or readmit to doctoral programs at Walden University in the university catalog for academic year 2017 or later will complete the university’s required  doctoral writing assessment . Designed to evaluate incoming doctoral students’ writing skills, this assessment aims to help prepare incoming doctoral students to meet the university’s expectations for writing at the doctoral level.

In general, students are continuously registered in the dissertation/doctoral study course until they complete their capstone project and it is approved. This usually takes longer than the minimum required terms in the dissertation/doctoral study course shell.

Students have up to 8 years to complete their doctoral degree requirements (see  Enrollment Requirements  in the student handbook). Students may petition to extend the 8-year maximum time frame, but an extension is not guaranteed.

• << Previous: Doctor of Nursing Practice
• Next: Post-Master’s Certificate in Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner >>
• Office of Student Disability Services

Walden Resources

Departments.

• Academic Residencies
• Academic Skills
• Career Planning and Development
• Customer Care Team
• Field Experience
• Military Services
• Student Success Advising
• Writing Skills

Centers and Offices

• Center for Social Change
• Office of Academic Support and Instructional Services
• Office of Student Affairs
• Office of Degree Acceleration
• Office of Research and Doctoral Services

Student Resources

• Form & Style Review
• Quick Answers
• ScholarWorks
• SKIL Courses and Workshops
• Walden Bookstore
• Walden Catalog & Student Handbook
• Student Safety/Title IX
• Legal & Consumer Information
• Website Terms and Conditions
• Cookie Policy
• Accessibility
• Accreditation
• State Authorization
• Net Price Calculator
• Contact Walden

Walden University is a member of Adtalem Global Education, Inc. www.adtalem.com Walden University is certified to operate by SCHEV © 2024 Walden University LLC. All rights reserved.

The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Human Sciences: MS in Psychology

• The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Human Sciences
• BS in Elementary Education
• Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Elementary Education
• Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Special Education (K- Age 21)
• Education Specialist (EdS) in Educational Leadership and Administration (Principal Preparation) Program (Semester)
• BS in Early Childhood Studies
• MS in Developmental Psychology
• MS in Early Childhood Studies
• MS in Education (Semester)
• MS in Health Education and Promotion
• MS in Higher Education
• MS in Instructional Design and Technology (Semester)
• MS in Psychology

Note on Licensure

Learning outcomes, course-based program, tempo learning® program.

• Education Specialist (EdS) in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
• Education Specialist (EdS) in Early Childhood Education
• Education Specialist (EdS) in Educational Administration and Leadership
• Education Specialist (EdS) in Educational Technology
• Education Specialist (EdS) in Learning, Instruction, and Innovation
• Education Specialist (EdS) in Reading, Literacy, and Assessment
• Education Specialist (EdS) in Special Education
• Doctor of Education (EdD)
• PhD in Developmental Psychology
• PhD in Education
• PhD in Health Education and Promotion
• BS in Child Development
• MS in Instructional Design and Technology (Quarter)
• MS in Education (Quarter)
• Education Specialist (EdS) in Educational Leadership and Administration (Principal Preparation) Program (Quarter)

Program Website  

The MS in Psychology provides students with pre-doctoral training—a background in the development and application of psychological theories, basic scientific methods, and principles of psychological science.

Note:  The MS in Psychology program is offered in two different learning modalities: the course-based modality and the competency-based modality, Tempo Learning®.

The MS in Psychology is not a licensure program and does not prepare an individual to become a licensed psychology professional.

At the end of this program, students will be able to:

• Describe the foundations of psychology.
• Synthesize psychological theory and research to apply in real-world situations, such as in educational, social, organizational, and health settings.
• Interpret psychological theory and research.
• Describe psychological theory, research, and practice from a multicultural and/or global perspective.
• Apply psychological theory, research, and practice to scholarly and/or professional activities that promote positive social change.

Degree Requirements

• 48 quarter credits (63 credits for Applied Behavioral Analysis)
• Foundation course (3 credits)
• Core courses (25 credits)
• Specialization courses (15 credits; 30 credits for Applied Behavioral Analysis)
• Capstone (5 credits)

Specialization Courses (15 credits; 30 credits for Applied Behavior Analysis)

These courses are dependent upon the particular specialization. Please see the course list on each specialization page.

Specialization in General Psychology

Specialization in applied behavior analysis, specialization in applied psychology, specialization in digital psychology, specialization in educational psychology, specialization in health psychology, specialization in social psychology, specialization in self-designed.

There are two tracks in the MS in Psychology program:

• Track 1  is for students who want to advance in their careers. (The Applied Behavior Analysis specialization is for Track 1 students only.)
• Track 2  is for those who intend to further their studies in a doctoral program.

For students who want to advance in their careers. (The Applied Behavior Analysis specialization is for Track 1 students only.)

Foundation Course (3 credits)

Core courses (25 credits).

• Students may take this as a non-degree course.

Capstone Course (5 credits)

Course sequence–track 1.

Students undertake courses in the following sequence.

For those who intend to further their studies in a doctoral program.

Course Sequence–Track 2

Tempo Learning® is Walden’s competency-based education modality, an alternative way of earning a Walden degree offered for some Walden programs. Instead of courses, the Walden Tempo Learning® program is comprised of competencies and rigorous assessments. Students progress through the Tempo Learning® model by successfully passing competency assessments. A student must successfully achieve or master all competency assessments to graduate from the program.

Students earn the same Walden degree whether they choose the course-based or the competency-based modality.

• 48 quarter credits
• Foundation competencies (3 credits)
• Core competencies (25 credits)
• Specialization competencies (15 credits)
• Capstone competencies (5 credits)

Foundation Competencies (3 credits)

• GS001 Field of Psychology Describe alignment of professional goals for positive social change.
• GS002 Academic Goals Demonstrate skills to further academic goals.
• GS003 Professional Goals Demonstrate skills to further professional goals.

Core Competencies (25 credits)

• PT001 Psychological Themes and Theories Evaluate key concepts in theories.
• PT002 Human Behavior Evaluate how theories relate to human behavior in diverse settings.
• PT003 Research Evaluate how research informs psychological theories.
• LF001 Theories and Processes of Development Evaluate constructs, processes, and theories related to developmental psychology.
• LF002 Developmental Concepts Analyze developmental concepts as applied to the life of an individual.
• LF003 Lifespan Synthesize environmental, biological, and cultural influences on development throughout the lifespan.
• CU001 Culture and Human Development Evaluate the effect of culture on social, emotional, and cognitive developmental processes and human behavior to gain a better understanding of individuals across the world. 
• CU002 Social Roles and Social Behavior Analyze how culture influences socialization, social roles, social cognition, and social behavior to gain a greater appreciation of cultural appropriate behaviors in varied settings.
• CU003 Culture and Psychological Well-Being Use cross-cultural strategies to understand psychological disorders and to promote mental health attitudes, beliefs, and practices.
• CU004 Cross-Cultural Research Promote a global perspective of psychology using cross-cultural research and methods to encourage positive social change.
• PS001 Data Collection and Management Collect, manage, and clean quantitative data to develop core skills for problem-solving.
• PS002 Data Analysis Analyze quantitative data to answer questions to solve problems in real world situations.
• PS003 Data Interpretation Interpret quantitative data to make generalizations for positive social change.
• RT001 Philosophy of Science, Theory, and Social Change Analyze the roles of philosophy, theory, and social change in research.
• RT002 Quantitative Research Assess quantitative research studies for quality and for alignment among critical research components.
• RT003 Qualitative Research Assess qualitative research studies for quality and for alignment among critical research components.
• RT004 Mixed Methods Research Assess mixed methods research (MMR) studies for quality and for alignment among critical research components.

Specialization Competencies (15 credits)

Capstone competencies (5 credits).

• SS001 Research Strategies Analyze the research strategies that address contemporary issues or problems based on applied research in the field of psychology.
• SS002 Issues or Problems in Psychology Apply psychology to contemporary issues or problems in either the workplace, community, or world.
• SS003 Literature Reviews Synthesize literature related to the field of psychology that is focused on contemporary issues or problems in the workplace, community, or world.

Note on Curriculum

In an effort to ensure competencies are kept up to date and relevant to meet the learning outcomes of the program, the number and subject matter of individual competencies needed to satisfy program course requirements may change. However, program outcomes and the number and subject matter of courses will not be impacted. As a result, the required competencies listed in a student’s individual learning plan may differ from what is currently listed in the catalog.

• << Previous: MS in Instructional Design and Technology (Semester)
• Next: Education Specialist (EdS) in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment >>
• Office of Student Disability Services

Walden Resources

Departments.

• Academic Residencies
• Academic Skills
• Career Planning and Development
• Customer Care Team
• Field Experience
• Military Services
• Student Success Advising
• Writing Skills

Centers and Offices

• Center for Social Change
• Office of Academic Support and Instructional Services
• Office of Student Affairs
• Office of Degree Acceleration
• Office of Research and Doctoral Services

Student Resources

• Doctoral Writing Assessment
• Form & Style Review
• Quick Answers
• ScholarWorks
• SKIL Courses and Workshops
• Walden Bookstore
• Walden Catalog & Student Handbook
• Student Safety/Title IX
• Legal & Consumer Information
• Website Terms and Conditions
• Cookie Policy
• Accessibility
• Accreditation
• State Authorization
• Net Price Calculator
• Contact Walden

Walden University is a member of Adtalem Global Education, Inc. www.adtalem.com Walden University is certified to operate by SCHEV © 2024 Walden University LLC. All rights reserved.

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

• View all journals
• Explore content
• About the journal
• Publish with us
• Sign up for alerts
• CORRESPONDENCE
• 02 April 2024

How can we make PhD training fit for the modern world? Broaden its philosophical foundations

• Ganesh Alagarasan 0

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Tirupati, India.

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

You have highlighted how PhD training assessment has stagnated, despite evolving educational methodologies (see Nature 613 , 414 (2023) and Nature 627 , 244; 2024 ). In particular, you note the mismatch between the current PhD journey and the multifaceted demands of modern research and societal challenges.

Access options

Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals

Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription

24,99 € / 30 days

cancel any time

Subscribe to this journal

Receive 51 print issues and online access

185,98 € per year

only 3,65 € per issue

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Nature 628 , 36 (2024)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-00969-x

Competing Interests

The author declares no competing interests.

Related Articles

See more letters to the editor

• Research management
• Scientific community

After the genocide: what scientists are learning from Rwanda

News Feature 05 APR 24

The neuroscientist formerly known as Prince’s audio engineer

Career Feature 14 MAR 24

This geologist communicates science from the ski slopes

Career Q&A 11 MAR 24

Allow researchers with caring responsibilities ‘promotion pauses’ to make research more equitable

Correspondence 02 APR 24

Impact factors are outdated, but new research assessments still fail scientists

World View 02 APR 24

How scientists are making the most of Reddit

Career Feature 01 APR 24

Adopt universal standards for study adaptation to boost health, education and social-science research

Africa’s postdoc workforce is on the rise — but at what cost?

Career Feature 02 APR 24

Postdoctoral Fellow (Aging, Metabolic stress, Lipid sensing, Brain Injury)

Seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow to apply advanced knowledge & skills to generate insights into aging, metabolic stress, lipid sensing, & brain Injury.

Dallas, Texas (US)

UT Southwestern Medical Center - Douglas Laboratory

High-Level Talents at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University

For clinical medicine and basic medicine; basic research of emerging inter-disciplines and medical big data.

Nanchang, Jiangxi, China

The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University

POSTDOCTORAL Fellow -- DEPARTMENT OF Surgery – BIDMC, Harvard Medical School

The Division of Urologic Surgery in the Department of Surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School invites applicatio...

Boston, Massachusetts (US)

Director of Research

Applications are invited for the post of Director of Research at Cancer Institute (WIA), Chennai, India.

Chennai, Tamil Nadu (IN)

Cancer Institute (W.I.A)

Postdoctoral Fellow in Human Immunology (wet lab)

Join Atomic Lab in Boston as a postdoc in human immunology for universal flu vaccine project. Expertise in cytometry, cell sorting, scRNAseq.

Boston University Atomic Lab

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Quick links

• Explore articles by subject
• Guide to authors
• Editorial policies