BSN-to-PhD in Nursing

The post-baccalaureate BSN-to-PhD in Nursing program at FIU Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences is a comprehensive, advanced education tracks that builds on the foundational knowledge and skills you acquired during your baccalaureate nursing education. The 2 Tracks offered are MSN-Nurse Practitioner and PhD in Nursing or the Master’s in Nursing Education and the PhD in Nursing degree.

The curriculum includes master’s level courses to prepare students for advanced practice roles and provides the foundation for students to engage in a program of intellectual inquiry at the doctoral level.

The program can be completed in 4½ to 5 years of full time study.

Program Requirements

  1. Students in the BSN‐PhD program are required to complete 94‐97 credit hours:
    • Thirty‐six to thirty‐nine (36‐39) hours of credits toward the MSN-NP or MSN-EDU degree (see plan of study)
      • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

      • Family Nurse Practitioner

      • Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

      • Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

      • Nurse Educator

    • Three to nine (3‐9) hours of credit for Candidacy;
    • 18 hours of Dissertation credits.
  2. Complete curriculum components as outlined by the individual plan of study and the Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Please see here for more: Nursing PhD Handbook
  3. Complete 94-97 credit hours of coursework, including:
    • 36-39 credit hours toward the MSN degree (see Plan of Study)
    • Minimum three (3) credit hours of Candidacy Examination (3-9 credits)
    • Minimum 18 credit hours of Dissertation
  4. Complete the following curricular components:
    • Core Knowledge (12 credits)
    • Research Methods and Design (9 credits)
    • Statistics (6 credits)
    • Grantsmanship (6 credits)
    • Cognate Electives by advisement (6 credits)
  5. Maintain an overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above.
    • Students with a cumulative GPA of less than 3.0 will be placed on academic probation for one (1) semester and are subject to dismissal if the 3.0 GPA requirement is not met upon completion of the probationary period.
  6. Removal of all conditions, deficiencies and incomplete grades. Students are expected to register for courses with letter grades. Credit hours for courses in which the grade is “B-” or below will not count toward satisfying graduate degree requirements.
  7. Demonstrate graduate knowledge in three (3) stages to be awarded a PhD in Nursing degree:
    • Stage I – Qualifying Examination (written)
    • Stage II – Proposal Defense
    • Stage III – Dissertation Defense
  8. Complete a dissertation five (5) years from the date of advancement to candidacy (i.e., successful completion of written and oral examinations, favorable recommendation of the supervisory/guidance committee, and an approved dissertation proposal).