Intercollegiate College of Nursing: Academic Programs

Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (Ph.D.)

Progression to Ph.D. Candidacy

APPROVED BY PHD OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE -JANUARY 2008
APPROVED BY GRADUATE PROGRAM COMMITTEE –FEBRUARY 2008

Purpose:

Progression to Ph.D. candidacy is a process, the purpose of which is to demonstrate readiness to complete dissertation requirements for the Ph.D. in nursing. This process is intended to foster and evaluate student abilities related to knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of content in the nursing discipline.

Elements:

Progression to candidacy includes several steps following satisfactory completion of identified coursework in areas such as scientific inquiry, research methods, concept analysis, and chosen electives. Each student works with an advising committee while completing coursework. The advising committee may become the dissertation committee once the student conceptualizes the dissertation proposal, or one or more members of the advising committee may be changed, based on the dissertation topic and advising expertise needed. The committee is established by the PhD Oversight Committee with input from the advising committee and the student.

Using the guidance and critique of the dissertation committee, the student demonstrates a synthesis of the educational experience via preparation for an independent research project. This preparation is comprehensive in that the student must apply the body of extant nursing knowledge to her/his chosen area of study and must situate her/his chosen research methodology within a philosophy of science. Culminating the progression process are written and oral presentations of the dissertation research proposal. Therefore, steps in the process include:

Satisfactory completion of coursework as recommended by advising committee
Outline of comprehensive dissertation proposal approved by the dissertation committee
Written dissertation proposal approved by the dissertation committee
Oral presentation of proposal to dissertation committee and all interested graduate faculty

Format and process:

Satisfactory completion of coursework
Coursework will be contributory to the preparation of the dissertation proposal, although content or method interests may evolve or change over this period. As the dissertation focus develops, all course and independent learning will bear upon proposal development. Guidance from the advising committee initially, and then the dissertation committee, once it is established, should be sought.

Outline of comprehensive dissertation proposal

Upon completion of coursework, the student is eligible to present an outline of the dissertation proposal, to be approved by all dissertation committee members. The outline is to be a detailed description of the proposal content, as follows:

Chapter One: Statement of the Problem, Background and Study Aims
Chapter Two: Review of the Literature
Chapter Three: Methods

Together with the dissertation committee, specific headings and expected content within these chapters will be discussed and outlined. It is at this stage that students will position their specific areas of interest, with respect to content and methodology, within the larger body of disciplinary knowledge. Committee members will be looking for a demonstration of comprehensiveness and will offer guidance as to the expectations for the written work.

Written dissertation proposal

Chapters One, Two, and Three, as above, will be written and approved. The proposal is both an academic milestone, and an important pedagogical tool. Students and faculty members should view the proposal as a contract which articulates the boundaries and goals of the student’s first large‐scale independent research project. That is, having a formal, approved proposal protects both students and faculty so that if major changes are recommended by either party, a discussion must be held with the entire dissertation committee.

It should be noted that this proposal includes comprehensive information that demonstrates a synthesis and application of disciplinary knowledge. It will become a substantial portion of the dissertation. However, editing is expected as the dissertation progresses, new relevant literature becomes available, and information included in the comprehensive proposal is honed. Students may submit sections or drafts to particular members of their committee for critique as the proposal develops. The length of this process and of the proposal will vary depending upon the particular needs of the student and the requirements of the respective committee members. All committee members must approve the completed written proposal.

Oral presentation of proposal

An oral presentation and defense of the research proposal follows approval of the written work. It is open to all graduate faculty members, who vote on the presentation as satisfactory or unsatisfactory. Further information about the oral presentation will be provided to students, and will be available on the PhD website and in the student handbook.

Instructions to students:

Complete coursework under direction of advising committee
Select dissertation committee members and submit names to director of PhD program; obtain approval for dissertation committee members
Prepare detailed outline of Chapters One, Two, and Three, discussing with each committee member until content requirements are clear.
Begin writing chapters. Discuss process with committee members and make agreements regarding frequency of critique, as well as amount and type of interaction with each committee member. Upon completion, each committee member receives a copy of the proposal.
Committee members have 20 working days to review your proposal. If any member of your committee does not approve your proposal as submitted, you must make all necessary revisions and submit it again.
Once your committee has agreed that the proposal is acceptable, you will schedule an oral presentation of your proposal to the graduate faculty.
Your committee will meet following the oral proposal presentation and each member will vote on the Ballot for the Approval of a Dissertation Proposal. All committee members must approve in order for work to progress on the proposed research. The Director of the PhD in Nursing program also signs to signify approval of the project.

Candidacy

After successful completion of the progression to candidacy process, the student will become a Ph.D. candidate, an acknowledgement that the student is actively engaged in research. Throughout the period of candidacy, the student continues to work with the dissertation committee chair and committee members as appropriate. The student will continue the research process by completing the following:

Obtaining IRB approval
Obtaining needed funding for the research
Conducting the research project
Updating chapters 1-3
Writing chapters 4-5 (Results; Discussion)

Dissertation defense:

The revised Chapters 1, 2, and 3, as well as the new Chapters 4 & 5 are submitted to the dissertation committee for review. Committee members have 20 working days to review the proposal and request additional modifications or approve the document. The written dissertation must be approved by all committee members. After approval, the student may schedule the oral defense of the dissertation. Further information about the dissertation presentation can be found on the WSU Graduate School website.