Nursing

The Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Program at UMass Lowell is a research-focused doctoral degree in nursing with a focus in health promotion. The focus in health promotion allows students to acquire cutting edge knowledge in the field of health promotion, a top priority in the nation. The executive program model uses a cohort system, which allows students to progress through the program together, either part-time or full-time. Students generally attend core nursing courses once/month on a Saturday; the remaining course modules are conducted online. Graduates will advance knowledge in the fields of nursing and health promotion at the individual, family and community level.

• Ph.D. Program Overview
• Admission Requirements
• Degree Requirements
• Sample Course of Study (full-time)
• Sample Course of Study (part-time)
• Qualifying Examination
• Dissertation
• Contact

The Ph.D. Program Overview overview

Established in 1996, the program has produced graduates who are leaders in nursing and health promotion research. All nursing courses are offered using a weekend-blended model with two courses offered completely online. This is the only Nursing Ph.D. program in New England that uses this flexible approach to learning.

Graduates of the Ph.D. in Nursing program are prepared to:

1. Extend the body of knowledge in nursing and health promotion through research and theory development.
2. Create change in health outcomes among targeted populations through the development and implementation of health promotion research.

Admission Requirements requirements

Students who wish to apply for admission to the Ph.D. program must submit a graduate admissions application form. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The preferred deadline is April 1 for Fall admission; new students are only accepted in the Fall. The graduate application form can be obtained from the UMass Lowell Graduate Admissions Office.

Requirements include:

1. B.S. degree in nursing with a minimum G.P.A. of 3.3
2. A master’s degree in nursing or health-related field with a minimum GPA of 3.300
3. A current Massachusetts R.N. license or eligibility (International students may waive this requirement but must have an equivalent nursing degree and will be evaluated on an individual basis)
4. An official transcript of all previous academic records (both graduate and undergraduate)
5. A personal statement about the applicant’s interest in the program that includes professional goals
6. Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can assess the applicant’s potential for doctoral work
7. A recent Curriculum Vitae
8. International students must submit evidence of an equivalent undergraduate program in nursing and master’s program in nursing or related field.
9. International students must submit an acceptable TOEFL or IELTS score.

NOTE: GREs are not required.  Completion of a graduate course in statistics is strongly recommended; Writing examples are also highly recommended to accompany the personal statement.

The Ph.D. Admissions Committee is chaired by the Ph.D. Program Director and comprised of at least one other faculty member who teaches in the graduate program. The Admission Committee will interview applicants and make the final decision. There are three types of decisions:

1. Accept
2. Accept with conditions, or
3. Deny

The application process is described as follows:

• The applicant logs onto Graduate Admissions website to obtain all required application forms and documents.
• The applicant completes the application form online and pays the fee.
• The applicant submits documents online to Graduate Admissions Office as they are ready.
• The Graduate Admissions Office notifies the Director of Ph.D. Program in Nursing once the application is complete.
• The Ph.D. Admissions Committee reviews all applicants to determine candidates to interview.
• The Ph.D. Admissions Committee conducts interview for those who passed the initial review.
• The Ph.D. Admissions Committee makes a decision and submits it to Graduate Admissions
• The applicant receives a letter from Graduate Admissions for either acceptance or denial

Degree Requirements degree%20requ

The doctoral program in nursing with a focus in health promotion requires a total of 48 semester credits beyond the master’s degree. Students may enroll full or part-time. Part-time students are expected to enroll with their cohort for a minimum of two courses/semester in the first two years. A sample program of studies for full and part time students includes:

Post-Master's to Ph.D. Degree Pathway

Total: 15 credits

Required Methodology Courses

Total: 21 credits

Required Dissertation Courses 

Total: 9-12

Total Required for Postmasters to PhD = 48 Credits

BSN to PhD Pathway 1 - Full Time only (no Master's Degree conferred)

Total: 15 credits

Cognate Courses (Selected approved courses in research interest area)

Total: 9 credits

Required Preparation to Research Courses

Total Credits = 12

Required Methodology Courses

Total: 21 credits

Required Dissertation Courses

Total: 10-13 Credits

Total credits required for BSN to PhD Pathway 1 = 69 credits

BSN to MPH to Ph.D. Pathway 2: Epidemiology Option

BSN to MPH to Ph.D. Pathway 3: Social and Behavioral Sciences Option

DNP to Ph.D. Fast Track Degree Pathway

UMass Lowell graduate nursing students currently matriculated in the DNP program in UMass Lowell Solomont School of Nursing may apply for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Program at UMass Lowell. Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.500 in the DNP program at the time of the application. Before graduating from the DNP program, students must meet with a PhD program advisor and develop a course plan for the PhD program.

Admission Requirements: 

Nursing Qualifying Examination exam

The qualifying examination is designed to determine the student’s ability to analyze and synthesize conceptual, theoretical and methodological knowledge as it pertains to health promotion within a substantive research area. The examination provides a method of assessment to ascertain if the student is ready to advance to the dissertation stage. It consists of two written publishable papers, that are focused on: a concept or theory; a systematic review on a specific topic related to the student’s research area; or a paper related to research methods. Both papers will be original, critical evaluations that relate to the student’s identified research area. Students are eligible to complete the qualifying examination after completion of all of the core courses (33 credits).

dissertation Dissertation disseration

Dissertation planning may be initiated in the first year, but formal work begins following successful completion of the Nursing Qualifying Examination and all course work. At this time a Dissertation Committee is formed to direct the student’s research. The dissertation requirement is designed to demonstrate that the student has acquired a substantial body of knowledge related to the selected field of study, has developed the ability to use appropriate data analysis methods, and has contributed to the advancement of nursing knowledge related to health promotion. The student’s dissertation work must be original and represent a unique contribution to the literature.

Contact: contact

Ainat Koren, Ph.D., DNP, PMHNP
Ph.D. Program Director
Office Location: Health and Social Science Building, Room 204  
978-934-4429
Ainat_Koren@uml.edu

updated 12/1/22