Nursing Education, Ed.D. (Online)

For further information: NursingEdDGrad@southernct.edu

Application Deadline
March 1 (even years), applications will be accepted until the cohort is filled.

The Doctoral program in Nursing Education (Ed.D.), developed collaboratively by Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) and Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) faculty is designed to prepared nurses for academic faculty roles. The program, which builds on CSUS's long standing tradition of excellence in preparing educators and nurses, offers individuals with clinical expertise and a master 's degree in nursing an innovative doctoral program focused on the necessary content and skills required to be effective faculty members, advance the science of nursing education, and transform the education of future nurses.

The Ed.D. program objectives are consistent with SCSU and WCSU's mission to educate students within a diverse, caring, and scholarly learning community dedicated to excellence.

To meet the needs of busy professionals, this program will be delivered primarily online through the use of synchronous and asynchronous learning modalities. Three, three-day on-campus residencies will be required before the start of the program and during each summer following Years 1 and 2 of the program.

Admission Criteria are as follows

• Graduate School application
• Master 's degree in Nursing, with an overall GPA of at least 3.0, from a regionally accredited institution
• Official transcripts of all prior undergraduate and graduate level coursework
• Three (3) current references from individuals who can speak to the applicant's academic ability, professional achievements, and potential for success in doctoral studies
• Current RN or APRN license
• GRE or MAT scores (waived if MSN cumulative GPA is equal or greater than 3.4)
• Phone interview with Nursing EdD Committee member(s)
• Current resume/CV highlighting professional experience, scholarship, and service activities
• Personal statement describing the following:
  a) reasons for seeking admission to the Ed.D. program
  b) professional goals
  c) research interests
  d) potential contributions to field of nursing education
  e) discussion of experiences in previous graduate work
• For international students, a score of at least 550 (paper), 213 (computer), or 80 (internet) on the TOEFL exam or IELTs of 6.5 or higher
• Applications are accepted the fall of even years and will be reviewed beginning on March 1; however, applications will continue to be reviewed until the cohort is full.

The overall goal of the admissions committee is to admit individuals who, in the professional opinion of the faculty, demonstrate the greatest potential for making significant contributions to the field of nursing education through their teaching, scholarship, and service activities.

Program Sequence

As sequencing changes, it is highly recommended that students meet with their program advisor to finalize a list of requirements for graduation.  

A rigorous 51 credit planned course of study is as follows:

Residency 1 (No credit assigned)

• NUR 8001 - EdD Residency 1

Foundations of Teaching in Higher Education (each course is 3 credits; 9 credits total)

• NUR 800 - Ethical/Legal, Political and Social Issues Affecting Higher Education
• NUR 801 - Theories of Teaching and Learning in Adult and Higher Education
• NUR 802 - Methods of Teaching and Evaluation

Specialization in Nursing Education (each course is 3 credits; 9 credits total)

• NUR 803 — Curriculum Development, Implementation, and Evaluation in Nursing
• NUR 804 — Nursing Faculty Role in Higher Education
• NUR 805 — Classroom, Clinical Teaching and Evaluation in Nursing Education

Residency 2 (No credit assigned)

• NUR 8002 - EdD Residency 2

Leadership in Nursing Education (each course is 3 credits; 9 credits total)

• NUR 806 — Leadership Theories and Concepts
• NUR 807 — Leadership in Nursing Education
• NUR 808 — Doctoral Synthesis

Science of Nursing Education Research (each course is 3 credits; 12 credits total)

• NUR 809 — State of Science of Nursing Education Research
• NUR 810 — Quantitative Methods in Nursing Education Research
• NUR 811 — Qualitative Method in Nursing Education Research
• NUR 812 — Statistical Analysis in Educational Research

Residency 3 (No credit assigned)

• NUR 8003 - EdD Residency 3

Dissertation Phase (each course is 3 credits; 12 credits total)

• NUR 813 — Dissertation Seminar
• NUR 814 — Dissertation Advisement I
• NUR 815 — Dissertation Advisement II
• NUR 816 — Dissertation Advisement III
• NUR 817 — Ongoing Dissertation Advisement

Comprehensive Examination
All matriculated doctoral students wishing to become doctoral candidates must pass a written comprehensive examination. This exam is designed by the doctoral faculty to rigorously assess the student's mastery and synthesis of knowledge garnered during coursework. Further, it is intended to gauge the student's potential for independent dissertation research.

Dissertation Proposal
The dissertation proposal is a required component of the doctoral program, and must be approved for a student to become a doctoral candidate. Specific details regarding the dissertation proposal and required forms can be obtained from the Coordinator of the Ed.D Program in Nursing Education.

Doctoral Candidacy
Once students satisfactorily pass coursework, the comprehensive examination and the dissertation proposal hearing, they are considered doctoral candidates and may begin dissertation research.

Dissertation
The dissertation is the culminating component of the doctoral program. Only upon successful dissertation defense before a dissertation committee may a student be considered for graduation. All requisite forms and further details are available from the director of the Ed.D. in Nursing Education program. Students must complete all degree requirements within seven years.