Nursing Science: Nursing Science DN

Doctor of Nursing

Program Description

The Doctor of Nursing (DN) is a professional doctoral program designed to prepare nurses with the required skills to apply knowledge in diverse settings and (a) lead in dynamic, fast-paced, technologically advanced and sophisticated health-care environments and (b) teach in nursing education. Students will engage in advanced education related to leadership and knowledge application in health-care or nursing education.

The DN is offered in a hybrid online (required courses) and on-site (required residencies) delivery model. Students will normally complete this full-time program in eight sessions compressed over three years due to cohort-based delivery and extensive use of the Summer sessions.

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Graduate Department of Nursing Science's additional admission requirements stated below.

  • Applicants must have a master's degree in nursing or a closely related field, such as education, public health, health science, health policy, or business administration, with a minimum B+ standing from a recognized university.

  • Applicants must hold current registration as a Registered Nurse and must have a minimum of two years of relevant health-care leadership experience or advanced nursing education teaching experience.

  • Applicants must provide three reference letters: two work-related and one academic.

  • Applicants must submit a letter of intent outlining their reasons for applying to the program and a proposed thesis project.

  • Applicants whose primary language is not English and who have graduated from a university where the primary language of instruction and examination is not English must demonstrate proficiency in English. See General Regulations section 4.3 for requirements. An interview may be required.

Program Requirements

  • Students must successfully complete a total of 5.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

    • coursework (4.0 FCEs):

      • 1.5 required FCEs: NUR1301H, NUR1302H, and NUR1303H

      • 0.5 elective FCE relevant to the student's focus: NUR1331H, NUR1332H, NUR1333H, NUR1334H, or NUR1335H

      • 2.0 FCEs in seminar courses: NUR1311H, NUR1312H, NUR1313H, and NUR1314H.

    • internships (1.0 FCE):

      • 0.5 FCE: NUR1398H DN Internship 1 (Credit/No Credit) normally completed in the Summer session of Year 1.

      • 0.5 FCE: NUR1399H DN Internship 2 (Credit/No Credit) normally completed in the Fall session of Year 2.

  • Residencies. Students must complete three residencies consisting of intensive on-campus classes.

  • Symposium. In the final session, students will present their thesis and discuss knowledge transfer and exchange plans for implementing their innovations in practice, policy, and/or education.

  • Literature review paper. Students must demonstrate their ability to review, analyze, and synthesize relevant material by the end of the third session (Year 1). The paper includes published and peer-reviewed research, gray literature, policies, guidelines, etc.

  • Thesis. Students must complete a written thesis proposal by the end of the fifth session (Year 2). The thesis requires students to identify and investigate a practice problem, articulate and apply theory and evidence to the problem, design strategies for action to address the problem, report on strategies implemented to address the problem, and discuss the results and knowledge dissemination plan.

  • Doctoral Final Oral Examination (FOE). Students must complete an FOE of the thesis by the end of the final session in Year 3.

Program Length

4 years

Time Limit

6 years