Admission
Graduates of a BSN, MSN, or DNP accredited school of nursing programs are invited to apply for admission. Highly qualified graduates with other graduate academic degrees will be considered based on academic achievement and career performance.
- A completed online application.
- Transcripts from previously attended higher education institutions.
- A minimum of 3.5 grade-point average (on a 4.0 scale) in the highest degree obtained.
- The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required for admission to the PhD program in the School of Nursing.
- A graduate statistics course with a grade of at least B (3.0) is recommended.
- A graduate course in nursing theories and conceptual models with a grade of at least B (3.0) is recommended.
- Two references—one from an educator and one from an employer with a graduate degree. One of these individuals must have a research doctoral degree.
- Curriculum vitae.
- Statement explaining goals for doctoral work in nursing with emphasis on proposed area of specialization.
- Interview with a School of Nursing faculty member (this is arranged after a preliminary review of application materials).
In addition, international students need satisfactory Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores. They should contact the International Student Services Office at 610-499-4498 for immigration requirements. More information can also be found online at www.widener.edu.
Licensure in the United States is not required.
Matriculation
A matriculated student is one who has been accepted officially into the doctoral program. Two doctoral level courses may be taken before matriculation. Students may be required to complete supplemental course work either prior to admission or as part of the course of studies.
A nonmatriculated student is one who is taking a course for credit, but has not yet been accepted officially into the doctoral program. These students must submit the usual application for admission. No more than two courses earned by a student in a nonmatriculated status may be applied toward the degree in the event of later acceptance as a matriculated student.
Transfer Policies
TRANSFER OF CREDITS
Course work must come from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning, recognized by the appropriate professional body. An official transcript with institution seal and registrar’s signature is required. Course work is accepted based on requirement of the School of Nursing, either as equivalent to a required course or as an elective.
Transfer credits will be considered on an individual basis. A maximum of two graduate-level courses (6 credits) earned at another accredited institution within the five-year period proceeding admission may be accepted for transfer. Courses taken prior to admission, either within or outside, the University, will be accepted only if the student has earned a grade of A or B (not B-) in the courses under consideration, or pass, if taken on a pass/fail grading system.
If transfer credit is requested in lieu of required courses in the program, a course syllabus must accompany the request prior to matriculation.
TRANSFER OF CREDITS ONCE MATRICULATED
Once matriculated, a student may take three (3) credits (one approved course) at another academic institution. Permission must be obtained from the PhD Program Director.
TRANSFER STUDENTS
Students, who are matriculated in another nursing graduate program and wish to transfer, will be considered on an individual basis.
The process followed in considering requests for transfer of graduate credit is as follow:
- An official request for transfer credit must be submitted to the PhD Program Director. If transfer credit is requested in lieu of required courses in the program, a course syllabus must accompany the request.
- The PhD Program Director, upon recommendation of the Widener SON faculty content area specialist, will approve requests for transfer of graduate credit.
Progression Policies
ACADEMIC PROGRESS
Policies for academic progress are listed in the Widener University Graduate Student Catalog. It is important that students are familiar with and understand them.
NOTE: All required doctoral coursework must be successfully completed (with the exception of NURS 901), including removal of grades of “I” (incomplete), before a student may take the comprehensive examination and become a doctoral candidate, eligible to enroll in Dissertation Seminar II.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE (LOA)
Matriculated students must submit a written request for a leave of absence (LOA) with rationale, for each semester that they are not actively taking courses at Widener University. An approved leave will extend the deadline for completion of the program by the length of the leave. However, the total cumulative leave time applied to extensions shall not exceed two years.
The student must:
- Notify the PhD Program Director and the Graduate Nursing Office, in writing, including the date the leave is requested to begin and end. The effective date of the leave of absence, including the determination of eligibility for refunds, is considered to be the date the student completes the required paperwork and returns it to the Graduate Nursing Office.
- Notify the Graduate Nursing Office the semester before the student plans to return. A student’s placement in nursing courses will be determined by availability.
Students who do not take at least one course per semester must submit a written request for a leave of absence, including the rationale, to the PhD Program Director for the semester in which they are not enrolled. Those who do not do so will be dropped from the program.
A leave of absence will extend the time limit for completion of the doctoral program by the length of the leave. The total cumulative leave time applied to extensions shall not exceed two years, four academic semesters. Exceptions to the policy will be referred to the PhD Program Director and Associate Dean for Graduate Programs as needed.
PROGRESSION
Continuous Enrollment - Following matriculation, students are required to be enrolled at least two semesters (fall, spring, or summer) per calendar year. Students who do not apply for a leave of absence and have not completed at least one course per two semesters during a calendar year will be dropped from the program.
RE-ADMISSION TO THE SCHOOL OF NURSING
The PhD Program Director and the Graduate Program Committee will consider a request for re- admission to the School of Nursing. A decision for re-admission may specify certain stipulations to which the student must agree. The School of Nursing reserves the right to specify the semester and year in which re-admitted student may enroll in classes. Refusal of the individual to accept any of the specified conditions for re-admission will result in a default of the particular readmission, and the School’s offer of re-admission will be rescinded. Failure to comply with these contractual stipulations may result in the dismissal of the student.
REINSTATEMENT TO THE PROGRAM
Requests for reinstatement into the PhD program from individuals who electively withdraw from the PhD program will be considered on an individual basis and PhD program space availability. Requests post comprehensive examination greater than three (3) years from withdrawal date will require repeating the comprehensive examination and Dissertation Seminars I and II. Reinstatement pre-comprehensive examination will require re-application to the PhD program. Exceptions to the policy will be referred to the PhD Program Director and Associate Dean for Graduate Programs. Such requests must be completed no later than 90 days prior to the start of the semester in which the student expects to enroll.
TIME LIMIT
A maximum of seven calendar years from the date of matriculation is allowed for completion of the requirements for the doctoral degree.
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