Admission Requirements for Joint PhD in Nursing

WELCOME

We welcome your application to the Joint PhD in Nursing program (JPDN). The JPDN is a jointly administered program between Kent State University and The University of Akron Colleges of Nursing.  Applicants select one of the universities for the application and give a ranked preference for the chosen University of Record. Every effort will be made to honor this preference, although it is not guaranteed. Applicants will be notified of their university of record in their admissions letter. The University of Record maintains student records and transcripts and awards the doctorate. The doctoral diploma, while issued from only the University of Record, will recognize both universities and the Joint PhD in Nursing Program.

ADMISSION CRITERIA

Admission to the JPDN is determined by a review committee of JPDN faculty who will assess the entire composite of information gained from a variety of sources.  Each applicant must meet the following criteria and/or provide:

• An application to the University of Record graduate school.
• A completed Application Information Sheet for the JPDN Program, College of Nursing.
• Evidence of successful completion of a bachelor of science in nursing degree at an accredited program and a master’s degree in nursing or a closely related health field.
• A minimum graduate Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. (Official transcripts must be sent to university graduate school office.)  
• Official evidence of scores on the Graduate Record Examination taken within 7 years of application. (GRE information can be obtained online, www.gre.org, or by calling 330-972-7084.)                                                                                                                                                                                                
• Current resume or curriculum vitae
• Three (3) letters of reference from professionals or professors who can adequately evaluate the applicant andthe applicant’s previous work or potential for success.
• A clear and succinct statement of the applicant’s desire for the doctorate and its application toward clearly defined career goals.
• A clear and succinct statement of research interests.
• A sample of written work that indicates the logic and writing skills of the applicant, for example, by an essay, term paper, thesis, published article, or professional report.
• Regarding current licensure to practice nursing in the state of Ohio and evidence of professional liability  insurance:  Patient care-related research activities and teaching assistant responsibilities often require current registered nurse (RN) licensure, or eligibility for licensure, within the State of Ohio and professional liability or malpractice insurance. Advisors and/or the Directors of the JPDN program will provide clarification about the requirement for current RN licensure in individual circumstances.
• After the first screening, and at the request of the JPDN Admissions Committee, applicants may be asked to successfully complete a personal interview with Admissions Committee members who will assess research interests and motivation for successful completion of doctoral study in the JPDN program.
• If the applicant cannot register in the first semester following acceptance, applicant must register for courses within two (2) years of acceptance into the JPDN, or otherwise the acceptance is void.

Students wishing to transfer into the JPDN must be in good academic standing at their current institution.  Transfer credits which may transfer in are determined by the university:  at this time a maximum of 12 credits carrying only an A or B grade, and which have been taken within nine years of conferring the doctorate, may be transferred into the JPDN.  International students, in addition to the above criteria, must also demonstrate proficiency in written and oral English, and must achieve a minimum score of 550 (paper-based score or equivalent computer-based score) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).  In addition, international students must also comply with university procedures for acceptance as an international student.  This information is found in the graduate catalogs of the respective university of record.

KSU policy re: faculty enrollment in PhD courses