BS-PhD Research Elective - Research Area Elective

Three credits of research elective (to be taken as 1 to 3 credits over the first year of enrollment) are required the first year as a BS-PhD student.

The Research Area Elective is a course taken individually with a faculty member, usually in the School of Nursing, who is expert in the same or similar substantive content area as the student. The elective nature is because the student is free to choose the faculty member with whom the course is taken. It is very likely that the faculty member chosen will be the student’s advisor or prospective dissertation chair.

The course is taken in the first full time year of study. It may be taken as three full credits or divided among semesters (for example, one credit in the first semester and two in the second semester. The course is designed to be flexible. The student and his/her advisor will decide together whether the elective is taken as an independent study (for example, guided readings and in-depth discussions) or a course in the student’s substantive content area of research interest. Regardless, the aim of the research area elective course is to support students’ in-depth exploration a research area of interest (e.g. through the published literature) in order to identify and refine the PhD research program which will culminate in the dissertation research.

Students must consult with the prospective faculty member they have chosen and their advisor (if not the same) and receive approval prior to enrolling. Students will register using NGC 600 for Independent study, or register for a course in their substantive area with their advisor’s approval. If taken as NGC 600, the student and faculty member will complete and submit the Independent Study application for approval by the PhD Committee. Credits: 1-3