The following core courses are required:
**These courses can be completed as an undergraduate student at Illinois State University.
9 credit hours of elective courses are required. The number of courses varies and will be selected in coordination with your faculty advisor.
15 credit hours of dissertation, NUR 599, is also required.
All students are required to complete a Preliminary Exam/Dissertation Proposal Defense for admission to candidate status.
The nursing doctoral program is designed to prepare nurses with a high level of expertise to:
• Lead the development of science to advance effective practice, education, and health care policy.
• Serve the evolving healthcare interests of humankind through the integration of research, teaching, practice,
and service.
• Educate, mentor, and guide the next generation of clinicians, researchers, policy-makers, and educators.
• Lead and collaborate across disciplines to promote scholarship, teaching, mentoring, practice, and service.