Texas Nursing Doctorate Degree Programs
Texas Christian University: DNP Program Review
Texas Christian University, 2800 S. University Dr., Fort Worth, Texas 76129.
Texas Christian University (commonly known as TCU) educates just under 10,000 students each year. The university is based in Fort Worth, Texas. As its name suggests, Texas Christian University is affiliated with the Christian faith, specifically the Disciples of Christ denomination.
The Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Texas Christian University offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree program. The DNP program at Texas Christian University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program can be completed in two years of full time study, and also has a part time study option. In order to earn the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, students must maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA throughout the course of the nursing program.
Admission to the DNP requires a MSN (Masters of Science in Nursing). Applicants to the Advanced Practice track should have APRN certification as a Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Midwife or Nurse Anesthetist. Letters of recommendation and a personal essay are also required as part of the admission process.
Financial aid opportunities are available to doctoral nursing students in the form of graduate and department assistantships, which would require working in an academic department to receive payment for tuition and in some cases a living stipend.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center: DNP & PhD in Nursing Program Review
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
3601 4th Street
Lubbock, TX 79430
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (often abbreviated as TTUHSC) was established in 1969 as a school of medicine. Today the university offers a variety of healthcare programs in allied health, biomedical sciences and nursing among other healthcare fields. Campuses in the Texas Tech University system include Abilene, Amarillo, Permian Basin, Lubbock, Dallas/Fort Worth and El Paso.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice is for masters prepared nurses seeking a practice doctorate. The DNP is a practice doctoral degree which awards nurses with the highest qualification in the nursing field. An Advanced Practice track and Leadership/Administration track are also available. Nurses applying to the APRN DNP should have APRN certification. The doctoral nursing program is offered both full and part time. The DNP is designed to cater to working nurses, as it offers primarily online instruction with occasional campus-based intensive sessions. Admission requirements to the DNP include an MSN and BSN with a 3.0 or higher GPA.
Offered in collaboration with Texas Women’s University, the PhD in Nursing at Texas Tech University offers nurses the opportunity to purse a research-based doctoral degree in nursing. The PhD in Nursing is granted by Texas Women’s University. The university has campuses in Denton, Houston and Lubbock that host the PhD in Nursing program.
Texas Wesleyan University: DNP Program Review
Texas Wesleyan University
Doctorate of Nurse Anesthesia Program
1201 Wesleyan Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76105-1536
Texas Wesleyan University is a small private university rooted in the Methodist tradition of the Christian faith. As a small institution, just over 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students are enrolled at the university. Texas Wesleyan University (TWU) was founded in 1890. Though it originally had roots as a women’s college, Texas Wesleyan University is now co-educational and open to both men and women.
Texas Wesleyan University is one of very few universities to offer a doctoral nursing program specifically for Nurse Anesthetists. The Doctorate of Nurse Anesthesia Practice at Texas Wesleyan University is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education, the accrediting body for nurse anesthesia programs.
An Education Administration and Management focus are offered as specializations within the Doctorate of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program. The Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia program can be completed in two and three years respectively and is offered full and part time.
Prerequisite courses in physiology and chemistry are recommended for the applicant who has taken these courses more than five years prior to the start of the program. In addition to the doctoral nursing program application, the applicant should submit a copy of their CNA certification card, and letters of recommendation from 3 distinct individuals. Letters are to come from an educator, clinician and non-relative that can attest to the applicant’s academic ability, clinical skills and integrity respectively.
Texas Woman’s University: DNP & PhD in Nursing Program Review
Texas Woman’s University
College of Nursing
Denton
ASB 216
P.O. Box 425498
Denton, TX 76204-5498
Texas Women’s University, also known as TWU, has three campuses in Denton, Dallas and Houston Texas. Annually, over 14,500 students enroll at Texas Woman’s University. Though the university is primarily for women, male students are now admitted to the university. Approximately 10% of the student body is male. Texas Woman’s University was founded in 1901.
Both a Doctor of Nursing Practice and PhD in Nursing are offered at TWU’s College of Nursing.
Prerequisites to be completed for the PhD in Nursing program include statistics, nursing research and nursing theory. The latter two courses should be graduate level courses. Applicants to the nursing PhD should have an MSN (Master of Science in Nursing), which is preferably earned from a program accredited by a nursing body, though it’s not required. Applicants to the PhD in Nursing should have a 3.5 or higher GPA and satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Exam or Miller Analogies Test.
To apply to the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program, prospective students should have an MSN earned with a 3.5 or higher GPA. Satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Exam and Miller Analogies Test should also be admitted. Prerequisite courses to the DNP program include research and statistics. An interview is part of admission consideration to the DNP program.
University of Texas at Arlington: DNP & PhD in Nursing Program Review
University of Texas at Arlington
701 S. Nedderman Drive
Arlington, TX 76019
The University of Texas at Arlington is part of the University of Texas system and is based in Arlington, Texas. Students at the University of Texas at Arlington can choose from more than 150 programs of study. Other campuses in the University of Texas system include Austin, El Paso, Dallas and Permian Basin. The UT system also has several institutions dedicated specifically to healthcare related programs.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice offered at the University of Texas Arlington is a 36 credit program designed for post masters nurses. The doctoral nursing program was designed according to criteria set by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) for doctoral degree programs. A total of 9 courses (including the clinical practicum) and three credits of electives are required to complete the DNP.
The PhD in Nursing at the University of Texas at Arlington has entry options for both bachelors and masters prepared nurses and utilizes a blend of online and campus-based instruction. Students in the PhD program may also apply to be a part of the mentoring program to receive further instruction from faculty.
To obtain more information about the PhD program, prospective students may attend a forum on campus. Graduate Teaching and Research Assistant positions are available to doctoral students in nursing to offset the cost of education.
The University of Texas at Austin: PhD in Nursing Program Review
The University of Texas at Austin
1 University Station
Austin, Texas 78712
The University of Texas at Austin was founded in 1883. The university is part of the University of Texas system, which also includes campuses in Dallas/Fort Worth, Permian Basin and El Paso.
The University of Texas at Austin offers a PhD in Nursing program which prepares aspiring nurses for a career as research scientists. Prospective students may apply to the post masters PhD in Nursing program and also to the BSN to PhD in Nursing program option. Nurses with a masters degree that are applying to the doctoral nursing program may be required to take up to three masters level courses prior to beginning doctoral nursing coursework.
To apply to the PhD in Nursing program, prospective applicants should have a BSN or MSN earned with a 3.0 or higher GPA and provide a satisfactory score on the GRE. Students who have a GPA below 3.0 may still apply to the nursing PhD program, as conditional admission may be an option. About 20 students are accepted to the PhD in Nursing program each year. Other admission considerations include letters of recommendation and a personal statement. At least one letter of recommendation should be from a clinical supervisor or other professional that can attest to the quality of the applicant’s performance in a clinical nursing setting.
The University of Texas at El Paso: DNP & PhD in Nursing Program Review
The University of Texas at El Paso
Hertzog Building
500 West University Avenue
El Paso, Texas 79968
The University of Texas at El Paso, which is also known as UTEP, is a public university based in El Paso, Texas. The university is one of several in the University of Texas system including campuses in Austin, Tyler and Arlington. UTEP was established in 1914 as a mining school. Today, the university has grown to over 150 academic degree programs and a student body of over 22,000.
Just nine students were enrolled in the first Doctor of Nursing Practice cohort at UTEPSON (University of Texas at El Paso School of Nursing). The DNP is a full time hybrid program which requires completion of online coursework in addition to attendance at periodic weekend sessions (Friday through Sunday). The DNP program can be completed in five semesters of study. In the DNP program, special consideration is given to prospective students that express an interest in teaching, serving rural populations or both.
The PhD in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences is a suitable terminal degree program for healthcare professionals, particularly nurses. The US-Mexico border is a key area of focus and research in the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences PhD.
Financial aid is offered through federal programs, scholarships and loans. Nursing students may also pursue employment with the School of Nursing as a research or teaching assistant.
The University of Texas at Tyler: PhD in Nursing Program Review
The University of Texas at Tyler
Graduate Admissions
3900 University Blvd
Tyler, Texas 75799
In addition to being one of several campuses in the University of Texas system, the University of Texas at Tyler has two additional campuses aside from the main campus in Tyler. The Longview and Palestine campus are also part of the University of Texas at Tyler. Approximately 1,500 students out of the 6,700 enrolled are graduate students.
Delivered in an online format, the PhD in Nursing trains nurses in research by requiring students to conduct research as part of the nursing PhD program. Students in the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing program will complete all of the requirements for their degree in their locale.
Graduates of the nursing PhD program have promising career prospects. The university cites statistics from the US Bureau of Labor that claim opportunities in the nursing profession are expected to grow by almost 25% over the next decade.
To apply to the PhD in Nursing, applicants should have a BSN (Bachelors of Science in Nursing) or MSN (Masters of Science in Nursing) from an accredited program. Scores for a GRE exam taken no more than five years prior to submitting the nursing PhD application, letters of recommendation and a personal essay are additional admission criteria. Admission consideration may be given to applicants with unique circumstances or qualifications such as first generation college students, students from underprivileged socioeconomic backgrounds and multilingual students.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston: DNP & PhD in Nursing Program Review
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
6901 Bertner
Houston, TX 77030
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston is one of several Health Science Centers affiliated with the University of Texas system. The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston is the most extensive of the UT Health Science Center campuses and has one of the largest medical schools in the nation.
Both DNP and PhD in Nursing programs are offered at the University of Texas Health Science Center.
Career options for graduates of the nursing PhD program include working in a research setting as a director or as a nurse leader in a clinical setting. Students are generally admitted to the nursing PhD program in the fall. Basic admission requirements to the PhD in Nursing program include a 3.5 GPA earned in an MSN (Master of Science in Nursing) program and satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Exam. Three letters of recommendation, a statement of research interest and goals and a curriculum vitae should also be submitted along with the application.
As with the PhD in Nursing, the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program admits students each fall. Three specializations are offered in the DNP program-Nurse Executive, Nurse Anesthesia and a joint specialization for Nurse Practitioners and Clinical Nurse Specialists. Course prerequisites to DNP coursework including graduate level courses in research and statistics completed with a grade of “B” or better and some epidemiology content in the nursing PhD program.
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston: DNP & PhD in Nursing Program Review
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
301 University Boulevard
Galveston, Texas, 77555-0144
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, or UTMB, was established in 1891. The university currently serves approximately 2,500 students. Though only 84 acres, the UTMB campus is home to several institutes and four schools.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston offers a DNP program that focuses on serving socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. The DNP requires a minimum of 38 academic credits to complete. Applicants to the DNP program should have an MSN (Master of Science) in Nursing earned from a program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). Though a 3.0 or higher GPA is required in all coursework, ideal applicants to the DNP will have a 3.5 or higher GPA.
Both bachelors and masters prepared nurses are eligible to apply to the PhD in Nursing program at UTMB. The BSN to PhD program does not award a masters degree in the course of doctoral coursework. Applicants to the PhD in Nursing program should have a BSN or MSN depending on the track they are applying to. In general, applicants to the nursing PhD should be graduates of an accredited program, though graduates from programs that are not accredited may be considered on an individual basis.
University of the Incarnate Word: DNP Program Review
University of the Incarnate Word
4301 Broadway
San Antonio, Texas 78209
Established by the Sisters of the Charity of the Incarnate Word in 1869, the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs. The University of the Incarnate Word is based in San Antonio, Texas.
The Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree program at the University of the Incarnate Word is offered through the Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing & Health Professions. Prospective applicants to the DNP program are encouraged to contact the nursing department director to receive additional materials and receive an application packet.
Applicants to the Doctor of Nursing Practice program are required to submit applications to both the DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) degree program and also the Graduate School of the University of the Incarnate Word. Admission criteria include an MSN (Master of Science in Nursing) earned with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Applicants should also hold APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse) certification. Prerequisites include advanced statistics, informatics and population health. A total of 1,000 hours are required to earn the DNP qualification. Prospective applicants should have completed a minimum of 500 clinical practice hours in their MSN program and submit documented proof.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program is delivered online. Students in the DNP program will choose a specific vulnerable population on which to focus their studies. Students will use this population as the basis for research and academic inquiry during the course of the doctoral nursing program.
