Massachusetts Nursing Doctorate Degree Programs

Boston College: PhD in Nursing Program Review
Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467.
This College is a private university in Chestnut Hill founded in the Jesuit tradition. The university serves over 14,000 students, a third of which are graduate students. The Newton Campus is located in Newton Centre, Massachusetts. Boston College was founded in 1863. With over 150,000 alumni, the university claims to have the largest alumni association of Catholic universities in the world.

The William F. Connell School of Nursing at Boston College offers a PhD in Nursing degree program. The Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing is a four year program. Nurses in the doctoral research program receive research training in a specific area with the support of faculty experienced in a variety of research methods.

To apply to the PhD in Nursing program, students should have a masters in nursing from a program accredited nationally. Applicants with a BSN may apply to the MS/PhD program which offers masters level training before earning the PhD. Applicants should also have a valid RN license and have completed a statistics course which is a prerequisite to the nursing PhD program.

Fellowship and scholarship opportunities are available and funds have even been increased for students. Financial aid is available for a variety of students from those who meet specific demographic criteria or demonstrate academic merit. Awards are competitive, but full time students can receive up to 100 percent funding for their tuition.

MGH Institute of Health Professions: DNP Program Review

MGH Institute of Health Professions

Charlestown Navy Yard

36 First Avenue

Boston, MA 02129-4557

Founded by Massachusetts General Hospital, the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Institute of Health Professions offers graduate degree programs in various healthcare fields such as nursing, physical therapy and medical imaging. The institute was established in 1977 as one of the first hospitals to award degrees. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at MGH Institute of Health Professions is among the first DNP programs in the state of Massachusetts.

Both the Post-Masters and RN-DNP (Registered Nurse to Doctor of Nursing Practice) doctoral programs are offered for nurses at MGH Institute of Health Professions. The institute also offers a DNP exclusively for executives. DNP programs can be completed in six to eight semesters depending upon the student’s current level of academic study.

Admission requirements to the DNP program for students in the RN to DNP option include prerequisite courses, exam scores on the GRE and letters of recommendation. Applicants to the DNP with a bachelors degree should complete a prerequisite course in statistics. Nurses with an RN and an ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing) or diploma are given more specific prerequisites which can be met through coursework or examination.

To apply to the DNP, masters prepared applicants should have a masters degree with an advanced specialization certification, though in some cases students without a specialization may be accepted and required to complete additional courses. Applicants to the DNP for nursing executives should have executive level nursing experience and also must meet admission requirements comparable with the Post-Masters DNP program.

Northeastern University: DNP & PhD in Nursing Program Review

Northeastern University

400 Huntington Avenue

Boston, MA 02115

Boston-based Northeastern University is a private research university that prides itself in providing real-life application in their degree programs. Northeastern University was founded in 1898. The university has eight colleges and serves nearly 20,000 students. Northeastern University has a regional campus in Charlotte, North Carolina that was established in 2011.

A PhD in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program are offered in the Bouve College of Health Sciences at Northeastern University.

Applications to the DNP program are accepted annually each March. Areas of study in the DNP program include informatics, policy, research and leadership. The DNP can be completed in approximately four semesters of full-time study, though additional time may be required to complete the capstone project. A part-time degree option is also available. In lieu of a dissertation, DNP students complete an evidence-based capstone project that contributes to nursing knowledge and is offered on a professional level.

To apply to the PhD in Nursing, students should submit their applications by the first of April. The PhD in Nursing can be completed on a full or part time study plan. Bachelors and masters prepared nurses are expected to complete the program in four and three years respectively of full-time study. Students in the PhD in Nursing program will explore a variety of issues in clinical nursing research with a specific focus on underserved, urban populations.

Regis College: DNP Program

Regis College

235 Wellesley Street

Weston, MA 02493

Regis College is a liberal arts institution in Weston, Massachusetts affiliated with the Catholic tradition. The college was founded in 1927 and offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Formerly a women’s college, Regis College has been coeducational and admitting male applicants since 2007. Students desiring a small campus community will appreciate that Regis College enrolls just over 1,500 students.

The first doctoral program offered at Regis College is the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). The DNP program is ideal for nurse leaders, executives and advanced practice nurses. The doctoral program is flexible, and designed to accommodate the working nurse professional. Students will take classes in a hybrid format, which includes online and campus-based courses offered outside of the traditional workday schedule. The DNP can be completed in three to seven years depending on the nurse’s individual program of study. Students select their DNP curriculum and program in collaboration with a faculty member.

In the DNP program, nurses choose from several specializations which include Gerontology, Informatics, Integrative Health, Nursing Education and Health Policy. Admission criteria to the DNP program include GPA, letters of recommendation and GRE or MAT exam scores. A minimum GPA of 3.0 in prior coursework is required of graduate level nursing applicants to the DNP.

Simmons College: DNP Program Review

Simmons College

300 Fenway

Boston, MA 02115

Founded in 1899, Simmons College is a private college offering undergraduate and graduate degrees. The undergraduate portion of the college is women’s only, while the graduate programs admit male and female students. Graduate students outnumber undergraduate students by an approximate 3:2 ratio. The college ranks among the best in publications by Kaplan and the Princeton Review.

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at Simmons College. There are three options for nurses seeking entry into the DNP program. Advanced practice nurses such as Nurse Practitioners (NP), Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) and Nurse Anesthetist (CNA) with at least 5,000 hours of experience since earning the masters degree are eligible to apply for the program. Additionally, nurses seeking an FNP specialization may apply to earn the FNP certification in addition the DNP. Experienced nurse leaders with management experience are eligible to apply to the DNP Post-Masters DNP in Practice Leadership.

A minimum 3.5 GPA in an MSN (Master of Science in Nursing) or related masters degree program is required to apply to the DNP degree program at Simmons College. A prerequisite course in statistics with a “B” or higher or completion of the Simmons College WEBStats course is required prior to the application process.

University of Massachusetts-Amherst: DNP & PhD in Nursing Program Review

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

School of Nursing

Skinner Hall

651 North Pleasant Street

University of Massachusetts

Amherst, MA 01003-9299

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is the leading campus of the University of Massachusetts public university system. The university was founded in 1863, and now serves over 20,000 students. The university is based in Amherst, Massachusetts on a 1,450 acre campus. The University of Massachusetts Amherst hosts a fine arts center which showcases a variety of performances in the arts throughout the year.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice and PhD in Nursing are the only terminal degree programs in the nursing profession. Both doctoral programs are offered at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Students in the Doctor of Nursing Practice program choose from a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) or Public Health Nurse Leader (PHNL) specialization. Both bachelors and masters prepared nurses are eligible to apply to the DNP program. In general, applicants to the doctoral nursing practice program should have a minimum 3.0 GPA, though applicants who do not meet this requirement may be considered for admission. Though not required, applicants with a low GPA may submit GRE scores to enhance their application and demonstrate academic ability.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst offers a PhD in Nursing program for the aspiring nursing scholar. The doctoral research program admits nurses with either a BSN or MSN. Nurses in the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing program will work closely with a faculty member in a specific area of nursing research.

University of Massachusetts Boston: DNP & PhD in Nursing Program Review

University of Massachusetts Boston

100 Morrissey Blvd

Boston, MA 02125

The University of Massachusetts Boston is one of five universities in the University of Massachusetts system. The university is located on the oceanfront. Of the five University of Massachusetts campuses, UMass Boston is the second largest. Despite enrolling over 15,000 students, the campus strives to maintain a small student to faculty ratio of 16:1.

The College of Nursing and Health Sciences offers both a PhD in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice program. Admission requirements to the PhD in Nursing include a BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) or MSN (Master of Science in Nursing) from an accredited program. Admission criteria include GPA and exam scores for the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) Nurses should also submit proof of a Massachusetts RN license when applying for the PhD in Nursing program.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice is a program designed for advanced practice nurses. Nurses complete the program through distance education in a part time format and are required to make periodic visits to the campus. The DNP is completed in three to four years of study. The DNP is collaborative in that students will work with PhD students and students in other programs. Funding may be available for nurses pursuing the DNP. Prospective applicants can meet the DNP faculty and current students through an on-campus showcase at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth: DNP & PhD in Nursing Program Review

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

285 Old Westport Road

Dartmouth, MA 02747

The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (UMass Dartmouth) is based in Dartmouth, Massachusetts. The university began in 1895 as a textile school. In 1991, what was formerly Southeastern Massachusetts University became part of the five-campus University of Massachusetts System as UMass Dartmouth. More than 35 graduate degree programs are offered at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

The PhD in Nursing program trains students in qualitative and quantitative research in addition to scientific theory. Admission to the PhD program requires a Bachelors of Science in Nursing or Masters of Science in Nursing, with at least one degree from an accredited program. Students should have a 3.0 and 3.3 GPA in undergraduate and graduate degree programs respectively. Prerequisite courses in nursing theory, nursing research and statistics are required in addition to familiarity with and ability to navigate computer-based programs.

Students in the DNP program function as an Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP), Adult Health Clinical Specialist or Community Health Clinical Specialist. Admission requirements to the DNP program include a minimum 3.0 GPA and a BSN from a program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). Exam scores for the GRE are not required to apply to the DNP program. The application deadline for the DNP is annually each March.

University of Massachusetts Lowell: DNP & PhD in Nursing Program Review

University of Massachusetts Lowell

One University Avenue

Lowell, MA 01854

The University of Massachusetts Lowell (UMass Lowell) is part of the five-campus University of Massachusetts system. The university enrolls over 15,000 undergraduate, graduate and continuing studies students. UMass Lowell was founded in 1895 and became part of the UMass system in 1991.

The University of Massachusetts offers a PhD in Nursing for masters prepared nurses. The doctoral research program is delivered in a blended format with classes being offered online and on weekends. Students in the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing program will complete a 48 credit program in order to earn the DNP. In general, applicants should have a Master of Science in Nursing with a minimum 3.3 GPA. Applicants with a masters degree in a field other than nursing and substantive nursing background may also be considered for admission to the PhD in Nursing program.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice at UMass Lowell is available to masters prepared Nurse Practitioners (NP). For admission, nurses should have certification as an APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse) and have earned a minimum 3.0 GPA in their masters program. The DNP program provides nurses with the skills and training necessary to become leaders and innovators in the field of nursing. Students can pursue full or part time study in the DNP program. Classes in the DNP program are offered on weekends.