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Areas of Specialization

Overview

The major focus of the PhD in Nursing at the University of Utah is research design and methods for nursing studies. The area of specialization is a supplementary area of focus, similar to a minor area of study. The area of specialization is often the domain of knowledge that is the focus of the student's research (e.g., genetics, health communications), but may also be a type of research methodology or research approach (qualitative description of health phenomena or quantitative analytical methods).

The faculty advisor and dissertation committee assist the student in choosing both the area of specialization and the courses within that area. Students in the PhD Program are required to take a minimum of 9 credits in the area of specialization. It is encouraged that at least some courses for the area of specialization be from departments other than the College of Nursing to promote broad, interdisciplinary understandings of research design and methods. The list below identifies possible coursework for exemplar areas of specialization, and other courses may also be available in these areas of specialization. Additionally, many other areas of specialization are possible.

Genetics

MDCRC 6420: Genetics of Complex Disease (1)
MDCRC 6440: Medical Genetics for Clinical Investigation (1)
MDCRC 6510: Molecular Biology for Clinical Investigators (1)
MDCRC 6520: Biochemistry for Clinical Investigators (1)
MDCRC 6540: Techniques in Molecular Biology (2)

NINR Summer Genetics Institute (12)

Gerontology (an interdisciplinary certification or selected coursework)
Certificate Program-Graduate Curriculum

Health Services Research (an interdisciplinary focus)

FP MD 6300: Introduction to Epidemiology
FP MD 6401: Health Policy and Managed Care
FP MD 7120: Linear and Logistic Regression Models
FP MD 7300: Epidemiology II
FP MD 6700: Environmental Health Problems
FP MD 6400: Public Health Administration(3)
MDCRC 6120: Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (1 to 2)
MDCRC 6240: Community Intervention Studies (2)
MDCRC 6230: Health Services Research (2)

Higher Education Teaching (an interdisciplinary certification or selected coursework)
Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Teaching

Informatics (based upon graduate nursing coursework)

Nursing Informatics:
NURS 6801: Clinical Systems Analysis (3)
NURS 6803: Clinical Database Design (3)
NURS 6802: Clinical Decision Support (3)
NURS 6804: Primer of IT Operations (3)

Medical Informatics

Medical Informatics Courses

Teaching Nursing

NURS 6010: Teaching and Learning in Adv Nursing Practice (3)
NURS 6011: Intro to Nurs Curriculum and Classroom Instruction (3)
NURS 6013: Clinical Instruction in Nursing Education (3)
NURS 6015: The Nurse Educator in Higher Education (3)

For more information contact:

Melissa Pederson, M.Ed.
PhD Program Manager
phdprogram@nurs.utah.edu
(801) 585-1671

For faculty consultation regarding the PhD Program of Study or your research career contact:

Lauren Clark, RN, PhD, FAAN
Professor and PhD Program Director
Lauren.clark@nurs.utah.edu
(801) 581-8576