Nursing Science

Program Overview

Quick Facts

Master of Nursing

Program Description

The MN program prepares advanced nurses with specialized knowledge, skills, and expertise in a defined area of nursing. The program offers three fields: Clinical Nursing; Health Systems Leadership and Administration; and Nurse Practitioner.

Field: Clinical Nursing

Minimum Admission Requirements

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Graduate Department of Nursing Science's additional admission requirements stated below.

• Applicants must hold the BScN degree of the University of Toronto or an equivalent degree. Applicants must have obtained at least a mid-B standing in the final year of undergraduate study and, in addition, must have obtained at least a B standing in the next-to-final year.

• Applicants must hold current registration as a Registered Nurse or equivalent.

• For further information about applying, please email connect.nursing@utoronto.ca or visit the website.

Program Requirements

• To qualify for the degree, students shall complete a program of study outlined by the Graduate Department of Nursing Science.

• Coursework. The MN program requires 5.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

  • NUR1170H, NUR1171H, NUR1174H, NUR1175H, NUR1176H, and NUR1177H;

  • a 1.0 FCE practicum-based course (NUR1179Y), which should be taken alone in the final session and only after completion of all other coursework and program requirements;

  • two elective field of study courses (1.0 FCE). One of these two field of study courses may be selected from outside the Faculty of Nursing.

Program Length

6 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: F/W/S/F/W/S)

Time Limit

3 years full-time

Field: Health Systems Leadership and Administration

Minimum Admission Requirements

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Graduate Department of Nursing Science's additional admission requirements stated below.

• Applicants must hold the BScN degree of the University of Toronto or an equivalent degree. Applicants must have obtained at least a mid-B standing in the final year of undergraduate study and, in addition, must have obtained at least a B standing in the next-to-final year.

• Applicants must hold current registration as a Registered Nurse or equivalent and must have a minimum of two years (3,900 hours) of full-time (or equivalent) experience as a Registered Nurse. (See amendment made on November 14, 2022.)

• For further information about applying, please email connect.nursing@utoronto.ca or visit the Nursing website.

Program Requirements

• To qualify for the degree, students shall complete a program of study outlined by the Graduate Department of Nursing Science.

• Coursework. The MN program requires 5.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) including:

  • NUR1016H, NUR1027H, NUR1127H, NUR1151H, NUR1152H, NUR1156H, NUR1157H, and NUR1161H;

  • a 1.0 FCE practicum-based course (NUR1169Y), which should be taken alone in the final session and only after completion of all other coursework and program requirements.

• This field of study is offered in a hybrid learning format including online and required on-campus, in-class learning. There are two required on-campus learning periods: one embedded in NUR1151H in Year 1 and the second embedded in NUR1169Y in Year 2. Courses are prescribed and normally students progress through the program within a defined student cohort. Normally, successful completion of Year 1 courses is required for students to enter Year 2 of their program.

• Year 1 course sequencing:

  • Fall — NUR1156H and NUR1027H

  • Winter — NUR1127H and NUR1151H*

  • Summer — NUR1152H*

• Year 2 course sequencing:

  • Fall — NUR1016H and NUR1161H

  • Winter — NUR1157H

  • Summer — NUR1169Y*

• *NUR1151H and NUR1169Y both include a required on-campus, in-class learning experience. NUR1152H and NUR1169Y include a required practicum component and required eLearning activities.

Program Length

6 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: F/W/S/F/W/S)

Time Limit

3 years full-time

Field: Nurse Practitioner

Admissions to the emphasis in Paediatric have been administratively suspended. See amendment made on September 21, 2022.

Minimum Admission Requirements

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Graduate Department of Nursing Science's additional admission requirements stated below.

• Applicants must hold the BScN degree of the University of Toronto or an equivalent degree. Applicants must have obtained at least a mid-B standing in the final year of undergraduate study and, in addition, must have obtained at least a B standing in the next-to-final year.

• Applicants must hold current registration as a Registered Nurse or equivalent and must have a minimum of two years of clinical experience as a Registered Nurse.

• For further information about applying, please email connect.nursing@utoronto.ca or visit the Nursing website.

Program Requirements

• To qualify for the degree, students shall complete a program of study outlined by the Graduate Department of Nursing Science.

• Coursework. The MN program requires 5.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs), including:

  • NUR1094H, NUR1095H, NUR1097H, and NUR1138H;

  • a combination of courses based on the student's emphasis:

    • Adult: NUR1101H; NUR1115H; NUR1140H; NUR1141H; NUR1215H; and NUR1221Y or

    • Paediatric*: NUR1102H; NUR1116H and NUR1216H; NUR1144H; NUR1145H; and NUR1222Y or

    • Primary Health Care — Global Health: NUR1114H; NUR1117H and NUR1217H; NUR1142H; NUR1143H; and NUR1223Y

    • NUR1221Y, NUR1222Y, and NUR1223Y must be taken alone in the final session and only after completion of all other coursework and program requirements.

• This field of study is offered in a hybrid learning format including online and required on-campus, in-class learning.

• *The Paediatric emphasis is available to students every other year. Visit the Nursing website for details.

Program Length

6 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: F/W/S/F/W/S)

Time Limit

3 years full-time

Doctor of Nursing

Program Description

The Doctor of Nursing (DN) is a professional doctoral program designed to prepare nurses with the required skills to apply knowledge in diverse settings and (a) lead in dynamic, fast-paced, technologically advanced and sophisticated health-care environments and (b) teach in nursing education. Students will engage in advanced education related to leadership and knowledge application in health-care or nursing education.

The DN is offered in a hybrid online (required courses) and on-site (required residencies) delivery model. Students will normally complete this full-time program in eight sessions compressed over three years due to cohort-based delivery and extensive use of the Summer sessions.

Minimum Admission Requirements

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Graduate Department of Nursing Science's additional admission requirements stated below.

• Applicants must have a master's degree in nursing or a closely related field, such as education, public health, health science, health policy, or business administration, with a minimum B+ standing from a recognized university.

• Applicants must hold current registration as a Registered Nurse and must have a minimum of two years of relevant health-care leadership experience or advanced nursing education teaching experience.

• Applicants must provide three reference letters: two work-related and one academic.

• Applicants must submit a letter of intent outlining their reasons for applying to the program and a proposed thesis project.

• Applicants whose primary language is not English and who have graduated from a university where the primary language of instruction and examination is not English must demonstrate proficiency in English. See General Regulations section 4.3 for requirements. An interview may be required.

Program Requirements

• Coursework. Students must successfully complete a total of 4.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

  • 1.5 required FCEs: NUR1301H, NUR1302H, and NUR1303H

  • 0.5 elective FCE relevant to the student's focus: NUR1331H, NUR1332H, NUR1333H, NUR1334H, or NUR1335H

  • 2.0 FCEs in seminar courses: NUR1311H, NUR1312H, NUR1313H, and NUR1314H.

• Internships or practica. Students must complete two internships (health-care leadership) or two practica (educational leadership).

• Residencies. Students must complete three residencies consisting of intensive on-campus classes.

• Symposium. In the final session, students will present their thesis and discuss knowledge transfer and exchange plans for implementing their innovations in practice, policy, and/or education.

• Literature review paper. Students must demonstrate their ability to review, analyze, and synthesize relevant material by the end of the third session (Year 1). The paper includes published and peer-reviewed research, gray literature, policies, guidelines, etc.

• Thesis. Students must complete a written thesis proposal by the end of the fifth session (Year 2). The thesis requires students to identify and investigate a practice problem, articulate and apply theory and evidence to the problem, design strategies for action to address the problem, report on strategies implemented to address the problem, and discuss the results and knowledge dissemination plan.

• Doctoral Final Oral Examination (FOE). Students must complete an FOE of the thesis by the end of the final session in Year 3.

Program Length

4 years

Time Limit

6 years

Doctor of Philosophy

Program Description

The full-time PhD program prepares scientists with the required analytical and research skills to study nursing, health systems, or other related problems.

Applicants may enter the PhD program via one of two routes: 1) following completion of an appropriate master’s degree; or 2) transfer from the University of Toronto MN program.

PhD Program

Minimum Admission Requirements

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies.

• Applicants must also satisfy the Graduate Department of Nursing Science's additional admission requirements stated below. Applicants must have a master's degree or its equivalent in nursing or related field with at least a B+ standing from a recognized university.

• Applicants whose primary language is not English and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction and examination was not English must demonstrate proficiency in English. See General Regulations section 4.3 for requirements.

• For further information about admissions, please contact the Graduate Department of Nursing Science.

Program Requirements

Courses

Successful completion of all required courses by the end of Year 2 in the program.

• Students must successfully complete a minimum of 3.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) that include:

  • PhD Seminar (1.0 FCE)

  • Research methods course NUR1079Y Research Methods for Knowledge Discovery (1.0 FCE)

  • one course (0.5 FCE) related to the substantive area of study and thesis plans

  • one course (0.5 FCE) may be either a method or substantive area course as determined by the student and the supervisory committee.

• Students must attain a minimum average standing at the B+ level for required courses.

• Students are normally expected to complete all required courses (3.0 FCEs) by the end of Year 2. If all required courses are not successfully completed (with a minimum average standing at the B+ level) by the end of Year 3, the Faculty of Nursing will normally make a recommendation to SGS for termination of registration.

Literature Review Paper

Successful completion of the literature review paper.

• The literature review paper topic as well as type and format of the literature review paper must be approved by the supervisor (with signed documentation by the student and supervisor) by March 1 of Year 1. This agreement should specify the problem statement, the format/type of literature review that is appropriate to the area of study, and to the scholarly traditions within which the student's research is situated.

• The literature review paper must be submitted by September 30 of Year 2. The submitted literature review paper will be formally reviewed and evaluated by the supervisor and at least one additional thesis committee member. Written and verbal feedback about the submitted literature review paper will be provided to the student at a supervisory committee meeting. For the literature review paper to be considered a pass, both faculty members' assessments of the literature review paper must be at the successful completion or pass level. If both examinations are considered pass, the student may receive either a satisfactory or excellent rating at their supervisory committee meeting. If one or both paper reviews are rated unsatisfactory or not pass, then the student receives an unsatisfactory rating at the supervisory committee meeting.

• If the student does not successfully complete the literature review paper first submitted, the student will have one additional opportunity to revise and rewrite the literature review paper, based on the feedback received at the supervisory committee. The student must resubmit the revised literature review paper by December 1 of Year 2. This revised literature review paper must be formally evaluated by the supervisor and one other thesis committee member (normally the same committee member who completed the assessment of the original literature review paper). The student will receive feedback about the revised literature review paper at a supervisory committee meeting. For the literature review to be considered a pass, both faculty members' assessments of the literature review must be at the pass level. If both reviews are considered pass, the student may receive either a satisfactory or excellent rating at their supervisory committee meeting. If one or both reviews are rated failure/not pass, then the student receives an unsatisfactory rating at the supervisory committee meeting.

• If the student does not successfully complete the literature review paper on the second attempt, the Faculty of Nursing will normally recommend to SGS that the student's registration in the PhD program be terminated.

Thesis Proposal

Successful defence of the thesis proposal, normally by the end of Year 2.

• Students are normally expected to defend their thesis proposal by the end of Year 2 of their program. Students must successfully defend their thesis proposal no later than the end of Year 3. The format of the proposal will be similar to that of a modified tri-council grant application. Assessment of the thesis proposal consists of both the written proposal and the oral defence of the proposal. Students who do not successfully defend the proposal after the first attempt may have one additional opportunity to successfully present and defend the written proposal, and this must be accomplished before the end of Year 3 of the program.

• If the student does not successfully defend the thesis proposal by the end of Year 3 (including a second attempt, if required), the Faculty of Nursing will recommend to SGS that the student's registration in the PhD program be terminated.

• The student's dissertation will be defended in the Doctoral Final Oral Examination of the School of Graduate Studies.

Program Length

4 years full-time; 5 years transfer-from-master's

Time Limit

6 years full-time; 7 years transfer-from-master's

Post-Master's Nurse Practitioner (PMNP) Diploma

Admissions to the emphasis in Paediatric have been administratively suspended.

Program Description

The PMNP Diploma provides students holding an appropriate graduate degree the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills required to practise as a nurse practitioner. Students choose one of the following emphases: Adult, Paediatric, or Primary Health Care — Global Health.

Minimum Admission Requirements

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Graduate Department of Nursing Science's additional admission requirements stated below.

• Applicants to the Post-Master's Nurse Practitioner (PMNP) diploma program must have completed a master's degree in nursing or an equivalent graduate degree that includes clinical nursing experience and a minimum of two years of clinical nursing experience.

• Preference is given to applicants who have one or more years in an advanced nursing practice role (in addition to clinical experience) and support within their employment setting.

• Applicants must hold current registration as a Registered Nurse or equivalent.

Program Requirements

All students in the PMNP diploma program are required to complete a total of 3.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

• Emphasis: Adult

  • NUR1101H Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning (Adult)

  • NUR1115H Advanced Health Assessment and Therapeutic Management (Adult) 1

  • NUR1140H Pathophysiology and Pharmacotherapeutics 1 (Adult)

  • NUR1141H Pathophysiology and Pharmacotherapeutics 2 (Adult)

  • NUR1215H Advanced Health Assessment and Therapeutic Management (Adult) 2

  • NUR1221Y Nurse Practitioners: Roles and Issues (Adult)

• Emphasis: Paediatric

  • NUR1102H Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning (Paediatric)

  • NUR1116H Advanced Health Assessment and Therapeutic Management (Paediatric) 1

  • NUR1144H Pathophysiology and Pharmacotherapeutics 1 (Paediatric)

  • NUR1145H Pathophysiology and Pharmacotherapeutics 2 (Paediatric)

  • NUR1216H Advanced Health Assessment and Therapeutic Management (Paediatric) 2

  • NUR1222Y Nurse Practitioners: Roles and Issues (Paediatric)

• Emphasis: Primary Health Care — Global Health

  • NUR1114H Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning (Primary Health Care — Global Health)

  • NUR1117H Advanced Health Assessment and Therapeutic Management (Primary Health Care — Global Health) 1

  • NUR1142H Pathophysiology and Pharmacotherapeutics 1 (Primary Health Care — Global Health)

  • NUR1143H Pathophysiology and Pharmacotherapeutics 2 (Primary Health Care — Global Health)

  • NUR1217H Advanced Health Assessment and Therapeutic Management (Primary Health Care — Global Health) 2

  • NUR1223Y Nurse Practitioners: Roles and Issues (Primary Health Care — Global Health)

• NUR1221Y, NUR1222Y, and NUR1223Y must be taken alone in the final session and only after completion of all other coursework and program requirements.

• In each emphasis, four courses require learners to be engaged in clinical practice.

Program Length

6 sessions (2 years) part-time

Time Limit

6 years part-time