2008 Woodie Awards
Nursing program adds doctoral degree
Online, 8-semester course of study to begin in Fall 2009
Sarah Cox
Ball State University students will have another doctoral program to choose from in Fall 2009. The nursing department will add the option to earn a doctorate in nursing practice. This will make the 17th doctoral degree Ball State offers.
"There have always been doctoral programs in nursing," Beth Kelsey, interim associate director doctorate of nursing practice, said. "Other doctorates that are out there for nurses are Ph.D. and [Doctor of Nursing Science] and those are more research-focused. The DNP is going to be open to nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists who have master's degrees."
Freshman nursing major Mary Karner said many students feel they have limited choices when joining the nursing program.
"When you go into nursing there's usually one path, so it's nice to have another option," Karner said.
Kelsey said the DNP program is for part-time students and can be completed in eight semesters.
Most people who will take the program won't be traditional students, she said.
"The program is completely online, and our master's program at the school of nursing is also online. We'll have students across the country involved in the program," Kelsey said.
The nursing program is not the only department that is adding higher level studies. The sciences are also working to create doctoral programs, Jackie Nelson, associate dean of the graduate school, said.
"The Graduate Education Committee just approved in the last few weeks a new Ph.D. program in science," she said. "This needs to go through the university posting process and possibly go to the Indiana Commission on Higher Education for final approval before Ball State can begin offering the program."
Students will have more options for post-graduate studies with these new additions.
"I think it's great that Ball State is offering more doctoral programs," freshman communications major Paula Truex said. "They can help students reach greater goals."
"There have always been doctoral programs in nursing," Beth Kelsey, interim associate director doctorate of nursing practice, said. "Other doctorates that are out there for nurses are Ph.D. and [Doctor of Nursing Science] and those are more research-focused. The DNP is going to be open to nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists who have master's degrees."
Freshman nursing major Mary Karner said many students feel they have limited choices when joining the nursing program.
"When you go into nursing there's usually one path, so it's nice to have another option," Karner said.
Kelsey said the DNP program is for part-time students and can be completed in eight semesters.
Most people who will take the program won't be traditional students, she said.
"The program is completely online, and our master's program at the school of nursing is also online. We'll have students across the country involved in the program," Kelsey said.
The nursing program is not the only department that is adding higher level studies. The sciences are also working to create doctoral programs, Jackie Nelson, associate dean of the graduate school, said.
"The Graduate Education Committee just approved in the last few weeks a new Ph.D. program in science," she said. "This needs to go through the university posting process and possibly go to the Indiana Commission on Higher Education for final approval before Ball State can begin offering the program."
Students will have more options for post-graduate studies with these new additions.
"I think it's great that Ball State is offering more doctoral programs," freshman communications major Paula Truex said. "They can help students reach greater goals."
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