Overview
Established in 1972, Florida International University offers more than 190 baccalaureate, master's and doctoral degree programs in nineteen colleges and schools. U.S. News & World Report has ranked FIU among the top 100 public national universities, and FIU has been recognized as one of the top ten public commuter universities in nation by Money. FIU has 34,000 students, 1,000 full-time faculty members, and 105,000 alumni-making it the largest university in South Florida and among the nation's thirty largest colleges and universities.

Students in the program hold master's degrees in nursing, with an average GPA of 3.3 and have a GRE score of 1120 or higher. In addition, they hold Current Registered Nurse (RN) licensure or RN licensure with Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) certification in the State of Florida and maintain professional liability insurance.

The program prepares graduates for leadership roles and research careers in academia, health care, and government and private organizations that are focused on health care. Individuals become leaders in generating and applying the science needed to guide nursing practice, and they gain the knowledge and skills to improve the health of people from diverse cultures.

The Location and Community
The University is located in Miami, Florida's largest urban center and a major transportation and business hub of the southeastern United States. Miami Beach is known for its historic art deco district and numerous hotels lining its beaches as well as for its marinas and golf courses. The Port of Miami is the number one cruise port in the world.

Programs of study and degree requirements
The School of Nursing at Florida International University (FIU) offers a doctoral program that is grounded in a research-focused curriculum and designed to prepare students for leadership roles in nursing education, research, and service in a variety of health care organizations. The Ph.D. in Nursing Program trains individuals to generate and apply the science needed to guide nursing practice, and provides the knowledge and skills to direct and guide applications that improve the health of people from diverse cultures. An important goal of the program is to increase the number of Ph.D. nurses from minority groups and to produce clinically relevant research on health issues concerning minority and underserved populations.

The degree requires the completion of 36 credit hours of course work and 24 credits of dissertation. Course work includes foundations of scientific inquiry and nursing science, research methods and data analysis, foundations for conducting research with multicultural groups, cognates to provide in-depth study in focused areas as well as courses in analyzing and understanding requirements for successful functioning within academic and health-care systems and the accessing, managing, and packaging of information. Elective cognates provide a broadened substantive base for the student's specialized content area. A wide range of courses are available in the areas of aging, anthropology and sociology, economics and financing, education, health-care administration, and psychology. Once admitted into the program, a student is assigned a faculty mentor whose program of research matches the student's interest. Students pursue individualized areas of study under the mentorship of research-active faculty members.

The Ph.D. in Nursing Program can be completed in four to five years of full-time study; an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher is required to complete the program. Students are expected to complete the dissertation five years from the date of advancement to candidacy, which includes successful completion of written and oral examinations, favorable recommendation of the supervisory/guidance committee, and an approved dissertation proposal.

The School is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, and the Florida State Board of Nursing.

Facilities & Resources
The University Park Library and Biscayne Bay Campus Libraries have a combined collection of more than 1.5 million volumes, in addition to substantial holdings of federal, state, local, and international documents, periodicals, maps, microfilms, institutional archives, and curriculum materials. The library subscribes to approximately 9,700 journals and serials and offers a wide variety of online resources. Its online computer catalog provides information on the collections of all libraries of the State University System of Florida.

The Center of Health Research and Policy provides competency-based education and training in public health, communication, preparedness, and response; contributes to the study of public health policy in order to effectively influence future policy; fosters academic and community-based research on public health; and meets the public health needs of diverse populations in South Florida.

Expenses and Aid
Tuition is $287 per credit hour for Florida residents and $865 for out-of-state students.

Financial Aid:
Graduate fee grants of up to $1000 per semester are awarded to students in financial need. Graduate assistantships in teaching or research range from $1500-$4500, depending on the nature of the job and the number of hours worked. A limited amount of scholarship funds is available through the Dean's office. Full-time enrollment is a requirement.

Housing/Living Expenses:
Campus housing is available in the form of studio apartments or shared units. Costs range from $2800-$4700 per person per semester, depending on the number of bedrooms and whether or not a private bathroom is available. Students living off-campus can expect to pay $550-$750 per month for a one-bedroom apartment or $650-$900 for a two-bedroom unit.

How to Apply
Prospective students must meet all admission requirements stipulated in the FIU Graduate Policies and Procedures. In addition, candidates for the Ph.D. in Nursing Program must have a master's degree in nursing with a clinical specialty from an accredited institution, a master's program GPA of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale, and a combined score of 1120 or higher on the verbal and quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), taken within the last five years of the date of application. Applicants whose native language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and score at least 550 on the paper test or 213 on the computer version. A satisfactory interview by members of the School of Nursing Doctoral Program Admissions Committee (DPAC) is required.

A completed application form must be sent with official transcripts of prior undergraduate and graduate work, GRE or TOEFL scores, three letters of recommendation from academic and professional references, a statement of no more than 500 words addressing the goals for pursuing a Ph.D, proof of nursing licensure or certification and professional liability insurance, and a $25 application fee. The deadline to apply is June 1 for fall, October 1 for spring, and March 1 for summer.

Who to Contact
Program Coordinator
School of Nursing
Florida International University
3000 NE 151st Street
North Miami, Florida 33181

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