Nursing Education | Teachers College Columbia University

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Nursing Education

Department of - Health & Behavior Studies

Contact Information

(212) 678-3130, (212) 678-3120
(212) 678-3120
ko199@tc.columbia.edu
Professor Kathleen A. O’Connell
Visit Program Website

Program Description

Teachers College was the first academic setting to educate nurses.  Nursing Education began at Teachers College in 1899.  The Nursing Education Program has a long and distinguished tradition of commitment to the education of nurses who have diverse roles in academic and community settings in the United States and abroad.  The newly revised curriculum for the Ed.D. in nursing education was designed by a group of nursing education experts.  It was approved by the State of New York in 2015 as an online offering.  The new program matriculated its first students for Fall 2016.

Degree Summary

Ed.D. in Nursing Education

Academic Certificate in Nursing Education

For a complete listing of degree requirements, please click the "Degrees" tab above

For a complete listing of degree requirements, please continue on to this program's "Degrees" section in this document

Degree Requirements

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

Ed.D. in Nursing Education

The Doctor of Education in Nursing Education is designed for nurses with master’s degrees who want to become nurse educators in either academic or staff development settings.  Although all courses are online, the program fosters deep collaboration among students and faculty to maximize preparation for educator roles and to facilitate efficient progress through the program.  The program features a unique collaborative approach to dissertation design and development.

Outcomes of Program

  1. Integrate knowledge from nursing and higher education that supports the development of innovative teaching strategies that address diverse learning needs.
  2. Apply theories from nursing, higher education, and related disciplines as a foundation for enacting the nurse educator role in academic and health care settings.
  3. Demonstrate expertise as an advanced nurse educator that models the pursuit of lifelong learning and that reflects trends in nursing and higher education, inter-professional education, health care, and nursing practice.
  4. Pursue intellectual inquiry and scholarly endeavors individually and collaboratively to advance knowledge in nursing education.
  5. Serve as a scholar, leader, and advocate in nursing, nursing education, and higher education.

Degree Requirements

Nursing education courses have been designed to merge knowledge of the role of nursing faculty with the role nursing programs play in higher education. Courses have a theoretical foundation, along with a research underpinning so that best practices in didactic and clinical practice areas are taught, used, and tested. Ed.D. students learn how to actively engage their students in the learning process and how to be facilitators of learning, not just givers of knowledge. The program requires that students take a specific complement of courses in Nursing Education, Research Methods and Statistics, and Broad and Basic Courses and meet other requirements as outlined below.

 

Course Requirements

Nursing Education: All courses count for 3 credits; 30 credits are required.

HBSN 6000 Nursing Theory in Nursing Education

HBSN 6030 Curriculum Development in Nursing Education

HBSN 6040 Teaching and Learning Strategies in Nursing Education

HBSN 6053 Clinical Teaching in Nursing Education

HBSN 6043 Innovations in Nursing Education

HBSN 6044 Assessment and Evaluation in Nursing Education

HBSN 6045 Simulation in Nursing Education

HBSN 6310 Practicum I: The Nurse Educator Role

HBSN 6320 Practicum II: Leadership in Nursing Education

HBSN TBA Colloquium in Nursing Education

 

Research Methods:  12 credits are required.

HBSS 5040 Research Methods in Health and Behavior Studies

HBSN 5044 Advanced Research Methods: Literature Review and Critique

HBSN 6540 Dissertation Design and Development

HBSN 7500 Dissertation Seminar

 

Statistics: 6 credits are required

HUDM 4120 Basic Concepts in Statistics OR HUDM 4122 Probability and Statistical Inference

HUDM 5122 Applied Regression Analysis

           

Broad and Basic Courses  9 credits required

9 credits in electives taken at Teachers College that are outside Nursing Education

            Adult Learning and Higher Education

            Cognitive studies

            Communication, Media, and Learning Technologies Design

            Health education

            Diabetes education

 

            Total:  57 Credits

 

It is expected that students will transfer at least 33 credits from their master’s programs if those credits are determined to be acceptable by the Teachers College registrar and program faculty.

 

Other Requirements

The Ed.D. requires the completion of 90 credits of graduate study (including transfer credits), certification as a doctoral candidate, which involves taking a certification examination in person at the College, a dissertation proposal approved as a result of a proposal hearing, successful oral defense, and acceptance of a research-based doctoral dissertation.

Enrolled students begin their doctoral student experience with a four-day in-person orientation to the program that occurs in the August prior to the beginning of the Fall semester. All admitted students are required to attend this orientation. During the orientation, students will be guided to plan their entire program of study. They plan the types of experiences they want to include in their courses and practica. They are apprised of the courses where they will be required to find a suitable nursing education setting in which to complete some of the course objectives (e.g. Clinical Teaching in Nursing Education and Simulation in Nursing Education), and they are instructed on the need to identify preceptors for Practicum I and Practicum II early in the program so that the credentials of the preceptors can be vetted, the preceptors can receive information about what will be required, and appropriate agreements can be executed. 

Academic Certificate in Nursing Education

Academic Certificate in Nursing Education

The mission of the Academic Certificate in Nursing Education is to improve Nursing Education and to improve the teaching skills of those nurses who already have doctoral degrees. The goal of the program is to offer doctorally prepared nurses, who are currently working in or interested in nursing education, an opportunity to gain academic preparation as nurse educators. There are currently 1,200 nursing faculty vacancies across the U.S., and this number is expected to climb sharply over the next few years as current faculty begin to retire. An Academic Certificate in Nursing Education prepares those seeking to extend or advance their teaching skills to improve nursing education generally.

 

Outcomes of Program

  1. Integrate knowledge from nursing and higher education that supports the development of innovative teaching strategies that address diverse learning needs.
  2. Apply theories from nursing, higher education, and related disciplines as a foundation for enacting the nurse educator role in academic and health care settings.
  3. Demonstrate expertise as an advanced nurse educator that models the pursuit of lifelong learning and that reflects trends in nursing and higher education, inter-professional education, health care, and nursing practice.

Courses

The program consists of five core courses designed to help nurses with doctorates to deploy their advanced clinical or research expertise to enhance the education of new nurses and advanced practitioners.  

  • HBSN 6030 Curriculum Development in Nursing Education - 3 credits
  • HBSN 6040 Teaching and Learning in Nursing Education - 3 credits
  • HBSN 6043 Innovations in Nursing Education - 3 credits
  • HBSN 6044 Assessment and Evaluation in Nursing Education - 3 credits
  • HBSN 6053 Clinical Teaching in Nursing Education - 3 credits


The program can be completed in two years if students take one course per semester for five consecutive semesters. Classes are taken with current doctoral students in the Nursing Education Ed.D. program, assuring a high-quality program.  

Admission Requirements and Application Information

The following materials are required for the Academic Certificate Program in Nursing Education:

  1. Evidence of licensure as a registered nurse
  2. Official transcripts showing completion of a doctoral degree.  Doctoral degrees in nursing and health related fields are accepted.
  3. Resumé, showing evidence of clinical experience either through specialty master’s preparation or through clinical experience in nursing. Include a list of publications and presentations.
  4. The statement of purpose, which can be 2-3 pages in length, should describe
    1. your academic background and doctoral degree preparation
    2. your professional background and clinical expertise
    3. why you are a good fit for an online program
    4. why you are interested in nursing education,
    5. how your clinical experience will contribute to your success an educator

Application Information

Application Requirements

In addition to the standard college admission requirements and materials, the following requirements and materials are required for the Ed.D. Program in Nursing Education.

1. Registered nurse with evidence of licensure

2. Master's Degree and transcripts related to the degree

3. Resume showing evidence of clinical experience either through specialty Master's preparation or through clinical experience in nursing. Include titles and other citation information for publications and presentations, if any.

4. Statement of Purpose (which can be 5-6 pages in length), using each of the following as a numbered heading and addressing each item in paragraph form under the appropriate heading: 

1. Clinical and Teaching Experience
Describe your clinical nursing experiences; then describe your teaching experience in academic, professional development, and/or clinical settings.

2. Interest in Nursing Education
Discuss your interest in nursing education and why you chose this specialty area.

3. Research Experience and Interests
Describe any experience you have with research and statistical methods; then discuss the research in nursing education you would like to pursue.

4. Future Plans
Describe where you see yourself professionally in 10 years.

5. Qualifications for the Program
Explain why you are an exceptional candidate for this program, including an example of how you have collaborated in academic or clinical settings. Address your experience with online learning.

5.  Academic writing sample

Upload academic writing sample under Statement of Purpose in the online application. This is an excerpt or section from an academic writing sample (maximum 8 pages plus references) that demonstrates your scholarly thinking, writing skills, ability to do research, and ability to synthesize information. Examples of appropriate writing samples include, but are not limited to, graduate thesis, research papers, or literature review.

6. Optional: Graduate Record Examination

Although the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required, if you have taken this examination, you are welcome to submit your scores.  Admission decisions are not based on GRE scores, but the GRE can help with advisement.

7.  Letters of Recommendation

To make your application stronger, we recommend one of your recommendations come from a faculty member or other educator who has supervised you in a student role.

Faculty List

Faculty

Kathleen O'Connell
Isabel Maitland Stewart Professor of Nursing Education

Lecturers

Jane K Dickinson
Lecturer
Tresa Kaur
Lecturer

Adjunct

Stephanie Leigh Turrise
Adjunct Assistant Professor

For up to date information about course offerings including faculty information, please visit the online course schedule.

Course List

HBSN 5044 Advanced Research Methods: Literature Review and Critique

This online course builds on introductory research methods courses to enhance the students' abilities to design research, to interpret research findings, to critique research reports, and to write the review of literature for their dissertation proposals.  Issues affecting the design of research and interpretation of research findings in Nursing Education studies are the specific focus of the course. The literature review will be done in consultation with students’ dissertation advisors.

HBSN 6000 Nursing Theory in Nursing Education

This course introduces students to major theoretical perspectives on student learning and nursing education/practice/research and how this body of knowledge can be used to guide educational policies and practices in nursing education to promote student learning and development. 

HBSN 6030 Curriculum Development in Nursing Education

This course explores the essential structures, components, and factors of curriculum development pertaining to nursing education. Concentration will be on the curriculum development process.

HBSN 6040 Teaching and Learning Strategies in Nursing Education

This course explores associations of key aspects of learning development to educational interventions in higher education.  

HBSN 6043 Innovations in Nursing Education

This course examines innovations in education that support and promote a culture of active teaching and learning.  Use of technologies in nursing education will be a focus. Evidence-based teaching strategies will be identified for use in the classroom and clinical settings.

HBSN 6044 Assessment and Evaluation in Nursing Education

This course examines evaluation methods in nursing within the classroom, laboratory, and clinical setting. Current issues, trends, and research related to educational testing instruments, alternatives to standardized evaluation methods, and outcome measurement in nursing education will be discussed. Students will develop reliable and valid evaluation measures for use in nursing education.

HBSN 6045 Simulation in Nursing Education

This course explores the teaching strategy of role play, focusing specifically on simulation and its application for both classroom and clinical practice within nursing education. Evidence-based simulation strategies will be explored using active teaching strategies.

HBSN 6053 Clinical Teaching in Nursing Education

This course investigates best practices in nursing education for planning and developing student-centered clinical activities. A preferred specialty area of nursing practice will be the focus for planning and developing these activities.

HBSN 6310 Practicum I: The Nurse Educator Role

In this course students will examine and implement the role of the nurse educator in higher education and/or health care organizations

HBSN 6320 Practicum II: Leadership in Nursing Education

In this course students will examine the role of the nurse educator in relation to broader perspectives of selected higher education and/or health care agencies. Further, students will implement aspects of the nurse educator role in selected academic units, institutions, and in the profession of nursing.

HBSN 6540 Seminar on dissertation design development

Permission required. Required of all doctoral candidates. Group critique of dissertation proposals; focus on beginning- to intermediate- level aspects of analysis of theory and research design. This course may be repeated as often as necessary until the student is ready for the departmental examination. Once HBSN 6540 is taken, continuous fall/spring enrollment in the course is required until the semester during which the departmental examination is held.

HBSN 6541 Advanced seminar on dissertation design development

Focus on advanced aspects of research design and method.

HBSN 6930 Independent study in nursing education

Permission required. Individual guided learning experience at the doctoral level in a selected aspect of nursing education. Topic agreed upon between student and faculty.

HBSN 6940 Independent study in nursing research

Permission required. Allows student to contract with individual faculty member for research-related work in a defined area of study.

HBSN 7500 Dissertation seminar in nursing

Permission required. The departmental examination, involving presentation of dissertation proposal for faculty approval. This course is required of all certified doctoral candidates and may be taken only once.

HBSN 8900 Dissertation advisement in nursing

Individual advisement on doctoral dissertation following completion of all course- work. Fee to equal 3 points at current tuition rate for each term. See catalog on continuous registration requirements for Ed.D. degree.

HBSS 5040 Research methods in health and behavior studies I

Introduction to research, study designs, and data collection methods in research in health and behavior studies, including nursing, nutrition, and health education with emphasis on reading and understanding research literature.