Doctor of Philosophy Program in Nursing Science (International Program)
A collaborative doctoral program jointly delivered by Ramathibodi School of Nursing, Mahidol University and the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), with the Faculty of Graduate Studies, Mahidol University.
Degree
Ph.D.Doctor of Philosophy (Nursing Science)
Study Plan
Plan 2.2Coursework & Dissertation
Total Credits
75credits (not less than)
Language
EnglishInternational program
Philosophy of the Program
The Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Science Program aims to produce highly scholarly researchers who advance the field of nursing science. Nursing science is the science of health and well-being — an integration of biological, behavioral, and social science — and merges the worlds of natural, applied, and human science toward a holistic understanding of human health, behavior, and well-being. The program emphasizes conducting research and innovations related to precision health and personalized care, which recognize individual differences at the genetic, genomic, environmental, and lifestyle behavioral levels with an ethical role model. This holistic approach necessitates a multidisciplinary team utilizing various advanced research methods, as well as leveraging big data science and emerging scientific and digital technologies.
The teaching philosophy is guided by Mahidol University, the Thai National Higher Education Plan, and Case Western Reserve University, centered on learner achievement through a learning-centered approach. The program fosters lifelong learning, a strong research ecosystem, and educational transformation. Through outcome-based and student-centered learning, graduates are equipped to drive innovation, policy, and research experiences in precision health and bio-behavior with expert faculty and a multidisciplinary approach.
Program Objectives
After graduating from the program, doctoral graduates achieve the qualifications standards of higher education as follows:
Have in-depth knowledge of relevant nursing and related science theories to solve problems and extend the body of new knowledge of nursing and health.
Have expertise in high-quality research creation or innovation and international dissemination of outcomes.
Have sound judgment of academic and professional ethics and morals.
Have responsibility, creativity, leadership, team-working mindsets, and digital literacy.
Program-Level Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
When completing the program, graduates will be able to:
PLO 1
Synthesize existing knowledge from previous studies and integrate it with related theories from nursing and related sciences to develop a research proposal.
1.1 Integrate knowledge of relevant nursing and interdisciplinary knowledge, advanced statistics, and research methodology through critical analysis.
1.2 Apply appropriate theoretical and methodological knowledge to analyze problems.
1.3 Generate new evidence-based knowledge with a systematic process.
1.4 Formulate a research proposal that is scientifically sound, ethically considered, and practically achievable.
PLO 2
Conduct high-quality research to generate a new body of nursing knowledge that improves the health and well-being of people and supports health policy, with international dissemination.
2.1 Critically justify research problems related to health.
2.2 Judge an appropriate research design, advanced statistics, and/or advanced analytical tools in accordance with the research question.
2.3 Conduct original, high-quality research across disciplines to advance nursing science, leading to innovative healthcare solutions that envision health policy.
2.4 Disseminate scientific findings responsibly and accurately in international peer-reviewed publications with high academic integrity, at a level that can be referenced or adapted to other contexts.
PLO 3
Demonstrate high ethical integrity in academic, research, and professional practice.
3.1 Lead academic integrity by avoiding plagiarism, properly citing sources, and respecting intellectual property.
3.2 Conduct research in accordance with high research integrity.
PLO 4
Express accountability, creative thinking, leadership and teamwork, cross-cultural awareness, and digital literacy.
4.1 Demonstrate academic integrity, scientific integrity, and professional commitment leading to professional development.
4.2 Develop critical and creative thinking by generating new ideas, solutions, and perspectives, and conduct research responsibly.
4.3 Be an effective leader or a good follower to support, cooperate with colleagues, make decisions, and resolve problems with cross-cultural awareness.
4.4 Creatively use and navigate digital technologies, utilize appropriate communication, and collaborate seamlessly with others.
Program Structure
In compliance with the Announcement of the Commission on Higher Education Standard on the Criteria and Standards of Graduate Studies B.E. 2565, the curriculum structure for Plan 2.2 (study coursework and write a dissertation) is as follows:
Credit Structure · Plan 2.2
Category
Description
Credits
1) Required Courses
Core & required coursework
21credits
2) Elective Courses
Chosen with advisor approval
≥ 6credits
3) Dissertation
RANS 999
48credits
Total (not less than)
75credits
Required Courses
21 credits
Core doctoral coursework covering philosophy of nursing science, genetics & genomics, advanced statistics, health policy, advanced physiology & omics, research design, and qualitative research.
Elective Courses
≥ 6 credits
Selected according to the student's research interest from this program, other Mahidol international graduate programs, CWRU, or other universities, with committee or advisor approval.
Dissertation
48 credits
Original doctoral research (RANS 999) advancing nursing science, with results published or accepted in a qualified international journal per graduate school criteria.
Dual-institution study. During the second year, students study at Case Western Reserve University and take CWRU courses equivalent to those at Mahidol University — 6 required credits plus electives. Equivalences are detailed in the Courses section.
Admission
Plan 2.2
Mahidol University — Coursework & Dissertation
Applicants must submit an application with supporting documents to the Faculty of Graduate Studies, Mahidol University. Qualifications are as follows:
Hold a bachelor's degree in nursing from an institution accredited by the Thailand Nursing and Midwifery Council. International applicants must have completed a bachelor's degree in nursing or equivalent.
Have a cumulative GPA of ≥ 3.25 on a 4.00 scale, with an official transcript. Non-English transcripts require a certified English translation.
Hold a valid nursing license (Registered Nurse and Midwife Class 1, or Registered Nurse Class 1) from the Thailand Nursing and Midwifery Council. International applicants must hold a valid license from their home country's authority; where no formal licensing system exists, a certificate of registration or endorsement from the national Nurse Regulatory Authority is required.
Have at least 1 year of nursing work experience after the bachelor's degree by the application date.
Meet English requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, CWRU: TOEFL ≥ 577 (paper-based) or ≥ 90 (internet-based), or IELTS ≥ 7.0.
Submit a Statement of Purpose not exceeding one A4 page.
Submit three letters of recommendation attesting to academic ability, professional competence, and potential. At least two referees must hold a research doctorate (Ph.D. or equivalent), preferably in nursing or a related discipline.
Provide official financial documentation demonstrating ability to support studies throughout the program.
Applicants who do not fully meet the requirements in items 2 and 4 may be considered case-by-case at the discretion of the Ph.D. Administrative Committee and the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
CWRU
Case Western Reserve University — Certificate Admission
All students must also meet CWRU's admission requirements. All application documents are in English and include:
ACompleted application form, including a 1-page written statement of the student's educational and professional objectives and research focus.
BCV in Lattes format.
CTOEFL or IELTS score sheet. Courses are taught in English; CWRU requires TOEFL ≥ 90 (iBT) or IELTS ≥ 7.0.
DTranscripts and degree verification.
EActive Registered Nurse license in the home country.
FFinancial support from the student's institution of origin.
Graduation Requirements
Graduation follows the Graduate Program Standards and the university regulations on Graduate Studies. For Plan 2.2, students must:
Complete all curriculum courses with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) or equivalent.
Pass the Qualifying Examination.
Pass the English Proficiency test per the Faculty of Graduate Studies' criteria.
Propose the dissertation to the committee appointed by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and pass the oral thesis examination as the final stage. The dissertation examination is open to the public.
Publish, or have accepted for publication, all or part of the dissertation in a qualified international journal as announced by the committee — or be granted a patent, accepted as an innovation, or acknowledged as a creative product applicable commercially, socially, and economically. Innovative or creative products are evaluated by at least three external dissertation committees in the same or a related field who are knowledgeable, experienced, highly recognized, and approved by the University Council.
Courses of the Program
Plan 2.2 — Study coursework and write a dissertation. Credit notation: credits (lecture – practice – self-study).
1) Required Courses
21 credits
Code
Course Title
Credits
RANS 901รมพย ๙๐๑
Philosophy of Nursing Science and Nursing Knowledge Developmentปรัชญาพยาบาลศาสตร์และการพัฒนาความรู้ทางการพยาบาล
3(3-0-6)
RANS 902รมพย ๙๐๒
Genetics and Genomics in Clinical Researchพันธุศาสตร์และจีโนมิกส์ในการวิจัยคลินิก
3(3-0-6)
RANS 903รมพย ๙๐๓
Advanced Statistics in Health Researchสถิติขั้นสูงสำหรับงานวิจัยทางสุขภาพ
3(3-0-6)
RANS 904รมพย ๙๐๔
Health Policyนโยบายสุขภาพ
2(2-0-4)
RANS 905รมพย ๙๐๕
Advanced Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Omics Science in Health and Illnessสรีรวิทยาขั้นสูง พยาธิสรีรวิทยา และวิทยาการโอมิกส์ในภาวะสุขภาพและความเจ็บป่วย
3(3-0-6)
RANS 906รมพย ๙๐๖
Advanced Research Design in Nursingการออกแบบวิจัยขั้นสูงทางการพยาบาล
Seminar on Literature Review in Nursing and Health Researchสัมมนาการทบทวนวรรณกรรมการวิจัยทางการพยาบาลและสุขภาพ
1(1-0-2)
Courses of Case Western Reserve University
Code
Course Title
Credits
NURS 518NURS ๕๑๘
Qualitative Research in Healthcareการวิจัยเชิงคุณภาพในการดูแลสุขภาพ
3(3-0-9)
NURS 524NURS ๕๒๔
Molecular Methods in Clinical Researchวิธีการทางโมเลกุลในการวิจัยทางคลินิก
3(3-0-9)
Note. In the second year at CWRU, students take 6 required credits of CWRU courses equivalent to those at Mahidol University:
Required Course Equivalences · CWRU ↔ Mahidol
Case Western Reserve University
Mahidol University
NURS 524 — Molecular Methods in Clinical Research 3 (3-0-9)
RANS 902 — Genetics and Genomics in Clinical Research 3 (3-0-6)
NURS 518 — Qualitative Research in Healthcare 3 (3-0-9)
RANS 907 — Qualitative Nursing Research 3 (2-1-5)
2) Elective Courses
≥ 6 credits
Students may register for electives from this program, other Mahidol international graduate programs, CWRU, or other universities, according to interest and with committee/advisor approval.
Code
Course Title
Credits
RANS 909รมพย ๙๐๙
Integrative Omics Approaches in Biobehavioral Science Researchบูรณาการแนวทางการวิจัยวิทยาศาสตร์ชีวพฤติกรรม
3(3-0-6)
RANS 910รมพย ๙๑๐
Precision Nursing in Chronic Illness Prevention and Managementการพยาบาลแม่นยำในการป้องกันและจัดการความเจ็บป่วยเรื้อรัง
RANS 916 — Multivariate Statistics in Health Research 3 (3-0-6)
NURS 533 — Introduction to Data Science in Healthcare 3 (3-0-9)
RANS 917 — Health Data Science 3 (3-0-6)
NURS 615 — Topical Seminar in Health Science Research* 3 (3-0-9)
RANS 918 — Seminar in Health Science Research 3 (3-0-6)
* Several seminar topics are offered. For students in this program, CWRU offers a course on the Biological Implications of the Social Determinants of Health.
Study Plan Throughout the Program
Semester system (bi-semester) with a summer term. Years 1, 3–5 are at Mahidol University; Year 2 is at Case Western Reserve University.
Year 1 · Mahidol University
Course / Activity
Credits
Semester 1 · Fall
RANS 901 Philosophy of Nursing Science and Nursing Knowledge Development
3 (3-0-6)
RANS 903 Advanced Statistics in Health Research
3 (3-0-6)
RANS 904 Health Policy
2 (2-0-4)
*Elective courses
3
Academic activities: Journal club · Academic writing workshops
—
Total
8–11 credits
Semester 2 · Spring
RANS 905 Advanced Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Omics Science in Health and Illness
3 (3-0-6)
RANS 906 Advanced Research Design in Nursing
3 (3-0-6)
RANS 908 Seminar on Literature Review in Nursing and Health Research
1 (1-0-2)
*Elective courses
3
Research camp: Systematic Reviews
—
Total
7–10 credits
Summer
Research activities: Lab talk & lab visit (Faculty of Science, Engineering, ICT) · Writing for publication
—
Year 2 · Case Western Reserve University
Course / Activity
Credits
Semester 1 · Fall
NURS 524 Molecular Methods in Clinical Research
3 (3-0-9)
NURS 630 Advanced Statistics: Linear Models
3 (3-0-9)
Elective: NURS 615 Topical Seminar in Health Science Research — Biological Implications of the Social Determinants of Health
