PhD: Choosing First Elective

[canadiangradschoolrn]

Hello,

I just got accepted to a PhD Nursing program. I am supposed to take an elective in my first semester. How do people go about choosing an elective in the first semester. Do you normally meet with your supervisor before the first semester in order to choose your elective. Electives choosen for a PhD program are they usually research focused or more of content area (e.g pediatrics) focused.

Thank you

[llg, PhD, RN]

It really depends on the particular program, your course of study, your areas of interests, etc. I think you should talk to your advisor (or at least someone VERY knowledgable about your particular program) to help you decide what would be best for you.

Some PhD programs include the expectation that you will take electives outside the discipline of nursing. Other programs prefer that you take nursing courses for electives. If your career goals are focused on research and theory development, you might want to take your electives in research methods, theory, philosophy, etc. If you will be focusing on physical sciences, you might want a physiology elective. If you will be focusing your research on psycho-social issues, they a physiology course would probably not be worth the investment. etc. etc. etc. Your choice of electives should be based on your long term research and career obectives -- and upon the expectations of your particular program.

One relatively "safe" approach (if you can't find a better idea) is to choose an elective that is one you are sure you will want to take eventually. That way, you wan't be "wasting" the opportunity on taking a class you might regret later. Once you are into the program, you can learn more about other possibilities for electives. That assumes that you will have other opportunities to take additional electives later, of course.

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

Canadian- you may also want to email your supervisor, and request a meeting with him/her. Have you received a letter with your supervisor's info on it? When I emailed my super requesting a meeting w/her prior to registering for classes, she responded in a very positive manner.

Since they pair you up with a mentor who has similar research interests, s/he may have some valuable insight on what you might want in an elective.