WGU doctorate

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Will WGU ever offer a PhD in nursing or DNP? I completed my MSN at WGU and loved my experience. Thoughts?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

WGU does not offer any doctoral degree programs at the present time. Perhaps they will offer a PhD or DNP program in the not-too-distant future. Only time will tell.

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Specializes in CIC,Infection Control, ICU, L&D.

Hi Ryan that is so funny that you asked that question. There are rumors from MSN students that just graduated and a facebook group just started today for those interested in information regarding a WGU DNP program. If you are interested you can look up WGU Doctorate of Nursing Practice support group on facebook.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Will WGU ever offer a PhD in nursing or DNP? I completed my MSN at WGU and loved my experience. Thoughts?

My thoughts are that if you are ever trying to get a position in which a doctorate degree is required, they will frown on a doctoral degree from the same place you got your Master's.

People have been lobbying WGU for a doctoral program for years. I seriously doubt it will come to fruition in this decade. But you never know.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
My thoughts are that if you are ever trying to get a position in which a doctorate degree is required, they will frown on a doctoral degree from the same place you got your Master's.
Yep. This concept is referred to as 'academic incest' in scholarly circles.
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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

Ok, color me stupid, but why is this such a bad thing?

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Because at that high level of leadership/scholarship, they want to see people with a varied and well-rounded educational background.

I first heard about "academic incest" in 2010 when I was in Kentucky for orientation at Frontier (I was starting the MSN program for nurse-midwifery). We all got to talking about the then-new idea of DNP by 2015, and one of the professors mentioned that they were starting a DNP completion program at Frontier, but she cautioned all of us that we should look elsewhere, and not get a DNP at the same institution we get our Master's degrees.

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

Makes sense I guess. I have a friend who has her BSN at a very known university and is currently in the MSN and has applied to the Doctorate. I never thought it was a bad thing to have three degrees from one place, because it is such a good school.

I feel better now. I assumed that my degrees being from different schools was a bad thing. Quite the opposite I guess!

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