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Program Details

Graduate Program: Nursing (PHD)

General Information

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Program/Degree
Nursing (PHD)  
Program Description

The PhD in Nursing is ideal for the student who wants to focus on research and scholarship in a clinical, academic, or other scientific environment.  Students may enter the PhD level of graduate study as a post-BSN student, as a student who has attained a master’s degree in nursing or other health-related field, as a dual doctoral degree (PhD-DNP) student, or as a student who previously attained a DNP. Coursework for the PhD program is online with both part-time and full-time options. One week of on-campus attendance each year is required. Required credits vary depending on entry track and prior academic preparation.

Minimum Units: 64

 

 
Department/Academic Unit(s)

Nursing

The College of Nursing at the University of Arizona offers a variety of programs at the graduate level.  Programs are available for students pursuing a first degree in nursing, as well as students interested in advancing in the professional as leaders, advanced practice nurses, and nurse researchers.  Please visit the College of Nursing's website for detailed information about our college, faculty and programs.

 
College

College of Nursing

 
Campuses where offered

University of Arizona - Main - Tucson

Arizona Online - Online

 
Contacts
Admissions Contact
Libby D Frino
520-621-8652
Graduate Program Coordinator
Ellie Mendoza
520-621-6414
Director of Graduate Studies
Sheila M Gephart
520-626-8790
Graduate College Degree Counselor
Elise Bowler
520-621-5218
 
Tuition and Fees
Please refer to the UA Bursar's Office Tuition and Fees Calculator for up-to-date information about tuition and fees. 
Please refer to the UA Registrar's's Office Special Course Fees for up-to-date information about special course fees. 

Admissions Information

Admissions Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree OR Master of Science (MS) in Nursing degree

  • Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above for BSN applicants
  • Cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above for MSN applicants
  • Degree awarded from a regionally accredited institution 

All applicants to the PhD program should review the application information on the College of Nursing's website. In order to apply for this program you must first submit an online application through NursingCAS followed by the University of Arizona Graduate College GradApp. A brief telephone interview is required of top applicants.

 
Standardized Tests

We do not require any standardized tests for admission to the PhD Program.

 
Funding Opportunities

Students in the PhD in Nursing Program are eligible for university and college funding.  All students are encouraged to file an updated FAFSA form each year. The College of Nursing awards internal scholarships on a rolling basis each spring to currently admitted students.  

 
Admissions Deadlines

Applications for the PhD program must be submitted by: 

  • October 31st 2021 11:59 PM EST: Priority Deadline (for applicants who would like to be considered for available fellowships and get a head-start on scholarship and financial aid applications)

  • March 8th 2022 11:59 PM EST: Final Deadline

 
International Conditional Admission

International applicants will not be considered for conditional admission by this program.

Other Information
The GRE Institution Code for The University of Arizona is 4832

NRC Taxon(a) for this program: Nursing

Completion Requirements

Minimum Credit Units

64 

Core Coursework Requirements

BSN-PhD: 24 required units

MS-PhD: 21 required units

NURS 630: Statistics for the Health Sciences, 3 units

NURS 631: Advanced Statistics for the Health Sciences, 3 units

NURS 705: Philosophy of Nursing Science and Practice, 3 units

NURS 706: Theory Development and Evaluation, 3 units

NURS 707: Introduction to Proposal Writing for Research, 3 units

NURS 730: Quantitative Methods in Clinical Nursing Research, 3 units

NURS 731: Qualitative Methods in Clinical Nursing Research, 3 units

NURS 791A: Research Preceptorship, 3 units1

NURS 920 : 18 dissertation units

9 minor units

 

 
Elective Coursework

Coursework in nursing and other sciences are emphasized during the early portion of an individualized program of study. As you continue through the program, time is increasingly devoted to research conducted under the supervision of a faculty researcher and mentor. For the College, our three areas of research excellence are listed below. Click on the links to see faculty with these foci and their related research or projects.

Precision Science

NURS 613A: Palliative Care I: Fundamentals of Palliative Care, 3 units

NURS 613B: Palliative Care II: Advanced Concepts in Palliative Care, 3 units

NUS 642: Health Policy and Economics, 3 units

NURS 701A: Foundations of Scholarly and Systematic Review of Research Literature, 2 units

NURS 701B: Implementing a Systematic or Integrative Review, 1 unit

NURS 721: Psychoneuroimmunology Foundations and Clinical Implications, 3 units

NURS 726: Theories of Health Promotion and Risk Reduction in Nursing, 3 units

NURS 727: Managing the Consequences of Chronic Illness, 3 units

NURS 744: Topics in Integrative Health Research, 3 units 

NURS 747: Cellular & Molecular Physiology & Pathophysiology for Biobehavioral Research, 4 units

NURS 796A: Synthesis Seminar, 3 units

Data and Systems Science

NURS 634: Data Management in Healthcare Systems, 3 units

NURS 642: Health Policy and Economics, 3 units

NURS 647: Human Factors in Health Information Technology, 3 units

NURS 648: Healthcare Informatics: Theory and Research, 3 units

NURS 650: Theories of Leadership & Organizational Management, 3 units 

NURS 668: Influential Leadership in Health Systems, 3 units

NURS 701A: Foundations of Scholarly and Systematic Review of Research Literature, 2 units 

NURS 701B: Implementing a Systematic or Integrative Review, 1 unit

NURS 736: Technology for Expanding Healthcare Capacity, 3 units

NURS 740: Theories in Complex Systems Science and Integrative Health, 3 units

NURS 796A: Synthesis Seminar, 3 unuts 

Health Determinants Science

NURS 600D: Emerging Research in Aging and Healthcare, 3 units

NURS 642: Health Policy and Economics, 3 units

NURS 701A: Foundations of Scholarly and Systematic Review of Research Literature, 2 units

NURS 701B: Implementing a Systematic or Integrative Review, 1 unit

NURS 726: Theories of Health Promotion and Risk Reduction in Nursing, 3 units

NURS 727: Managing the Consequences of Chronic Illness, 3 units 

NURS 740: Theories in Complex Systems Science and Integrative Health, 3 units

NURS 744: Topics in Integrative Health Research, 3 units

NURS 753: Population Health, 2 units 

NURS 773: Rural Health Systems, 3 units 

NURS 774: Rural Community Health, 3 units

NURS 787: Diverse Populations: Theories and Methods for Examining Health Disparities, 3 units

NURS 796A; Synthesis Seminar, 3 units 

 
Additional Requirements

Resident Intensive Summer Experience 

RISE is an intensive learning experience designed to support student success in the Doctor of Nursing Practice or Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing programs. All doctoral students are required to attend RISE in Tucson, AZ on an annual basis. RISE attendance for part-time students may vary. RISE typically occurs in August prior to the fall semester each year. Some required courses will begin during RISE. During RISE, students will:

  • become immersed in courses and research tailored to each specific program
  • meet with faculty advisors, fellow classmates and graduate student services staff
  • learn more about the PhD program, explore coursework and explore funding opportunities
  • collaborate with students, faculty and staff

PhD Dissertation

After advancement to candidacy, PhD (and dual DNP/PhD) students must complete the dissertation to graduate from the program.

 
Minor Requirements for Doctoral Students in this Program

Nursing Minor

Students may select an area of study within the nursing curriculum, such as Informatics, Rural Health, Border Health, Biological Injury, Reducing Risks and Promoting Health in Vulnerable Populations, or Managing Consequences of Aging or Chronic Illness.

Outside Minor

A student may choose another area or discipline for a minor. Other areas may include Anthropology, Psychology, Management & Policy or Sociology. Note: This coursework may not be available via online technology. In addition, departments or colleges may require more than 9 credits to qualify as an official minor. While outside minors are possible, students will need to make special arrangements with the minor department, as well as their academic advisors. Students are strongly encouraged to complete an inside minor.

 
Student Handbook

Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.

 

Program StatisticsInformation about these numbers

Program-level Information
Application Acceptance Rate 85.71%
Med. Time-to-degree (years) 3.50
 
Department-level Information
Enrollment Percent Male 15.71%
Enrollment Percent Female 84.29%
Enrollment Percent International 0.36%
Enrollment Percent URM 30%

Back to statistics
  • All application, admit, and enrollment data are from Fall 2020.
  • Median Time to Degree calculates how long graduates in the last 5 years (2015-2019) took to complete their degrees, counting back to the first semester entering their program. This measure uses the methodology established in the 2011 Assessment of Research-Doctorate Programs by the National Research Council.
  • Underrepresented Minorities (URM) includes domestic students of ethnic groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education: African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders.

Persistent link: https://grad.arizona.edu/catalog/programinfo/NURSPHD
Last revised 05 Oct 2021
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