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PhD in Nursing

School of Nursing Fact Sheet

In 1994, a doctor of philosophy (PhD) in nursing program of part-time, evening course work was initiated for students with work or family commitments that prohibited full-time study. In 1997, coinciding with an expanding international role, the School of Nursing decided to make the program available to nurses throughout the United States and abroad. With the encouragement of the Duquesne University provost and president, the School of Nursing began a distance learning experiment, admitting a class of doctoral students with the guarantee that all their required courses could be completed online. The project was so successful that the School of Nursing continued to offer the program online.

On-campus Residency

Students are required to be on campus for one week each spring (usually the second or third week of May) while completing their required coursework, a period that varies from 2-4 years. During that week, students meet with faculty advisors, attend lectures by visiting professors, participate in seminars for required courses, complete examinations, and participate in program evaluation. First-time PhD students will begin a 1-credit introductory course.

Post-Master's Certificate Option

PhD students can obtain a post-master's certificate prior to, or while, pursuing a doctor of philosophy degree in nursing, and up to 9 credits from the post-master's certificate program can be used as cognates in the PhD program if appropriate. For example, while obtaining a Post-Master's Certificate in Forensic Nursing, a student can pursue a PhD in nursing (the student's PhD dissertation would focus on an area related to forensic nursing). However, the application process for Post-Master's Certificates and the PhD program are separate, and admission to one program is not a guarantee of admission to the other.

Nursing PhD Scholarship 2013-2015

Scholarship Details:

  • The Nursing PhD Scholarship is for 2 NEW PhD students enrolled in the Duquesne University School of Nursing PhD Program for summer 2013.
  • The total amount of each Scholarship is $17,000 over 2 years.  
  • Duquesne University Financial Aid Office will apply the Scholarship monies directly to your tuition bills for fall 2013, spring 2014, fall 2014, and spring 2015.
  • All newly accepted PhD students for summer 2013 will be eligible and will be considered for the PhD Scholarship. 
  • The Nursing PhD Scholarship Committee will select the 2 Scholarship recipients.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Apply and be accepted into the Duquesne University School of Nursing PhD Program for summer 2013  (Application deadline is January 15, 2013).

APPLICATION ALERT

Due to higher education regulation changes, effective August 1, 2011, Duquesne University is unable to accept applications for admission to online programs and courses from students residing in Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin. For questions, please contact Todd Eicker, Director of Graduate Admissions, at 412.396.6219 or gradadmissions@duq.edu.
Curriculum

PhD Curriculum

Since 1997, Duquesne University’s PhD Program in Nursing has had the unique distinction of being the first completely online PhD nursing program in the country. As with all programs in the School of Nursing, periodic reviews are conducted and this year the PhD faculty met to evaluate our PhD program. This PhD curriculum reflects not only the national trends in nursing research, but also the faculty research agenda including vulnerable populations, health diversity, and healing within chronic illness. Applied research courses in both qualitative and quantitative methodologies have been added to further prepare students to function as independent researchers upon graduation. Pre-doctoral funding will be emphasized early on in the program. Courses (cognates) to supplement the student’s dissertation study have been developed and will also be offered online. The curriculum is research-focused and designed to prepare students for a lifetime of intellectual inquiry, creative scholarship, and research. Students have up to eight years to complete the program.

Download PhD Curriculum Grid

Summer Semester Immediately Following Admission
GPNG 906 Introduction to the Nurse Scientist Role 1 credit
YEAR ONE
Fall Courses
GPNG 920 History and Philosophy of Science 3 credits
GPNG 900 Theory Development 3 credits
Spring Courses
GPNG 927 Structure of Nursing Knowledge 3 credits
GPNG 928 Social Justice and Vulnerable Populations 3 credits
Summer Courses
GPNG 910 Health Policy 3 credits
GPNG 929 Research Emphasis 3 credits
YEAR TWO
Fall Courses
GPNG 904 Qualitative Methods 3 credits
~~~ Cognate 3 credits
QUALIFYING EXAM
Spring Courses
GPNG 902 Quantitative Methods 3 credits
GPNG 931 Applied Qualitative Practicum 3 credits
Summer Semester
GPNG 903 Measurement Issues 3 credits
~~~ Cognate 3 credits
YEAR THREE
Fall Courses
GPNG 930 Applied Quantitative Practicum 3 credits
~~~ Cognate 3 credits
Spring Courses
GPNG 915 Dissertation 3 credits
Summer Semester
GPNG 915 Dissertation 3 credits
PROPOSAL DEFENSE
YEAR FOUR
Fall Courses
GPNG 915 Dissertation 3 credits
GPNG 915 Dissertation 3 credits
Spring Courses
GPNG 915 Dissertation 3 credits

TOTAL = 58 credits

Revisions to courses and curricula are ongoing.

Program Outcomes

PhD Program Outcomes

The overall purpose of the PhD in Program in Nursing is to prepare graduates for a lifetime of intellectual inquiry, creative scholarship, and research.  Graduates of the program will be competent in research, scholarship, and leadership within the profession of nursing.  The graduate must possess and demonstrate specific competencies. These include the ability to:

  1. Function as an independent researcher and conduct original research that builds upon prior research and expands the science of nursing.
  2. Integrate theoretical frameworks and research finding from other disciplines to enhance the practice of professional nursing.
  3. Produce scholarly work that contributes to the science and profession of nursing by communicating creative solutions to problems in nursing and health care.
  4. Demonstrate leadership and collaborative strategies to reduce health care disparities on a local, national, and international level.
  5. Help improve the health of the community by generating new evidence for nursing practice that solves problems related to health care delivery.
  6. Evaluate issues that affect health care and advocate for change in health care policies based on evidence and the principles of social justice.

NOTE:
Students may not be enrolled in more than one doctoral program at any given time.