Graduate Programs
PhD in Nursing
Overview 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.
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.
Focus Areas
The Doctor of Philosophy program at Duquesne University School of Nursing focuses on the development of expertise in research that supports students in enhancing the distinct body of knowledge that advances nursing practice. Major focus areas for research include, but are not limited to, vulnerable populations, cultural competence, forensics, social justice and health promotion.
PhD students have focused on a wide variety of specializations, such as transcultural, forensics, and oncology. They work closely with a faculty mentor who has similar research goals to develop their plan of research. We would encourage any prospective student to contact a member of our PhD faculty to discuss their specific interests. Read more...
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.
PhD Dissertation
The PhD dissertation is a summation of original research, conducted solely by the candidate on a topic of significance to the development of nursing science. Upon successful defense of a dissertation proposal, a student begins conducting dissertation research. A committee comprising of School of Nursing faculty, as well as external members, directs and evaluates the research and writing of each candidate's dissertation.
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 12 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 transcultural/international nursing, a student can pursue a PhD in nursing (the student's PhD dissertation would focus on an area related to transcultural 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.
Faculty Research Interests
View our Faculty Research page
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:
- Function as an independent researcher and conduct original research that builds upon prior research and expands the science of nursing.
- Integrate theoretical frameworks and research finding from other disciplines to enhance the practice of professional nursing.
- Produce scholarly work that contributes to the science and profession of nursing by communicating creative solutions to problems in nursing and health care.
- Demonstrate leadership and collaborative strategies to reduce health care disparities on a local, national, and international level.
- Help improve the health of the community by generating new evidence for nursing practice that solves problems related to health care delivery.
- 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.
