Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing

For over 30 years, more than 100 nurse scientists have graduated from our Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing program and have gone on to careers in nursing education, research and organizational leadership in the United States and abroad.

The goal of our PhD in Nursing program - the first completely online PhD program in the country - is to engage you in an intensive, rigorous manner that prepares you to be a nurse scholar. Applied research courses in qualitative, quantitative and mixed methodologies will prepare you to function as an independent researcher upon graduation.

PhD Program Outcomes

The overall purpose of the PhD in Nursing program 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 the following competencies:

  • 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 findings 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.

Period of Candidacy for the Doctor of Philosophy

A student is required to satisfy the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) degree requirements within eight (8) calendar years from the semester in which the student completes the first course for the degree. A student is required to complete all PhD Program course work, including core courses, electives, cognates, and practica, within five (5) calendar years from the semester in which the student completes the first course for the degree. Under unusual circumstances, the student may apply for an extension of the statute of limitations. Extensions of up to one (1) year (maximum total program – 9 years) may be granted under special circumstances. Students should consult the Nursing Graduate Student Handbook for additional information.

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

Program Information

The online PhD in Nursing program prepares you to become an independent researcher and nurse scholar through doctoral courses in qualitative, quantitative and mixed methodologies. An online Doctor of Nursing Practice to PhD option is also available.

Program Type

Major

Degree

Doctorate

Duration

3 or 4 years

Required Credit Hours

56

Student and Alumni Perspectives

PhD nursing student standing outside

Duquesne captured my attention because of their emphasis on transcultural nursing. Knowing that I wanted to study cross cultural care, DU allows me to concentrate on my passion. The faculty here are experts in this field and have been able to support me in my research.

Monica PhD Student
female nursing student standing outside

PhD faculty at Duquesne make it a significant priority to support and mentor PhD students. My anxiety about beginning a PhD program was lessened by this experience and I felt supported and comfortable officially beginning my PhD journey. I then knew I would be met with faculty support and genuine care about my well-being and success throughout the program, which was the deciding factor that Duquesne was the right fit for me.

Alexandra PhD Student

PhD Overview

Various Program Options

The program begins in May with the start of the summer semester. We offer three-year and four-year curriculum options, as well as a DNP to PhD program, which permits nurses with a DNP degree to gain valuable skills that will enable them to function as independent researchers.

All options are offered online with residency requirements at our Pittsburgh, PA, campus as well as at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland as part of one study abroad experience.

Three-Year and Four-Year Curriculum Options

The School of Nursing offers both a three-year and a four-year option for pursuing a PhD in Nursing. This allows you to apply to the program track that fits best with your goals and lifestyle. Although the tracks maintain the same coursework, they differ in their required level of commitment.

The three-year track requires the completion of six to ten credits each semester, making it ideal for students who can dedicate their focus primarily to their studies. On the other hand, the four-year track demands six credits per semester, providing a more relaxed pace suitable for students who may need to balance their academic pursuits with other life or work commitments.

DNP to PhD Program

Apply the knowledge and skills you learned in your DNP program to this DNP to PhD option which allows you to conduct research related to your DNP Project. The DNP to PhD program requires completion of 38 credits, which typically takes two-and-a-half years, including dissertation.

Program coursework schedule by year

The program can be completed in either three or four years. Both options total of 56 credits, and the coursework remains the same. View the two curriculum schedules for both three- and four-year options.

Residency requirements

Residency One: Doctoral Week

Every student admitted to the PhD program is required to come to the Pittsburgh, PA, campus for the first residency, usually held during the second or third week of May. This week includes an orientation to the PhD program and provides an opportunity for students to meet faculty and participate in live classes for the courses in which they are enrolled that summer.

Residency Two: Study Abroad

Students enrolled in GPNG 924 Methods of Scientific Inquiry II will take part of the course as a study abroad experience (approximately 10-14 days) in Dublin, Ireland, where students will have housing at Trinity College.

*Please note that any tuition discounts that graduate students receive are not applicable to study abroad courses.

Residency Three: Topic and Committee Approval

This residency provides an opportunity for students to meet with their faculty mentor on campus for discussion and writing around dissertation topic development in preparation for approval.

Defenses

Each student must write and defend a dissertation on a topic of their choosing. As part of the PhD curriculum, you will be required to make both a proposal defense and a final defense.

Proposal Defense

The Proposal Defense is an oral defense of a written dissertation research proposal.

Final Defense

The Final Defense is an oral defense of the completed dissertation. Students make one public oral defense. The University sets a deadline date for the final defense. Prior to this deadline, students must have already:

  • Successfully defended their dissertation.
  • Made any corrections requested by their dissertation committee.
  • Submitted an approved electronic (ETD) version of their dissertation.

 

Students need to work with their committee chairs to schedule their final defense dates at least four to six weeks prior to the University deadline.

Meet the PhD Faculty

The PhD faculty includes several fellows and department chairs. All faculty have areas of research expertise, and we invite you to connect.

Alison Colbert, PhD, PHCNS-BC, FAAN

Alison Colbert, PhD, PHCNS-BC, FAAN

Community health; Incarcerated adults; Health literacy; HIV/AIDS/infectious disease; Adherence; Health promotion and care in vulnerable populations

Jessica Devido, PhD, CPNP

Jessica Devido, PhD, CPNP

Community-engaged research; Philosophy of biology and medicine; Health disparities; Maternal/child health; Health promotion; Mixed methods

Sr. Rosemary Donley PhD, APRN, FAAN

Sr. Rosemary Donley PhD, APRN, FAAN

Vulnerable populations; Social justice; Health policy; Nursing education; Chronic illness in adults

Joris Gielen, PhD

Joris Gielen, PhD

End-of-life ethics; Quality of life; Spirituality in palliative care; Research ethics

Mary Ellen Smith Glasgow, PhD, RN, ANEF, FNAP, FAAN

Mary Ellen Smith Glasgow, PhD, RN, ANEF, FNAP, FAAN

Nursing education innovation; Inter-professional simulation; Bone marrow donation; Oncology; Leadership; Quality and safety

Melissa Kalarchian, PhD

Melissa Kalarchian, PhD

Obesity and bariatric surgery; Behavioral lifestyle intervention; Psychosocial functioning; Health behaviors; Clinical studies

Angela Karakachian, PhD, RN

Angela Karakachian, PhD, RN

Pediatric Nursing; Nurses' moral distress; Nurses' burnout; Caring for victims of child maltreatment

Rebecca Kronk, PhD, MSN, CRNP, ANEF, FAAN, CNE

Rebecca Kronk, PhD, MSN, CRNP, ANEF, FAAN, CNE

Genetic Literacy; Genetic education in nursing students; Vaccine refusal and the nurse's role; Health outcomes of nursing students; Sleep in children with special needs; Photovoice; Health care and people with disabilities

Denise Lucas, PhD, FNP-BC, CRNP, FAANP

Denise Lucas, PhD, FNP-BC, CRNP, FAANP

Medically underserved; Working poor women and their resources; Poverty; Chronic illness (especially hypertension and diabetes); Antibiotic overuse

James Schreiber, PhD

James Schreiber, PhD

Motivation and cognition; Peircean reasoning; Statistical analysis and modeling using both Fisherian and Bayesian techniques; Multi-faceted wellness

L. Kathleen Sekula, PhD, PMHCNS, FAAN

L. Kathleen Sekula, PhD, PMHCNS, FAAN

Vulnerable populations; Psychiatric implications in forensic nursing; Victims of violence; Domestic violence; Sexual assault; Forensic nursing

Mai-Ly Nguyen Steers, PhD

Mai-Ly Nguyen Steers, PhD

Social media in relation to health and well-being; Social media in relation to alcohol use; Psychosocial factors on alcohol use and substance use; Brief alcohol interventions; Cultural influences on health

Melanie Turk, PhD, RN

Melanie Turk, PhD, RN

Behavioral treatment of obesity; Weight loss and maintenance; Behavior change for health promotion among vulnerable populations

Eric Vogelstein, PhD

Eric Vogelstein, PhD

Biomedical Ethics; Ethical Theory

Rick Zoucha, PhD, PMHCNS-BC, CTN-A, FTNSS, FAAN

Rick Zoucha, PhD, PMHCNS-BC, CTN-A, FTNSS, FAAN

Community based participatory action research; Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing; Transcultural/international nursing; Cultural competence and health needs; Qualitative research methods

Theresa Stujenske, PhD, RN

Theresa Stujenske, PhD, RN

Assistant Professor

PhD Program Scholarships

Two $17,000 new student scholarships are available. Students who are accepted, deposited and enrolled in the PhD in Nursing program are eligible to apply.

PhD Student Professional Development Fund

As a welcome to newly enrolled PhD students, the School of Nursing supports students' future scholarship by providing a one-time $2000 award to be used for professional development activities.

Curriculum

Revisions to courses and curricula are ongoing.

The purpose of the PhD in Nursing program 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 the following competencies:

  • 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 findings 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.
Year One - Summer after Admission
Summer - Foundations
  • GPNG 901 State of Science and Discovery (3 credits)
  • GPNG 921 Foundations of Social and Distributive Justice in Health Policy (3 credits)
  • Doctoral Week*

Year Two

Fall - Science, Truth and Knowledge
  • GPNG 927 Structure of Nursing Knowledge (3 credits)
  • GPNG 922 Philosophy of Science and Technology (3 credits)

Spring - Scientific Tools

  • GPNG 943 Methods of Scientific Inquiry in Nursing I (3 credits)
  • GPNG 908 Advanced Population Health (3 credits)
  • GPNG 940 Statistics II or a cognate (3 credits)

Summer - Global View

  • GPNG 944 Methods of Scientific Inquiry in Nursing II** (3 credits)
  • GPNG 903 Measurement Issues** (3 credits)
  • Seminar: Topic Defense*
  • Doctoral Week

Year Three

Fall - Immersion and Articulation
  • GPNG 918 Research and Theory in Health Behavior (3 credits)
  • GPNG 931 Applied Qualitative Practicum (3 credits)
  • GPNG 915 Dissertation Research Seminar: 1st manuscript (literature or other) (3 credits)

Spring - Immersion and Articulation

  • GPNG 915 Grant Writing and Dissertation Proposal Development (3 credits)
  • GPNG 930 Applied Quantitative Practicum (3 credits)

Summer - Foundations

  • GPNG 915 Dissertation (3 credits)
  • Elective (Selection) (3 credits)

Year Four

Fall - Immersion and Articulation
  • GPNG 915 Dissertation  (3 credits)

Spring - Developing Independence

  • GPNG 935 Continuous Reg

Summer - Dissertation and Dissemination

  • GPNG 915 Dissertation Final Defense*


51 credits Total
*Required on -campus
**Required Study Abroad
Year One - Summer after Admission
Summer - Foundations
  • GPNG 901 State of Science and Discovery (3 credits)
  • Doctoral Week*

Year Two

Fall - Science, Truth and Knowledge
  • GPNG 927 Structure of Nursing Knowledge (3 credits)
  • GPNG 922 Philosophy of Science and Technology (3 credits)

Spring - Scientific Tools

  • GPNG 943 Methods of Scientific Inquiry in Nursing I (3 credits)
  • GPNG 940 Statistics II (3 credits)

Summer - Global View

  • GPNG 944 Methods of Scientific Inquiry in Nursing II** (3 credits)
  • GPNG 903 Measurement Issues** (3 credits)

Year Three

Fall - Immersion and Articulation
  • GPNG 918 Research and Theory in Health Behavior (3 credits)
  • GPNG 931 Applied Qualitative Practicum (3 credits)

Spring - Immersion and Articulation

  • GPNG 908 Advanced Population (3 credits)
  • GPNG 930 Applied Quantitative Practicum (3 credits)

Summer - Foundations

  • GPNG 921 Foundations of Social and Distributive Justice Health Policy (3 credits)
  • GPNG 917 (Elective Nursing) Transcultural Global Health (3 credits)
  • Topic Defense*

Year Four

Fall - Immersion and Articulation
  • GPNG 915 Dissertation Research Seminar: 1st manuscript (literature or other) (3 credits)

Spring - Developing Independence

  • GPNG 915 Grand Writing and Dissertation Proposal Development (3 credits)

Summer - Dissertation and Dissemination

  • GPNG 915 Dissertation (3 credits)

Year Five

Fall - Dissertation and Dissemination
  • GPNG 915 Dissertation (3 credits)

Spring - Dissertation and Dissemination

  • GPNG 935 Continuous Reg

Summer - Dissertation and Dissemination

  • GPNG 935 Continuous Reg
  • Final Defense*

51 credits Total
*Required on -campus
**Required Study Abroad

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions for the PhD in Nursing program

February 1.
The program begins in the summer semester with an on-campus residency in May. Students begin by taking a three-credit course, GPNG 901 State of the Science and Discovery.
PhD students have three residency requirements during the three- or four-year program. These include Doctoral Week, Study Abroad and Topic and Committee Approval.
The statistics prerequisite is designed to provide you with the basis for advancement in the PhD program. The content of the courses should include inferential statistics, linear and nonlinear regression, logistic regression, analysis of variance, repeated measures and generalized linear models.
No later than the fall semester prior to beginning the program.

*Please note the course must have been completed within the last 5 years.
Duquesne University School of Education offers an online statistics course each fall, GREV 510 - Statistics I. For PhD in Nursing and PhD in Nursing Ethics students, this must be completed the fall term prior to beginning your summer coursework. To enroll in this course, please follow the special status application process.

If our GREV 510 does not meet your timeline, courses will be accepted from any accredited university with prior approval from the PhD chair. To assist applicants, our PhD faculty have identified online courses through Portage Learning and the University of Phoenix that meet the prerequisite requirements.

If you identify another course that you would like to attend in person or online, please submit the course information for approval prior to enrollment.

If you have any questions, please contact Director of Admissions Brian Bost at (412) 396-6539 or via email.
Yes, candidates with a master's degree in another area will be considered on an individual basis.
We consider all parts of the application and make admission decisions based on the qualifications of the individual to complete doctoral study, ability to complete an online program and the match between the applicant's proposed dissertation research area and our PhD faculty's research interests.
Yes. A maximum of nine PhD level credits from an accredited university and approved program may be transferred toward completion of the requirements for the PhD in Nursing degree. Please complete the form below for credit consideration.Request for Credit Consideration
Students may enroll in either the three-year PhD program or the four-year PhD program. Completion within these timeframes requires the student take six credits of coursework each semester. Completion of the dissertation stage is planned for the final year of the program.
Yes. Students in the three-year program are expected to complete all coursework (core, electives, cognates) within two calendar years. The dissertation is then completed in the third year. Students in the four-year program are expected to complete all coursework (core, electives, cognates) within three calendar years. The dissertation is then completed in the fourth year. The degree must be completed within eight calendar years from the semester in which the student completes the first course for the degree.
Using a computer and an Internet Service Provider (ISP), a student can work on coursework whenever and wherever it is most convenient. Even though the online class may be more accessible to a student’s schedule, the content and workload are comparable to a face-to-face course.
All graduate nursing courses are available online.
Yes. See our Financial Aid section for important links.
Please visit the Office of Admissions for current tuition information.
Yes. There are a variety of ways in which you may be eligible for our Tuition Discount Program.
Applicants must meet the admissions criteria of the Duquesne University School of Nursing. The admissions process for nursing graduate students is handled exclusively by the School of Nursing.
Please contact Director of Admissions Brian Bost at (412) 396-6539 or via email.

Additional Resources

Several resources that are helpful, as well as frequently asked questions about the nursing program. 

Contact Us

Do you have questions about the PhD in Nursing program?

Brian Bost

Director of Admissions

School of Nursing

Brian Bost headshot