Welcome to our Online Community of Excellence. . .
 View Introductory Video 
Realize your potential as a nurse as you prepare for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.
Pursue a career as a nurse scientist in which you will:
- Generate and disseminate knowledge to advance nursing science and facilitate its translation into practice;
- Design and evaluate innovations to improve health outcomes;
- Engage in and lead collaborative research teams; and
- Influence health science agenda-setting and policy initiatives.
Focus your passion for nursing science. Your ultimate career as a researcher may find you in academia, industry, or public health. The needs for the development of nursing knowledge and leadership abound in all these settings.
Share the excitement of cutting-edge nursing science. Develop your research skills by working with world-class nurse researchers in a variety of areas.
Challenge your intellectual curiosity in our state-of-the-art E-learning community. Experience the power and convenience of E-learning.
Build lifelong collegial relationships in an international community of students, faculty, alumni and scholars.
Why a PhD in Nursing?
Consider a PhD if you want a focus on research in a clinical, academic, or scientific environment.
How long will it take?
There are two entry pathways:
- BSN-PhD
- MS-PhD
Depending upon the entry pathway, the PhD can be completed within 3-4 years of full-time study.
How much will it cost?
Our costs are highly competitive with other doctoral programs in the U.S.A.
You may qualify for financial aid in the form of scholarships, tuition waivers, or teaching/research assistantships.
Tuition rates are distinguished by program. Select PhD in Nursing at the UA Bursar website
Why should I get my PhD at the UA?
Our student-centered learning model is focused on YOU.
Our world-renowned scholars and researchers will be your teachers and mentors.
Our graduate nursing programs consistently rank in the top 6% nationally, according to U.S. News and World Report
The collegial relationships you build as a student will be yours for a lifetime.
Is the online UA degree as rigorous as a traditional face-to-face degree?
Our online PhD has the same rigor of a traditional program, but with the enhanced learning and increased student-student and faculty-student interaction that only E-learning can provide.
Am I eligible?
You must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0.
The MS-PhD requires a master’s degree in nursing with a cumulative graduate GPA of at least 3.5.
Students who have not taken a graduate statistics course will be required to do so during the first fall semester of the program.
How does the program work?
As a student in our technology-enhanced PhD program you will:
Periodically come to our Tucson campus for orientation and to interact with fellow classmates and faculty. A 5-10 day summer intensive program called RISE is required each August for all doctoral students.
On-campus research experience and mentoring are encouraged.
Enjoy easy online access to registration materials, the UA Bookstore, UA Libraries, and support staff.
(view a PDF of our Tri-fold Brochure) 
You can enter the PhD level of graduate study as a post-BSN student (BSN-PhD Option) or as a student who has attained the master's degree in nursing (MS-PhD Option). Part-time and full-time options are available. The doctoral curriculum is a 64 unit post-master's program, or a 79 unit BSN-PhD program. Full-time study requires a minimum of 9 credits per semester. The part-time option (6 credits per semester) will add 3 semesters of coursework to your program of study. MS-PhD students who have not completed a graduate statistics course within the past 5 years will be required to enroll in a graduate statistics course the first fall semester of the program. Course work in nursing and other sciences are emphasized during the earlier 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. Three research focal areas are listed below.
Understanding Mechanisms to Prevent and Treat Biological Injury
- Understanding Mechanisms to Prevent/Reduce Biological Injury
- Understanding Mechanisms to Treat Biological Injury
- Genetics to Prevent Biological Injury
View Faculty in this focal area
Reducing Risks and Promoting Health in Vulnerable Populations
Managing Consequences of Aging or Chronic Illness
Research interests of the applicant and the match with the on-going research of the faculty member should be described as in-depth and specific as possible in the Research Interest Statement within the PhD in Nursing Application.
All students will come to campus for an exciting 5-10 day Research Intensive Summer Experience (RISE) each year for the first three years of doctoral study. As part of the first summer research immersion, you will enroll in a 1 unit of NURS 695A, The Science and Practice of Nursing..
International students wishing to attend UA to study in-residence will be required to register for 6 units of non-online courses each Fall and Spring semesters.
The University of Arizona College of Nursing is committed to creating an academically challenging and supportive educational community of students with diverse talents, experiences, viewpoints, and cultural backgrounds. Faculty members of the College are interested in receiving applications from highly motivated students who share their passion for advancing and disseminating nursing knowledge through research. Applications are particularly encouraged from students who intend to focus their research in one of the research focal areas.
Selection is based on an evaluation of academic background, research interests, and availability of suitable faculty expertise for mentorship. Eligibility requirements include the following:
- BSN cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above
- MS in Nursing cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above (MS-PhD program option)
- Completed online College of Nursing application including statements related to professional goals and practice interests as well as a summary of educational and employment experiences
- Three letters of reference attesting to the applicant’s potential to succeed in doctoral study
- Official transcripts of all post-secondary academic work
- Computer literacy
- Applicant-Faculty mentoring match
Applicants may submit other credentials which they believe reflect their abilities. A telephone interview will be conducted by members of the Doctoral Program Committee for top applicants.
PhD Application Deadline: December 15th, with notification around mid-March.
It is critical that the educational goals of the applicant be inline with faculty research interests and areas of expertise. Please review the article "Finding a Match and A Mentor in Doctoral Study" by Terry Badger, PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC, FAAN. Applicants must review faculty research areas to determine if a “match” is possible. Applicants should contact potential faculty mentors to discuss the applicant’s goals in relation to faculty expertise. A faculty directory of research interests with some video clips of current research programs can be located on the web site under Current Faculty. The College’s web site also provides a research search tool.
International Applicants:
- Submit the UA Graduate College online application by the international deadline date
- Submit a minimum TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 550 paper based (PB), 79 internet based (iBT), or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) composite score of 7 (no subject area below a 6).
- Submit CGFNS documentation for nursing degrees earned outside of the U.S.A.
Various forms of financial assistance are available. Typically, the majority of doctoral students receives some financial assistance in the first year and then, in subsequent years as funding allows.
- File a FASFA each year
- File a College of Nursing Scholarship Application
- Review UA Graduate College scholarship resources
- Review financial aid resources at the UA Office of Student Financial Aid
- Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) Through (WRGP), residents of Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming are eligible to enroll in the College of Nursing PhD and DNP programs at resident tuition rates. Students need not meet financial aid criteria.
Technology Requirements
Please check the technology requirements for the program
Register your email address with the College of Nursing Online Student Information System to give you direct access to electronic program information and the staff of the Office of Student Affairs.
Office of Student Affairs
Location: College of Nursing, Room 112
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Phone: 520-626-3808 or 1-800-288-6158
 |
EMAIL | PHONEBOOK | CON D2L | UA D2L | AHSL