Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD)
The major purpose of the PhD in Nursing program is to prepare scholars with expertise in selected substantive areas who will contribute to nursing theory and practice through systematic inquiry. Aims of the University of Virginia doctoral program in nursing are to prepare scholars who will:
- demonstrate advanced knowledge of nursing, related sciences and humanities, and methods of inquiry;
- expand the research base of nursing theory and practice; and
- serve the Commonwealth, the nation, and the world by addressing major nursing and health care issues in a scholarly manner.
The University of Virginia ranks #1 in the country for all nursing schools in student awards by the National Institutes of Health. More University of Virginia PhD nursing students have been awarded F31 training grants (National Research Service Awards) for their doctoral studies than students at any other PhD program in the United States.
A university is a community of scholars having as its central purpose the enrichment of the human mind. Within this community, the Doctor of Philosophy program in nursing seeks to prepare scholars who will advance nursing knowledge. Scholarly achievement in nursing is accomplished in a spirit of free inquiry directed toward a better understanding of human existence, especially in relation to health and illness. The domains of nursing knowledge are emerging and still being defined. Nurse scholars must participate in the study of particular phenomena and in the identification of central domains related to these phenomena. This requires that students be well informed about advanced practice in professional nursing.
Nursing knowledge is advanced through association with other disciplines and is often enhanced by the work of other university scholars. Central to the education of nurse scholars is the opportunity to interact with other scholars throughout the university community. Through dialogue and study with these professionals, nurse scholars expand their understanding of health and illness and the biological, environmental, sociocultural, ethical, legal, philosophic and historic factors influencing nursing care.
The School of Nursing collaborates with the School of Medicine, the School of Law, and the Department of Religious Studies to offer a joint Ph.D. in Nursing and M.A. in Bioethics. For additional information regarding the MA in Bioethics, please visit the bioethics website.
Information Sessions
We hold monthly information sessions on the PhD program. Click here for the schedule of upcoming sessions. Rsvp to ecf8d@virginia.edu if you are able to attend any of these sessions. Parking is available in the garage beneath McLeod Hall after 5pm.
Program Coordinator: Barbara Parker, PhD, RN, FAAN; (434) 924-2744; email: bjp8c@virginia.edu.
Financial Aid
All US citizens and permanent residents admitted to the PhD program (regardless of whether you are a Virginia resident or not) are awarded two years (24 months) of full scholarship. This will cover all of your tuition expenses for two full academic years and two summers. Most students are able to complete their coursework during these 24 months. Individuals accepted to the BSN-to-PhD program are provided with 3 years (36 months) of full scholarship aid. This should cover nearly all of the tuition expenses for the coursework stages your MSN and PhD programs.
We are unable to provide financial assistance to international applicants.
Any PhD student is eligible to be a Graduate Assistant during their program. Students who are not Virginia residents must be a Graduate Assistantship to qualify for the full tuition scholarship; Virginia residents are given the option to be a GA. Graduate Assistant positions come with a modest stipend and full health insurance. Most GA positions are for 10 hours a week, and would entail either research or teaching duties. Some students are provided the option to pick up additional GA hours (up to 20 hours/week).
The school has funds available for students who are considering faculty positions. Thanks to funding from the NIH, doctoral students may borrow funds for their academic expenses (tuition and books) from the school. If you become a full-time faculty member at any accredited institution, up to 85% of the loan (principle and interest) will be forgiven. You would pay an interest rate of 3% on the remaining loan amount.
Students applying for or enrolled in the PhD in Nursing or DNP programs can apply for the Virginia Doctoral Nursing Student Loan Assistance Repayment Program administered through the State Commission for Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV). Full-time doctoral students are eligible to borrow up to $25,000/year during the coursework phase of their programs (Year 1 and Year 2 in our PhD program). These loans would be cancelled if you taught full-time at any public or private nursing program in Virginia for four years (two year of teaching for each year of loan). The application deadline is March 15. Visit our Financial Aid website for more information.
Research
The PhD Program at the School of Nursing is focused on research, and the curriculum includes courses in qualitative, quantitative, and historical research.
During the course of the program, all PhD students submit a research proposal for peer review. Many students submit proposals to the National Institutes of Health for the National Research Service Awards (NRSA) competition.
Since research is an important element of the PhD program, we wish to develop good mentoring relationships between PhD students and funded researchers on the Nursing faculty. Thus we seek to admit students whose own research interests would have commonality with the research backgrounds of the faculty.
Faculty Research Interests
Currently Funded Research (Faculty and Student)+
Admission Requirements
- Minimum of a baccalaureate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program
- Academic record that demonstrates a minimum of a B average. Please send transcripts for all post-secondary work
- Capacity for doctoral study based upon achievement on the Graduate Record Examination. It is to the applicant's advantage to achieve a score above 500 on each test of the GRE. Preparing and reviewing for the tests may be helpful and is encouraged.
- Three satisfactory letters of reference - two from doctorally prepared nurse educators and one from a current or recent employer - that speak to the applicant's ability to pursue doctoral studies.
- Current curriculum vitae which reflects professional achievements and productivity.
- Clearly written essay of no more than 1000 words describing educational, research and professional goals. This statement must include a specific description of the applicant's focus of study and a researchable topic for development.
- An example of scholarly work (ex: master's thesis, publications, formal papers).
- Current license to practice nursing.
- A personal interview with one or more faculty members. These interviews will likely be conducted in Charlottesville on a Tuesday or Wednesday during the academic year.
Application forms may be obtained online from the The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences prefers to receive one package containing the all supporting materials (recommendations, transcripts, and scholarly writing). The completed application, the application fee and all supporting data must be received no later than February 1 prior to September enrollment. Students are welcome to submit applications before this deadline as the Admissions Committee makes rolling admissions decisions.
Note: While most applicants for the Ph.D. in Nursing program possess a MSN degree, nurses with other graduate degrees (MPH, MBA, MS in Health Administration, etc) are encouraged to apply.
BSN-to-PhD program: Exceptionally well-qualified registered nurses without a master's degree in nursing may be considered for admission to the doctoral program. If admitted, such students will be required to complete a customized curriculum leading to the MSN in conjunction with doctoral study.
All applicants are required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test. The School of Nursing accepts GRE scores that are more than 5 years old. If you have your 'older' scores, you may submit a copy of the Student Report. The Institutional Code for the University of Virginia is R-5820. Because of some recent problems with receiving the ETS score reports, you may be asked to mail/fax a copy of your Student Score Report.
International applicants are required also to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination. Visit their websites for more information. The University of Virginia institutional code number is R-5820, nursing #0610.
Downloads, Program of Study, and Links
For More Information
For additional information on admission to and programs of study at the UVa School of Nursing, please fill our our online form. You are also welcome to call the Office of Addmissions at (434) 924-0141 / (888) 283-8703.
Questions on admissions and financial aid should be directed to Clay Hysell, Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Services, email hysell@virginia.edu