I. Overview of the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Program

The University of Iowa College of Nursing Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program prepares scholars to move nursing science forward and helps students build on their knowledge base relevant to nursing and contribute to the body of nursing knowledge. The program strengths include student participation with nursing and interdisciplinary faculty engaged in research teams, focused coursework, involvement in presentation and publication of research-based knowledge, and interdisciplinary learning experiences. Graduates of the program are prepared for careers as researchers, college and university faculty members, consultants, and as nursing leaders in the profession.

The PhD program in nursing requires a minimum of 72 semester hours of graduate credit. Students may enter the program after earning one of the following:

• Bachelor’s degree in nursing
• Associate degree in nursing with bachelor’s or advanced degree in any field
• Advanced degree in nursing
• Advanced degree in health-related field
• Once admitted, all students will have an individualized plan of study (POS) based on their clinical and research interests as well as their transcript.