Elevate Your Expertise: Embrace the Tradition of Trailblazing Nursing Research


Embark on a transformative journey with Catholic University's PhD in Nursing, a pioneer since the 1960s. Our Conway School of Nursing, rooted in excellence, features renowned faculty and a legacy of competitive federal grants, highlighting our commitment to cutting-edge research.

Our research-intensive online program is designed for flexibility so you can craft a dissertation tailored to your passion, guided by dedicated faculty mentors, preparing you to lead in academia and clinical settings. With a focus on philosophy, statistics, qualitative and quantitative methods, bioethics, and health care policy, our curriculum shapes the next generation of nurse researchers. Join us to elevate your role as a nurse scientist, contributing expertise and compassion to address critical healthcare needs.
 

  • Admissions Requirements

    To verify you are an eligible candidate, please refer to the PhD Program Admissions Requirements page. 

  • Standard Program Plan

    PhD Sample Program Plan

    *All plans are for example only. Individual plans are worked out with one’s Academic Advisor. Some students may finish programs in shorter periods than illustrated in the samples. Availability and personal preference for summer courses and the number of credits taken each semester will affect program length.

    Dissertation guidance ongoing until completion.

    Sessions are 7-8 weeks in length. Some courses are conducted throughout two sessions.

     

  • DNP to PhD Program Plan

    DNP to PhD Sample Program Plan 

    *All plans are for example only. Individual plans are worked out with one’s Academic Advisor. Some students may finish programs in shorter periods than illustrated in the samples. Availability, personal preference for summer courses, and the number of credits taken each semester will affect program length.

    Dissertation guidance ongoing until completion.

    Sessions are 7-8 weeks in length. Some courses are conducted throughout two sessions.

  • BSN to PhD Program Plan

    BSN to PhD Sample Program Plan 

    *All plans are for example only. Individual plans are worked out with one’s Academic Advisor. Some students may finish programs in shorter periods than illustrated in the samples. Availability, personal preference for summer courses, and the number of credits taken each semester will affect program length.

    Dissertation guidance ongoing until completion.Sessions are 7-8 weeks in length. Some courses are conducted throughout two sessions.

  • PhD Candidacy Requirements at for the Conway School of Nursing

    PhD Candidacy Requirements | Conway Nursing

    Students in the PhD Program are not considered to be doctoral candidates until after successful completion of the comprehensive exam. The date of candidacy is important as that is when the time limit begins for completion of the PhD dissertation . Please reference the policy below from the Graduate Handbook. From the date of candidacy, the student has 5 years (10 semesters) in which to complete the dissertation.

    Admission to a doctoral program does not automatically include admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree. The faculty of the school and department (where applicable) must evaluate the progress of the student and determine that the student has completed all course and other requirements, has passed the Comprehensive Examination and is otherwise qualified to fulfill the requirements of the doctoral dissertation or its equivalent. Schools and departments (where applicable) may follow different procedures for formal admission to candidacy. The student should consult with the Director of the PhD Program for information on these procedures.

    The student’s school or department (where applicable) may record the actual date of the successful vote for candidacy. However, candidacy for the doctoral degree begins formally and administratively on the first day of the semester following successful completion of the Comprehensive Examination. The student has five (5) years (i.e., ten [10] semesters) from this date of formal, administrative admission to candidacy to complete, defend and deposit the dissertation. Individual schools and departments may, at their discretion, set different time limits for completion, as long as these do not exceed the five (5) year (ten [10] semester) limit. If more than five (5) years, or the time set by the schools or departments, elapse between formal admission to candidacy and oral defense of the dissertation, the doctoral candidate may be required to retake the Comprehensive Examination or fulfill additional requirements as determined by the school and department.

 

Program Highlights

  • Personalized Guidance: Faculty commitment and personal guidance are the cornerstones of our PhD program, ensuring a supportive journey throughout your time in our program.
  • Diverse Expertise: Our faculty, representing various nursing backgrounds, bring a wealth of clinical practice, research, education, and healthcare leadership experiences, fostering a rich learning environment.
  • Online Flexibility with Personal Touch:  Our online PhD program offers flexibility without compromising personal interaction, featuring small classrooms, live sessions, and faculty support.
  • Innovative Program Design: The program's innovative structure enables swift completion of coursework, allowing students to promptly engage in meaningful dissertation research experiences.
  • Excellence in Research:  Faculty expertise and commitment to the pursuit of excellence in research are showcased through support of a range of dissertation topics advancing the nursing profession.
  • Faith-Based Nursing Practice: Grounded in Catholic values, our program emphasizes the spiritual nature of nursing practice, providing a purposeful foundation for PhD-prepared graduates.