PhD in Nursing
Become a nurse scientist to lead groundbreaking research, advance nursing knowledge and transform health and healthcare worldwide.
Program overview
Our PhD program empowers nurses to lead discoveries that shape the future of health and healthcare. While fewer than 1 percent of the nation’s 2.7 million registered nurses hold a PhD, those who do stand at the forefront of advancing nursing science, influencing policy and improving outcomes for individuals and communities worldwide.
At Ohio State, you’ll study alongside leading scholars who are committed to your success. Our program emphasizes mentorship, collaboration and innovation. You’ll gain the skills to design and conduct original research, complete a dissertation and make meaningful contributions to nursing knowledge.
Our students explore the many determinants of health through transdisciplinary research and team science. Individual student research is closely tied to faculty research, which encompasses the life span, supports health promotion in a variety of healthcare and community settings, includes wellness care and complex and critical illness care, risk reduction, and symptom management.
With a strong focus on grant writing, publication and scholarly collaboration, our PhD students have achieved a 65 percent funding rate on all grant submissions over the past three years. Join us and become part of a community of nurse scientists dedicated to transforming health, advancing the profession and improving lives across the globe.
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On campus
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60-81 credit hours
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3-5 years
Eligibility requirements
- Completed BS or MS in Nursing OR Bachelor of Science or Master of Science in related discipline
- You must have a Bachelor of Science in nursing or a Master of Science in nursing from an institution accredited through the CCNE or ACEN or an international equivalent.
- You may apply to the PhD program while your bachelor’s or master’s degree is still in progress but must receive the degree by August 1 prior to beginning enrollment in the program.
- Active RN License
- Hold an active, unencumbered license as a Registered Nurse in the United States or an international equivalent certification or licensure.
- You may apply before receiving your RN license but must possess it prior to beginning enrollment in the PhD program.
- Applicants who are not nurses do not need to have an RN license.
- Minimum of a 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale in the last degree earned that is relevant to the program of study
- If your GPA falls below 3.0 you may still apply and be considered for admission. GPAs are reviewed by Ohio State's Graduate and Professional Admissions Office.
Time to degree
- Three years full-time
- Five years part-time, including summers
Credit hours
- 60-81
Delivery format
On campus only
Plans of study
- Post-Master’s PhD
- Requires 60 post-master's credit hours.
- Coursework includes: philosophy of nursing science, theory development and verification, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and synthesis of theories from nursing, social, behavioral and biological sciences.
- Students complete coursework in a cognate minor outside of the College of Nursing to build interdisciplinary understanding.
- Post-BSN PhD
- Requires 81 post-baccalaureate credit hours.
- In addition to the 60 credits required for the PhD, students complete additional graduate coursework necessary to meet university requirements or a minimum of 17 additional graduate credits.
- Students pursuing a master’s degree while also en route to a PhD, must complete all credits associated with the selected master’s program.
As a graduate of the PhD program, you will be able to:
- synthesize knowledge from nursing and other disciplines to develop and test theory that affects health
- conduct research that builds nursing science and theory
- develop and implement collaborative research projects with nurses and scholars from other disciplines
- promote the delivery of quality healthcare through leadership in practice and education
Upon conclusion of your studies, you will have developed expertise in conceptualizing, conducting and translating research relevant to health and wellness of individuals, their families and communities.
Sample schedule
Year 1
- Autumn
- Philosophy of Science and Development (3 credits)
- Quantitative Design (3 credits)
- Integrative Reviews (3 credits)
- Statistics (3 credits)
- Spring
- Health Determinants (3 credits)
- Qualitative Design (3 credits)
- Grant Writing (3 credits)
- Statistics (3 credits)
- Summer
- Emerging Topics (3 credits)
Year 2
- Autumn
- Measurement for Nursing and Health Research (3 credits)
- Nursing Research (3 credits)
- Advanced Statistics (3 credits)
- Cognate (3 credits)
- Spring
- Advanced Design (3 credits)
- Leadership (3 credits)
- Cognate 2 (3 credits)
- Responsible Conduct of Research (3 credits)
- Summer
- Emerging Topics (3 credits)
- Candidacy Examination
Year 3
- Autumn
- Dissertation (3 credits)
- Spring
- Dissertation (3 credits)
Year 1
- Autumn
- Philosophy of Science and Development (3 credits)
- Quantitative Design (3 credits)
- Spring
- Health Determinants (3 credits)
- Qualitative Design (3 credits)
- Summer
- Emerging Topics (3 credits)
Year 2
- Autumn
- Integrative Reviews (3 credits)
- Statistics (3 credits)
- Spring
- Grant Writing (3 credits)
- Statistics (3 credits)
- Summer
- Emerging Topics (3 credits)
Year 3
- Autumn
- Measurement for Nursing and Health Research (3 credits)
- Advanced Statistics (3 credits)
- Cognate (3 credits)
- Spring
- Advanced Design (3 credits)
- Responsible Conduct of Research (3 credits)
- Nursing Research (3 credits)
Year 4
- Autumn
- Cognate 2 (3 credits)
- Spring
- Leadership (3 credits)
Year 5
- Autumn
- Dissertation (3 credits)
- Spring
- Dissertation (3 credits)
Allow up to five business days for the status of materials to be updated on your application status. You can track the status of your application through your applicant center. Direct questions about application materials to gpadmissions@osu.edu.
- Deadline
- The application and all materials must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET.
- Interviews
- The PhD subcommittee will meet in mid November to review applications and those selected for an interview will be notified by the end of November. Interviews (in person or online) will take place the first week of December.
- Decision
- Mid-January
- The application status will show as pending until a decision is posted. Ohio State graduate transfer applicants can track their application status by emailing nursing@osu.edu.
- All applicants, including Ohio State graduate transfer applicants, will be notified of their admission decision via email. If admitted, you will also receive information on funding awards, advisor assignments and a Virtual Admissions Packet to guide next steps.
- Accept offer
- Within four weeks of notification
- You can accept your offer of admission online, per the instructions included in your letter of admission. If you do not respond to your admission by the deadline, your offer will be cancelled.
- You cannot defer admittance. If you are unable to begin your studies in the term to which you applied, you will be required to reapply in the future.
- Cindy Anderson
- Susie Breintenstein
- Mei-Wei Chang
- Christina Dyar
- Eileen Faulds
- Jodi Ford
- Chris Fortney
- Shannon Gillespie
- Carolyn Gunther
- Mary Beth Happ
- Tondi Kneeland
- Kayla Herbell
- Jie Hu
- Jin Jun
- Sheryl Justice
- Jodi McDaniel
- Ethan Morgan
- Dianne Morrison-Beady
- Karen O. Moss
- Marliese Nist
- Tara O’Brien
- Donal O’Mathuna
- Rita Pickler
- Brittany Punches
- Karen Rose
- Laureen Smith
- Janna Stephens
- Judith Tate
- Heather Tubbs Cooley
- Diane Von Ah
- Karen Patricia Williams
- Celia E. Wills
- Kathy D. Wright
How to apply
Complete an application online at The Ohio State University Graduate and Professional Admission. A $60 fee ($70 fee for international applicants) is required at the time of submission of the application.
In the online application, post-master’s PhD applicants will be asked to select whether you will attend full-time or part-time. Post-baccalaureate PhD applicants may only attend full-time. If you are a post-baccalaureate applicant and would like to pursue a clinical specialty alongside the PhD degree, email nursing@osu.edu for further instructions. Select your specialization if applicable.
You must submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities that you have previously attended at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. This includes transcripts for any post-secondary courses taken during high school or of coursework that appears as transfer credit on another transcript. Transcripts from The Ohio State University do not need to be submitted.
Transcripts should be submitted directly by the sending institution by mail or electronic transfer to be considered official. Request that your transcripts be sent early so they arrive before the deadline. Transcripts can be sent to gpadocs@osu.edu or by mail to:
The Ohio State University
Graduate Admissions Office
P.O. Box 182004
Columbus, OH 43218-2004
You may upload a copy of an official transcript at the time of application or afterward on the admissions uploader. Documents submitted in this manner are considered unofficial but will suffice for the purposes of your application. Web based documents, online grade reports and related materials are not acceptable. If you are admitted, you will be required to supply official transcripts sent directly from your previous institution(s).
For details regarding these methods of submitting transcripts, visit The Ohio State University Graduate and Professional Admissions and direct all transcript related questions to their office at 614-292-9444 or to gpadmissions@osu.edu.
Your resume or curriculum vitae (CV) should be in a similar format as a job application. Include previous education, professional experiences, community service, volunteer activities, publications, presentations, research and leadership experiences on the resume or CV.
The resume/CV should include all activities that contribute to the 3,500 hours of direct patient care as an RN or APRN in the past five years. Submit this document at the time of application or after via the admissions uploader.
Write a personal statement that includes a narrative description of your professional experience, career goals and area of research interest:
- Identify the research area in which you are interested and potential research questions you are interested in answering. Citations from research literature that support the need for research in this area may be included. We highly encourage identifying current College of Nursing faculty whose research interests are similar to yours. Brief descriptions of PhD faculty research interests will assist in this process. You can read their research papers in PubMed Central.
- Your statement should detail what you expect to accomplish through PhD study and how your work will potentially contribute to nursing science.
- Your statement should provide evidence of educational and experiential preparation for PhD study, a clear understanding of the focus of the program and faculty and an indication of how your needs may be met by the program.
Your statement should not exceed one page. Use a standard format of single-spaced, 11-point font, with one-inch margins. Submit this document at the time of application or after on the admissions uploader.
During the application process, you will be asked to provide the names and email addresses of three individuals who can provide strong recommendation of your academic abilities and research potential. Once the application is submitted, an email will be automatically generated and sent to these individuals with a link and further instruction on how to submit their letters of recommendation. We encourage you to submit your application far in advance of the deadline so that those writing letters of recommendation have ample time to upload their letters.
Letters of recommendation should be submitted from individuals who are familiar with your academic ability, professional experience and potential to succeed as a nurse scientist. Former faculty advisors, instructors and research mentors generally provide the strongest letters of recommendation. We suggest providing those writing recommendation letters with information on the PhD program and a copy of your purpose and goals statement. You should ask them to address your potential for success in a rigorous graduate program and speak to your strengths and experiences that support your application. Finally, you will want to make them aware of the submission process and the application deadline by which they must submit their letters.
Learn more about details regarding what English proficiency tests are acceptable, the scores required and how to submit.
If you are currently or have been previously enrolled in a degree-granting graduate program at The Ohio State University for any length of time, you would be considered a Graduate Intra-University Transfer Student. Choose the appropriate application for "current or former" Ohio State students after clicking apply now. In addition to the online application, you must complete a supplemental application. This separate application must be submitted directly to the College of Nursing at CON-gradrecords@osu.edu. Choose any of the following options to access this application:
- MS Word Document: Supplemental PhD Application (To download, select "Save")
- PDF: Supplemental PhD Application
Applicants must submit all application materials by 11:59 p.m. ET on the deadline to be considered for admission.
Contact
FAQ
As you consider the next step in your education, the following referenced articles can help you know what to look for in a program, what questions to ask during your search and better understand how a PhD in nursing can help advance your career:
- Jones, K. D., Baggs, J. G., & Jones, M. R. (2018). Selecting US research-intensive doctoral programs in nursing: Pragmatic questions for potential applicants. Journal of Professional Nursing, 34, 296–299. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2017.11.005
- Powell, K. (2015). Nursing research: Nurses know best. Nature, 522, 507-509. Retrieved from https://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v522/n7557/full/nj7557-507a.html
Your application will be reviewed on a holistic basis, meaning all aspects of who you are as a candidate will be considered. This assessment will include academic preparedness and formative experiences in your professional background, schooling, and life. We are also looking for candidates who demonstrate a preferred set of attributes and strengths described in the following list. This list is not all encompassing, but is meant to help guide you in what you may wish to highlight in your written application materials:
- Alignment of your research area with those of our current research-focused faculty
- An idea of how your work will potentially contribute to nursing science
- Any prior research experience
- Demonstration of leadership and collaboration with others; teamwork
- Community engagement, local and global, and a diversity of thought, perspective, and experience
- Written communication skills and organization of ideas
The part-time plan of study for a post-master’s PhD allows for more flexibility when balancing employment, school and other responsibilities. The full-time plan of study is rigorous and requires significant time commitments in and out of the classroom. Part-time employment may lend itself better to your success as a PhD student.
The plan of study for post-baccalaureate PhD students is full-time, requiring at least 12 credit hours in the autumn and spring semesters and six in the summer semester. This rigorous course of study is designed to allow students to fully immerse in their development as a researcher. We recommend that as a student you find the best way to balance your responsibilities, which may include limiting the amount of time at work to in order to have sufficient time to dedicate to your studies.
Many faculty offer students part-time employment as research assistants. These opportunities vary yearly.
No, you are not required to be awarded a master’s degree at Ohio State in order to obtain your PhD. Post-baccalaureate students are required to earn a minimum of 80 credits to graduate from the PhD program. You can elect to complete a master’s degree while progressing towards the PhD program in nursing or in another discipline; earning a master’s degree will require more than 80 credits and will extend your program of study. However, some students do choose to earn a master’s degree while in the PhD program as they are interested in securing advanced certification in a specialty area or would like to obtain a master’s degree for their development and advancement. Some students have a goal as serving as an educator in their future careers, and there are some states (not Ohio) that require nurse educators to have a master’s degree in order to teach in accredited programs. It is your responsibility to explore these options and requirements to determine the best pathway.
The PhD in nursing is a research focused, terminal degree. It is designed to prepare individuals to generate research, advance new knowledge and prepare future faculty members. Conversely, a DNP prepared nurse will translate the research generated by their PhD colleagues into practice.
Nursing specific courses are usually offered on either Monday or Wednesdays. You will be required to attend these classes weekly, depending on your plan of study. Courses taken outside of the College of Nursing are scheduled by their respective departments and schedules can vary.
The College of Nursing wants to ensure that we are able to provide you with the best, most supportive educational opportunity. Faculty members who share your academic interests can help facilitate connection to resources, provide meaningful feedback on assignments and promote optimal development as a nursing scientist, which creates a positive experience for you as the student.
Students who enroll in two graduate degree-granting programs concurrently are called dual degree students. Review information from the Graduate School about the dual degree designation.
Dual Degree students must satisfy the credit hour requirements for each degree program. There may be little overlap between the two sets of coursework, which can result in students being required to fully complete the degree requirements for both programs to graduate. This can extend time to graduation. Due to the rigorous nature of some of our graduate clinical programs, prospective students interested in a Dual Degree option with the College of Nursing are advised to closely examine the curriculum requirements of our programs before applying. For degree programs with clinical components, it is important to recognize that adjustments to the standard curriculum plan may not be possible.
After you have reviewed all information contact the director of the program in which you are interested for further discussion. This discussion should occur before you begin applying to gain a better understanding of program requirements. If interested in applying to a College of Nursing graduate program as a dual degree student, you must follow the application process for your desired degree and adhere to all deadlines. Email nursing@osu.edu if you have any questions about how to apply.
The number of times per week you will need to travel to campus will depend on whether you are attending full-time or part-time. Students enrolled in full-time plans of study will have classes offered through the College of Nursing on campus approximately two days per week. Students enrolled in part-time plans of study will have classes offered through the College of Nursing on campus approximately one day per week.
In some semesters, the PhD curriculum requires enrollment in courses outside the College of Nursing to meet the statistics and cognate requirements. Depending on the courses selected by students to meet these requirements, the number of days required on campus may increase, as the College of Nursing does not have oversight of the schedule for courses offered outside of the college.
Students with international degrees are eligible to apply provided they meet all program admissions requirements, including holding a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from a Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation program.
Additional requirements for international applicants:
Review The Ohio State University’s English Proficiency Policy and other important information. For immigration documents and international student requirements, please contact Graduate and Professional Admissions Office at gpadmissions@osu.edu or 614-292-9444.
Faculty nominate eligible applicants for University Fellowships. The Graduate School provides information on requirements.
This award covers up to three years of tuition and instructional fees*, stipend, and health insurance contingent on satisfactory academic progress and performance as a Graduate Research/Teaching Associate. Scholars have a 20-hour weekly work requirement.
PhD students are required to submit at least one external grant during the program to support their dissertation research. Students receive grant-writing instruction during Year 1. Our students are successful in obtaining pre-doctoral Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (F31) and in obtaining foundations awards from a variety of professional organizations and research sponsors.
Fees not covered by the PhD Scholars funding include: student activity fee, graduate nursing program fee, COTA bus fee, student legal services annual fee, recreational fee and student union fee.
Funding offers are communicated shortly after admission decisions are released.
This program admits students once-per-year for the autumn semester.