Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing

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Learn to change lives by leading the nursing profession

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The Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing

Explore nursing philosophy and develop your understanding of how other areas in health care impact the nursing field. The Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing can help you hone your skills as a nurse leader and scholar. You'll learn to lead nurses within large health care organizations through collaboration, research and dialogue.

Find out how you can begin your scholarship and effective leadership practice in the Nursing field.

What you'll learn

How to afford your degree

Use the information below or speak with a Finance Advisor to better understand your financial options. You'll also find out how you may be able to lower your out-of-pocket expense and what options may be available to help you fund your education.

How to get started

Learn more about the admissions process that takes place after talking with an advisor and choosing your degree program.

Some programs have additional requirements such as field experiences, clinical components or residencies that may last from three- to eight-days. Please contact a University enrollment advisor for details.

The core curriculum of the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing degree program consists of 74 credit hours.

Core Courses

Speak to an advisor about the admissions process

*Although these courses are accepted by some state boards of nursing toward continuing licensing requirements, this may not be the case in all states. Please check with your own state board for applicability.

Individual courses are also available.

When you need graduate-level college credit for continuing education or professional development requirements, consider enrolling in an individual course. Many of the same courses offered in our degree programs are also available for individual enrollment. It's great way to "test-drive" the University and get all the same services and support we offer in our degree programs.

Make your enrollment decision easier with our tuition tool

From finding the right college to finding time for your other work and family responsibilities - we know you have a lot on your mind. That's why we offer the tools you need to better understand your financial commitment and the Finance Advisors who can help you understand your options.

How much will it cost?

Knowing your cost commitment up-front can help you successfully plan for your degree program.

Estimate Tuition

Cash Plan

Review our Cash Plan, which gives you the option to pay course-by-course as you pursue your education.

Scholarships

Scholarships pay for tuition-related expenses and don't need to be paid back. Your advisor can help you find scholarships that you may be eligible for.

Federal Financial Aid Plan

Investigate federal financial aid options including government grants and loans. Your advisor will help you check your eligibility.

Third-party billing

Under the Third-Party Billing Plan, University of Phoenix directly bills an approved employer for a student's tuition. To find out if your company supports direct bill, speak to your human resources department or one of our advisors.

Need more information?

An advisor can help you review your options and choose the one that’s best for you.

How can I use my Military benefits?

Whether you're serving on Active Duty, are a member of the Reserve or National Guard, or are the spouse of a military member, you're eligible for a reduction in tuition. Our special military tuition rates combined with some of the resources below can help you get started in your pursuit of a degree.

The Federal Military Tuition Assistance Program

With federal military tuition assistance, you may receive 100% federal Tuition Assistance for your military service.

Montgomery GI Bill

At University of Phoenix, you can apply your Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty, or your Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve to your educational costs.

Post 9/11 GI Bill

If you're a veteran or military servicemember who served a minimum of 90 combined days on active duty after September 10th, 2001, you may be eligible for Post 9/11 GI benefits.

Active Duty Spouse Benefits

As a military spouse, you may be eligible for financial assistance that can help you pursue your degree.

Benefits of this degree program

In-depth exploration of leadership

Learn the skills of researchers, educators, administrators and leaders within diverse global health care systems and influence the health care services, processes and outcomes within these complex organizations.
Interactive group discussions

In online doctoral group discussions, you will interact with fellow learners and exchange ideas about research that centers on current industry challenges.
Dissertation Chair

Under the guidance of a Dissertation Chair who has experience in your field of study, you will complete original research for your dissertation.
Residencies

For three-to-eight days, you will network and study with professionals in your field, interact with faculty and prepare your dissertation. As part of the residency requirement (available in select cities), field experiences and clinical components may also be required.
Doctoral Success Orientation

This seven-day, no-cost online training lab gives you a tour of the University's online learning platform and educational resources before you begin your first course.

Is this the right program for you?

Talk to an advisor who specializes in the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing degree to make sure this program fits your specific needs. You can also get to know University of Phoenix by checking out the Phoenix Prep Center.

The Presidents' Alliance

University of Phoenix has joined the Presidents’ Alliance for Excellence in Student Learning and Accountability, which is part of the nonprofit group the New Leadership Alliance. As a volunteer member of the Presidents’ Alliance, we have made a commitment to significantly improve assessment of and accountability for student learning outcomes.

Learning outcomes

To fulfill that commitment and to engage in continuous improvement of programs, University of Phoenix has reported on the learning outcomes for our degree programs, as well as the process of gathering and analyzing the information. Our aim is to share student outcomes to monitor the effectiveness of our programs and enable improvement.

Review the learning outcomes report for the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing program.

While widely available, not all programs are available in all locations or in both online and on-campus formats. Please check with a University Enrollment Advisor.

The School of Advanced Studies

Earning your doctoral degree is a significant milestone in your educational and professional career. At the School of Advanced Studies, it's also an opportunity to make an impact on your community.

Our model of scholarship

Our doctoral programs help you make an impact by offering you the tools to refine your leadership and research skills. This comes from our unique educational model that may use group discussions, residencies and the dissertation to help you expand your understanding of how leaders can influence change.

The dissertation

The culmination of your doctoral degree at the School of Advanced Studies is an in-depth, high-quality dissertation that advances a new point of view. This document is based on your original research, is grounded in organizational leadership in your field of study and utilizes the models, theories and skills you will have learned in your coursework.