Nursing

The online Ph.D. in nursing program requires at least 72 credit hours above the bachelor’s level and is open to both post-baccalaureate and post-master’s candidates. 

Structure: The SSON created the Ph.D. in nursing to be a flexible, individualized program of study designed to accommodate a number of learning and professional needs. In addition to taking mostly online classes held on a semester schedule, you can attend full or part time.

Please note that the program requires a campus visit lasting a minimum of one week during the first summer of your enrollment. You will also spend four days on campus each April and attend one annual professional meeting with your research mentor. Learn more about required on-campus dates.

Curriculum: Begin with a foundational core (29 to 36 credit hours) focusing on research conduct, design and methods, as well as nursing science, ethics and theories. Following that, you’ll dive into your research as part of the individualized specialty area (27 to 39 credit hours). As your research progresses, you’ll prepare for your doctoral comprehensive examination, develop your proposal and start your dissertation project. To receive your degree, you’ll defend your project to a committee you and your advisor assemble.

During these two sequences, you have the chance to earn a graduate certificate in your collateral area. Areas include: college teaching, data science and analytics, health ethics, health informatics, life science innovation and entrepreneurship, multicultural education, nonprofit management, online educator, participatory health research, public health, positive psychology, user experience and usability, youth development specialist and youth program management and evaluation.

Advising: You’ll be paired with a research advisor based on area or population and will work together to establish a Ph.D. committee and Plan of Study, access relevant practicum experiences and begin your dissertation research.

Online learning: The SSON creates a cohesive educational experience between the on-campus and online Ph.D. in nursing programs, with opportunities for mentorship, peer collaboration and topical exploration available to all. The online program uses a mix of scheduled synchronous sessions and asynchronous courses accessed through the Canvas learning management platform. Online students are additionally encouraged to take advantage of the SSON Graduate Student Resource & Collaboration Center, Zoom video conference software, Microsoft Teams, Facebook and X (Twitter). 

Program length: Time to completion depends on your academic preparation and enrollment status. If you are a part-time student with a master of science degree, for example, the course work generally takes three years to complete, followed by your comprehensive examination, plus additional time to finalize your dissertation research.

If you are a part-time student entering with a bachelor of science degree, course work may take four years to complete, followed by your comprehensive examination, plus additional time to finalize your dissertation research. Full-time students typically finish within a shorter time frame.

The average student takes about five years to fulfill all Ph.D. program requirements.

To shorten your time to completion, consider transferring up to 30 post-baccalaureate credit hours from another accredited university.