An online, flexible path to a research career

This is a 90-credit option for applicants with a bachelor's degree to get their Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in nursing. The program prepares scientists to assume roles as health care researchers, faculty and health care administrators with an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention in underserved and rural populations. The Ph.D. program educates scientists in academic, research, practice and policy roles to address healthcare issues in urban, rural, frontier and reservation areas. 

The program is open to nurses and non-nurses who seek skills in research contributing to nursing and interdisciplinary science.

Emphasis Options
  • Health promotion and disease prevention in underserved and rural populations
  • Health outcomes
  • Nursing education

All emphases are available on a part-time basis (the length of which is determined on an individual basis). Course schedules are flexible so students can complete the online program while maintaining employment and schedule learning activities and projects around their life rather than planning life around school. Course schedule will include fall, spring and summer requirements.

Program Information
Required Coursework

These requirements are for students meeting the 2024-2025 catalog and after. 90 total credits required with 31 core, six statistics, 27-130 electives* and 23-26 dissertation.

Semester offeredCourseCredits
FallHSC 631 Biostatistics I3
Spring*HSC 731 Biostatistics II3
FallNURS 615 Foundations of Advanced Nursing3
SpringNURS 675 Cultivating a Practice Of Cultural Humility In Healthcare3
SummerNURS 670 Health Policy, Legislation, Economics and Ethics3
FallNURS 810 Doctoral Seminar1
FallNURS 815 Philosophical Basis for Nursing Inquiry3
SpringNURS 820 Theory Development in Nursing3
Spring (even years)NURS 825 Qualitative Research Methods in Nursing3
Summer (even years)NURS 830 Quantitative Methods in Nursing Research3
FallNURS 890 Doctoral Seminar II1
FallNURS 835 Ethical Issues Influencing Practice and Research in Health2
Spring (odd years)NURS 845 Measurement and Instrument Evaluation in Health Sciences Research3
Fall (odd years)NURS 840 Health Promotion Theory and Research3
Variable

NURS 898 Dissertation

23-26 credits required

23-26
Variable

Elective Credits

As approved by the student's advisory committee. Three credits must be either an additional statistics course or a methods course.

27-30

Footnotes

*HSC 731 – Biostatistics II is offered every spring. The plan of study will include nine credits if it is taken in the second semester of the Ph.D. core course sequence immediately following HSC 631. Alternatively, it may be taken concurrently with NURS 845 later in the program with the six core course semester credits.

Tuition and Fees
State

Estimated Cost Per Credit

South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã Resident

$613

Non-South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã Resident

$927

Child of Alumni

$613

South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã Advantage

(offered to qualified students from Illinois, Wisconsin, Colorado, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, North à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã and Wyoming and who have received a conferred undergraduate degree from a South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã Board of Regents institution)

$613

  • Estimated cost per credit includes general activity fee, university support fee, nursing delivery fee and program delivery fee.
  • Estimated cost is based on 2024-25 South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã Board of Regents tuition/fees.
  • Additional costs will be incurred throughout your program, including but not limited to textbooks, background checks, etc.

Financial Aid

SDSU is committed to helping students find the resources available to help pay for college — our Office of Financial Aid is here for you.

There are also scholarship and loan repayment opportunities available.

Student Learning Outcomes
At the completion of the program, the graduate will demonstrate the following competencies:
  • Conduct original research: conduct original research relevant to the discipline of nursing. (communication skills; transferable skill: leadership – management)
  • Integrate nurse scholar and scientist role: integrate nurse scholar and scientist role components of research, teaching, leadership, mentoring and service to the profession. (communication skills; transferable skills; awareness of public policy – regulatory affairs)
  • Contribute to advancement of nursing science: Contribute to the advancement and dissemination of nursing science. (communication skills; transferable skill: leadership – management)
Application and Admission
Admission Criteria

GRE: Not required
Test of English as a Foreign Language: Score of 81 Internet-based
International English Language Testing System: 6.5 total band
Duolingo: 110

In addition to meeting basic requirements for admission to the Graduate School, applicants for graduate study in nursing must have:

  • Example of scholarly written work.
  • Online written and verbal assessment completed through Kira Talent, reviewed and scored by graduate faculty.
  • Completed compliance requirements: clear background check, clear FBI rolled fingerprint.
  • For applicants who completed their higher education within the United States:
    • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited program with a minimum cumulative preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0-point grading system.
    • Master’s or doctoral degree (from an accredited program) with a minimum cumulative preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0-point grading system.
  • For applicants who completed their higher education outside the United States:
    • A degree deemed equivalent (by the World Education Service) to a bachelor’s degree (within the United States education system) with a minimum cumulative preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0-point grading system.
    • A degree deemed equivalent (by the World Education Service) to a master’s or doctoral degree (within the United States education system) with a minimum cumulative preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0-point grading system.

Technical Standards

Those seeking admission must meet the College of Nursing Technical Standards.

Application Process

Each applicant is required to complete two applications:

  1. Graduate School Application for Admission

View the application instructions for complete details, application dates and deadlines. Following review of the applications, eligible applicants will be invited to participate in an online interview and online written assessment.

Application Restrictions by State

Due to regulations in certain states, South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State University College of Nursing is unable to accept applicants from several identified states as noted on the following link: SDSU - Continuing and Distance Education - state authorization information

If you are a current resident of a state identified on the listed webpage, we regret that we are unable to consider your application for admission.

If you do not currently reside in one of the identified states and are offered and accept admission, please note that should you relocate to one of the identified states while in the program, you may not be able to complete the program.

In addition, there may be rules and regulations required by the South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã Board of Nursing and/or other state boards of nursing that may not provide the opportunity for out-of-state applicants to be admitted to any of the graduate nursing programs.

Dates and Deadlines

Application Opens: August

Priority Deadline: Dec. 1

Second Deadline: March 1

Final Deadline: April 15

Program Start: August

Requirements After Admission

Applicants who are offered admission to the program will be required to:

  • Complete the graduate nursing compliance requirements.
  • Submit a nonrefundable deposit along with acceptance letter.
  • Purchase a laptop computer that meets the computer requirements (unless you already have one).

Compliance Requirements

All undergraduate, master's, postgraduate certificate, Ph.D. and DNP students are required to submit SDSU College of Nursing compliance documents. Documents must be submitted by the deadlines for each program. If documents are missing, students will not be allowed to participate in clinical experiences with each absence considered unexcused. This rule also applies to any compliance documents that require renewal throughout the course of the program.

To better serve our students, SDSU College of Nursing uses a secure, online platform for managing our students' compliance documents. The online management system allows students to meet the requirements of the agencies where they participate in clinical experiences. This online management system provides students with the following features:

  • Secure upload of immunization records and other compliance documents from a personal computer or device.
  • Electronic access to documents 24/7 while in the program.
  • Email reminders for requirements not yet completed or with approaching renewal deadlines.
  • Easy and comprehensive way to complete background checks and drug screenings.

Once admitted to the nursing program, the student will be given instructions to complete compliance requirements through the online management system.

Graduate nursing program compliance requirements are comprised of both university requirements and clinical agency requirements. SDSU College of Nursing does not guarantee clinical placement for students who are not in compliance with clinical agency requirements. Clinical agencies may change their compliance requirements at any point in time and students are expected to be in compliance with any of these changes.

Required SDSU College of Nursing Forms:

  • Certificate of Health
  • Multiwaiver release form
  • Room scan consent form
  • Participation and self-transportation agreement

Contact Us

Our graduate nursing specialist is here to help you plan your individual journey.