Learn from the BEST, Become Your BEST
What Sets Us Apart
The College of Nursing’s PhD in Nursing program prepares nurses to advance health care through science, research, and leadership. Unlike clinical-focused degrees, our PhD prepares you to generate new knowledge, influence health policy, and educate future nurses. With flexible options, including BSN-to-PhD, MS-to-PhD, DNP/PhD dual degree, and post-DNP PhD, you can choose a path that aligns with your career goals.
Our program offers the flexibility of online learning, complemented by an annual in-person Resident Intensive Summer Experience (RISE) week. This format enables you to balance your studies with your career while providing meaningful opportunities to connect, collaborate, and grow with faculty and peers.
Standard of Excellence
As a highly regarded nursing school nationwide, we offer an education that combines academic rigor with innovation. Here, you’ll gain:
- Extensive knowledge of evidence-based research and scientific inquiry
- Experience with traditional and emerging research methods
- Mentored opportunities for teaching and publishing
- Strong statistical education and interdisciplinary teamwork
Our faculty are nationally recognized researchers in fields including aging, women’s health, and cancer, providing exceptional mentorship and access to groundbreaking scholarship.
The College of Nursing’s nationally competitive research environment is also home to THRIVE, an NIH-funded T32 fellowship training program focused on community-engaged research. Eligible PhD students can receive financial support as they develop the skills and experience to conduct research focused on practical solutions for populations with different health challenges.
Explore THRIVE Fellowship
Financial support may also be available through the Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP), which offers up to 85% loan forgiveness to PhD graduates who teach full-time for four years at an accredited nursing school.
Where Learning Becomes Real Impact
Our program prepares you to:
- Conduct and publish impactful research
- Secure grants and lead studies
- Influence health policy
- Advance equitable health care
From academia to research institutions, government, or industry, our graduates take on leadership roles that influence the future of nursing and health care.
Leaders in the Field
At the U of A College of Nursing, you’ll learn directly from faculty leaders in the field who are committed to your success. Their mentorship connects you with opportunities for research, teaching, publication, and collaboration with scholars across the university.
You can also expand your expertise by earning the AI Ready Healthcare Empowerment (CARE) Certificate, a graduate certificate that prepares you to integrate artificial intelligence into research, innovation, and health care.
Through these experiences, you’ll be prepared to lead an independent research program, shape the future of nursing science, and generate knowledge that improves health and advances health equity.
