PhD in Nursing: BSN to PhD and MSN to PhD programs

PhD in Nursing degree programs require a full-time commitment. They are not recommended for those who can only participate in part-time study.

Nursing PhD programs emphasize research and usually require that students write a dissertation, which they defend to a panel of examiners and/or members of the public.

BSN-to-PhD programs could be ideal for exceptional students with their Bachelor of Science in Nursing. BSN-to-PhD programs allow exceptional Registered Nurses without their MSN to complete their MSN-level coursework in conjunction with their doctoral studies. The programs do not award MSN degrees.

MSN-to-PhD programs are for nurses with their Master of Science in Nursing degrees who would like to pursue their doctoral degrees. Full time MSN-to-PhD programs could potentially be completed in as few as eight academic terms, but this time varies by school and student.*

General Admission Requirements

  • Transcripts
  • References Letters
  • Graduate Record Examination test scores (GRE)
  • Research Proposal Plan
  • Bachelor's Degree in Nursing
  • Master of Science Degree in Nursing (for those who wish to apply for the MSN-to-PhD program)
  • Solid GPA
  • Essay
  • Current License to Practice Nursing

Note: These are general admission requirements and will vary by school and program type. It is always important to check specific requirements with all schools you are interested in attending.

*Time to completion is not guaranteed and will vary by level of commitment by student, class schedule, specific program, and various other factors.

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