For more than 25 years, our PhD program has graduated over 100 nurse scientists who have gone on to careers in nursing education, research and organizational leadership in the United States and abroad.
The goal of our PhD program is to engage students in an intensive rigorous manner that prepares them as nurse scholars to enter the workforce in a reasonable amount of time. The program assists students in identifying, clarifying and articulating their research topic and ideas early in the program. During the program, students are mentored as they focus on their ideas and research goals. Emphasis is placed on the health needs of vulnerable individuals and populations within the context of social justice.
This program is offered online with residency opportunities on campus in Pittsburgh, PA and as part of a study abroad experience at Duquesne's Rome and/or Dublin campus. We welcome students to our program from all areas of the country and the world.
Program Outcomes
The overall purpose of the PhD in Nursing program is to prepare graduates for a lifetime of intellectual inquiry, creative scholarship and research. Graduates of the program will be competent in research, scholarship and leadership within the profession of nursing. The graduate must possess and demonstrate specific competencies. These include the ability to:
- Function as an independent researcher and conduct original research that builds upon prior research and expands the science of nursing.
- Integrate theoretical frameworks and research findings from other disciplines to enhance the practice of professional nursing.
- Produce scholarly work that contributes to the science and profession of nursing by communicating creative solutions to problems in nursing and health care.
- Demonstrate leadership and collaborative strategies to reduce health care disparities on a local, national and international level.
- Help improve the health of the community by generating new evidence for nursing practice that solves problems related to health care delivery.
- Evaluate issues that affect health care and advocate for change in health care policies based on evidence and the principles of social justice.
Program Options and Coursework
The program begins in May with the start of the summer semester. We offer three-year and four-year curriculum options, as well as a DNP to PhD program, which permits nurses with a DNP degree to gain valuable skills that will enable them to function as independent researchers.
All options are offered online with residency requirements at our Pittsburgh, PA campus, as well as at Duquesne's Dublin, Ireland campus as part of one study abroad experience.
3-Year and 4-Year Coursework Options
The School of Nursing offers both a three-year and a four-year option for pursuing a PhD in Nursing program, allowing you to apply to the program that best fits with your goals and lifestyle. The three- and four-year options are identical but differ in intensity and duration.
The three-year option typically requires six-10 credits to be complete per semester, whereas the four-year option typically requires six credits per semester. If you are interested in applying to the three-year program, you must have a commitment to prioritizing your time in order to complete the program, unencumbered by expectations of an over-demanding life/work/job.
3-Year PhD Coursework - 56 credits
53 credits total if a 3-credit statistics course is transferred. (*Required on-campus visit **Study Abroad)
Year One: Summer - Foundations
| Course # | Course Title or Program Requirement | Credits |
| GPNG 901 | State of the Science and Discovery | 3 credits |
| GPNG 921 | Foundations of Social and Distributive Justice in Health Policy | 3 credits |
| Doctoral Week* - Required Residency 1 of 4 (Orientation) |
Year One: Fall - Science, Truth and Knowledge
| GPNG 927 | Structure of Nursing Knowledge | 3 credits |
| GPNG 922 | Philosophy of Science and Theory | 3 credits |
Year One: Spring - Scientific Tools
| GPNG 923 | Methods of Scientific Inquiry I | 4 credits |
| GPNG 940 | Statistics II or a Cognate | 3 credits |
| Cognate | 3 credits |
Year Two: Summer, Global View
| GPNG 924 | Methods of Scientific Inquiry II** | 4 credits |
| GPNG 903 | Measurement Issues** | 3 credits |
| Seminar: Topic Defense* (Doctoral Week) - - Required Residency 2 of 4 (Writing Intensive) | ||
| Study Abroad** - Required Residency 3 of 4 |
Year Two: Fall - Immersion and Articulation
| GPNG 931 | Applied Qualitative Practicum | 3 credits |
| GPNG 915 | Dissertation Research Seminar: 1st manuscript (literature or other)* | 3 credits |
| Cognate | 3 credits |
Year Two: Spring - Developing Independence
| GPNG 930 | Applied Quantitative Practicum | 3 credits |
| GPNG 925 | Grant Writing | 3 credits |
Year Three: Summer - Dissertation and Dissemination
| GPNG 915 | Dissertation | 3 credits |
Year Three: Fall - Dissertation and Dissemination
| GPNG 915 | Dissertation | 3 credits |
Year Three: Spring - Dissertation and Dissemination
| GPNG 915 | Dissertation | 3 credits |
Final Semester (depending on start): Summer - Dissertation and Dissemination
| GPNG 915 | Dissertation Final Defense* - Required Residency 4 of 4 | 3 credits |
4-Year PhD Coursework - 56 credits
53 credits total if a 3-credit statistics course is transferred. (*Required on-campus visit **Study Abroad)
Year One: Summer - Foundations
|
Course # |
Course Title or Program Requirement | Credits |
| GPNG 901 | State of the Science and Discovery | 3 credits |
| Doctoral Week* - Required Residency 1 of 4 (Orientation) |
Year One: Fall - Science, Truth and Knowledge
| GPNG 927 | Structure of Nursing Knowledge | 3 credits |
| GPNG 922 | Philosophy of Science and Theory | 3 credits |
Year One: Spring - Scientific Tools
| GPNG 923 | Methods of Scientific Inquiry I | 4 credits |
| GPNG 940 | Statistics II | 3 credits |
Year Two: Summer - Global View
| GPNG 924 | Methods of Scientific Inquiry II** | 4 credits |
| GPNG 903 | Measurement Issues** | 3 credits |
| Seminar: Topic Defense* (Doctoral Week) - - Required Residency 2 of 4 (Writing Intensive) | ||
| Study Abroad** - Required Residency 3 of 4 |
Year Two: Fall - Immersion and Articulation
| GPNG 931 | Applied Qualitative Practicum | 3 credits |
| Cognate | 3 credits |
Year Two: Spring - Immersion and Articulation
| GPNG 930 | Applied Quantitative Practicum | 3 credits |
| Cognate | 3 credits |
Year Three: Summer - Foundations
| GPNG 921 | Foundations of Social and Distributive Justice in Health Policy | 3 credits |
| Seminar: Topic Defense* (Doctoral Week) |
Year Three: Fall - Immersion and Articulation
| GPNG 915 | Dissertation Research Seminar: 1st manuscript (literature or other)* | 3 credits |
Year Three: Spring- Developing Independence
| GPNG 925 | Grant Writing | 3 credits |
Year Four: Summer - Dissertation and Dissemination
| GPNG 915 | Dissertation | 3 credits |
Year Four: Fall - Dissertation and Dissemination
| GPNG 915 | Dissertation | 3 credits |
Year Four: Spring - Dissertation and Dissemination
| GPNG 915 | Dissertation | 3 credits |
Final Semester (depending on start) - Dissertation and Dissemination
| GPNG 915 | Dissertation Final Defense* - Required Residency 4 of 4 | 3 credits |
DNP to PhD Option
Apply the knowledge and skills you learned in your DNP program to this DNP to PhD option which allows you to conduct research related to your DNP Project. The DNP to PhD program requires completion of 38 credits, which typically takes two-and-a-half years, including dissertation.
DNP to PhD Coursework - 38 credits
38 credits total. (*Required on-campus visit **Study Abroad)
Year One: Summer - Foundations
|
Course # |
Course Title or Program Requirement |
Credits |
| GPNG 901 | State of the Science and Discovery | 3 credits |
| Doctoral Week* - Required Residency 1 of 4 (Orientation) |
Year One: Fall - Science, Truth and Knowledge
| GPNG 922 | Philosophy of Science and Theory | 3 credits |
Year One: Spring - Scientific Tools
| GPNG 923 | Methods of Scientific Inquiry I | 4 credits |
| GPNG 940 | Statistics II | 3 credits |
Year Two: Summer - Global View
| GPNG 903 | Measurement Issues** | 3 credits |
| Doctoral Week* - Required Residency 2 of 4 (Writing Intensive) | ||
| Study Abroad** - Required Residency 3 of 4 |
Year Two: Fall - Immersion and Articulation
| GPNG 931 | Applied Qualitative Practicum | 3 credits |
| GPNG 915 | Dissertation Research Seminar: first manuscript (literature or other) | 3 credits |
Year Two: Spring - Developing Independence
| GPNG 915 | Dissertation (Cross list with GPNG 925 Grant Writing) | 3 credits |
| GPNG 930 | Applied Quantitative Practicum | 3 credits |
Year Three: Summer - Dissertation and Dissemination
| GPNG 915 | Dissertation | 3 credits |
Final Semester (depending on start) - Dissertation and Dissemination
| GPNG 915 | Dissertation | 3 credits |
| Dissertation Defense* - Required Residency 4 of 4 |
Defenses
As part of the PhD curriculum, you will be required to make a proposal defense and a final defense.
Proposal Defense
The Proposal Defense is an oral defense of a written dissertation research proposal.
Final Defense
The Final Defense is an oral defense of the completed dissertation. Students make one public oral defense. The University sets a deadline date for the final defense. Prior to this deadline, students must have already:
- Successfully defended their dissertation.
- Made any corrections requested by their dissertation committee.
- Submitted an approved electronic (ETD) version of their dissertation.
Students need to work with their committee chairs to schedule their final defense dates at least four to six weeks prior to the University deadline. You may reference the University Academic Calendar for the latest date to submit an approved thesis.
Areas of Interest
Duquesne was founded in 1878 to educate new immigrants to Pittsburgh, development of the mind, heart and spirit is foundational to a Duquesne education. These values embody and give life to the curriculum, classroom, and online and residency experiences, and they are especially visible in our relationships with each other. In the School of Nursing, faculty and staff work collaboratively with PhD students to develop and deepen nursing science. Much of our special focus and expertise in scholarship and research involve working with vulnerable populations, persons who experience health disparities, immigrants and refugees, and persons in the penal justice system. Our sustained commitment to transcultural understanding and social justice make Duquesne students, faculty and graduates citizens of the world.
Cognate Courses
To support and augment the important focus and philosophy of our program, we offer a variety of online cognate courses. The cognates offer a breadth and depth of knowledge to inform the dissertation and launch a research trajectory.
Cognate Course Opportunities
Students can choose two from the following list but are not limited to these selections.
|
School of Nursing courses:
|
Center for Healthcare Ethics courses:
|
PhD Concentrations
Each concentration is designed to complement your current professional practice and to personalize your approach to teaching and patient care.
Nursing Education and Faculty Role Concentration
Develop teaching competencies through active engagement in courses that focus on:
- Designing innovative curricula and evaluating outcomes.
- Applying learning theories in practice.
- Assessing classroom and clinical learning.
- Developing, implementing and evaluating classroom and simulation teaching plans.
The Nursing Education Concentration also meets the eligibility criteria for the NLN sponsored Certified Nurse Educator designation.
Coursework
Please note that revisions to courses and coursework are ongoing.
| Course # | Course Title or Program Requirement | Credits |
| GNED 507 | Foundations in Education Theory for Professional Practice Disciplines | 3 credits |
| GNED 522 | Innovative Curriculum Design and Evaluation | 3 credits |
| GNED 532 | Emerging Trends and Innovations in the Teaching of Nursing | 3 credits |
Transcultural Nursing
Bridge the gap between culture and health care. Transcultural care emphasizes and embraces the emotional and spiritual connections that influence health care decisions. You will learn how to view patient preferences through a new lens that significantly impacts patient care outcomes. This advanced perspective can help you make a difference with vulnerable populations where you live and work, as well as around the world.
Please note that any tuition discounts that graduate students receive are not applicable to study abroad courses.
Coursework
Please note that revisions to courses and coursework are ongoing.
| Course # | Course Title or Program Requirement | Credits |
| GPNG 908 | Advanced Population Health | 3 credits |
| GPNG 917 | Transcultural Care and Global Health Perspectives | 3 credits |
| GPNG 921 | Foundations of Social and Distributive Justice in Health Policy | 3 credits |
Forensic Nursing
It's one thing to collect evidence, it's another to know how to communicate what the evidence means. Learn how to do exactly that with the potential to become a trusted expert when evaluating crimes like sexual abuse, physical assault, and accidental or intentional death. From detail-oriented analysis to court depositions that lead to prosecutions, this concentration will prepare you for a role in the criminal justice system and to be eligible to sit for the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) certification exam.
Coursework
Please note that revisions to courses and coursework are ongoing.
| Course # | Course Title or Program Requirement | Credits |
| GNFO 518 | Criminal Law and the Courts | 3 credits |
| GNFO 519 | Advanced Forensic Nursing I: Theory and Practice | 3 credits |
| GNFO 520 | Advanced Forensic Nursing II: Program Development, Leadership & Policy | 3 credits |
PhD Required Residencies
Residency 1: Doctoral Week
Every student admitted to the PhD program is required to come to the Pittsburgh, PA, campus for the first residency, usually held during the second or third week of May. This week includes an orientation to the PhD program and provides an opportunity for students to meet faculty and participate in live classes for the courses in which they are enrolled that summer.
Residency 2: Study Abroad
Students enrolled in GPNG 924 Methods of Scientific Inquiry II will take part of the course as a study abroad experience (approximately 10-14 days) in locations such as Dublin, Ireland, where students will have housing at the Duquesne University Ireland campus.
Residency 3: Topic and Committee Approval
This residency provides an opportunity for the student to meet with their faculty mentor either at Duquesne University or another location, such as a conference setting, for intensive discussion and writing around dissertation topic development in preparation for approval.
Residency 4: Final Dissertation Defense
Students are required to come to campus for the final public defense of their dissertation.