Nurses are on the front lines of ethical issues in health care. They typically spend the most time with patients and are most familiar with cases. Yet, they are often constrained by things like institutional policy and limited decision-making authority when ethical situations arise.
Program Outcomes
Our PhD in Nursing Ethics program, the first in the country, is intended to provide nurses with a greater voice and a better framework for handling these situations. You will learn how to think and debate in a rational way, as well as feel more empowered to stand up for what you know is right.
This research-focused program will help you develop the intellectual skills and the practical knowledge to:
- Identify ethical issues in nursing practice.
- Evaluate both the various options according to moral and ethical reasoning and standards of evaluation that are decidedly ethical in nature.
- Come to a well-reasoned resolution and conclusion.
Additional outcomes 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.
This is an interdisciplinary program offered with the McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts Center for Global Health Ethics, so your courses are taught by clinical nursing faculty and health care ethicists, all of whom understand theoretical ethics.
PhD in Nursing Ethics Coursework
The PhD in Nursing Ethics program is a total of 47 credits.
Breakdown of credits:
- 26 credits - Nursing
- 12 credits - Health Care Ethics
- 3 credits - Cognate
- 6 credits - Dissertation
Coursework
Please note that revisions to coursework are ongoing. (Required on-campus visit **Required Study Abroad)
Year One: Summer
| Course # | Course Title or Program Requirement | Credits |
| GPNG 901 | State of the Science and Discovery | 3 credits |
| Doctoral Week* |
Year One: Fall
| GPNG 927 | Structure of Nursing Knowledge | 3 credits |
| HCE 659 | Methods in Health Care Ethics | 3 credits |
Year One: Spring
| GPNG 943 | Methods of Scientific Inquiry in Nursing II | 3 credits |
| HCE 643 | End of Life Care Ethics | 3 credits |
Year Two: Summer
| GPNG 944 | Methods of Scientific Inquiry in Nursing II** | 4 credits |
| GPNG 903 | Measurement Issues | 3 credits |
Year Two: Fall
| GPNG 931 | Applied Qualitative Practicum | 3 credits |
| HCE 648 | Clinical Ethics | 3 credits |
Year Two: Spring
| GPNG 940 | Statistics II | 3 credits |
| HCE 650 | Beginning of Life Ethics | 3 credits |
Year Three: Summer
| Cognate | 3 credits | |
| GPNG 921 | Foundations of Social and Distributive Justice in Health Policy | 3 credits |
Year Three: Fall
| Comprehensive Exams | 1 credits |
Year Three: Spring
| GPNG 915 | Dissertation | 1 credit |
Year Four: Summer
| No Coursework |
Year Four: Fall
| GPNG 915 | Dissertation | 1 credit |
Year Four: Spring
| GPNG 915 | Dissertation | 1 credit |
PhD in Nursing Ethics Residencies
The PhD in Nursing Ethics is an online program, which has three in-person residency requirements including a study abroad component. The program may be completed in four years.
Residency 1: Doctoral Week
Every student admitted to the PhD in Nursing Ethics program is required to come to campus for the first residency, usually held during the second or third week of May. This week includes an orientation to the PhD in Nursing Ethics 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.
Please note that any tuition discounts that graduate students receive are not applicable to study abroad courses.
Students receiving any outside aide are responsible for ensuring that the aid will cover expenses related to study abroad courses.
Residency 3: Dissertation Final Defense
Students are required to come to campus for the final public defense of their dissertation.