Ph.D. in Nursing

As one of the first schools in the United States to offer a doctor of philosophy program for nursing, the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing’s Ph.D. program has been described as pioneering since its inception in 1954. Pitt Nursing doctoral students work closely with internationally recognized faculty who lead cutting-edge interdisciplinary research. Students receive in-depth training in clinical and laboratory research and leave prepared to be outstanding nurse scientists and academic faculty.

Students also gain teaching and mentoring skills through coursework and experiences in clinical and didactic instruction and the mentorship of undergraduate students through our Undergraduate Research Mentorship Program. The Ph.D. program of study provides a coherent series of courses, seminars, and discussions designed to help the student develop a mature understanding of the content, methods, and values of nursing and its relation to other fields.

The School of Nursing is dedicated to providing students with the educational foundation to conduct evidence-based practice, engage in scholarly activities, and translate knowledge to improve healthcare delivery. Our graduates possess appraisal/thinking skills, sophisticated clinical practice knowledge, and the ability to integrate research to provide thorough patient care.

The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, founded in 1939, is one of the oldest programs in baccalaureate and doctoral education in nursing in the United States. As one of the nation’s distinguished schools of nursing, the school's resources constitute an invaluable asset for the intellectual, scientific, and economic enrichment of health care in Pennsylvania, the nation, and throughout the world.