Program Description

Purpose

The purpose of Rutgers' doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) program in nursing is to prepare nurse scientists who will expand the knowledge base of nursing, steward the discipline of nursing, lead interdisciplinary research teams, influence health policy, and mentor the next generation of nurses and nurse scientists. Graduates are expected to lead the advancement of the science in academic, service, and research institutions and to disseminate research findings to a variety of audiences including practitioners, policymakers, and the scientific community.

A graduate of the Ph.D. program in nursing will be prepared to:

critically analyze philosophical viewpoints and evaluate their potential for developing scientific nursing knowledge;
synthesize theoretical and empirical literature regarding concepts and phenomena relevant to the discipline of nursing;
design and conduct rigorous, interdisciplinary research;
effectively communicate research findings and scholarship via a variety of venues including peer-reviewed publications, presentations for clinical, scientific, and interdisciplinary audiences, and the lay public;
leverage research findings and health policy development strategies to influence the advancement of evidence-based policy; and
educate future clinicians, educators, and scientists.