Overview
 

The Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) is offered by The Graduate Center in conjunction with the three CUNY master's programs in nursing: Hunter College, Lehman College, and the College of Staten Island. The program addresses the two-pronged mission of The Graduate Center: to address the needs of the community and to provide doctoral education for traditionally underrepresented groups.

The specific purposes of the PhD program in nursing are to:

1. Provide education in nursing, related theories, and empirical research methodology to prepare nurse leaders to develop research strategies for delivering quality-based health care to culturally diverse people; and to
2. Expand the knowledge base of nursing practice, health care management, health care policy, and economics through the research and scholarship of faculty and students in the nursing doctoral program.

Program Goals
 

Graduates of the nursing doctoral program will deepen their ability to think analytically and innovatively to allow them to respond to the complex health care needs of the urban population of New York City and beyond. Students are prepared to assume leadership positions in health care settings and academia and develop and implement nursing outcomes research. The curriculum includes the study of nursing theories, as well as other health-related, interdisciplincary, and educational theories, research methods, and health policy/health economics in a context of multidisciplinary partnerships to provide quality-based, comprehensive health care. A dissertation is required. This course of study prepares graduates to undertake systematic, applied, funded, research to improve patient outcomes that are the sensitive to the quality of nursing care. Graduates are prepared to assume leadership positions in health care settings and academia and develop and implement nursing outcomes research.

Graduates will demonstrate the ability to:

• Demonstrate intellectual leadership for the promotion of health and elimination of health disparities;
• Evaluate theoretical, historical, and philosophical concepts related to nursing and health care;
• Conduct nursing research to promote quality nursing and health care;
• Synthesize research findings to develop and implement multidisciplinary programs that promote the health of people from diverse cultures; and
• Interpret roles of nurse scientist in a variety of setting.

Doctor of Nursing Science (DNS)

A DNS degree is available for students who entered the program prior to 2012. The DNS program is no longer accepting new students.