Academic Programs

PhD in Nursing Program 

The purpose of the PhD in Nursing Program at the University of Massachusetts Worcester is to develop and prepare nurse scientists/educators who have a strong foundation in both scientific inquiry and pedagogy. The PhD program provides students with three major areas of expertise:

• in-depth knowledge of the discipline of nursing and related disciplines;
• in-depth knowledge of a clinical or practice population; and
• strategies of research and scholarship, such as grant writing and publication.

Graduates are beginning-level researchers and skilled teachers who can assume research, leadership and faculty roles in schools of nursing, research centers or health care delivery organizations. Graduates think critically and lead the profession and public to policies aimed at promoting health.

Objectives of the PhD in Nursing Program: 

1. prepare nursing faculty for careers in teaching and clinical research
2. produce clinical nurse scientists with the ability to conduct clinical and translational research within a multidisciplinary milieu
3. develop nurse leaders with expert knowledge of complex health problems, who will lead nursing practice throughout the state and nation

The program also advances interdisciplinary practice, research and nursing knowledge and improves nursing practice.

Course Sequence 

Completed PhD Dissertations 1997-2008