PhD: Doctor of Philosophy

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Good news! There are no application fees ever for PhD applicants!

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For more than four decades, the University of Maryland School of Nursing's PhD program has prepared scholars and researchers to tackle the greatest challenges facing health care.

Learn more about research at UMSON:

As a PhD student at UMSON, you'll:

  • conduct important research that not only builds a foundation for your career, but also contributes to the advancement of nursing science
  • study under accomplished faculty members from UMSON's organized research centers while taking full advantage of our state-of-the-art health sciences campus.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) is the state's public health, law, and human services university devoted to excellence in professional education, research, patient care, and public service.

How the Program Works:

  • Half of your coursework is delivered in a seminar format with some online modules.
  • The other half includes electives, practicum experiences, and dissertation research.
  • Electives are available in varied formats across University System of Maryland schools.
  • Full-time and part-time options are available.

Overview

You're an ideal candidate for the PhD program if you are a bachelor's- or master's-prepared nurse or other health-related professional who wants a research career focused on some of the most important disciplines, topics, and trends, including:

  • Aging Populations
  • Cardiovascular Health
  • Health Systems Outcomes
  • Implementation Science
  • Women's Health and Birth Outcomes
  • Occupational Health
  • Pain and Symptom Science
  • Palliative and End-of-Life Care

The UMSON PhD program was initiated in 1979 as the 16th doctoral nursing program in the nation. Every student is carefully chosen and matched to the faculty member who can offer the greatest opportunity to succeed in developing his or her research program. As a graduate, you will join a thriving group of alumni—many of whom hold key leadership positions in academia, research, and administration across the country. 

What You'll Do

After graduating from the PhD program, you'll be prepared to:

  • Design, conduct, analyze, and disseminate research findings to expand knowledge in nursing and related disciplines
  • Initiate, facilitate, and participate in interdisciplinary research with nurses and scholars from related disciplines
  • Assume leadership roles in academic and health care settings

Courses You'll Take

For financial aid purposes, there are credit minimums for full-time status that may differ from the plans of study. See details.

In this Section:

  • Full-Time Plan of Study
    All full-time students with Graduate Research Assistantships must consult with their advisor and the associate dean for the PhD program before registering to ensure that their credits align with the requirements of the GRA.
  • Part-Time Plan of Study

Full-Time Plan of Study

Semester and Course Number/Title Credits
Fall (PhD Year 1)  
NURS 840: Philosophy of Science and Development of Theory 3
NURS 850: Experimental Nursing Research Designs
P or C: NURS 840, NURS 851
3
NURS 851: Analysis for Experimental Nursing Research Designs
P or C: NURS 840, NURS 850
3
NURS 802: Research and Scholarship Seminar 1
Total: 10
Spring (PhD Year 1)  
NURS 841: Theory and Conceptualization in Nursing Science
P: NURS 840
3
NURS 814: Design and Analysis for Non-Experimental Nursing Research
P: NURS 850 and NURS 851
NURS 815: Qualitative Methods in Nursing Research
P: NURS 840
NURS 819: Research Rotation**
 Total: 11
Summer (PhD Year 1)  
NURS 818: Research Practicum***
P: Completion of 2 credits of NURS 819
2
 Total: 2
Fall (PhD Year 2)    
NURS 811: Measurement of Nursing Phenomena
P: NURS 840, NURS 841, NURS 850, NURS 851, NURS 814, NURS 815 and recommend concurrent enrollment in NURS 816 or permission of the instructor
3
NURS 816: Multivariable Modeling Approaches in Health Sciences Research
P: NURS 840, NURS 841, NURS 850, NURS 851, NURS 814, NURS 815 and recommend concurrent enrollment in NURS 811 or permission of the instructor
4
NURS xxx: Elective 3
Total: 10
Spring (PhD Year 2)  
NURS 818: Research Practicum*** 4
NURS xxx: Elective 3
NURS 821: Grant Proposal Writing*
P: NURS 840, NURS 850, NURS 851; OR with permission of the instructor
2
Total: 9
Summer (PhD Year 2)  
NURS xxx: Elective 3
 Total: 3
Fall (PhD Year 3)  
NURS xxx: Elective 3
Dissertation Credits 6
Total: 9
Spring (PhD Year 3)  
Dissertation Credits 6
Total: 6
TOTAL 60

*Grant Writing Seminar: Offered only in spring.

**Research Rotation: A total of 2 research rotation credits are required for all students – 1 credit equals 3 hours/week or 45 hours over the semester.

***Research Practicum: A total of 6 credits of NURS 818 are required – these are intended to focus on the student’s research area where time is spent preparing for comprehensive exams, learning new techniques, conducting preliminary analyses, etc. As with NURS 819, for 1 credit students are expected to devote 45 hours over the semester.

P - Prerequisite
C - Concurrent


Part-Time Plan of Study

Semester and Course Number/TitleCredits
Fall (PhD Year 1)  
NURS 840: Philosophy of Science and Development of Theory 3
NURS 802: Research and Scholarship Seminar 1
Total: 4
Spring (PhD Year 1)  
NURS 841: Theory and Conceptualization in Nursing Science
P: NURS 840
3
NURS 819: Research Rotation** 2
Total: 5
Summer (PhD Year 1)  
NURS xxx: Elective 3
Total: 3
Fall (PhD Year 2)    
NURS 850: Experimental Nursing Research Designs
P or C: NURS 840, NURS 851
3
NURS 851: Analysis for Experimental Nursing Research Designs
P or C: NURS 840, NURS 850
3
Total: 6
Spring (PhD Year 2)  
NURS 814: Design and Analysis for Non-Experimental Nursing Research
P: NURS 850 and NURS 851
3
NURS 815: Qualitative Methods in Nursing Research
P: NURS 840
3
Total: 6
Summer (PhD Year 2)  
NURS 818: Research Practicum*** 3
Total: 3
Fall (PhD Year 3)  
NURS 811: Measurement of Nursing Phenomena
P: NURS 840, NURS 841, NURS 850, NURS 851, NURS 814, NURS 815 and recommend concurrent enrollment in NURS 816 or permission of the instructor
3
NURS 816: Multivariable Modeling Approaches in Health Sciences Research
P: NURS 840 or NDNP 804, NURS 841, NURS 850, NURS 851, NURS 814, NURS 815 and recommend concurrent enrollment in NURS 811 or permission of the instructor
4
Total:
Spring (PhD Year 3)  
NURS 821: Grant Proposal Writing*
P: NURS 840, NURS 850, NURS 851; OR with permission of the instructor
2
NURS 818: Research Practicum*** 1
NURS xxx: Elective 3
Total: 6
Summer (PhD Year 3)  
NURS 818: Research Practicum***
P: Completion of 2 credits of NURS 819
2
Total: 2
Fall (PhD Year 4)  
NURS xxx: Elective 3
NURS 899: Dissertation 3
Total: 6
Spring (PhD Year 4)  
NURS xxx: Elective 3
NURS 899: Dissertation 3
Total: 6
Summer (PhD Year 4)  
NURS 899: Dissertation 6
Total: 6
Year 5 and Following  
Remaining dissertation credits to total a minimum of 12 if not taken above  
TOTAL 60

*Grant Proposal Writing: Offered only in spring.

**Research Rotation: A total of 2 research rotation credits are required for all students – 1 credit equals 3 hours/week or 45 hours over the semester.

***Research Practicum: A total of 6 credits of NURS 818 are required – these are intended to focus on the student’s research area where time is spent preparing for comprehensive exams, learning new techniques, conducting preliminary analyses, etc. As with NURS 819, for 1 credit students are expected to devote 45 hours over the semester.

P - Prerequisite
C - Concurrent

 

Scholarship Opportunities

Your nursing education is an important investment. Financial aid and scholarships can help make your goals a reality.

UMSON offers multiple opportunities to help you afford your graduate education.

Type of AidAward
Federal Financial Aid various award amounts
Merit Scholarships $1,500-$3,000 per semester
(You are automatically considered for a merit scholarship upon submitting a completed application for enrollment in an UMSON academic program.)
Donor-Funded Scholarships $500-2,000 per semester
(offered during the fall and spring semesters)
Conway Scholarship full scholarship: tuition and fees
(for those who will have completed 12 credit hours of graduate study by the start of the semester for which the Conway Scholarship is awarded and who have at least half of their credit hours remaining)
Maryland Higher Education Commission Nurse Support II Program

funding available through three programs:

  • Hal and Jo Cohen Graduate Nursing Faculty Scholarships
  • New Nursing Faculty Fellowships
  • Nursing Educator Doctoral Grants (NEDG) for Practice and Dissertation Research
Graduate Assistantships stipend, tuition remission, in-state status, and paid student health insurance

Learn More About Financial Aid and Scholarships


All students receiving funds through the University must:

  • be enrolled at least half-time (6 credits) in a degree-seeking program
  • complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year by UMB's award priority deadline
    • FAFSA Submission deadline: June 30, 2023
    • FAFSA School code: 002104

The UMB Office of Student Financial Assistance & Education is available to guide prospective and current students through the FAFSA application process and the financial aid award package.


Contact Us:

UMSON Scholarships and Grants Office
410-706-0489 | nrsscholarships@umaryland.edu

UMB Student Financial Assistance and Education Office
410-706-7347 | aidtalk@umaryland.edu

 

PhD Admission Information

PhD applicants apply through UMB’s Graduate School.

In this section:


Deadline:

  • Fall Enrollment: Dec. 1

PhD applicants apply through UMB’s Graduate School. Your application and all supplemental materials must be received by this date.

Should the deadline fall on a weekend or holiday, applications will be accepted through the subsequent business day.


Qualifications:

Applicants should possess a bachelor's or master's degree with a major in nursing or a related health field from a regionally accredited college or university or an equivalent degree from a comparable foreign institution.  For International Applicants or those with a degree outside the United States, please review the International Applicants webpage.


Application Materials and Instructions: 

There are no application fees ever for PhD applicants!

PhD applicants apply through UMB’s Graduate School. All applicants must satisfy the general requirements of the University of Maryland Graduate School and submit the following materials:

Submit/request these materials via the Admissions Dashboard.

Material/Qualifications Submission Guidelines
Online Application (no application fee!)

Start your application now via the Admissions Dashboard.

The Admissions Dashboard is where you will:

  • submit your online application
  • submit/request any supplemental documents
  • check your application status.

You can save your progress and return to your application at a later date. We recommend that you continue to log in for regular updates.

Official Transcript(s) in English or native language transcript or mark sheets (if applicable) from your undergraduate and graduate schools listing subjects studied or marks received and rank in class or division. Transcripts should delineate a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all previous course work (baccalaureate, master's, and any subsequent coursework). For International Applicants or those with a degree outside the United States, please review the International Applicants webpage.

Returning students are not required to submit UMSON transcripts; we will upload a copy of your UMSON transcript to your application.

Please note that UMSON is listed two ways in the Academics area. Please make sure you choose one of the following:

  • Maryland Baltimore, Univ of
  • UMB- School of Nursing
Submit/request these materials via the Admissions Dashboard.


Three letters of recommendation providing evidence of personal and professional qualifications from three doctoral-prepared professionals familiar with the applicant's ability, work experience, contributions to nursing, and potential for success in the PhD program.
Curriculum vitae
Essay describing your academic goals and research interests. It is important that your research interests match with our faculty expertise. Please review our faculty research interests and mention a faculty member who may be appropriate.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required only for applicants with a GPA lower than 3.25 on a 4.0 scale or 4.01 on a 5.0 scale in your most recently earned degree. If the GRE is required you must have taken the test within five years of application date. To request a GRE waiver for international applicants, a credentialed GPA is required. Use code 5848 for the Graduate School. 
If your native language or home language is not English: For International Applicants or those with a degree outside the United States, please review the International Applicants webpage.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam scores; the minimum acceptable TOEFL score for admission is 550 for paper-based tests, 80 for the internet-based tests. IELTS test takers must score no less than Band 7 (total).
Use code 5848 for the Graduate School.

If you have questions regarding the admissions requirements or process, contact NRSphd@umaryland.edu to avoid errors that could delay the processing of your application.

Recent Dissertation Topics

I chose [this PhD program] because I wanted a quality education and strong foundation to grow and expand in my career. I was not disappointed – from the excellent curriculum to the dedicated faculty mentors, the program had it all! Laura Petri, PhD ’09
I chose to pursue my PhD in nursing because I am by nature an investigator and I wanted to have the broadest background possible from which to base my clinical practice. I feel that having expertise in research methodology, I am better able to understand published research and determine which treatments are most likely to be helpful to the patients I serve. Marlene Adams, BSN '91, MS '93, PhD '97
UMSON prepares its PhD graduates to be innovative and productive nurse scientists. I learned how to ask sound research questions, work in an interdisciplinary team, write a strong proposal, and source resources. I am excited about my future research trajectory. The UMSON program was flexible, and the faculty was extremely encouraging and always willing to help. Lauren Bentley Covington, PhD '18, MS '12
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