PhD Nursing

Saint Louis University's Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing program prepares nurses as scholars and beginning nurse scientists who will contribute to the continued knowledge development of the discipline and profession of nursing.

The program, offered at the Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing, takes place in both a traditional classroom format and distance learning with live, real-time digital teleconferencing.

The Valentine School of Nursing is renowned for excellence in nursing education. In 2021, Niche ranked Saint Louis University’s Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing as the No. 8 best college in the country for nursing. Additionally, U.S. News and World Report consistently ranks our MSN-NP program as a top 50 program in their Best Graduate Schools survey.

SLU's Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing features:

Students can enter SLU's Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing through one of two programs: the post-baccalaureate to Ph.D. track (B.S.N to Ph.D.), or the post-master's to Ph.D. track (M.S.N to Ph.D.).

Both options offer the choice of taking classes on campus or at a distance. Distance students interact live with students on campus through online conferencing software.

Most doctoral-level nursing classes are offered on Friday mornings and afternoons during fall and spring semesters. The scheduled time for the class takes into consideration students in different time zones. The academic year also includes two shorter, intensive courses, taken over the summer on Fridays.

The Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing requires 51 credits of doctoral coursework (plus a maximum of 18 credits accepted from a master's program) and 12 credits of dissertation research.

Graduates with a Ph.D. in nursing are prepared for careers as nurse scientists, nurse researchers and nurse educators.

The Saint Louis University Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing adheres to the principles of a holistic admission process in which selection criteria are broad-based and linked to our University’s and school’s mission and goals. While we do consider academic metrics we also look at applicant experiences, attributes, potential for success, and how applicants may contribute to the school’s learning environment and to the profession.

Ph.D. admissions faculty at the Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing evaluate all applications and may request interviews with applicants who meet the following criteria:

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students. International students must also meet the following additional requirements:

WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.

U.S. students should apply for the fall semester by June 1 and the spring semester by Nov. 1. International students should apply by Feb. 1 for the summer and fall semesters, and by Sept. 1 for the spring semester. If the application deadline has passed for your semester of interest, please contact slunurse@slu.edu to determine if the application deadline has been extended.

Applicants are considered on a rolling basis. An application answer may be expected after two weeks. There is a deadline to accept an offer of admission.

Financing for this program may be available through grants, scholarships, loans (federal and private) and institutional financing plans. For price estimates, please review the SLU Cost Calculator.

The Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing at Saint Louis University offers scholarship and graduate research assistantship opportunities to eligible graduate students. Additionally, most nursing students will participate in a tuition assistance program provided through their employer.

For more information, visit the student financial services office online at https://www.slu.edu/financial-aid.