Overview
The Ph.D. program prepares nurse scientists to provide leadership in nursing education, practice and research. Individualized curricula prepare nursing graduates to assume positions as faculty, researchers and leaders in educational, community, governmental, or institutional settings.
Incoming full-time Ph.D. students may be eligible for a University assistantship. Assistantships cover tuition and pay a monthly stipend. In return, the recipient assists an assigned faculty member in various aspects of the faculty role for up to 20 hours per week.
All nursing science courses begin with a one- to two-day pre-semester intensive, which meets at University Park campus in the fall and the Hershey Medical Center campus in the spring. The intensive consists of an introduction to the classes, a meeting of the Doctoral Student Organization, and other workshops or seminars.
Throughout the semester, required weekly seminars are sponsored by the Center for Nursing Research and the Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence.
Locations
- Hershey
- University Park
Admissions
Admission requirements are outlined on the Penn State Bulletin website. Applications to the program can be done through the Graduate School.
Program director
Dr. Susan Loeb, svl100@psu.edu