Nursing, Ph.D.

The Saint Louis University Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing'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.

SLU offers Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Nursing courses on Friday mornings and afternoons with live classes, combining on-campus and distance students. 

The Valentine School of Nursing is renowned for excellence in nursing education. U.S. News and World Report consistently ranks our graduate program as a top program in their Best Graduate Schools survey.

Program Highlights

SLU's Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing features:

• Program options for full-time students and working adults
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) and Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) entry options
• Responsive faculty who are nationally recognized for teaching excellence, nursing leadership, scholarly research and student mentorship
• Faculty advisors who are individually assigned to mentor each student throughout the program
• An online library
• An online writing center
• State-of-the-art teaching facilities
• Course options to develop as nurse educator scholars
• Opportunities to present at conferences and publish work during the program

Curriculum Overview

Students can enter the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing program 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.).

Master's courses are taken online. Ph.D. courses are offered live; distance students interact live with faculty and 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 considers students in different time zones. Some courses are taken during the summer. Students attend a research conference each year. 

The Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing includes doctoral coursework (plus a maximum of 18 credits accepted from a master's program) and 12 credits of dissertation research. Each student selects their study topic with their research mentor; our graduates have conducted studies on cancer prevention, end-of-life and palliative care issues, health promotion, chronic disease and symptom management, caregiving, population health, and nursing education.

Careers

Our graduates serve as leaders in academic, research, and health care settings across the country. 

Admission Requirements 

The 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. Successful applications meet the following criteria:

• Post-M.S.N. to Ph.D. - Master's degree in nursing from a program accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency
• Post-B.S.N. to Ph.D. - Baccalaureate degree in nursing from a program accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency.
• Cumulative grade point average of 3.25 on a 4.0 system
• Current, unencumbered registered professional nurse licensure in the state/country of residence/employment or eligibility for licensure in the State of Missouri
• Evidence of high potential for scholarship and leadership in nursing

Application Requirements

• Application form and fee
• Transcript(s)
• Three letters of recommendation
• Résumé
• Interview
• Professional goal statement
• To apply for the Ph.D. program at the Valentine School of Nursing, go to https://nursingcas.org.

Requirements for International Students

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

• Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
• Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include:
  • Courses taken and/or lectures attended
  • Practical laboratory work
  • The maximum and minimum grades attainable
  • The grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations
  • Any honors or degrees received.
• WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.
• In order to be issued an I-20 for your F-1 visa application, students must submit financial documents. Proof of financial support that must include:
  • A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the student's time at Saint Louis University
  • A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of the student's study at the University

Application Deadlines

The priority deadline is February 1st for international students and June 1st for domestic students.  

Review Process

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.

Tuition

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

Net Price Calculator

Information on Tuition and Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Information on Summer Tuition

Scholarships and Financial Aid

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 Saint Louis University Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing 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 Office of Student Financial Services.

Accreditation

The Saint Louis University Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing is fully approved by the Missouri State Board of Nursing.

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program and post-graduate advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) certificate program at Saint Louis University's Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 665 K Street N.W., Suite 750, Washington, D.C., 20001. The commission's phone number is 202-887-6791.

1. Graduates will be able to articulate multiple perspectives on knowledge development and a broad understanding of research methods.
2. Graduates will be able to critique and synthesize nursing and interdisciplinary knowledge in a substantive area of inquiry.
3. Graduates will be able to generate and disseminate nursing knowledge through research that is innovative, rigorously conducted, ethically sound and culturally sensitive.
4. Graduates will be able to demonstrate leadership by disseminating scientific findings and implications for future research practice and policy.

Post-Bachelor of Science in Nursing Requirements

Post-Master of Science in Nursing Requirements

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Apply for Admission

For additional admission questions, please contact the School of Nursing's recruitment and enrollment staff:

Undergraduate Inquiries
314-977-8995 
slunurse@slu.edu 

Graduate Inquiries
314-977-8995
slunurse@slu.edu