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About the Program
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Program in Nursing prepares nurse scientists for research-intensive academic careers. The program emphasizes interdisciplinary knowledge development and dissemination through biobehavioral nursing research. Our faculty is involved in ground-breaking research in such vital areas as health disparities, cancer prevention and control, cardiovascular risk reduction, and smoking cessation. The program is designed for advanced students interested in working closely with faculty mentors in nursing and related disciplines within the context of established programs of research.
This program prepares graduates to:
- Critically evaluate behavioral and biological theories of health and illness
- Generate, test, and extend knowledge of linkages between behavioral and biological dimensions of health and illness
- Design basic and clinical nursing studies to investigate behavioral and biological phenomena within a selected area
- Participate in interdisciplinary approaches to generate and apply scientific knowledge
- Apply leadership strategies to ethical, political, economic, and socio-cultural issues in nursing.
For more information, call 706-721-4862 or visit http://www.gru.edu/nursing/phdnursing.php.
Career Opportunities
Career opportunities for graduates consist of:
- Research – academic, community, and industry settings
- Faculty positions in higher education
- Leadership/administrative positions
Salary Information
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s reports “Salaries of Instructional and Administrative Nursing Faculty,” the middle 50% of salaries for assistant professors of nursing ranges from $79,277 to $92,928. Actual salary for an assistant professor of nursing is variable based on type of institution and region of the country. Salaries for associate professors and higher ranking administrators with a PhD can be well above these figures. PhD-prepared nurses are well-positioned to add to their base salaries through various consultant opportunities.
Accreditation
The Nursing Doctoral program is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Higher Learning Commission (www.sacs.org).
Assistantships
Graduate Research assistantships for full-time students include tuition reduction and stipends of $24,000. Students work closely with faculty mentors in nursing and related disciplines within the context of established programs of research. Selection of a concentration is individualized and developed with the approval of the student’s mentor and advisory committee based on the area of research. Students with Graduate Research Assistantships enjoy reduced tuition rate of $25/semester, and eligibility for single-person health insurance coverage through the GRU Student Group Health Insurance plan as part of the GRA. Please consult with the Program Director for more information on this excellent opportunity.
Technical Requirements
Computer literacy - A laptop is required upon enrollment. See minimum laptop specifications at http://www.gru.edu/nursing/laptop_requirement.php. A working knowledge of word processing, presentation, and data spreadsheet software is highly recommended.
Admissions Requirements
Please see the Office of Academic Admissions website for specific admissions information:
www.gru.edu/admissions/graduate/phd-nursing.php
Estimated Tuition and Fees
For estimated tuition and fees, please see the Financial Information section of this catalog. The Institute of Medicine Future of Nursing Report emphasizes the importance of increasing the number of doctorally-prepared nurses in the US. Thus, there has been an increase in funding support for nurses who wish to return to school for their terminal degree. Please speak to the Program Director for details on programs that may be available to off-set the cost of returning to school for you.
