DEGREE TYPE
PhD
DURATION
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2025
TUITION FEES
USD 63,800 *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning, On-Campus
* base cost | cost per unit: $1,160
Key Summary
Introduction
Earn a PhD in Nursing at Azusa Pacific University
You’ll expand your career and graduate qualified to serve in a variety of roles in academia, government, and health care. You’ll be ready to improve the health of society and contribute to the future generation through research. You can customize your degree according to your areas of interest and by choosing between three concentrations: Health of the Family and Community, International Health, and Nursing Historical Research.
Gain Hands-on Experience
- Articulate how nursing is informed by the Christian faith.
- Learn how to professionally contribute to the body of nursing knowledge.
- Build the knowledge and ethical framework to promote social change.
- Conduct research in the areas of wellness promotion and health maintenance.
- Develop, test, and utilize theoretical knowledge that will improve health outcomes.
Program Details
The PhD in Nursing program is designed for nurses who hold a master’s degree in nursing or a related field and wish to pursue a doctoral degree in nursing. Graduates of this program, in roles as academicians, contribute to the body of nursing knowledge to improve the health of society and prepare the next generation of nurses.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Financial Aid
Several types of financial aid are available to graduate students. The resources range from federal loans and state grants to, for some graduate programs, fellowships and scholarships. For details about financial aid available for your program, please contact the Student Services Center at (626) 815-2020.
Military Benefits
Military members—and in some cases their spouses and dependents—qualify for financial assistance covering tuition, housing, and books. Azusa Pacific is a Yellow Ribbon University and Military Friendly School, so you can be confident that you’ll receive the benefits and flexibility you need to complete your education.
Program-Specific Aid
For more details on these scholarships and funding opportunities, as well as other possible resources, please contact the School of Nursing.
Nurse Faculty Loan Program
The Nurse Faculty Loan Program is a government loan program set up to increase the number of qualified nursing faculty by providing loans to students in advanced nursing education programs. Students must be pursuing a MSN or doctoral nursing degree. The NFLP loans will be forgiven—up to 85 percent of the amount received—over a consecutive four-year period if the student commits to serve as full-time faculty at a school of nursing following graduation. Faculty at private universities, state schools, and community colleges are eligible. Students receiving these loans must also complete the nursing education courses prior to graduation.
School of Nursing Alumni Tuition Discounts
APU’s School of Nursing offers an alumni tuition discount for APU alumni starting in the following graduate programs:
- MSN in Healthcare Administration and Leadership
- MSN in Nursing Education
- PhD in Nursing
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Students must be in good academic standing and maintain satisfactory academic progress with a minimum cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0. Students must be enrolled at least half-time. If qualifications are met, the discount may be renewed each term. APU will pay $500 per term (up to $2,000 over the course of the program). This discount cannot be combined with other institutional aid. Contact Student Financial Services for complete eligibility details.
Note: Award and eligibility are applicable for the 2022-23 academic year and apply to students admitted beginning fall 2020. The discount is subject to change.
Curriculum
Requirements
Knowledge/Theory
- GNRS 700 Philosophy of Science
- GNRS 701 Nursing Knowledge Development
- GNRS 702 Nursing Theory
- GNRS 703 Spirituality and Health
- GNRS 705 Social Ethics and Health Policy
Statistical Analysis
- GNRS 713 Advanced Statistical Analysis I
Research
- GNRS 706 Methods of Inquiry
- GNRS 707 Quantitative Nursing Research Design I
- GNRS 708 Qualitative Nursing Research Design I
- GNRS 724 Quantitative Nursing Research Design II: Survey Methodology
- GNRS 725 Research Practicum
Method of Inquiry
Select one of the following:
- GNRS 709 Advanced Statistical Analysis II
- GNRS 710 Advanced Qualitative Research Methods
- GNRS 711 Advanced Research Methods in the Humanities
- GNRS 712 Healthcare Quality Improvement, Program Planning, and Evaluation
Concentration
Select one of the following:
Health of the Family and Community
Select two of the following:
- GNRS 720 Wellness Promotion and Health Maintenance
- GNRS 721 Health Disparities and Vulnerable Populations
- GNRS 722 Research in Nursing and Health
International Health
- GNRS 722 Research in Nursing and Health
- GNRS 730 Comparative Health Care Systems
Nursing Historical Research
Select two of the following:
- GNRS 650 History of Professional Nursing: From Origins to Nursing in Transition
- GNRS 651 History of Professional Nursing: From Colonial Times to Present Day
- GNRS 799 Independent Study (permission required)
Electives (selected from two areas)
Dissertation Research
Select three of the following four:
- GNRS 780 Doctoral Seminar I: Elements of a Proposal and IRB Application
- GNRS 781 Doctoral Seminar II: Developing a Grant Proposal
- GNRS 782 Doctoral Seminar III: Writing for Publication
- GNRS 783 Doctoral Seminar IV: Developing Professional Presentations
Optional Course
- GNRS 798 Continuous Doctoral Study
Total Units 55
Rankings
- 1 of 79 - Best Western Colleges according to The Princeton Review’s 2024 Best Colleges Guide
- Top 25 - Best Schools for Nursing according to Niche.com
Program Outcome
Students who successfully complete this program shall be able to:
- Develop, test, and use theoretical knowledge to advance nursing science and improve health outcomes.
- Pursue systematic intellectual inquiry relevant to the discipline of nursing and health care.
- Use frameworks for understanding sources of knowledge in nursing, modes of inquiry, and models of scholarship.
- Develop ethical, social, and health policies for the advancement of nursing education, research, and the health of those whom nursing serves.
- Articulate the intersection of the Christian tradition with the nursing profession.