PhD in Nursing Science (PhD)

Professional connections shape UMass Chan Medical School’s work across education, research, health care delivery and public service. The school is the academic partner of UMass Memorial Health, linking its educational mission with a major health care organization. Its founding mission places primary care education at the center of physician preparation. David D. McManus, who became chancellor, is the school’s first alumnus to lead the institution, reflecting a continuing connection between its graduates and its leadership.

UMass Chan brings together three graduate schools. The T.H. Chan School of Medicine offers medical education focused on patient-centered care in urban and rural communities, as well as MD/MBA and MD/PhD options. The Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing prepares nurses, nurse practitioners and nurse scientists, with an emphasis on health equity and quality of life. The Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences covers areas including biochemistry, biostatistics, cancer biology and neuroscience. Collaboration across labs, departments and schools supports research, including work associated with Nobel Prize-winning discoveries by Victor R. Ambros and Craig C. Mello.

The campus is located at 55 Lake Avenue North in Worcester, Massachusetts. Students join an institution that combines graduate education with clinical, laboratory and public-service activities. Its business divisions include MassBiologics, the only nonprofit, FDA-licensed manufacturer of vaccines and biologics in the United States, with locations in Boston and Fall River, and ForHealth Consulting, its public service consulting and operations division. International students can explore medical, nursing and biomedical pathways within the same institution, with program options varying by graduate school.

This programme prepares students for careers in nursing research, academia, and leadership. It focuses on developing scholars who advance nursing science through rigorous inquiry. Students engage in research, teaching, and policy practicum experiences. The programme emphasizes philosophical foundations and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Focus areas include nursing science, research methods, teaching in nursing education, health policy, philosophical and theoretical inquiry, cultural competence in health.

The programme requires a total of 72 credits, distributed across coursework, comprehensive exams, and dissertation research. Core courses are completed in a hybrid format with on-campus requirements on Tuesdays, and students must complete a dissertation based on original research.

Graduates pursue roles as nurse scientists, university faculty, research leaders, and policy advisors in academic and healthcare institutions.

Applicants must hold a BSN, MSN, or DNP and have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0. Required documents include two letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and proof of a college-level statistics course with a grade of B- or higher.

The programme totals about 72 credit hours. Hybrid format with on-campus requirements on Tuesdays; part-time and full-time options available; typical duration is 4 to 6 years. For international students, tuition is well above the median for US programmes.