Program Information

Ph.D. Program Director: Jennifer Harrison Elder

Complete faculty listing by department: Follow this link.

The College of Nursing’s Ph.D. program prepares scientists, scholars, advanced practitioners, and leaders in nursing. Comprehensive research and practice preparation is achieved by pairing students with faculty. Students have access to an array of faculty members for interdisciplinary study, clinical practice, and research. Individually directed dissertation research is a major aspect of the Ph.D. program. Research in the College includes aging and health, women’s health, bio-behavioral interventions, and health policy.

Progression in the program depends on the student’s ability to meet academic standards and clinical competencies as defined by College policy.

To be considered for admission to the Ph.D. program, students must meet the following minimum requirements:

• A BSN or master’s degree in nursing from a CCNE/NLN AC accredited program.
• A master’s program GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and a score of 500 or higher on each of the verbal and quantitative sections in the prior version of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test. In the current version of the GRE a minimum score of 153 in the verbal section and 144 in the quantitative section. or
• A master’s program GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale and a score of 600 or higher on each of the verbal and quantitative sections in the prior version of the Graduate Record Examination General Test. In the current version of the GRE a score a minimum score of 160 in the verbal section and 148 in the quantitative section.
• BSN/PhD Applicant Criteria: A baccalaureate degree GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale in the most recent 60 credits taken toward the bachelor’s degree and a score of 600 or higher on each of the verbal and quantitative sections in the prior version of the GRE General Test. In the current version of the GRE a minimum score of 160 in the verbal section and 148 in the quantitative section.
• Completion of the GRE Analytic or the Analytical Writing Measure.
• International students or students whose native language is not English are required to pass one of the following tests with a satisfactory score of:
  •  Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL):
    • Computer-based: 213
    • Paper-based: 550
    • Web-based: 80
    • iBT Speaking  Component: 26
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS):
    • Overall score: 6.5
    • Speaking Component: 7
  • Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB):
    • Overall score: 79
  • Successful completion of the University of Florida English Language Institute Program.
• International students or students whose native language is not English with unsatisfactory scores on the TOEFL, and TOEFL iBT Speaking Component, IELTS, or MELAB; unsuccessful completion of the UF English Language Institute Program; or an unacceptable score on the verbal part of the GRE must achieve an acceptable score on an essay administered by the Academic Written English Program at UF.
• Current licensure (or eligibility) as a Registered Nurse in the State of Florida.
• Availability of a primary mentor who is a College of Nursing faculty member with expertise consistent with the students’ research focus area.
• Students must be either a U.S. citizen, legal U.S. resident or hold a valid visa.

Please see our website for more information: http://admissions.nursing.ufl.edu/degrees/phd.

Degrees Offered with a Major in Nursing Sciences

• Doctor of Philosophy
  • without a concentration
  • concentration in Clinical and Translational Science

Requirements for these degrees are given in the Graduate Degrees section of this catalog.

College of nursing courses

Nursing sciences

SLO 1     Knowledge        
Synthesize knowledge from nursing and other disciplines.

SLO 2     Skills     
Generate knowledge for the discipline of nursing.

SLO 3     Skills     
Disseminate findings to researchers, practitioners, and other stakeholders in health care.

SLO 4     Professional Behavior   
Synthesize ethical issues and standards related to science and knowledge development.

SLO 5     Professional Behavior   
Develop and engage with interdisciplinary teams within the scientific and health care practice communities.