The purpose of the OSU College of Nursing PhD program is to produce scholars who will contribute to the scientific basis for nursing practice and lead the scientific development and trajectory of the discipline. Nursing science is interdisciplinary in nature and drawn from the biological, social, and behavioral sciences. Requirement for interdisciplinary study has been included in the PhD curriculum since program inception. PhD students are expected to develop breadth of understanding of the scientific basis for the discipline and to develop depth in a focused area of science.
The focus of the PhD in Nursing program is examination of the broad determinants of health outcomes in individuals, families, populations, and systems. PhD students in the College of Nursing are required to complete a cognate minor outside the College of Nursing. Cognate study allows the student to develop theoretical and methodological knowledge in the biological, behavioral, or social science area related to the research focus. Cognate study places the students in close contact with faculty and graduate students in other departments, increasing opportunities for collaborative and transdisciplinary research training.
The PhD in Nursing program is fully in-person to support students’ active learning as a member of a faculty research lab.