Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing

Domestic and international prospective students can apply to the PhD in Nursing. If you apply in the fall or spring semester, you can attend a prospective student interview with School of Nursing faculty members.

Admission Requirements for Domestic Applicants

We evaluate your admission to the PhD in Nursing program based on these criteria:

• Graduate application for admission

• $45 nonrefundable application fee

• Official transcripts from all regionally accredited institutions leading to and awarding your bachelor’s degree, and from all postbaccalaureate studies
• An official transcript is one that Azusa Pacific University receives unopened in an envelope sealed by the former institution and that bears the official seal of the college or university (a minimum cumulative 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade-point average (GPA) on the posted degree is required for regular admission status; provisional admittance may be granted to individuals with a lower GPA if competency can be shown through multiple measures)
• Transcripts must show completion of a BSN and a master’s degree in nursing or a similar field (they must also include a graduate-level statistics course taken within the last five years)

• Graduate-level nursing research course

• Graduate-level nursing theory course

• Evidence of written creative work and/or scholarly papers
• Written statement including educational objectives, specific focus of research, and career goals

• Current curriculum vitae (CV)

• Two letters of recommendation from individuals suited to evaluate your qualifications for PhD education in nursing (including at least one from a direct supervisor and/or a previous faculty member)
• Status as a licensed registered nurse (evidence of current licensure as a registered nurse in the state of California is mandatory at the time of program entry)

Send official transcripts to:

Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions
Azusa Pacific University
PO Box 7000
Azusa, CA 91702-7000
[email protected]

Admission Requirements for International Applicants

Azusa Pacific University is authorized under federal law by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the U.S. Department of State to enroll nonimmigrant alien undergraduate and graduate students. APU issues and administers the I-20 and DS-2019 (F-1 and J-1 status documents, respectively).

In addition to meeting all requirements for domestic applicants, international students must complete these actions to apply for the PhD in Nursing at APU:

• Demonstrate proficiency in English through one of our Academic Success Center’s Foreign Language Placement and Proficiency Assessments or through a TOEFL or IELTS score that meets APU’s requirements (request that official test scores be sent to APU; you must submit all other forms of proof indicated in the English proficiency requirements directly to International Services)
• Provide a Graduate Affidavit of Financial Support (PDF) and a bank statement from within the last six months, proving your financial ability to pay for education costs through personal, family, or sponsor resources
• Submit a copy of a valid passport showing biographical data, including your name, country of citizenship, and date of birth
• Get foreign transcripts evaluated (a foreign transcript evaluation agency must evaluate international credentials, including transcripts, certificates, diplomas, and degrees; review our graduate international transcript policy and a list of approved foreign transcript evaluation agencies)

Next Steps

After the Student Services Center evaluates your portfolio according to the admission criteria for the PhD, the School of Nursing reviews your completed application to discern your academic qualifications and preparation for advanced graduate study.

Upon completion of the screening and review process, the Nursing Doctoral Admission Committee forwards a list of qualified and alternate applicants to the Student Services Center, which officially notifies you of the admission decision.

To continue in this program after admission, you must maintain at least a cumulative 3.0 GPA and successfully complete these milestones:

• Qualifying Exam
• Dissertation Proposal Defense
• Dissertation Research, Defense, and Publication

Many financial aid options are available to help make your PhD in Nursing more affordable. For information about scholarships, funding opportunities, and other resources, contact the School of Nursing at (626) 815-5386.

PhD in Nursing Tuition and Fees

Some courses may require additional costs. View a complete list of university fees.

All stated financial information is subject to change. Contact the Student Services Center at (626) 815-2020 for more information.

Financial Aid

At Azusa Pacific University, we’re committed to keeping Christian education accessible. Several types of financial aid are available to you as a PhD in Nursing student, including federal loans, state grants, fellowships, and scholarships. For additional details about financial aid, contact the Student Services Center at (626) 815-2020.

Military and Veteran 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, which signifies our commitment to ensuring that you receive the benefits and flexibility you need in order to complete your education.

Nurse Faculty Loan Program

The Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) provides government financial assistance to increase the number of qualified nursing faculty. As a student pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), or a PhD in Nursing, up to 85% of the amount you receive from NFLP loans will be forgiven if you commit to serve as a full-time faculty member at a nursing school after graduation.

You must complete your education over a consecutive four-year period to remain eligible for loan forgiveness. You can enter a faculty position at a private university, state school, or community college. To receive NFLP loans, you must also complete the nursing education certificate courses before graduation.

School of Nursing Alumni Tuition Discounts

Through the School of Nursing, we offer a tuition discount of $500 per term to APU alumni pursuing the PhD in Nursing. Over the course of the program, your savings through this opportunity can total up to $2,000.

The discount renews each term as long as you maintain satisfactory academic progress with at least half-time enrollment and a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA.

You cannot combine this discount with other institutional aid. For complete eligibility details, contact the Student Services Center at (626) 815-2020.

Accelerate your nursing career advancement with the DNP to PhD pathway. If you are an RN with a DNP, you can earn your PhD in Nursing by

• transferring 15 units of finished coursework;
• taking 40 units through the PhD in Nursing program; and
• completing a dissertation.

For more information, contact the PhD program manager at [email protected].

DNP to PhD Admission Information

The DNP to PhD pathway enables professionals with a DNP or transferable doctoral-level units to further improve patient and population outcomes by expanding their research skills.

The School of Nursing at Azusa Pacific University allows you to transfer up to 15 units of coursework, reducing the requirements for the PhD in Nursing from 55 to 40 units. You complete this proposed plan of study either full-time over six semesters or on a part-time schedule.

To apply for the DNP to PhD pathway, complete all the steps required for the nursing PhD program. Upon admission, the Nursing Doctoral Admission Committee conducts a transfer evaluation and gap analysis of your DNP coursework.

Benefits

Through this unique doctoral opportunity, you learn the skills necessary to conduct original research and lead innovation in the application of translational research in nursing. In addition to promoting evidence-based practice in clinical settings, as a nursing scholar, you positively influence the next generation and improve overall health outcomes.

If you are an RN who wants to teach in nursing schools, you also gain access to the NFLP through this pathway.

The nursing PhD program at Azusa Pacific aligns with typical doctoral milestones, including a qualifying exam, a dissertation proposal defense, and dissertation work culminating in a defense and publication. Exceptions to any stage of the process are granted only by petition.

Qualifying Exam

After you complete GNRS 700, 701, 702, and 706, you take a qualifying exam. This includes a 25- to 30-page paper and an oral examination before a faculty committee.

The paper acts as the culmination of your first-year coursework and typically relates to your chosen area of interest in nursing research. It must also include

• researchable questions;
• relevant aspects of nursing theory and nursing knowledge development; and
• your chosen methods of inquiry.

In the oral review, you synthesize the research process by responding to questions from committee members.

Dissertation Proposal Defense

To show your ability to pursue independent research, you must defend a dissertation proposal before a faculty committee. Your proposal should include your projected data analysis, your plan for subject or participant access, and your timeline for dissertation completion. Through this experience, you demonstrate mastery of a particular area of evidence-based nursing practice.

Proposal defense also provides the opportunity to showcase your awareness of

• active topics of investigation in the field;
• theoretical dimensions and design issues related to potential questions; and
• potential practical and ethical challenges related to the research.

PhD in Nursing Candidacy

After completing the dissertation proposal defense and advancing to PhD candidacy, you must submit the appropriate paperwork to the APU Institutional Review Board (IRB) and any additional IRBs. Once these boards approve all documentation, you may begin data collection.

Committee members, primarily the chair or sponsor, continue to offer advice and guidance during your dissertation work.

Dissertation Defense

After completing original, independent research to the satisfaction of each committee member, you present a dissertation defense that specifies these elements of your inquiry:

• Question
• Method
• Design
• Data Collection Instruments and Strategy
• Decisions and Findings

At the end of your defense, you and the committee also discuss your plan for publication and continued postdoctoral research.

The degree cannot be posted to your transcript until the University Libraries and the School of Nursing accept your dissertation.

If you are a PhD in Nursing student in good standing and must interrupt your studies for a compelling reason, you may petition for a leave of absence. Request leave in writing, stating the reason. You cannot request a leave longer than two years, and you must indicate the semester in which you plan to re-enroll. One full term before the date that your return semester begins, you must file a petition to return to enrolled status and fulfill any conditions established after the initial request.

Compelling reasons for a leave of absence include

• illness;
• study away;
• family conditions; or
• crises.

Leaves of absence are approved by the department chair and the dean of the School of Nursing. If you are on leave for two years, the Nursing Doctoral Admission Committee, your student advisor, the doctoral studies chair, and the dean will review your re-enrollment petition. Readmission may remain contingent upon the amount of time elapsed, your stage of study in the program, or your academic activity during the leave.

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Most PhD in Nursing students take 7-8 units per term. This program includes three terms per year: fall, spring, and summer.