Learn more about research at UMSON:
For more than four decades, the University of Maryland School of Nursing’s PhD program has prepared scholars and researchers to improve health care outcomes through engaging, fascinating scientific discovery.
The UMSON PhD program was initiated in 1979 as the 16th doctoral nursing program in the nation. Every student is carefully chosen and matched to the faculty member who can offer the greatest opportunity to succeed in developing his or her research program. As a graduate, you will join a thriving group of alumni — many of whom hold key leadership positions in academia, research, and administration across the country.
You're an ideal candidate for this PhD program if you are a bachelor's- or master's-prepared nurse or other health-related professional who wants a research career focused on some of the most important disciplines, topics, and trends, including:
UMSON’s PhD program offers an opportunity for its students to apply for a grant to support their dissertation research, if they don’t receive funding from NIH or AHRQ. Two grants are awarded per year, and students must maintain good academic standing. The application requires a written research proposal, a letter of support from the student’s dissertation chair, and appendices.
For the request for proposal and the submission link, please visit the PhD Program Resource section in Blackboard. If you have any questions, email NRSPhD@umaryland.edu.
For financial aid purposes, there are credit minimums for full-time status that may differ from the plans of study. See details.
| Semester and Course Number/Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Fall (PhD Year 1) | |
| NURS 840: Philosophy of Science and Development of Theory* | 3 |
| NURS 850: Nursing Research Designs P or C: NURS 840, NURS 851 |
3 |
| NURS 851: Introductory Analysis for Nursing Research P or C: NURS 840, NURS 850 |
3 |
| NURS 802: Research and Scholarship Seminar* | 1 |
| Total: | 10 |
| Spring (PhD Year 1) | |
| NURS 841: Theory and Conceptualization in Nursing Science* P: NURS 840 |
3 |
| NURS 814: Advanced Statistical Analysis for Nursing Research P: NURS 850 and NURS 851 |
3 |
| NURS 815: Qualitative Methods in Nursing Research P: NURS 840 |
3 |
| NURS 819: Research Rotation** | 2 |
| Total: | 11 |
| Summer (PhD Year 1) | |
| NURS 818: Research Practicum*** P: Completion of 2 credits of NURS 819 |
2 |
| Total: | 2 |
| Fall (PhD Year 2) | |
| NURS 811: Measurement of Nursing Phenomena P: NURS 840, NURS 841, NURS 850, NURS 851, NURS 814, NURS 815 and recommend concurrent enrollment in NURS 816 or permission of the instructor |
3 |
| NURS 816: Multivariable Modeling Approaches in Health Sciences Research P: NURS 840, NURS 841, NURS 850, NURS 851, NURS 814, NURS 815 and recommend concurrent enrollment in NURS 811 or permission of the instructor |
4 |
| NURS xxx: Elective | 3 |
| Total: | 10 |
| Spring (PhD Year 2) | |
| NURS 818: Research Practicum*** | 4 |
| NURS xxx: Elective | 3 |
| NURS 821: Grant Proposal Writing* P: NURS 840, NURS 850, NURS 851; OR with permission of the instructor |
2 |
| Total: | 9 |
| Summer (PhD Year 2) | |
| NURS xxx: Elective | 3 |
| Total: | 3 |
| Fall (PhD Year 3) | |
| NURS xxx: Elective | 3 |
| Dissertation Credits | 6 |
| Total: | 9 |
| Spring (PhD Year 3) | |
| Dissertation Credits | 6 |
| Total: | 6 |
| TOTAL | 60 |
*Offered virtually with synchronous meetings.
**Research Rotation: A total of 2 research rotation credits are required for all students – 1 credit equals 3 hours/week or 45 hours over the semester.
***Research Practicum: A total of 6 credits of NURS 818 are required – these are intended to focus on the student’s research area where time is spent preparing for comprehensive exams, learning new techniques, conducting preliminary analyses, etc. As with NURS 819, for 1 credit students are expected to devote 45 hours over the semester.
P - Prerequisite
C - Concurrent
| Semester and Course Number/Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Fall (PhD Year 1) | |
| NURS 840: Philosophy of Science and Development of Theory* | 3 |
| NURS 802: Research and Scholarship Seminar* | 1 |
| Total: | 4 |
| Spring (PhD Year 1) | |
| NURS 841: Theory and Conceptualization in Nursing Science* P: NURS 840 |
3 |
| NURS 819: Research Rotation** | 2 |
| Total: | 5 |
| Summer (PhD Year 1) | |
| NURS xxx: Elective | 3 |
| Total: | 3 |
| Fall (PhD Year 2) | |
| NURS 850: Nursing Research Designs P or C: NURS 840, NURS 851 |
3 |
| NURS 851: Introductory Analysis for Nursing Research P or C: NURS 840, NURS 850 |
3 |
| Total: | 6 |
| Spring (PhD Year 2) | |
| NURS 814: Advanced Statistical Analysis for Nursing Research P: NURS 850 and NURS 851 |
3 |
| NURS 815: Qualitative Methods in Nursing Research P: NURS 840 |
3 |
| Total: | 6 |
| Summer (PhD Year 2) | |
| NURS 818: Research Practicum*** | 3 |
| Total: | 3 |
| Fall (PhD Year 3) | |
| NURS 811: Measurement of Nursing Phenomena P: NURS 840, NURS 841, NURS 850, NURS 851, NURS 814, NURS 815 and recommend concurrent enrollment in NURS 816 or permission of the instructor |
3 |
| NURS 816: Multivariable Modeling Approaches in Health Sciences Research P: NURS 840 or NDNP 804, NURS 841, NURS 850, NURS 851, NURS 814, NURS 815 and recommend concurrent enrollment in NURS 811 or permission of the instructor |
4 |
| Total: | 7 |
| Spring (PhD Year 3) | |
| NURS 821: Grant Proposal Writing* P: NURS 840, NURS 850, NURS 851; OR with permission of the instructor |
2 |
| NURS 818: Research Practicum*** | 1 |
| NURS xxx: Elective | 3 |
| Total: | 6 |
| Summer (PhD Year 3) | |
| NURS 818: Research Practicum*** P: Completion of 2 credits of NURS 819 |
2 |
| Total: | 2 |
| Fall (PhD Year 4) | |
| NURS xxx: Elective | 3 |
| NURS 899: Dissertation | 3 |
| Total: | 6 |
| Spring (PhD Year 4) | |
| NURS xxx: Elective | 3 |
| NURS 899: Dissertation | 3 |
| Total: | 6 |
| Summer (PhD Year 4) | |
| NURS 899: Dissertation | 6 |
| Total: | 6 |
| Year 5 and Following | |
| Remaining dissertation credits to total a minimum of 12 if not taken above | |
| TOTAL | 60 |
*Offered virtually with synchronous meetings.
**Research Rotation: A total of 2 research rotation credits are required for all students – 1 credit equals 3 hours/week or 45 hours over the semester.
***Research Practicum: A total of 6 credits of NURS 818 are required – these are intended to focus on the student’s research area where time is spent preparing for comprehensive exams, learning new techniques, conducting preliminary analyses, etc. As with NURS 819, for 1 credit students are expected to devote 45 hours over the semester.
P - Prerequisite
C - Concurrent
Plans of Study Admitted Prior to Fall 2025:
PhD applicants apply through UMB’s Graduate School. Your application and all supplemental materials must be received by this date.
Should the deadline fall on a weekend or holiday, applications will be accepted through the subsequent business day.
Applicants should possess a bachelor's or master's degree with a major in nursing or a related health field from a regionally accredited college or university or an equivalent degree from a comparable foreign institution. For International Applicants or those with a degree outside the United States, please review the International Applicants webpage.
PhD applicants apply through UMB’s Graduate School. All applicants must satisfy the general requirements of the University of Maryland Graduate School and submit the following materials:
Submit/request these materials via the Admissions Dashboard.
| Material/Qualifications | Submission Guidelines |
| Online Application and non-refundable $75 application fee. |
Start your application now via the Admissions Dashboard. The Admissions Dashboard is where you will:
You can save your progress and return to your application at a later date. We recommend that you continue to log in for regular updates. |
|
Official Transcript(s) in English or native language transcript or mark sheets (if applicable) from your undergraduate and graduate schools listing subjects studied or marks received and rank in class or division. Transcripts should delineate a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all previous course work (baccalaureate, master's, and any subsequent coursework). For International Applicants or those with a degree outside the United States, please review the International Applicants webpage. Returning students are not required to submit UMSON transcripts; we will upload a copy of your UMSON transcript to your application. Please note that UMSON is listed two ways in the Academics area. Please make sure you choose one of the following:
|
Submit/request these materials via the Admissions Dashboard. |
| Three letters of recommendation providing evidence of personal and professional qualifications from three doctoral-prepared professionals familiar with the applicant's ability, work experience, contributions to nursing, and potential for success in the PhD program. | |
| Curriculum vitae | |
| Essay describing your academic goals and research interests. It is important that your research interests match with our faculty expertise. Please review our faculty research interests and mention a faculty member who may be appropriate. |
|
| Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required only for applicants with a GPA lower than 3.25 on a 4.0 scale or 4.01 on a 5.0 scale in your most recently earned degree. If the GRE is required you must have taken the test within five years of application date. To request a GRE waiver for international applicants, a credentialed GPA is required. | Use code 5848 for the Graduate School. |
| If your native language or home language is not English: For International Applicants or those with a degree outside the United States, please review the International Applicants webpage. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam scores; the minimum acceptable TOEFL score for admission is 550 for paper-based tests, 80 for the internet-based tests. IELTS test takers must score no less than Band 7 (total). |
Use code 5848 for the Graduate School. |
If you have questions regarding the admissions requirements or process, contact NRSphd@umaryland.edu to avoid errors that could delay the processing of your application.
UMSON offers multiple opportunities to help you afford your graduate education.
| Type of Aid | Award |
|---|---|
| Federal Financial Aid | various award amounts |
| Merit Scholarships | $1,500-$3,000 per semester (You are automatically considered for a merit scholarship upon submitting a completed application for enrollment in an UMSON academic program.) |
| Donor-Funded Scholarships | $500-2,000 per semester (offered during the fall and spring semesters) |
| Conway Scholarship | full scholarship: tuition and fees (for those who will have completed 12 credit hours of graduate study by the start of the semester for which the Conway Scholarship is awarded and who have at least half of their credit hours remaining) |
| Maryland Higher Education Commission Nurse Support II Program |
funding available through three programs:
|
| Graduate Assistantships | stipend, tuition remission, in-state status, and paid student health insurance |
Learn More About Financial Aid and Scholarships
All students receiving funds through the University must:
The UMB Office of Student Financial Assistance & Education is available to guide prospective and current students through the FAFSA application process and the financial aid award package.
Contact Us:
UMSON Scholarships and Grants Office
410-706-0489 | nrsscholarships@umaryland.edu
UMB Student Financial Assistance and Education Office
410-706-7347 | aidtalk@umaryland.edu