Online Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (Ph.D.)
Impact the Future of Nursing
Advance healthcare and evidence-based practice through research and innovation. Educate future nurses and address the nation’s critical faculty shortage.
Make a positive impact on the future of nursing with a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in nursing from the University of Central Florida, Florida’s next-generation preeminent university.
UCF’s Online Ph.D. in Nursing is Florida’s first for nurse scientists and designed to prepare graduates for careers as faculty researchers in academia and research leaders in healthcare systems.
Program Outcomes
At the completion of UCF’s online Ph.D. in Nursing program, graduates will be able to:
- Conduct independent nursing research within an interdisciplinary context to advance nursing science and practice.
- Develop a body of knowledge that supports theory development and testing to contribute to the advancement of nursing science.
- Develop a program of scholarship that integrates research, teaching, leadership, and service to the profession.
Program At-A-Glance
Online with 2 Ph.D. Intensives Annually
2 Tracks:Post Master’s & Post BSN
66 Credit Hours (Post-Master’s)75 Credit Hours (Post-BSN)
Fall Start 2026Summer Start 2027+
Full- or Part-Time
Application DeadlineNovember 1*
*September 1 Early Deadline. Rolling Admissions.
At UCF, we dare to boldly invent the future – unleashing the potential of people and ideas to positively change the world.
UCF’s Nursing Ph.D.
Student Success
As an educator, I want to make a difference in nursing education and cultivate a new era of excellence by providing the next generation of nurses with the knowledge, skills and compassion to excel.
Meet Ilana Logvinov, 2024-2026 Jonas Scholar
I always aspired to achieve the highest educational degree to engage in inquiry, discovery and development of innovation to make the world a better place.
Curriculum Overview
Sample plans of study are below and include supporting courses that develop student expertise in the area chosen for their dissertation. Ph.D. students are encouraged to seek out interdisciplinary supporting courses.
| Semester | Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 1 | NGR 7805: Doctoral Scholarship | 3 |
| NGR 7807: Research Approaches and Designs for Nursing and Healthcare | 3 | |
| NGR 7952: Scientific Writing | 3 | |
| Spring 1 | NGR 7817: Applied Statistical Analysis and Methods for Nursing Research I | 3 |
| NGR 7123: Theory in Nursing Science | 3 | |
| NGR 7815: Qualitative Methods I | 3 | |
| Summer 1 | NGR 7115: Philosophical Foundations of Nursing Science and Development of Nursing Knowledge | 3 |
| NGR 7892: Healthcare Systems and Policy | 3 | |
| Fall 2 | NGR 7818: Applied Statistical Analysis and Methods for Nursing Research II | 3 |
| NGR 7823: Psychometrics and Measurement for Nursing Research | 3 | |
| NGR 7916: Research Grants Process and Proposal Writing I | 3 | |
| Spring 2 | Supporting Course | 3 |
| NGR 7816: Advanced Research Design and Methods | 3 | |
| NGR 7932: Research Grants Process and Proposal Writing II | 3 | |
| Summer 2 | Doctoral Research | 3 |
| Supporting Course | 3 | |
| Fall 3 | NGR 7919: Doctoral Research | 3 |
| NGR 7980: Dissertation Research | 3 | |
| Spring 3 | NGR 7980: Dissertation Research | 3 |
| Summer 3 | NGR 7980: Dissertation Research | 3 |
| Fall 4 | NGR 7980: Dissertation Research | 3 |
| Spring 4 | NGR 7980: Dissertation Research | 3 |
| Total | 66 | |
| Semester | Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 1 | NGR 7805: Doctoral Scholarship | 3 |
| NGR 7807: Research Approaches and Designs for Nursing and Healthcare | 3 | |
| Spring 1 | NGR 7817: Applied Statistical Analysis and Methods for Nursing Research I | 3 |
| NGR 7123: Theory in Nursing Science | 3 | |
| Summer 1 | NGR 7115: Philosophical Foundations of Nursing Science and Development of Nursing Knowledge | 3 |
| NGR: 7919: Doctoral Research | 3 | |
| Fall 2 | NGR 7818: Applied Statistical Analysis and Methods for Nursing Research II | 3 |
| NGR 7952: Scientific Writing | 3 | |
| Spring 2 | NGR 7815: Qualitative Methods I | 3 |
| Supporting Course | 3 | |
| Summer 2 | NGR 7919: Doctoral Research | 3 |
| NGR: 7892: Healthcare Systems and Policy (Spring or Summer) | 3 | |
| Fall 3 | NGR 7823: Psychometrics and Measurement for Nursing Research | 3 |
| NGR 7916: Research Grants Process and Proposal Writing I | 3 | |
| Spring 3 | NGR 7816: Advanced Research Design and Methods | 3 |
| NGR 7932: Research Grants Process and Proposal Writing II | 3 | |
| Summer 3 | Supporting Course | 3 |
| NGR 7980: Dissertation Research | 3 | |
| Fall 4 | NGR 7980: Dissertation Research | 3 |
| Spring 4 | NGR 7980: Dissertation Research | 3 |
| Summer 4 | NGR 7980: Dissertation Research | 3 |
| Fall 5 | NGR 7980: Dissertation Research | 3 |
| Total | 66 | |
| Semester | Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 1 | NGR 7805: Doctoral Scholarship | 3 |
| NGR 7807: Research Approaches and Designs for Nursing and Healthcare | 3 | |
| NGR 7952: Scientific Writing | 3 | |
| Spring 1 | NGR 7817: Applied Statistical Analysis and Methods for Nursing Research I | 3 |
| NGR 7815: Qualitative Methods I | 3 | |
| NGR 7123: Theory in Nursing Science | 3 | |
| Summer 1 | NGR 7115: Philosophical Foundations of Nursing Science and Development of Nursing Knowledge | 3 |
| NGR 7919: Doctoral Research | 3 | |
| Fall 2 | NGR 7818: Applied Statistical Analysis and Methods for Nursing Research II | 3 |
| NGR 7823: Psychometrics and Measurement for Nursing Research | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Spring 2 | NGR 7816: Advanced Research Design and Methods | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Supporting Course | 3 | |
| Summer 2 | NGR 7919: Doctoral Research | 3 |
| NGR 7892: Healthcare Systems and Policy | 3 | |
| Fall 3 | NGR 7916: Research Grants Process and Proposal Writing I | 3 |
| NGR 7919: Doctoral Research | 3 | |
| Supporting Course | 3 | |
| Spring 3 | NGR 7932: Research Grants Process and Proposal Writing II | 3 |
| NGR 7980: Dissertation Research | 3 | |
| Summer 3 | NGR 7980: Dissertation Research | 3 |
| Fall 4 | NGR 7980: Dissertation Research | 3 |
| Spring 4 | NGR 7980: Dissertation Research | 3 |
| Summer 4 | NGR 7980: Dissertation Research | 3 |
| Total | 75 | |
| Semester | Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 1 | NGR 7805: Doctoral Scholarship | 3 |
| NGR 7807: Research Approaches and Designs for Nursing and Healthcare | 3 | |
| Spring 1 | NGR 7817: Applied Statistical Analysis and Methods for Nursing Research I | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Summer 1 | NGR 7115: Philosophical Foundations of Nursing Science and Development of Nursing Knowledge | 3 |
| NGR 7919: Doctoral Research | 3 | |
| Fall 2 | NGR 7818: Applied Statistical Analysis and Methods for Nursing Research II | 3 |
| NGR 7952: Scientific Writing | 3 | |
| Spring 2 | NGR 7815: Qualitative Methods I | 3 |
| NGR 7123: Theory in Nursing Science | 3 | |
| Summer 2 | NGR 7919: Doctoral Research | 3 |
| NGR 7892: Healthcare Systems and Policy (Spring or Summer) | 3 | |
| Fall 3 | NGR 7823: Psychometrics and Measurement for Nursing Research | 3 |
| NGR 7916: Research Grants Process and Proposal Writing I | 3 | |
| Spring 3 | NGR 7816: Advanced Research Design and Methods | 3 |
| NGR 7932: Research Grants Process and Proposal Writing II | 3 | |
| Summer 3 | Supporting Course | 3 |
| NGR 7919: Doctoral Research | 3 | |
| Fall 4 | Elective | 3 |
| Supporting Course | 3 | |
| Spring 4 | NGR 7980: Dissertation Research | 3 |
| Summer 4 | NGR 7980: Dissertation Research | 3 |
| Fall 5 | NGR 7980: Dissertation Research | 3 |
| Spring 5 | NGR 7980: Dissertation Research | 3 |
| Summer 5 | NGR 7980: Dissertation Research | 3 |
| Total | 75 | |
Application Requirements
Students may pursue UCF’s Online Nursing Ph.D. program from any location, both within or outside of Florida.
To apply to this program, you will need to meet the following criteria:
- Fulfill the general UCF graduate admissions requirements (see Admissions section of the UCF Graduate Catalog).
- Degree(s) from a regionally accredited institution or equivalent.
- BSN from a regionally accredited institution or equivalent for the BSN to Ph.D. track
- Baccalaureate degree and graduate degree from an accredited program for the Post-Master’s to Ph.D. track*
- Nurse applicants must hold an RN license in the state in which they practice. Licensure as a Registered Nurse in Florida is preferred, but not required, and will be considered case-by-case.*
- Three letters of recommendation are required. These should evaluate the applicant’s potential for success in doctoral study and research. Recommendations are preferably written by nursing faculty who have taught the applicant, current or former nurse employers, or nurses who hold a Ph.D.
- Research interests that match faculty expertise.
*Applicants holding a degree in a non-nursing related discipline or without an active nursing license will be considered on an individual basis. Please contact gradnurseadvisor@ucf.edu for information.
**Online programs do not meet immigration requirements for students holding an F1 or J1 Visa to maintain status. If you have questions, please contact UCF Global at global.ucf.edu or call 407-823-2337.
Admissions Process
Ready to apply? You will need the following:
- Schedule an appointment with a UCF College of Nursing graduate program advisor to discuss the essay and your goals for doctoral study. (Strongly recommended, but not required.)
- Official transcript from each college/university attended.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) reflecting prior education, recent accomplishments, research or quality improvement experience, recent scholarly work (publications and presentations), awards, national certifications, and activities with professional organizations.
- Three (3) professional letters of recommendation.
- Written essay, 500 words or less, double spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, 1-inch margins addressing the following:
- Ability to conceptualize or develop a research idea
- Motivation to earn a PhD and fit with future career goals
- Fit of research interest with faculty’s program of research
- Research or quality improvement experience
Admissions are decided by a committee of UCF College of Nursing faculty based on an applicant’s GPA, CV, research attributes, and written essay. Qualified applicants will be offered an applicant interview.
The College of Nursing accepts the most qualified students based on evaluations of the applicant’s abilities, past performance, recommendations, match of UCF programs with applicant’s career goals and match of faculty research areas.