Nurses seeking to advance their career with a Ph.D. now have the opportunity to access world-class research facilities and university faculty through the click of a mouse. The University of Central Florida’s College of Nursing [1], one of the nation’s best online graduate programs for nursing, according to U.S. News & World Report, will offer the state’s first and only online Ph.D. program specifically designed to educate nurse scientists.
The 60-credit hour program [2] combines the strengths of the nation’s second-largest university with the convenience and flexibility of an online format. Students will only have to travel to Orlando twice per academic year. The first classes will begin the summer of 2015 and applications are currently being accepted. The application deadline is Jan. 15.
“UCF and the College of Nursing are dedicated to providing an array of educational opportunities to our students,” said Susan K. Chase, associate dean for graduate affairs in the College of Nursing [3]. “By creating an online program, we’re able to attract and prepare more nurse researchers who are the future of health care. Graduates will be able to serve in senior leadership roles in the fields of academia, health care, military and more, and will make valuable contributions to advance nursing and solve some of our world’s ever-evolving health concerns.”
Donna Neff, program coordinator and interim director of research, said: “Our graduate students are typically employed full time in leadership positions and appreciate the flexibility of an online program, which allows them to balance their career while furthering their education. This new program expands our existing online offerings to seven and aids in the growing demand for nurse Ph.D.s.”
Online Ph.D. students will have access to the university’s state-of-the-art facilities, experience small class sizes of less than 20, and receive one-on-one academic support to help meet their educational goals. The UCF College of Nursing currently has 14 faculty scholars actively engaged in cutting-edge research, including in the fields of simulation [4], health systems and health care self-management [5].
This high-quality educational opportunity is not only convenient but also affordable as UCF has been named one of the nation’s “best value” [6] universities by Kiplinger’s and The Princeton Review.
The UCF College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education [7] for its baccalaureate, master’s and Doctor of Nursing Practice degree programs. The Ph.D. program aligns with The Indicators of Quality in Research-Focused Doctoral Programs in Nursing [7] published by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
For more information about the online Nursing PhD program, visit nursing.ucf.edu.