PhD in Nursing Science (PhD)

Applications for the Sep 2026 intake are due by May 15, 2027. Tuition is Tuition & Fees listed here are for in-state students enrolling in the university for Fall 2026 semester..

Augusta University’s Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Nursing program is a research-focused, hybrid program designed for busy professionals. It offers interdisciplinary opportunities in areas like cardiovascular health, community-based participatory interventions, and health promotion. Students engage in extensive research experiences, faculty mentoring, and interdisciplinary knowledge development. The program prepares nurse scientists for academic careers by exploring ethical, political, economic, and cultural issues and designing studies to improve community care.

Focus areas include cardiovascular health, community-based participatory interventions, health promotion, cancer research, health disparities, diabetes and epigenetics.

The curriculum is tailored to each student’s research area and includes core, research mentorship, elective, and dissertation courses, along with two summer research-intensive workshops. It is delivered through distance-accessible/hybrid coursework.

The program prepares nurse scientists for academic careers and equips them with interdisciplinary skills to lead and apply scientific knowledge in healthcare.

The program is designed for busy professionals seeking to advance their nursing careers through research and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Admission requires a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and graduate GPA of 3.2, a BSN degree, and 3 credit hours in statistics with a 'B' or higher. Applicants must submit official transcripts, three letters of recommendation, a resume/CV, an essay, and an original research paper. An unrestricted RN license in Georgia is also required, and standardized tests are not needed.

This is a hybrid program available to full-time or part-time students, with full-time completion in three years. For international students, tuition is below the median for US programmes. The institution admits about 89% of applicants.

Augusta University brings together undergraduate and graduate education with professional study in health, business, computing, education, nursing, public health, science and mathematics, and the arts, humanities and social sciences. Its academic structure includes eleven colleges and schools, with the Medical College of Georgia and the Dental College of Georgia forming distinctive parts of the institution. Allied health sciences and graduate medicine add further routes into health-focused study. Students can choose campus-based programs or AU Online, whose courses can be completed from anywhere in a close learning environment.

Research is organized around collaboration and includes work connected with health, medical advancement and intellectual life. Recent activities show students engaging with applied learning tools, including Anatomage Tables in nursing anesthesia education, while faculty research addresses issues such as medical debt and sleep. International students join an academic and social community that includes people from around the world. Housing is available through residential communities, and Jags Live Well supports a student-focused approach to holistic wellness. Student experience opportunities extend academic learning and foster personal growth. Campus life includes counseling, creative activities, cultural events and study abroad programming. On-campus students can combine academic work with residential life, wellness support and broader personal-development opportunities, while online study provides flexibility for those who cannot relocate.