Nursing

Nursing, Doctor of Philosophy

Doctoral | On Campus, Online with Campus Visits Required

MU SSON offers a challenging and yet enriching PhD program with two options: International Residential PhD and Online PhD Option. The PhD curriculum, program requirements, and program outcomes are the same whether you choose the Online PhD option or the International Residential Nursing PhD option. Only the method of course delivery varies.

Career Preparation

Our doctor of philosophy in nursing (PhD) program prepares researchers, clinical scholars, and educators for leadership roles across a wide spectrum of settings, including academia, healthcare systems, public health organizations, industry, government, and other sectors where advanced nursing and healthcare expertise is essential. Because the knowledge and skills needed to produce excellent health-related research is not discipline specific; the Mizzou Nursing PhD program is one of the few nursing PhD programs that does not require a prior degree in nursing. Indeed, we have had PhD students with academic preparation in health administration, health education, health-related informatics, medical ethics, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, public health and social work.

International Admission for Nursing PhD Program

All international admissions are initially the responsibility of the MU Coordinator of International Student Programs. The PhD Program Committee of the School of Nursing may not act upon any international application for admission until the applicant has been cleared through the office.

Minimum Language Requirements

As proof English language proficiency, the Graduate School accepts scores from one of the following testing services:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)*
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS – Academic) | IELTS One Skill Retake
• Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE)
• Cambridge English Tests (B2 First, C1 Advanced, and C2 Proficiency)
• Duolingo English Test

*Note: Institutional TOEFL (TOEFL ITP) results from schools or institutions other than the University of Missouri are not acceptable.

Click here to view the minimum English language proficiency test scores.

Depending upon English-language proficiency, you may be required to enroll in English Language Support Program courses along with a reduced academic course load. You must pass these courses within the first calendar year of enrollment.

Overview of the PhD Application Process

• The PhD application is fully online via the MU Graduate School website.
• You will submit an application fee to MU Graduate School when you apply ($145 for domestic students; $170 for international students).
• You will not send any items to the MU SSON at the time of application.
• Competitive applicants with a strong research mentor match are invited to participate in an interview.
• Applicants to the International Residential PhD Option are strongly encouraged to apply by the December 1st deadline to allow sufficient time for processing immigration paperwork.
• Early acceptance applicants are notified in early January.
• Regular acceptance applicants are notified no later than mid-March.

Application Deadlines

Application Requirements for the PhD in Nursing

PhD applicants entering with a bachelor’s degree: Bachelor’s  degree in nursing from NLNAC, ACEN, CNEA or CCNE-accredited school OR equivalent for interdisciplinary (health-related) applicants; 3.3 minimum GPA (4.0 scale).

• Applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA requirements OR do not have a cumulative GPA must submit acceptable scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and the exam must have been taken within the last five years.

PhD applicants entering with a graduate degree: Master’s or doctoral degree in nursing from NLNAC, ACEN, CNEA or CCNE-accredited school OR equivalent for interdisciplinary (health-related) applicants; minimum 3.5 GPA (4.0 scale).

• Applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA requirements or do not have a cumulative GPA must submit acceptable scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and the exam must have been taken within the last five years.

Recommended minimum GRE scores (if required)

• Completed MU Graduate School Online Application
• Current curriculum vitae (CV) or resume
• Three (3) professional recommendations
• Statement of purpose addressing the following:
  • Reasons for applying to the Nursing PhD program at the University of Missouri;
  • Strengths you bring to doctoral study;
  • Statement of personal research interest including the rationale for your intended research focus;
  • Any SSON PhD faculty that you contacted and discussed being a potential mentor and/or committee member;
  • Anticipated career goals and how completing this program will help you achieve them.
• Writing sample (if available; Post-DNP applicants need to include an artifact of their DNP scholarly project)
• Registered Nurse (RN) license – Does not apply to interdisciplinary (health-related) PhD applicants; international nursing applicants should submit license from their country
• Satisfactory English Language Proficiency scores within last 2 years (non-native English-speaking applicants only)

Comprehensive Review

Mizzou Sinclair School of Nursing strives to prepare students to meet the needs of individuals, communities, and populations they will serve. We believe a quality education must provide a learning environment in which individuals from various backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can gain the knowledge and experience needed for their career trajectory. Admission to any Mizzou nursing program is based on a combination of criteria including: each student’s unique experiences, attributes, and academic metrics.

Mizzou nursing PhD program uses a comprehensive review process that considers factors such as a research mentor match, academic and professional goals, student’s strength of undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) coursework, grade trends, circumstances and experiences. In doing so, we evaluate applicants based on who will contribute to the Mizzou Nursing’s academic community in meaningful ways.

Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice

Doctoral | Online with Campus Visits Required

The distance mediated Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program prepares graduates to fulfill and excel in advanced nursing practice roles requiring advanced skills in Nursing Leadership, Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist and Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist in delivery of health care to individuals, communities and populations.

Admission Criteria for the Doctor of Nursing Practice

• Submission of all official transcripts documenting a baccalaureate or master degree in Nursing from a program accredited by a national organization responsible for nursing accreditation (i.e. National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)) AND from an institution accredited by one of the U.S. institutional accrediting bodies listed on this page.
• A grade point average (GPA) of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale based on the last 60 hours of undergraduate nursing course work for applicants with less than a master’s degree.
• A cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale for applicants with a master’s degree in nursing.
• Successful completion of a graduate level statistic course (eg. STAT 7020) within 5 years or can be taken/completed in the first semester of enrollment.
• Submission of copies of current, unencumbered Registered Nurse license(s).
• Submission of copies of all advanced practice nursing certification and/or credentialing/recognition documents for applicants with a master’s degree.
• Submission of three (3) professional recommendations supporting the applicant’s potential success in the DNP program.
• Submission of curriculum vitae using the official MU Sinclair School of Nursing format (https://nursing.missouri.edu/academic-programs/doctor-of-nursing-practice/dnp-forms/).
• Documentation of English-language proficiency (of non-native English speaking applicants), demonstrated through a satisfactory Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score within the last two years.

DNP Application Deadlines (Excluding Nurse Leadership*)

*There’s no deadline set for Nurse Leadership program.

Minimum Language Requirements

Click here to view the minimum English language proficiency test scores

Required Application Materials

For the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program

• The DNP program application process begins in the Nursing Centralized Application System (NursingCAS). Please contact the DNP program directly for application process.
• Kira Talent is being used in place of a live or in-person interview and is accessed through NursingCAS. Kira Talent consists of a series of written and recorded responses to a series of questions.

For the Graduate School

• Completed Graduate School online application (After acceptance to the DNP program)
• Unofficial Transcripts- As part of the application submission process, all applicants are required to upload unofficial copies of all post-secondary transcripts to the online application. Official transcripts are only required if accepted by the academic program.
• Official Results of English Proficiency Exams (International applicants only)