Eastern Mennonite University

What you'll study

This doctoral programme blends advanced research training, nursing theory, leadership in nursing administration and clinical scholarship. Typical core modules include nursing epistemology and advanced theory, quantitative and qualitative research methods, advanced biostatistics, health systems and policy, leadership and organisation in healthcare, and ethics in clinical and research practice.

Students tailor their programme with electives and clinical or administrative specialisms such as nursing administration, clinical nursing practice, patient safety and quality improvement, community and public health nursing, or pedagogy for nursing education. The curriculum culminates in independent dissertation research that contributes original knowledge to nursing practice or policy.

• Foundations of nursing science and theory
• Advanced quantitative methods and multivariate statistics
• Qualitative methods and mixed-methods design
• Health policy, systems and economics
• Leadership, change management and organisational behaviour in healthcare
• Clinical specialisation seminars and practicum (as required by focus)
• Doctoral seminar and dissertation proposal, research and defence

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to hold a relevant master's degree (typically an MSN, MA/MS in a related health discipline, or equivalent) from an accredited institution and to be a licensed registered nurse in good standing. Typical requirements include several years of professional nursing experience, a record of professional or scholarly activity, and academic references demonstrating readiness for doctoral-level research.

Applications generally require a curriculum vitae, a statement of research interests and career goals, academic transcripts, contact details for referees, and a writing sample or evidence of previous scholarly work. Candidates may be asked to identify potential faculty mentors whose research interests align with the candidate's proposed dissertation topic. Some applicants may be invited for an interview or to submit a research proposal for review.

Career prospects

Graduates of the PhD in Nursing pursue careers that centre on generating and applying new knowledge to improve care and systems. Common paths include tenure-track faculty positions in schools of nursing, research scientist roles in academic or clinical research centres, leadership positions in health system administration, nursing policy and advocacy roles, and senior positions in quality improvement and clinical programme development.

Because the programme emphasises research methods, leadership and interprofessional collaboration, graduates are also well placed for roles as principal investigators on funded studies, consultants to healthcare organisations, and developers of evidence-based practice initiatives across hospital, community and public-health settings.

Why study at Eastern Mennonite University

Eastern Mennonite University offers a small-cohort environment with close faculty mentoring and an emphasis on ethical practice, community engagement and interprofessional collaboration. The university's approach integrates rigorous research training with a commitment to service and social justice, appealing to nurses who want scholarship to have direct community and system impact.

Students benefit from regional clinical and organisational partnerships that support practicum, data collection and applied research projects, plus opportunities to work across disciplines. The programme is structured to accommodate working professionals, with flexible scheduling of seminars and phased progression from coursework to dissertation under the guidance of a faculty advisor.

Overall, the programme is suited to nurses seeking a research-intensive doctoral degree grounded in values-based leadership, with preparation for academic, research and senior clinical-administrative careers.