Loyola University Chicago

What you'll study

The PhD curriculum centres on developing advanced research skills, theoretical foundations for nursing, and expertise in a chosen area of emphasis such as Nursing Administration, Nursing Research or Clinical Nursing. Students take a combination of core doctoral seminars, advanced statistics and methods courses, specialty seminars, and guided independent research leading to a dissertation.

• Core coursework: nursing theory, philosophy of science, ethical issues in research, epidemiology for health research.
• Research methods and statistics: quantitative methods (multivariate statistics, longitudinal analysis), qualitative methods (grounded theory, ethnography, mixed-methods designs), advanced data analysis and biostatistics.
• Specialist seminars: nursing administration (organizational theory, healthcare systems, quality improvement), nursing research (research design, grant writing, dissemination), clinical nursing (clinical scholarship, translational research, specialty clinical content relevant to students' focus).
• Teaching and leadership: pedagogy for higher education, curriculum design, academic and clinical leadership development.
• Practicum and research experiences: mentored research practicum, collaborative projects with clinical partners, opportunities to work within Loyola’s clinical and community research settings.
• Doctoral dissertation: an independent, original research project supervised by a faculty advisor, including proposal development, data collection/analysis and manuscript-ready dissemination.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to hold current RN licensure and graduate-level preparation in nursing, typically a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a related clinical master’s degree. Exceptional candidates with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and substantial graduate coursework or experience may be considered where programme pathways permit.

• Academic transcripts demonstrating strong performance in prior graduate work.
• A current, unencumbered RN licence.
• A curriculum vitae or résumé documenting clinical and/or research experience.
• Statement of research interests and professional goals outlining proposed area of dissertation focus and fit with faculty expertise.
• Letters of recommendation (usually two to three) from academic and professional referees.
• Evidence of scholarly potential such as prior publications, conference presentations or funded project involvement is advantageous.
• Some applicants may be invited to interview with faculty; standardized test requirements (e.g. GRE) vary and applicants should consult the school for current policy.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for careers as nurse scientists, university faculty, research directors, and senior leaders in healthcare organisations. Typical roles include:

• Tenure-track and non-tenure-track academic positions teaching undergraduate and graduate nursing students and leading research programmes.
• Principal investigator or research scientist roles in academic medical centres, research institutes and government-funded projects.
• Leadership positions in nursing administration, quality and safety, and clinical programme development within hospitals and health systems.
• Policy and advocacy roles in governmental and non-governmental organisations shaping health policy and population health initiatives.
• Consultancy and independent scholarship, including grant-funded research and interdisciplinary collaborations.

Why study at Loyola University Chicago

Loyola’s doctoral nursing programme is situated within a research-active school that emphasises social justice, interprofessional collaboration and translational scholarship. Students benefit from mentorship by faculty with expertise across clinical specialties, health services research and nursing administration, and from partnerships with Loyola Medicine and other Chicago-area healthcare organisations.

• Access to clinical, community and academic research environments including hospital-based and community health settings across Chicago.
• Interdisciplinary research opportunities with faculty in public health, medicine, social work and allied health disciplines.
• Support for doctoral training through mentorship, grant-writing preparation and opportunities to present and publish research.
• Emphasis on preparing nurse leaders committed to ethical practice, equity in health care and evidence-based improvements in patient outcomes.