Nursing Research and Theory Development (PhD)

Program Description

NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing is home to one of the first PhD nursing programs in the nation. The faculty is composed of some of the most lauded, published, and funded researchers in the profession. The College’s affiliations with hundreds of hospitals, private practices, clinics, professional journals, and other institutions provide a wealth of resources for PhD students.

The College’s PhD program in nursing research and theory development is designed to support students and guide them in achieving their academic and professional goals. The curriculum provides an excellent foundation in the philosophy of scientific inquiry, theory development in nursing science, quantitative and qualitative research designs, and methodological approaches to data management and analyses. Faculty members are dedicated to challenging and encouraging students to conduct groundbreaking original research and examine their own interests and passions for public service. There is a strong commitment by the faculty to conduct research that improves health and healthcare equity across the lifespan and mentor students committed to achieving the same goals.

Our PhD students come from all backgrounds and from all stages of personal and career development. However, they share one common thread: the excellence of their thought and dedication to the nursing field.

Eligibility

There are two points of entry to the PhD program (outlined below).

Post-BS to PhD Entry Point

All applicants must meet the following criteria:

  1. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 from an NLN or AACN accredited Bachelor’s program in Nursing.
  2. The ability to demonstrate professional performance or contribution to nursing as evidenced by research efforts, publications, presentations, membership in professional organizations, honors/awards, community service, or letters of recommendation.
  3. As of Fall 2021, GRE scores are no longer required as part of the application for the Florence S. Downs PhD Program in Nursing Research and Theory Development. Prospective students may still submit GRE scores if they have them as part of the application.

Post-Master's Entry Point

All applicants must meet the following criteria:

  1. At least one degree (bachelors or master’s) in nursing
  2. A minimum grade point average of 3.0
  3. The ability to demonstrate professional performance/contribution to nursing as evidenced by research efforts, publications, presentations, membership in professional organizations, honors/awards, community service, or letters of recommendation

Admissions

Access the application for our PhD program. All applicants to our PhD program are required to submit the following documents at the time of application:

  1. One (1) transcript from each post-secondary school attended. We can review applications with unofficial transcripts. Admitted students will be asked to submit official transcripts prior to beginning coursework at NYU Meyers.
  2. Resume.
  3. A two- to three-page personal statement.
  4. At least three (3) letters of recommendation.
  5. RN (and NP, when applicable) license and registration certificate. Applicants may submit an application with an out-of-state license, but admitted students must obtain a New York State RN/NP license prior to beginning coursework at NYU Meyers.

Supplemental Materials

Please attach the following original documentation to demonstrate professional performance/contribution to the nursing field:

  1. A list of research, writing/publications. Please submit no more than two papers that are most illustrative of ability. If applicants are not published, they may submit papers from previous academic work and/or forward additional letters of recommendation.
  2. A list of professional organizations or student groups in which the applicant is involved. Acceptable documentation includes program listings or letters from colleagues.
  3. A list of honors from professional societies; a duplicate copy of the honor is acceptable.

The above information should be uploaded to the online application. If applicants do not have any of the above documents, they can select "no" to the application question which asks if they have any of these supplemental materials. Applications are reviewed by a panel of professors from NYU Meyers. Qualified applicants will be
contacted for an interview in January/February.

Applicants who have attended a post-secondary institution outside of the United States are required to upload one (1) transcript from each post-secondary school attended and submit one (1) official course-by-course evaluation of each foreign transcript directly to our office at the time of application. Applications will not be reviewed without these documents. Please mail official course-by-course evaluation(s) to the Office of Student Affairs and Admissions.

For applicants whose native language is not English, a copy of the applicant's latest TOEFL or IELTS score is required. Admitted students will be asked to submit official test scores prior to beginning coursework at NYU Meyers. We require a minimum TOEFL internet-based score of 100 on TOEFL with no less than 22 on the writing.

Important Notes

We encourage applicants to fill out a FAFSA form at the time that they apply.

Applicants are encouraged to apply early. All deadlines listed are ‘in-office’ deadlines, not postmark deadlines. It is always to the candidate’s best advantage to apply early, especially when applying for financial aid. Should any of the dates listed fall on a weekend, the deadline will be the next working day.

After submitting an application, applicants may check on their admissions status using their application login. Should applicants have any questions about the admissions process, they are encouraged to call the Office of Student Affairs and Admissions at (212) 998-5317.

Application Fee

The application fee is $85. Applications will not be processed until the application fee has been paid. Application fees are non-refundable and must be received by the stated application deadlines.

Fee Waivers

NYU Meyers waives fees for applications based on financial hardship or US military service/US veteran status. To request that the application fee is waived, please submit a request to nursing.admissions@nyu.edu before submitting an application. The request should include the applicant's full name and the program to which they are applying. We will notify applicants via email when their request for an application fee waiver has been approved.

For Students with International Credentials

If an applicant's academic credentials are not in English and/or are from a foreign school with a grading system not based on a 4.0 overall GPA, we strongly suggest evaluation and translation. Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc (ECE) is the preferred service. ECE prepares evaluation reports that identify the United States equivalents of educational qualifications earned in other countries. To request an evaluation report, applicants must complete and submit an application form, along with all required documentation and all applicable fees. ECE will complete most evaluation reports in approximately 15 to 20 business days from the date they receive all required documentation and fees. They also offer one-day, five-day, and 12-day Rush Service and Express Delivery. Please visit the ECE website for more information.