Program overview
As a PhD student at the University of Minnesota, you participate in a community of scholars and an inter-professional team of colleagues in complementary areas of practice.

The program includes:

• 36 credits of required coursework, which provides content in scholarly processes, nursing science, and an area of concentration
• Other credits as required for your dissertation topic and methodology; this may result in students electing to complete a graduate minor area of study (determined by student and advisor); and
• 24 dissertation credits

You will establish your research trajectory early in the program. After completing the majority of coursework, you will develop two critical review papers. The first analyzes and synthesizes theory, research, and practice in the area of concentration. The second outlines a research question and design, and serves as the basis for the dissertation proposal.