Doctoral Program (PhD) in Nursing

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Program prepares nurse scientists to conduct research and to assume major roles in the development, evaluation and dissemination of knowledge about issues of interest to Nursing. Acculturated into an academic environment that embodies scholarship, graduates of this program are well-prepared for careers as researchers and educators in both academic and health care settings.

Students benefit from small classes and excellent access to world-class professors with varied expertise. Nurtured by close mentoring relationships with faculty advisors, students in the doctoral program engage early and continuously in research under the supervision of an advisory committee.

The program emphasizes openness to, and respect for, multiple ways of knowing, living, and being healthy, and valuing of varied philosophical, epistemological, and theoretical viewpoints. The program is closely linked with the research programs of faculty members and is designed for completion in 4-5 years of study.

Graduates of the doctoral program will:

  • Understand the theoretical foundations of nursing science
  • Design and conduct research relevant to signifcant problems in the discipline of Nursing
  • Demonstrate a commitment to ethical inquiry for the advancement of knowledge in the discipline, and value different approaches to knowledge generation for the discipline

Applicants may choose to focus in one of three fields of study:

Western provides the best student experience among Canada's leading research-intensive universities.