Ph.D. Program
Preparing Nurse Science Leaders
The Connell School Ph.D. program integrates science, theory, and research to educate the next generation of nurse scientists and leaders. Our students strive to advance nursing knowledge and translate research into practice that promotes the health and care of patients.
Students benefit from small class sizes and mentorship from faculty as they prepare for careers in academia, health care settings, and policy.
The Connell School fully funds every full-time Ph.D. student’s tuition, fees, and insurance for three years.
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Ready for a rewarding challenge that will change your life—and the lives of others?
Knowledge development in nursing
Students build on their foundation in nursing science. Includes courses in philosophy of science, epistemology of nursing, and strategies for developing nursing knowledge.
Substantive nursing content
Challenges students to take what is currently known in nursing science and expand on it to answer contemporary issues in health care. Includes courses in ethics, policy, and cognate courses in the student's area of focus.
Research methods
Prepares students to begin their program of research. Includes courses in qualitative and quantitative research methods, statistics, and research practica as well as dissertation advisement.
- Independent study
- Interdisciplinary colloquia
- Collaboration with a dissertation advisor
- Electives in research concentrations
- Clinical research in top-tier health centers in the Boston area
- Access to other graduate courses within Boston College
- Access to courses through a consortium with area research universities, including Tufts, Boston University, and Brandeis
- Constructively critique and synthesize nursing and interdisciplinary knowledge within their area of inquiry relative to nursing science.
- Design, conduct, and disseminate innovative, rigorous, and ethically sound research that advances nursing science.
- Assume leadership roles and collaborate with other disciplines to address contemporary health care concerns.
- Use scholarly inquiry to generate and disseminate knowledge that facilitates humanization, advances the discipline, informs practice, and reshapes policy.
- Articulate the perspective of nursing in interdisciplinary dialogue for the common good of a diverse and global society.
Contact us at:
csongrad@bc.edu
617-552-4928
Meet our Faculty
CSON’s faculty expertise covers a wide range of topics. They’re also renowned scholars, experienced clinicians, and dedicated mentors who are passionate about educating the next generation of nurse science leaders.
CSON Doctoral Student Research
Our Ph.D. students regularly disseminate research findings in respected forums and receive prestigious awards, including being inducted into the American Academy of Nursing and named Jonas Center for Nursing Excellence Scholars.
Connell School Ph.D. Student Voices
CSON's Ph.D. program attracts students from a variety of backgrounds and with an array of research interests.
Faculty News & Research
“CSON provides an atmosphere of academic rigor. The faculty are incredibly supportive and have been wonderful mentors to me. It is inspiring to be surrounded by so many respected nurse scientists and educators.”