The goal of the PhD program at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing is to prepare leaders in the development of nursing science. Graduates will be prepared to conduct research that advances the discipline of nursing, health, and health care quality. The school offers an individualized program in selected areas of research congruent with students' areas of interest and the expertise of research faculty. A key feature of the program are its intensive mentored research experiences with active investigators who have established programs of funded research. In addition to the diverse research interests among the School of Nursing faculty, students have access to the entire Johns Hopkins University, which fosters skill development and competencies in interdisciplinary and international research.
Quality is the defining characteristic of academic life at Johns Hopkins and the School of Nursing. Each student completes a core curriculum and works closely with faculty advisor(s) to complete an individualized course of study that fulfills the student’s goals and develops the basis for a program of research. The length of the program is expected to be the equivalent of four to five years of full-time study. Students must complete the program within 7 years.
PhD Student Employee Union and Collective Bargaining Agreement
Information about the TRU-JHU PhD Student Union and the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) can be found on this website: https://provost.jhu.edu/education/graduate-and-professional-education/phd-union/.
- PhD students in the JHSON PhD program who receive work appointments and/or health insurance premium subsidy through Johns Hopkins University are under the Collective Bargaining Agreement dated March 29, 2024-June 30, 2027.
- This agreement has established wages, work hours, benefits, and conditions of appointment, many of these are described below.
- Eligible PhD students will be contacted by the Union and may elect to join the union and pay dues or pay agency fees. All eligible PhD students are under the CBA, regardless of Union membership.
- This agreement only covers work, which is limited to 20 hours per week on average for base funding. A PhD Student Employee may voluntarily elect to participate in supplemental-funded activities beyond the 20 hours per week on average.
- Academic policies are defined elsewhere in the handbook/catalogue/program materials.
This is just a summary, not the actual terms of the CBA. To review the actual terms of the CBA please click on the link. Not all elements of the agreement are summarized below, please reach out to the PhD Program Administrator (son-phdprogram@jhu.edu) with questions.
CBA Summary
- Compensation
- Academic year (AY) 26-27: $52,000 effective July 1, 2026
- The hourly appointment rate will be $28.11/hour, at minimum for teaching/research supplemental appointments.
- Minimum 4 years of guaranteed funding for all PhD student employees in the School of Nursing.
- PhD student employees with external awards paid through the University will have their compensation increased to the minimum rate during a period of guaranteed funding.
- Benefits
- Enrollment information will be available through HR Benefits for Students and Learners and communications will be sent in advance of benefits election periods.
- Paid by the University
- The University will pay the premiums for University Student Health Benefits Plan (SHBP), including dental and vision coverage, employee coverage for employees in full-time resident status during the terms of full appointments.
- PhD student employees will receive subsidies of $4,500 per child per year for eligible children under 6 years and $3,000 per child aged 6-18 years or adult dependent, with a maximum of $12,000 per family per year, in installments throughout the year.
- Reimbursed by University/Departments
- The University will pay the cost of the health insurance premiums for eligible dependent children and spouses unable to work in the US, including dental and vision. Reimbursement procedures will be available on the HR Benefits website.
- International students will be eligible to apply to a yearly fund to cover required visa fees.
- Students will be eligible for reimbursement for MTA All Access College Transit Passes or DC U-Passes. Registration and enrollment information will be available on the HR Benefits website.
- Time Off/Vacation/Leaves
- All University holidays are recognized.
- PhD student employees have at least 15 vacation days per year. Additional time can be given by a supervisor.
- PhD student employees receive 15 sick days per year with an additional 5 days if the student is primary caregiver.
- PhD student employees receive 5 days of bereavement leave for the passing of immediate and extended family members and close friends, with 1 additional day for those needing international travel.
- International PhD student employees who are required to travel out of the country in order to maintain their immigration status necessary to be able to continue their program at the University are eligible for up to fourteen (14) days off with pay during the period of such travel.
- Parents are eligible for 8 weeks of paid leave following birth or adoption, with an additional 4 weeks for parents who have just given birth. New Child Accommodation applies to the academic, not work, PhD student experience.
- Leaves of absence, including family leave, medical leave, and personal leave, are governed by the applicable academic divisional and University leave policies.
- Work Hours
- No PhD student employee shall be required to perform work for more than 20 hours/week on average.
- Teaching appointments are included in the 20 hours of work that may be assigned. Academic coursework, exams, and academic research are in addition to this assigned 20 hours of work.
- There are no restrictions on work external to Hopkins except when decreed by funding source or visa status.
- All work appointments (baseline funding or supplemental funding) require an appointment letter. Appointment letters will define the expectations and requirements of the teaching, research, or other University activity appointment. Students should contact the PhD Program Administrator (SON-PhDProgramAdmin@jh.edu) with any questions.
- Union Representation
- All directory information will be sent to the Union unless restricted. Supplemental information will require a FERPA consent form available on SIS self-service (https://sis.jhu.edu/sswf/).
- Union Representatives are current PhD Student Employees who are elected/selected to help their fellow PhD Student Employees navigate work-related disciplines, grievances, and other procedural/policy issues. Contact TRU-JHU with questions about specific Union Representatives.
- TRU-JHU Contact Information
- Website: trujhu.org
- Phone: (443) 281-9462
- Address: TRU-UE Local 197, PO Box 41149, Baltimore, MD 21203
- Email: trujhu@gmail.com
Johns Hopkins University Mentoring Expectations
Please see the Johns Hopkins University Mentoring Expectations and the Johns Hopkins University Policy on Mentoring Commitments for PhD Students and Faculty from the Provost's Office. Students and faculty advisors should use these documents to guide discussions around the scholarly and mentoring needs of the student and expectations for the relationship.
Students and advisors should document their discussions regarding mentoring expectations at least annually.
Thesis Advisory Committees (TAC)
The purpose of a thesis advisory committee is to provide support and guidance to PhD students and candidates throughout their research journey. The committee serves as a structured academic support and review body, offering external feedback and constructive advice to enhance the quality and sustainability of the dissertation project. TAC members monitor the student's progress, provides continuous feedback, and supports both the student and advisors. The committee's role is to enhance the scientific development of the PhD student/candidate and promote transparency and clear expectations within the advisory process. By offering a formal and neutral setting for discussion, the TAC helps address challenges at an early stage and contributes to a well-supported, feasible, and academically rigorous PhD trajectory.
The TAC comprises the assigned or chosen JHSON advisor(s) and one or two additional members who have expertise in technical areas related to the student's research or can provide professional development support. In many cases the TAC members will also be part of the preliminary and final oral examination committees but this is not required. Students will meet with the TAC to present progress on their research and describe plans for the coming year. Students are required to form the TAC with support from the advisors by the end of their 3rd semester of matriculation. The first TAC meeting should be held no later than the end of the 4th semester in the program. The purpose of these annual meetings is to get formal feedback on the student's research progress from a group of experienced researchers in addition to the informal feedback students receive from their advisors on a more frequent basis.
Meeting discussions should include a review of student progress – academically and scientifically – along with additional development opportunities. Challenges in study conceptualization, development, and implementation should be reviewed, and the committee should offer support to help the student overcome challenges or refine their research study as appropriate.
Registration Requirements
PhD students register for full-time study during all fall, spring, and summer semesters from matriculation to degree completion. The only exceptions are students on an approved leave of absence. Summer tuition is only covered by the program within the active funded period.
Students should work with their faculty mentor and PhD Program Director to determine the appropriate enrollment status based on their academic activities during the semester. Students should consult SEAM regarding registration questions and should register prior to the first day of classes in all terms.
PhD Program Research Residency Guidelines
The research residency is an important pedagogical requirement of the PhD program regardless of funding source or student status, full or part time. Students should commit to a research residency each semester – including summer - across the entire period of guaranteed funding from the JHSON. The purpose of the research residency requirement for the PhD program is to provide students with research training. In collaboration with their faculty advisor(s), students should engage in research experiences that will facilitate successful entry to a career of research and scholarship. Given that publication and other forms of dissemination of research findings are vital outcomes of any PhD program, the research residency is an ideal one from which to identify activities that will produce publications, presentations, or policy artifacts that demonstrate students' learning. It is important to point out that not all research residency experiences will be the same.
Please see the JHSON PhD Resources Website for guidelines on Research Residency experience. The full Research Residency Policy is linked here: PHD Program Research Residency Guidelines.
PhD Program Teaching Residency Guidelines
Every PhD Student will complete a teaching residency experience for at least one assigned course. The required teaching residency will average 10-15 hours per week and should be designed in collaboration with a JHSON teaching faculty mentor. Students completing the teaching residency requirement should develop goals and objectives to guide their learning and skill-building over the duration of the course. After completing their teaching residency, students may choose to serve as a TA for additional JHSON courses. Students are recommended to complete the teaching residency after unconditionally passing the preliminary oral exam and advancing to PhD candidacy.
Please see the JHSON PhD Resources Website for guidelines on Teaching Residency experience. The full Teaching Residency Policy is linked here PhD Program Teaching Residency Guidelines.
PhD Student Scholarly Progression
PhD students are required to achieve programmatic milestones and benchmarks (see below) while progressing through the program, culminating in the final oral exam and dissertation. These processes serve to assure quality of the scholarship and rigor of the scientific process. Progress/milestones completed will be reviewed every semester and at least annually with the student's advising team.
- PhD students are evaluated according to successful completion of the following milestones and benchmarks:
- Comprehensive Examination (within 2 years of initial PhD program matriculation)
- Satisfactory completion of Research and Teaching Residencies including related deliverables
- Preliminary Oral Examination and advancement to candidacy (within 3 years of initial PhD program matriculation)
- Submission of an external grant application (within 3 years of initial PhD program matriculation)
- Submission of at least 2 first-author publications to peer-reviewed journals
- Final Oral Examination (within 7 years of initial PhD program matriculation)
- Scholarly Research Portfolio (110.870) review
- Occurs with advisor(s) every semester the student is enrolled in the PhD Program
- Students will complete online submission of materials demonstrating progress through Canvas (NR.110.870). Advisors will meet with students, assess materials, and provide a grade (Pass/ Fail) for the student.
- Documents to review:
- Individual Development Plan
- NIH Biosketch/ CV
- Research Skills Checklist
- Research and Teaching Residency Goals, Objectives, and Evaluation
PhD Comprehensive Examination
The purpose of the written comprehensive examination is to validate the student’s ability and skills to generate, synthesize, and critically analyze knowledge relevant to scientific inquiry within the discipline of nursing.
- Student Status: This examination may be taken as early as the first summer following fall admission.
- Students must have completed year one required nursing classes and statistics course work, totaling 31 credit hours, to sit for the Comprehensive Examination (with the exception of NR.110.827 Grant Writing , NR.110.828 Measurement in Health Care Research, and NR.110.891 Responsibilities & Activities of the Nurse Scientist, which need not be taken prior to this examination).
- Students must be registered the semester prior to the examination.
- Students must have all incompletes cleared from their record in order to take the Comprehensive Examination.
PhD Preliminary Oral Examination
The purpose of the preliminary oral examination is to test the depth and breadth of the student’s knowledge and reasoning abilities. The scope of such an examination cannot, nor should it be, sharply defined. The Doctor of Philosophy Board Oral Examination Committee will evaluate students in the following 3 domains:
1. Review of the candidate’s performance in formal coursework
2. Critique a document written by the student that describes a detailed research project plan, and
3. Evaluate the student’s ability to respond to questions orally during the examination, demonstrating mastery of topics related to their relevant required and elective courses as well as their individualized research plan.
Preliminary Oral Examinations are closed to all but the candidate and examination committee members. (Students are encouraged to arrange for a “Dry Run” presentation for colleagues and faculty input prior to exam.)
Please see the PhD Resources Website for guidelines on Preliminary Oral Examination.
PhD Final Oral Examination
While the purpose of the preliminary oral examination is to test the depth and breadth of the student’s knowledge and reasoning abilities in areas germane to the dissertation, the major focus of the final oral examination is the dissertation research and building skills to become an independent scientist.
The Doctor of Philosophy Board Oral Examination Committee will evaluate students in the following 3 domains:
1. Review of the candidate’s performance in formal coursework
2. Critique a written document that describes a detailed independent research project, and
3. Evaluate the student’s ability to respond to questions orally during the examination, demonstrating mastery of topics related to their independent research project.
Please see the PhD Resources Website for guidelines on Final Oral Examination.
Program Requirements
Curriculum
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses 1 | ||
| NR.110.800 | Philosophical Perspectives in Health | 3 |
| NR.110.807 | Introduction to Quantitative Research Design and Methods | 2 |
| NR.110.808 | Advanced Quantitative Study Designs and Methods | 2 |
| NR.110.814 | Scientific Perspectives in Nursing | 3 |
| NR.110.815 | Qualitative Research Designs and Methods | 2 |
| NR.110.816 | Mixed Methods Research Designs | 2 |
| NR.110.827 | Grant Writing | 1 |
| NR.110.828 | Measurement in Health Care Research | 2 |
| NR.110.870 | Scholarly Research Portfolio for PhD Students | 2 |
| NR.110.890 | Dissertation Seminar | 1 |
| NR.110.891 | Responsibilities & Activities of the Nurse Scientist | 2 |
| Statistics Courses 2 | ||
| PH.140.621 | Statistical Methods in Public Health I | 4 |
| PH.140.622 | Statistical Methods in Public Health II | 4 |
| PH.140.623 | Statistical Methods in Public Health III | 4 |
| Elective Courses 2,3 | ||
| NR.110.832 | Writing for Publication | 1 |
| NR.210.823 | Special Topics: Qualitative Design and Implementation | 2 |
| or NR.110.817 | Special Topics: Qualitative Design and Implementation | |
| NR.110.824 | Stress and Stress Response | 2 |
| PH.140.624 | Statistical Methods in Public Health IV | 4 |
| Total Credits | 43 | |
- 1
PhD students will be required to repeat a course if they earn a grade below a B (83%) for core nursing courses, and a grade below a C (73%) in non-nursing core courses. PhD students can repeat more than one course one time.
- 2
School of Public Health courses (PH.XXX.XXX) are offered on the quarter system and are depicted here as [credits & units] and count accordingly in each school. The course directory for the Public Health courses (PH) is available at SPH Course Directory
- 3
With SON PhD Program approval, electives can be taken through other divisions of Johns Hopkins University. Please consult the interdivisional registration page for more information. Some SON elective courses are offered every other year. Please check with the Academic Program Administrator regarding course offerings. Independent study credits do not count toward the 19 credits of electives required. With SON PhD Program approval, students may apply up to 6 credits of a 500 level course offering (inside or outside the SON) toward their doctoral program requirements.
Sample Program of Study
| First Semester | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| NR.110.800 | Philosophical Perspectives in Health | 3 |
| NR.110.807 | Introduction to Quantitative Research Design and Methods | 2 |
| NR.110.815 | Qualitative Research Designs and Methods | 2 |
| PH.140.621 | Statistical Methods in Public Health I | 4 |
| PH.140.622 | Statistical Methods in Public Health II | 4 |
| NR.110.870 | Scholarly Research Portfolio for PhD Students 1 | 2 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| NR.110.808 | Advanced Quantitative Study Designs and Methods | 2 |
| NR.110.814 | Scientific Perspectives in Nursing | 3 |
| NR.110.816 | Mixed Methods Research Designs | 2 |
| PH.140.623 | Statistical Methods in Public Health III | 4 |
| NR.110.870 | Scholarly Research Portfolio for PhD Students 1 | 2 |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| NR.110.827 | Grant Writing | 1 |
| NR.110.828 | Measurement in Health Care Research | 2 |
| NR.110.870 | Scholarly Research Portfolio for PhD Students 1, 2 | 2 |
| Credits | 5 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| NR.110.890 | Dissertation Seminar 2 | 1 |
| NR.110.870 | Scholarly Research Portfolio for PhD Students 1 | 2 |
| Electives 3 | 9 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Fifth Semester | ||
| NR.110.890 | Dissertation Seminar 2 | 1 |
| NR.110.891 | Responsibilities & Activities of the Nurse Scientist | 2 |
| NR.110.870 | Scholarly Research Portfolio for PhD Students 1 | 2 |
| Electives 3 | 9 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Sixth Semester | ||
| NR.110.870 | Scholarly Research Portfolio for PhD Students 1,2 | 2 |
| Credits | 2 | |
| Total Credits | 63 | |
- 1
PhD students are required to enroll in NR.110.870 every semester that they are progressing toward the degree.
- 2
This is a variable credit course (2-8) credits designed to support students in the dissertation phase of their doctoral program. Students may register for the number of credits needed to maintain full-time enrollment each term, depending on their overall course load. Note: The amount of credit does not reflect a change in workload or expectations for research progress. Students are encouraged to consult with their advisor and program director to determine appropriate enrollment levels each semester. Tuition charges will not exceed amounts for 3 credit hours in semesters where variable course credit is required to main full-time enrollment.
- 3
Beginning in the fourth semester, PhD students are required to enroll in NR.110.890 every Fall and Spring semester that they are progressing toward the degree.
- 4
With SON PhD Program approval, electives can be taken through other divisions of Johns Hopkins University. Please consult the interdivisional registration page for more information. Some SON elective courses are offered every other year. Please check with the Academic Program Administrator regarding course offerings. Independent study credits do not count toward the 19 credits of electives required. With SON PhD Program approval, students may apply up to 6 credits of a 500 level course offering (inside or outside the SON) toward their doctoral program requirements.
- 5
PhD students will be required to repeat a course if they earn a grade below a B (83%) for core nursing courses, and a grade below a C (73%) in non-nursing core courses. PhD students can repeat more than one course one time.
Learning Outcomes
Upon graduation from the PhD program, students will:
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge of theories and concepts relevant to nursing science in the design and implementation of research.
- Evaluate and critique methodological and analytical strategies in nursing science to enhance the quality and impact of research findings.
- Design, implement and coordinate a research protocol using rigorous methods within the context of team science.
- Design and submit a competitive research grant proposal to an extramural funding source with mentorship.
- Acquire the skills needed to lead transdisciplinary research teams to build, discover and apply knowledge in nursing science, health, and health care.
- Integrate advanced knowledge of health equity, social determinants of health and other relevant contextual factors into the conduct of scientific investigations.
- Adhere to the principles and regulatory standards in the ethical conduct of research.
- Disseminate research findings with rigor and integrity through scientific, practice, and policy venues, while ensuring accessible communication to diverse communities.
- Advocate for social, economic, or health policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations.
- Demonstrate leadership in developing and refining a career plan that supports long-term growth as a nurse scientist.
- Integrate philosophical and pedagogical knowledge and skills into the application of effective teaching and mentoring strategies.