PhD Nursing Science at University of South Carolina

Programme overview

Prepare for a nursing research career in an academic, clinical or health system setting with the power to transform the health of patients, families and communities. This degree is designed to prepare graduates for a lifetime of intellectual inquiry through creative scholarship and research. Students in this doctoral program acquire the knowledge and skills to conduct research that will contribute to furthering nursing science, practice, education and administration.

Faculty: College of Nursing | Duration: 45 credit hours | Study mode: full-time | Location: Columbia, SC, United States

What you will study

The curriculum includes courses in nursing research roles, theories and methods. Beyond the core curriculum, develop an individual course of study, including mentored research experiences and elective courses that lead to the preparation and defense of a dissertation.

Career pathways

Potential careers include Nursing Scientist, Nursing Scholar, Academic Faculty Member, Researcher.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admissions (University of South Carolina Academic Bulletin): The PhD in Nursing Science program offers four entry points for students: Bachelor's entry - a bachelor's degree in nursing from a program that is nationally accredited (Total 75 credit hours); MSN entry - a master’s degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program (Total 57 credit hours) ; non-MSN master’s entry- a bachelor 's degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program and a master’s degree in another discipline (Total minimum 57 credit hours) ; DNP entry - a Doctor of Nursing practice degree from a nationally accredited program (Total 45 credit hours). Requirements for earning the PhD degree include: Completion of a doctoral residency. The residency requirement may be met only after admission to the PhD program: Option one: at least 18 graduate credit hours for two consecutive semesters. Consecutive semesters could be fall/spring, spring/summer, summer/fall, or...

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Graduate applications are accepted for Fall, Spring and Summer terms; Fall applications open the prior September, Spring applications open in January and Summer applications open in May.

The graduate application fee is $50 per primary application, reinstated effective August 1, 2026. Deadlines are programme-specific and listed per programme on the Degree Programs and Application Requirements pages.

Apply through the official page: https://www.sc.edu/admissions-at-sc/applications/index.php

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