Introduced in 1987, the Ph.D. nursing program at the University of Kentucky had produced 92 graduates as of February 2011. UK's doctoral nursing program consists of 45 credits, which includes two back-to-back full-time terms for the dissertation research residency. Courses include Measurement of Nursing Phenomena, Regression and Correlation, Proseminar in Contemporary Health and Nursing Policy Issues, and Philosophical Foundations of Nursing Science.
The Ph.D. program from the University of Nebraska's School of Nursing is notable for being offered by the oldest state-supported nursing institution in the state. The program's research emphasis is divided into three areas: Health Promotion/Disease Prevention, Response to Acute and Chronic Illness, and Health Systems. A minimum of 24 credits in core courses are required, which include Concepts in Health and Illness, and Theory Development in Nursing and Health Care. There is also a BSN-to-Ph.D. option for people that have a bachelor's nursing degree but wish to bypass the minimal master's degree admission requirement. Students at Nebraska can complete the degree within five years.
Like Nebraska, the University of San Diego has its Ph.D. nursing program divided into the regular and BSN-to-Ph.D. format. The former requires a 45-credit minimum while the latter consists of 69 credits. The doctoral nursing curriculum at USD includes courses such as Management of Health Systems Care Delivery and Outcomes; Financial Management in Health Systems; Social, Historical and Philosophical Bases of Nursing; and Applied Statistics and Quantitative Research Methods. USD's Doctor of Philosophy program can be completed within three to four years.
Yale University offers its Ph.D. program in nursing through its Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Students can choose from a variety of concentrations, which include chronic illnesses such as cancer and HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health, children with mental health disorders and long-term care. The curriculum requirements consists of 12 core courses and six specialization courses, designed for completion within five years.