Pre-Doctoral Training Program

The primary purpose of the Ph.D. in Nursing is to prepare scientists who will conduct research to extend nursing knowledge regarding patient-centered interventions.

The training program is characterized by a close mentorship between the trainee and advisor that complements and extends research development skills acquired in courses and seminars. Faculty and staff carefully interview the trainee to insure that he/she is matched with a faculty advisor who has expertise in the student's substantive area of interest. Trainees are matched with advisors upon admission, and the relationship between the advisor and trainee holds pre-eminence in the design of the training program. Trainees participate in formal courses in the discipline, complete a Secondary Concentration Area (SCA), and engage in supervised research activities, informal research exchange, and independent inquiry. It is an expectation of all trainees that they will disseminate their work, appropriately seek extramural support (e.g., Individual NRSA), and contribute positively to the research environment of the School and the University.

The Secondary Concentration Area (SCA) expands and enriches research training. An SCA is a minimum of 12 credits of supervised study with an SCA advisor, including coursework and seminars planned to facilitate research training. The SCA advisor is a UW-Madison graduate faculty member with an ongoing research program. The SCA advisor's discipline is linked conceptually to nursing and the trainee develops a depth of knowledge in the second discipline in preparation for the conduct of his or her independent research. The SCA is similar to a minor, but exceeds a minor with respect to number of credits and with respect to the level of involvement of the advisor from the secondary area.

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