Graduate Programs

About Our Graduate Programs

The University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursing supports and prepares you for the next stages in your nursing career. Our community works together through mentorship and collaboration. We actively foster an environment of inclusive excellence that welcomes diversity among our students, faculty, and staff.

At UW–Madison, we work to improve nursing practice, patient health outcomes, and systems of care.

Our students develop leadership skills on their career paths for clinical practice (DNP) or research (PhD). Our DNP students translate research into practice to improve health outcomes. Our PhD students work closely with faculty to generate discoveries that are innovative, transformative, and grounded in practical application.

Together, we endeavor to change lives throughout communities, hospitals, clinics, schools, and homes.

Learn More About Our Graduate Programs

Request Information for DNP Program

Request Information for PhD Program

More Options for Advanced Study

The UW–Madison School of Nursing provided me the experience to conduct interdisciplinary research with scholars from different areas that could build from nursing research questions. This allowed me to conduct a dissertation study that involves nursing, neuroscience, and sleep medicine.
Chooza Moon PhD ’16

Which Graduate Program is Right for You?

A side-by-side comparison of our two doctoral programs: the DNP and PhD.

wdt_ID	Comparison	Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)	Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
1	Program Objective	Prepares you for the highest level of nursing practice in your specialty and to translate evidence into practice. A doctoral degree in practice.	Prepares you to conduct research in nursing and interdisciplinary teams and advance the science that guides nursing practice. A doctoral degree in research.
2	Career Opportunities	• Clinical faculty • Nurse educator • Nurse practitioner (4 specialties) • Adult gerontology clinical nurse specialist • Nurse executive • Advanced population health • Advanced practice leadership • Non-profit health care leaders	• Academic faculty • Clinical nurse scientists in health care systems and industry • Health policy development, implementation and advocacy specialists in government or other health organizations • Health care leaders and entrepreneurs
3	Program Outcomes	Evaluate and apply research to innovate in practice and improve outcomes. Practice at the highest levels of nursing with diverse populations. Inform health care policy. Implement and evaluate clinical programs.	Advance the nursing discipline and practice through research, education, and health policy. Conduct and disseminate independent research. Participate in interdisciplinary research to respond to regional, national, and international priorities.
4	Areas of Focus	Seven (7) specialty tracks for advanced practice: • Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner • Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner • Population Health • Systems Leadership and Innovation	Six (6) signature research areas: • Aging & Care of Older Adults • Children, Families & Reproductive Health • Health Disparities • Health Systems & Public Health • Mental Health & Substance Use • Symptom Science & Palliative Care
5	Clinical Requirements	1,000 hours in advanced specialty practice across the last two years of the program hours Faculty arrange, oversee, and evaluate all practicum to assure quality of experience and alignment with certification	None
6	Research Requirements	Use existing research to improve practice.	Knowledge generation and dissemination.
7	Scholarly Activity	Evidence-Based Scholarly Project	Research Dissertation Study
8	Length of Time	3-4 years	3-5 years
9	Credits	68 credits	52 credits
10	Student-Faculty Ratio	6 students per clinical faculty	2-5 students per faculty

Learn More About Our DNP

Learn More About Our PhD

Leaders in Research & Practice

Nursing Without Constraints
Kelly Ayala DNP’18, uses her passion for innovation to improve the health care landscape for both patients and providers.
Andrew O’Donnell ’11, DNP’14
Andrew O’Donnell is currently working on the front lines of COVID-19 as the interim co-manager of the Trauma Life Support Center at UW Health, supporting a staff of 120 employees, including 90 ICU nurses.

Kelly Krainak and Cierra McCoy Selected as Jonas Scholars
Kelly Krainak and Cierra McCoy, both PhD students at the School of Nursing, have been selected as part of the 2024-2026 cohort of Jonas Scholars.
School of Nursing Alumna Named Dean of College of Nursing and Health Sciences at UW–Eau Claire
Dr. Kristen Abbott-Anderson, an alumna of the UW–Madison School of Nursing, was named the new dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.