Doctor of Philosophy Application Information

Qualifications

To be considered, applicants will be required to meet all WVU admission requirements in addition to program-specific admission criteria.

  • Submission of formal transcript of a nursing degree at the baccalaureate level or higher from a nationally accredited nursing program and a regionally accredited institution or equivalent.

  • Master's degree in nursing (or higher) from a nationally accredited nursing program and a regionally accredited institution. A Master's degree in a health-related discipline will be considered.

  • Official transcripts confirm an earned Master's degree in nursing from a nationally accredited nursing program and a regionally accredited institution. A Master's degree in a health-related discipline will be considered.

  • Official transcripts indicate a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in Master's degree work.

  • A minimum nursing GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on all graduate work attempted. (Provisional admission may be considered if the overall GPA is 2.75-2.99 depending upon space available and other qualifications.)

  • An active, unrestricted RN license in at least one state at the time of application.

  • Provide evidence of current license to practice nursing.

  • Personal Essay: Submit a personal essay (APA format, and no more than 5 pages), addressing the following topics: How you have prepared for doctoral work (background), why you want a PhD (how does a PhD fit in your career plan), personal/academic strengths and weaknesses, research area of interest, and current/long term goals. View the guidelines on writing your personal essay.

  • Qualified applicants will be invited for an interview. An invitation for an interview does not guarantee admission. 

  • Transfer students must provide a statement of good standing from the program in which currently enrolled.

Program applicants who have graduated from a college or university who utilize a Pass/Fail grading system, as denoted on the official transcript, will be assigned a 3.0 Nursing and 3.0 Overall GPA

Note: Students who have been dismissed from any nursing program (WVU or otherwise) may be considered for readmission if the dismissal was academic and was followed by successful completion of an additional degree. Any student who has withdrawn from the WVU School of Nursing program may be considered for readmission. Students may apply for readmission in accordance with the following guidelines and criteria but must follow the standard admission procedures. Students must meet all original admission requirements.

Apply to WVU

Once you have reviewed the qualifications and tuition information, you can begin the application process. To get started you'll first need to create an account. Once you have done so, click "Start Application" and review your admission type prior to completing enrollment information.

  1. Please select the following options on the Application Type screen:

    • Type of Student: Doctorate

    • Which Program: Nursing PhD

Once you are done you will receive an email confirmation on receipt of application. You can also return to that site to track your documents and check your application status. Qualified applicants who are competitive with other applicants in the applicant pool will be invited for an interview. An invitation for an interview does not guarantee admission.

Request Official Transcripts from All Colleges and Universities Attended

Request an official transcript of records from each college or university attended. It is preferred that official transcripts be sent via an online, secure service such as eScrip-Safe, National Student Clearinghouse, or Parchment to graduateadmissions@mail.wvu.edu. Alternatively, sealed, untampered, physical official transcripts can be sent to WVU Graduate Admissions, 1 Waterfront Place, PO Box 6009, Morgantown, WV 26506.

Current or former WVU students do not need to have transcripts sent from the Morgantown, Beckley, or Keyser campuses.

Applicants who completed prior education outside of the U.S. must have their transcripts evaluated by World Education Services (WES). Please request a “course-by-course” International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP).

Acceptance

Candidates for admission are evaluated on the entire admission packet. The school accepts new students on a rolling admission basis and will review all qualified applications based on admission criteria. Acceptance is dependent upon space available in the program with the most qualified applicants being accepted at the time of review. Decisions will be emailed to students.

The acceptance letter will provide information to prepare you for the PhD program including course dates for the summer session, course registration, orientation, overnight accommodations, parking permits, required software and textbooks.

In programs with limited capacity and competitive admissions, the most qualified students are selected among those that meet the minimum requirements. Students who want to appeal the Undergraduate or Graduate Admissions Committee decision as unfair, arbitrary, or capricious may contact the director of Admissions and Enrollment for the School of Nursing. The request will be forwarded to the program director for consideration, and the student will receive detailed information regarding the formal appeal process.

Orientation

Students are required to attend an orientation session prior to the beginning of the Fall semester where they will learn about the program and meet with their advisors.