Established in 2008 with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the UNM College of Nursing's RWJF PhD in Nursing with a Concentration in Health Policy program aims to prepare doctoral-level nurses to become leaders in health policy at the local, state and national levels through their research and advocacy. It particularly targets those from underserved populations in the Southwest, including individuals from Hispanic and Native American populations. As effective health policy must reflect the experiences, needs, and cultural context of the population groups the policy intends to serve.

The RWJF PhD in Nursing with a concentration in Health Policy program works in partnership with the RWJF Center for Health Policy at the University of New Mexico (Center). Students in the College of Nursing PhD program will participate in interdisciplinary activities with doctoral students from the social sciences disciplines at the Center.

Students who enter the program with master’s degrees in nursing will complete most of their coursework online with short summer session residency requirements and attendance at the Western Institute of Nursing each spring. They will be expected to earn their doctorates in three years. In addition to the required course work, students are expected to participate in seminars and other informal learning experiences and also to engage in research in their areas of interest working with faculty associated with the program.

Curriculum Plan