PhD in Nursing, Public Health at Rush University

The Nursing, Public Health at Rush University is a PhD program designed for students who want to build the knowledge and skills required for careers in this field. Delivered online at the Online campus in Chicago, United States of America, the program is taught in English and takes 3 years 6 months to complete. Students study in a Full Time environment while preparing for future professional opportunities. The next intake starts on August 28, 2026.

About PhD in Nursing, Public Health

Advanced Public Health Nursing (APHN)

The Advanced Public Health Nursing (APHN) Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program has a population-based focus, with interventions directed to the community or population as a whole. You will develop skills in assessing, planning and evaluating interventions and policies for communities and clinical populations. APHNs bring work as a bridge between clinical health care and public health and prevention initiatives.

The Advanced Public Health Nursing Program emphasizes:

Health promotion and primary prevention
Population assessment and epidemiology
Data based program and policy development
Program management and evaluation
Stakeholder engagement and intervention sustainability

Our curriculum builds on education in the following content areas that will lead to improved population outcomes in complex systems:

Evidence-based practice
Quality improvement
Systems leadership
Policy development
Public health sciences

After graduating the APHN program, you will be prepared to function as a public health nursing specialist who develops policies and interventions to improve the health and health care of communities and populations.

Requirements and Admission Criteria for PhD in Nursing, Public Health at Rush University

Entry Requirements

Application form - You must create an account to apply. Please click the following link to begin the process:
Unofficial transcripts - An unofficial copy of your transcript from every college and university attended is required, even if only one course was completed. Transfer credits listed on another transcript does not waive the submissions of a transcript from that school. Copies should be uploaded online via the application system only.
Grade point average - GPAs must be converted to a 4.0 scale.
Standardized test scores - Standardized test scores are optional for all programs. Applicants applying to the Integrated Biomedical Sciences Program have the option to submit GRE scores. Please upload a copy of your ETS score report online with your application (even if you have already sent in an official copy to the Graduate College via ETS). Applicants applying to the Biotechnology and Clinical Research MS Program may submit GRE, MCAT, PCAT, GMAT or DAT scores with their application.
TOEFL/IELTS scores - Scores must be submitted for international applicants who have received a diploma from a university at which English is not the language of instruction. TOEFL/IELTS scores will be waived for non-native English speakers who have completed a Bachelor’s degree or higher from a US accredited institution and have demonstrated language proficiency supported by the interview. TOEFL and IELTS are the only scores the Graduate College will accept.
Applicant fee - A $50 application fee is required to submit the application.
CV/Resume - A CV or resume is required and should include academic honors, awards received in college and/or graduate school, employment history, internships, summer research programs, education history, etc.
Statement of purpose - Describe your current research interests as they pertain to your desire to complete the program to which you apply. Please also include specific details about your past research experience. Your statement of purpose should be limited to one page.
Letters of Recommendation – Three letters of recommendation are required for all programs. The Graduate College will only accept professional or institutional email addresses, personal email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc. will not be accepted. Letters must be uploaded by the online application directly by your recommenders. The Graduate College does accept Interfolio letters of recommendation.
Background Check and Immunizations- Prior to matriculation, you will need to complete a criminal background check and submit your immunization records through CastleBranch. Upon acceptance into a program, The Graduate College Admissions Team will contact you with further instructions on ordering your package through CastleBranch.
International students (those with a degree outside the U.S.) must also submit the following:
- Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores. Scores can be emailed directly to the Graduate College. We will waive the TOEFL/IELTS requirement if you completed your degree in a country where the official language is English.
- Official course-by-course evaluation from Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), or World Education Services (WES) only. Please review their web site for their individual requirements for evaluation. Once completed, they can then email the formal evaluation directly to Rush.
Rush/Stroger residents and fellows need to submit United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) scores.

English Requirements

TOEFLMin 88

Fee Information

Application Fee 50

How to Apply

We recommend that you complete the required RUSH University fields and submit your application well before the deadline. It can take several weeks for RUSH University to verify your transcripts and calculate GPAs after you submit the application and transcripts have been received.

Please review the required fields in the sections below that you need to complete before you can submit an application.

Personal information
Academic history
Supporting information
Program materials

You must complete required fields and submit your application by the posted deadline. Otherwise, we will not consider your application for admission. As programs are competitive, we strongly advise that you also submit all required documents to RUSH University prior to the application deadline.

You should check your personal application page on the RUSH University application portal to monitor that your transcripts and recommendations were successfully transmitted. Our admissions staff will also be working with you to ensure that your application is complete.

PhD in Nursing, Public Health at Rush University

Rush University

United States of America, Chicago