The PhD (Nursing) degree was first instituted on September 27, 1979. Curricular revisions are conducted regularly in order to conform to the constantly changing times, the latest of which were approved by the University Board of Regents on February 1, 1995.

The main purpose of the program leading to the Doctor of Philosophy (Nursing) is to strengthen and deepen the intellectual and scholastic capability of students in order to enhance the theory and science based practice of the profession.