Idaho State University will offer the state's first doctoral program in nursing next year, the school said Wednesday. Six students will be admitted for the spring semester, starting in January 2013.

The State Board of Education in June approved the Doctor of Philosophy, or Ph.D., program to be offered through the ISU School of Nursing.

"Plans for this program have been in the works on the ISU campus for a very long time, and the professional community has been anxiously awaiting it, said Linda Hatzenbuehler, associate vice president and executive dean of the ISU Division of Health Sciences.

Statewide demand has grown for nurses with advanced degrees and nursing teachers.

ISU plans to offer a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in the future.