A Florida-based college recently announced that it will begin accepting doctoral degree candidates for the first time in its 132-year history in the summer of 2011.

According to The Gainesville Times, the college degree program recently received approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools board of trustees. The institution will launch its first doctorate program, which will focus on nursing practice, next August. Two other advanced degrees will be added as early as 2012, according to the media outlet.

The nursing program consists of seven semesters and will focus on the practical and advanced applications in the field. According to the dean of the institution's graduate school of health and science, the doctorate aims to help prepare students to become leaders in the healthcare industry.

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), registered nurses (RNs) who hold administrative positions usually earn a degree that is higher than a bachelor's. Some healthcare employers will offer tuition reimbursement benefits to RNs who return to school, the bureau reports.

Professionals in this field may want to consider pursuing an online doctorate degree, which could improve their chances of a promotion or raise.