The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a practice-focused doctoral degree that prepares graduates to function at the highest level of professional nursing practice. Program entry is available in the spring, summer, and fall semesters.
Graduates of the DNP program provide advanced nursing care with a strong emphasis on improving quality, access, and outcomes for underserved and diverse populations. Upon completion of the program, graduates are prepared to:
- Advocate for reasonable, rational, and data-driven health regulations, standards, and practices
- Sustain collaborative and strategic professional relationships
- Promote innovative and effective health care programs
- Form partnerships with diverse communities to reduce health disparities
DNP Pathways
Two pathways are available to earn the DNP degree:
BSN to DNP
The post-baccalaureate (BSN to DNP) pathway admits nurses prepared at the baccalaureate level. Students enrolled in this pathway are awarded the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) en route at the start of the DNP project courses. The following MSN concentrations are available:
- Nurse Executive
- Nurse Educator
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
MSN to DNP
The post-master’s (MSN to DNP) pathway admits individuals with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s degree in nursing or another related field. Applicants with a master’s degree in a non-nursing discipline may be required to complete additional coursework. Students may choose to focus on nurse education or executive administration through elective coursework.
DNP Curriculum and Project
The DNP curriculum includes the completion of a clinical practice DNP project, which synthesizes scholarship in an advanced practice specialty or an area of health care leadership. Practice immersion experiences provide the framework in which the DNP project is developed and implemented.
Students complete the project under the guidance of a collaborative team that includes program faculty, a faculty advisor, a clinical advisor, and the student. All coursework is offered in a distance-accessible format, with one required on-campus intensive conference during the DNP project courses.
Clinical Requirements
This program includes a required clinical component:
- Students will engage in 540 DNP Immersion clinical hours, with additional post-baccalaureate direct patient care clinical hours required to total a minimum of 1000 hours.
Students are responsible for identifying an appropriate clinical site and clinical advisor. No clinical practice may begin until site and clinical advisor approval has been granted by the College of Nursing.
Click Here to view the states from which the College of Nursing currently accepts applications for admission.
Admissions
Post-Baccalaureate to Doctor of Nursing Practice (BSN to DNP) Pathway
Applicants for the Post-Baccalaureate to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) pathway will be considered on a competitive basis. In addition to the minimum Graduate School admission requirements, to be considered for regular admission an application must include:
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing from an accredited school of nursing.
- Reside and hold a current unencumbered RN licensure in a state-approved for admission. Click Here to view the states from which the College of Nursing currently accepts applications for admission.
Final admission is contingent upon drug and background screen results that are deemed acceptable by appropriate University officials.
Post-Master's to Doctor of Nursing Practice (MSN to DNP) Pathway
Applicants for the Post-Baccalaureate to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) pathway will be considered on a competitive basis. In addition to the minimum Graduate School admission requirements, to be considered for regular admission an application must include:
- Master's degree in nursing from a CCNE or NLN accredited school of nursing or a Master's degree in another relevant field. Those with Master's in a field other than Nursing may be required to complete additional courses.
- Reside and hold a current unencumbered RN licensure in a state approved for admission. Click Here to view the states from which the College of Nursing accepts applications for admission.
Final admission is contingent upon drug and background screen results that are deemed acceptable by appropriate University officials.
Curricular Requirements
BSN to DNP Program Courses
Post-Master's to Doctor of Nursing Practice Pathway (MSN to DNP)
| MSN to DNP Course List | Hours |
| NUR 700 | Clinical Data Mgt & Analysis | 3 |
| NUR 701 | Writing for Publication | 3 |
| NUR 706 | Introduction to Writing * | 1 |
| NUR 727 | Foundations of Implementation | 3 |
| NUR 728 | EBP Methods and Evaluation | 3 |
| NUR 733 | Informatics APN | 3 |
| NUR 735 | Pop Health APN | 3 |
| NUR 737 | Interdisc Leader Role Dev | 3 |
| NUR 740 | Health Policy & Politics | 3 |
| 25 |
| NUR 794 | Intro to DNP Scholarly Project | 1 |
| NUR 795 | DNP Project Seminar ** | 1 |
| NUR 796 | DNP Project Immersion I (180 Clinical Hours) ** | 3 |
| NUR 797 | DNP Project Immersion II (180 Clinical Hours) ** | 3 |
| NUR 798 | DNP Project Immersion III (180 Clinical Hours) ** | 3 |
| 11 |
| Total Hours | 36 |
Transfer Credit
Graduate School information on Transfer Credit.
Admission to Candidacy Requirements
The Director of Graduate Student Services will initiate the Admission to Candidacy when core coursework is completed.
Comprehensive Exam
DNP students do not take comprehensive exams. Successfully securing a clinical site and completing all prerequisites is needed for enrollment into NUR 796-798 (DNP Immersion courses).
DNP Project
Immersion course series requirements.
NUR 796 - Approved proposal, portfolio initiation, 180 clinical hours
- < 75% complete: course failure
- >75% but not 100%: Incomplete with 1 hour ofNUR 717 Independent Study for the next semester. If the incomplete is fulfilled prior to the start of the next semester, the student may progress.
NUR 797: IRB approval and project implementation, continued portfolio, 180 clinical hours
- < 75% complete: course failure
- >75% but not 100%: Incomplete with 1 hour of NUR 717 Independent Study for the next semester. If the incomplete is fulfilled prior to the start of the next semester, the student may progress.
NUR 798: Project evaluation DNP part II approval, portfolio completion, dissemination, 180 clinical hours.
- < 75% complete: course failure
- >75% but not 100%: Incomplete with 1 hour of NUR 717 Independent Study for the next semester. If the incomplete is fulfilled prior to the start of the next semester, the student may progress.
The immersion course series cannot have a gap other than summer. NUR 717 (Independent Study) fills the gap for a student to stay in sequence. Any other gap requires the student to begin the series over. If the student will gap the summer but wishes to complete incomplete work from the spring, the student will need to take NUR 717 for 1 credit hour. Any failure during the sequence can allow for a repeat of the failed course IF the project and clinical site remain the same. If the clinical site or the project changes the student will be required to restart the sequence at NUR 796.
Extreme circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Time Limits for Degree Completion Requirements
Graduate School information on Time Limits.
Student Progression Requirement
Student progression is monitored and evaluated each semester. Please contact the Director of Graduate Student Services for the Graduate Retention and Progression Policy.
Academic Misconduct Information
Graduate School information on Academic Misconduct.
Withdrawals and Leave of Absence Information
Please contact the Coordinator of Graduate Student Services for assistance with the Leave of Absence process.
Graduate School information on Withdrawals and Leave of Absence.
Academic Grievances Information
Graduate School information on Academic Grievances.
Grades and Academic Standing
Graduate School information on Grades and Academic Standing.
Graduate School Deadlines Information
Information on Graduate School Deadlines.
Application for Graduation Information
Information on the Application for Graduation.
