Program:
Nursing

Degree Awarded:
Doctor of Nursing Practice

Length of Program:
Full-time: 10-11 semesters
Part-time: 18+ semesters

Application Deadlines:
Fall semester: July 18
Spring Semester: Rolling Admissions
Summer Semester: Rolling Admissions
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High demand for doctorally prepared nurses

As a doctorally prepared nurse, you gain knowledge​ not only of clinical practice, but also of the business and management side of health care.

Degree Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program option provides nurses with expanded knowledge and expertise to address contemporary aspects of clinical practice and health care. The BSN to DNP option builds on the basic nursing knowledge of the Bachelor’s-degree prepared nurse and provides advanced knowledge and clinical skills to enter the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) role.

Choose from our program options:

Students can choose from full- or part-time study options. As you progress from course to course, you will:

  • Solidify your knowledge of patient care through the application of clinical scholarship to improve health care delivery systems.
  • Receive an interprofessional education to enhance your leadership and communication skills to lead health care teams in creating innovative solutions for complex delivery systems.
  • Develop, implement, and evaluate health promotion policies to provide better patient outcomes and address gaps in care for population health.

The final requirement of the DNP program consists of a DNP project to demonstrate your ability to translate scientific research into evidence-based, client-centered health care practice.

State Authorization & Licensure Information

How we prepare
the best

  • Concentrations in Adult–Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Family Practice Nurse Practitioner
  • Curriculum emphasizing evidence-based practice
  • Interprofessional education focus
  • Flexible online format
  • Opportunity to earn a degree in ten semesters
  • Full- or part-time study options

Required Courses for BSN to DNP

Major Courses
Courses Semester Hours
◊ DNP 915 - Outcomes of Healthcare in a Global Society 3
DNP 916 - Healthcare Informatics and Data Analytics 3
DNP 918 - Organizational Systems and Behaviors 2
DNP 919 - Healthcare Policy and Law 3
DNP 932 - Leadership 3
DNP 944 - Biostatistics/Epidemiology 2
DNP 945 - Healthcare Economics and Financial Management 3
DNP 948 - Evidence-Based Practice 3
DNP 960 - DNP Scholarly Project I 2
DNP 961 - DNP Scholarly Project II 2
DNP 962 - DNP Scholarly Project III 2
IPE 301 - Interprofessional Education 0
Total Semester Hours 28
Electives

4 semester hours required

Courses Semester Hours
DNP 924 - Entrepreneurship 2
DNP 901 - Preparing for Advanced Practice: Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology 2
DNP 927 - Rural Health Care 2
DNP 926 - Program Planning and Evaluation 2
DNP 928 - Population Health 2
DNP 933 - Learning Theory: Principles and Practices for the Advanced Practice Nurse 2
DNP 934 - Teaching, Learning, and Evaluation Strategies for the Advanced Practice Nurse 2
DNP 963 - DNP Scholarly Project IV 3
DNP 964 - DNP Scholarly Project V 3

There are four (4) options offered for the BSN-DNP: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Anesthesia (CRNA).

BSN-DNP Nurse Anesthesia (CRNA) can be found on the BSN-DNP Nurse Anesthesia section.

Major Specialty-Option Courses in Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

The goal of this program option is to educate nurses who wish to become advance practice providers promoting health and providing care to adult and gerontological patients in acute care settings. Throughout this program option, the learner will develop an advanced nursing practice that encompasses concepts and theories related to nursing and health care, and will assume the role of educator, referral agent and advocate while providing care within an evolving health care system.

Courses Semester Hours
GR 798 - Essentials of Scholarly Writing 1
NS 807 (NRS 807) - Theories and Concepts of Advanced Practice Roles 3
NS 805 (NRS 805) - Application and Evaluation of Theory in Nursing 2
NS 830 (NRS 830) - Advanced Physical Assessment 3
NS 833 (NRS 833) - Foundations of Adult-Gerontologic Healthcare 2
◊ NS 834 (NRS 834) - Advanced Nutrition 3
NS 835 (NRS 835) - Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health 2
NS 836 (NRS 836) - Pharmacology for Practitioners 3
NS 838 (NRS 838) - Advanced Pathophysiology 3
NS 861 (NRS 861) - Introduction to Acute Care Concepts 3
NS 862 (NRS 862) - Applying Acute Care Concepts 3
NS 863 (NRS 863) - Complex Acute Care Concepts 3
NS 864 (NRS 864) - Advanced Acute Care Concepts 3
NS 854 (NRS 854) - Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Transition to Practice 2
GR 847 - Applied Statistics 3
Total Semester Hours 39

*The Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner curriculum is designed for singular progression through the clinical courses. Though the program may be completed online, students are required to attend an on-campus weekend for the specified clinical course (NS 830). Only one clinical course may be taken at a time.

Major Specialty-Option Courses in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

The goal of this program option is to educate nurses who wish to become advance practice providers promoting health and providing care for patients in mental and/or behavioral health settings. The learner will engage in identifying key concepts and theories related to psychiatric-mental health nursing, strategies for communicating clearly with patients, and evidence-based treatment options or plans that meet the unique needs of each patient. The psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner takes on the roles of educator, communicator, and advocate while providing care within an evolving health care system.

Courses Semester Hours
GR 798 - Essentials of Scholarly Writing 1
NS 807 (NRS 807) - Theories and Concepts of Advanced Practice Roles 3
NS 805 (NRS 805) - Application and Evaluation of Theory in Nursing 2
NS 830 (NRS 830) - Advanced Physical Assessment 3
NS 833 (NRS 833) - Foundations of Adult-Gerontologic Healthcare 2
◊ NS 834 (NRS 834) - Advanced Nutrition 3
NS 835 (NRS 835) - Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health 2
NS 836 (NRS 836) - Pharmacology for Practitioners 3
NS 838 (NRS 838) - Advanced Pathophysiology 3
NS 855 (NRS 855) - Pharmacology for Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner 2
NS 856 (NRS 856) - Introduction to Psychiatric-Mental Health Concepts 3
NS 857 (NRS 857) - Application of Psychiatric-Mental Health Concepts 3
NS 858 (NRS 858) - Complex Psychiatric-Mental Health Concepts 3
NS 859 (NRS 859) - Advanced Psychiatric-Mental Health Concepts 3
NS 860 (NRS 860) - Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Transition to Practice 2
GR 847 - Applied Statistics 3
Total Semester Hours 41

*The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner curriculum is designed for singular progression through the clinical courses. Though the program may be completed online, students are required to attend an on-campus weekend for the specified clinical course (NS 830). Only one clinical course may be taken at a time.

Major Specialty-Option Courses in Family Nurse Practitioner

The goal of this program option is to educate nurses who wish to become advance practice providers promoting health and providing care of the individual and family in primary care settings. Throughout this program option, the learner will develop an advanced nursing practice that encompasses concepts and theories related to nursing and health care, as well as recognized and evidence-based care standards to deliver family-centered care. The family nurse practitioner (FNP) assumes the role of educator, referral agent and advocate while providing care within an evolving health care system.

Courses Semester Hours
GR 798 - Essentials of Scholarly Writing 1
NS 805 (NRS 805) - Application and Evaluation of Theory in Nursing 2
NS 807 (NRS 807) - Theories and Concepts of Advanced Practice Roles 3
NS 830 (NRS 830) - Advanced Physical Assessment 3
NS 832 (NRS 832) - Primary Healthcare I 3
NS 833 (NRS 833) - Foundations of Adult-Gerontologic Healthcare 2
◊ NS 834 (NRS 834) - Advanced Nutrition 3
NS 835 (NRS 835) - Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health 2
NS 836 (NRS 836) - Pharmacology for Practitioners 3
NS 838 (NRS 838) - Advanced Pathophysiology 3
NS 840 (NRS 840) - Primary Care of Children and Adolescent 3
NS 842 (NRS 842) - Primary Care of Women 3
NS 844 (NRS 844) - Primary Healthcare II 3
NS 852 (NRS 852) - Family Nurse Practitioner Transition to Practice 2
GR 847 - Applied Statistics 3
Total Semester Hours 39

*The Family Nurse Practitioner curriculum is designed for singular progression through the clinical courses. Though the program may be completed online, students are required to attend an on-campus weekend for the specified clinical course (NS 830). Only one clinical course may be taken at one time.

Tuition and Fees

Estimated rates for the 2023-24 academic year. Rates are subject to change. Find out more information about costs, tuition, and fees.

Scholarships

Learn which scholarships you are eligible for as an in-coming or current student.
Learn More

Financial Aid

Explore the various loan and grant opportunities available to help fund your education.
Learn More

Doctoral Program Courses

Cost per Credit Hour
$941


Cost per Semester
$5,796 - Full-time (6 hrs)
$2,898 - Part-time (3 hrs)

Tuition
Doctoral Program Courses$941 / credit-hour
Fees - Included in cost per semester
Enrollment Fee for first time students $150/ each
Degree Specific Fees - Not included in cost per semester
Interprofessional education – IPE Course Fee IPE 301 $124/ student
NS 807 Cultural Assessment Fee $82/ class
MSN: Typhon Only $100/ student
MSN: Graduate Weekend and Typhon (NS 830) $260/ student
HESI Pre-Cert for Nurse Practitioners (NS 852, NS 854, NS 860) $100/ student
Certification Fee - AANP $315/ student
Certification Fee - ANCC $395/ student
Certification Fee - ANCC for HCA $395/ student
Certification Fee for NE only - CNE $500/ student

Career Overview

Median Salary

$103,000
Payscale.com, 2019

Job Outlook

Overall employment of nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners is projected to grow 26 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. 
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019

This page includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.