Doctor of Nursing Practice and Master of Science in Nursing

The Doctor of Nursing Practice and Master of Science in Nursing program is an option for master’s prepared advanced practice nurses and post baccalaureate prepared nurses. This program prepares graduates who will practice at the highest clinical level. Program graduates demonstrate expertise in advanced clinical nursing practice, clinical scholarship, and analytical methods to improve patient care. Expertise in quality improvement, leadership, collaboration, health care policy and finance is developed.

This program is offered online and there are a few courses that require a visit to campus.

Curriculum

There are five areas of specialty focus:

  • Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (ACPNP) *
  • Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (A-GNP)
  • Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
  • Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
  • Psychiatric Mental Health (PMHNP)

* The Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program will open in Fall 2026 and is currently accepting applications, through September 15, 2025.

Year 1, Fall

NRDNP838 Advanced Pathophysiology 3
NRDNP856A Advanced Clinical Assessment and Reasoning I 3
NRDNP860 Applied Epidemiology & Biostatistics 4
Semester Total 10

Year 1, Spring

NRDNP856B Advanced Clinical Assessment and Reasoning II 3
NRDNP842 Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics 4
NRDNP846 Frameworks for Leadership 3
Semester Total 10

Year 1, Summer

NRDNP864 Advanced Care Management I 6
NRDNP830 Applied Health Care Economics and Finance 3
Semester Total 9

Year 2, Fall

NRDNP836 Informatics in Healthcare Delivery 3
NRDNP865 Advanced Care Management II 6
NRDNP873 Scientific Underpinnings 3
Semester Total 12

Year 2, Spring

NRDNP708 Advanced Health Policy and Advocacy 3
NRDNP858 Evidence-Based Practice, Quality & Safety 3
NRDNP866 Advanced Care Management III 6
Semester Total 12

Year 2, Summer

NRDNP848B Role Practicum 7
NRDNP862 Practice Inquiry & IRB 3
Semester Total 10

Year 3, Fall

NRDNP890 Residency 5
NRDNP850 Organizational Theory and Health Care Systems 3
Semester Total 8

Year 3, Spring

NRDNP890 Residency 5
Semester Total 5
Curriculum Total 76

Year 1, Spring

NRPHD708 Advanced Health Policy & Advocacy 3
NRDNP846 Frameworks for Leadership 3
Semester Total 6

Year 1, Summer

NRDNP830 Applied Healthcare Economics & Finance 3
NRDNP860 Applied Epidemiology & Biostatistics 4
Semester Total 7

Year 1, Fall

NRDNP838 Advanced Pathophysiology 3
NRDNP856A Advanced Clinical Assessment & Reasoning A 3
NRDNP836 Informatics in Healthcare Delivery 3
Semester Total 9

Year 2, Spring

NRDNP856B Advanced Clinical Assessment & Reasoning B 3
NRDNP842 Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics 4
Semester Total 7

Year 2, Summer

NRDNP864 Advanced Care Management I 6
Semester Total 6

Year 2, Fall

NRDNP865 Advanced Care Management II 6
NRDNP873 Scientific Underpinnings IV 3
Semester Total 9

Year 3, Spring

NRDNP866 Advanced Care Management III 6
NRDNP858 Evidenced Based Practice, Quality & Safety 3
Semester Total 9

Year 3, Summer

NRDNP848B Role Practicum 7
NRDNP862 Practice Inquiry & IRB 3
Semester Total 10

Year 3, Fall

NRDNP850 Organizational Theory & Healthcare Systems 3
NRDNP890 Residency 5
Semester Total 8

Year 4, Spring

NRDNP890 Residency 5
Semester Total 5
Curriculum Minimum Total 76

Year 1, Fall B (8/25/25-12/12/25)

NRDNP836 Informatics in Health Care Delivery 3
NRDNP830 Applied Health Care Economics and Finance 3
Semester Total 6

Year 1, Spring (1/5/26-5/1/26)

NRPHD708 Advanced Health Policy & Advocacy 3
NRDNP846 Frameworks for Leadership 3
Semester Total 6

Year 1, Summer A, Trailer (5/4/26-8/14/26)

NRDNP860 Applied Epidemiology and Biostatistics 4
Semester Total 4

Year 2, Fall B (8/25/25-12/12/25)

NRDNP856A Advanced Clinical Assessment and Reasoning I 3
NRDNP838 Advanced Pathophysiology 3
Semester Total 6

Year 2, Spring (1/5/26-5/1/26)

NRDNP842 Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics 4
NRDNP856B

Advanced Clinical Assessment and Reasoning II

 3
Semester Total 7

Year 2, Summer A, Trailer (5/4/26-8/14/26)

NRDNP864 Advanced Care Management I 6
Semester Total 6

Year 3, Fall B (8/25/25-12/12/25)

NRDNP865 Advanced Care Management II 6
NRDNP873 Scientific Underpinnings 3
Semester Total 9

Year 3, Spring (1/5/26-5/1/26)

NRDNP858 Evid Based Prac Qual Safety 3
NRDNP866 Advanced Care Management III 6
Semester Total 9

Year 3, Summer A, Trailer (5/4/26-8/14/26)

NRDNP848B Role Practicum 7
NRDNP862 Practice Inquiry & IRB 3
Semester Total 10

Year 4, Fall B (8/25/25-12/12/25)

NRDNP890 Residency 5
NRDNP850 

Organizational Theory and Health Care Systems

 		 3 
Semester Total 8

Year 4, Spring (1/5/26-5/1/26)

NRDNP890 Residency 5
Semester Total 5
Curriculum Minimum Total 76

Graduate students can elect to add Nurse Educator courses to include:

  • NURSM615 Methodology of Online Teaching, 3 credit hours
  • NURSM703 Instructional Processes, 3 credit hours
  • NURSM713 Curriculum Design & Development, 3 credit hours
  • NRPHD800 Mentored Teaching, 3 credit hours