Doctor of Nursing Practice and Master of Science in Nursing

The Doctor of Nursing Practice and Master of Science in Nursing (DNP, MSN) 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.

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

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

Year 1, Spring

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

Year 1, Summer

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

Year 2, Fall

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

Year 2, Spring

Course ID Course Title Credits
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

Course ID Course Title Credits
NRDNP848B Role Practicum 7
NRDNP862 Practice Inquiry & IRB 3
Semester Total 10

Year 3, Fall

Course ID Course Title Credits
NRDNP890 Residency 5
NRDNP850 Organizational Theory and Health Care Systems 3
Semester Total 8

Year 3, Spring

Course ID Course Title Credits
NRDNP890 Residency 5
Semester Total 5
Curriculum Total 76

Year 1, Spring

Course ID Course Title Credits
NRPHD708 Advanced Health Policy & Advocacy 3
NRDNP846 Frameworks for Leadership 3
Semester Total 6

Year 1, Summer

Course ID Course Title Credits
NRDNP830 Applied Healthcare Economics & Finance 3
NRDNP860 Applied Epidemiology & Biostatistics 4
Semester Total 7

Year 1, Fall

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

Year 2, Spring

Course ID Course Title Credits
NRDNP856B Advanced Clinical Assessment & Reasoning B 3
NRDNP842 Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics 4
Semester Total 7

Year 2, Summer

Course ID Course Title Credits
NRDNP864 Advanced Care Management I 6
Semester Total 6

Year 2, Fall

Course ID Course Title Credits
NRDNP865 Advanced Care Management II 6
NRDNP873 Scientific Underpinnings IV 3
Semester Total 9

Year 3, Spring

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

Year 3, Summer

Course ID Course Title Credits
NRDNP848B Role Practicum 7
NRDNP862 Practice Inquiry & IRB 3
Semester Total 10

Year 3, Fall

Course ID Course Title Credits
NRDNP850 Organizational Theory & Healthcare Systems 3
NRDNP890 Residency 5
Semester Total 8

Year 4, Spring

Course ID Course Title Credits
NRDNP890 Residency 5
Semester Total 5
Curriculum Minimum Total 76

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

Course ID Course Title Credits
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)

Course ID Course Title Credits
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)

Course ID Course Title Credits
NRDNP860 Applied Epidemiology and Biostatistics 4
Semester Total 4

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

Course ID Course Title Credits
NRDNP856A Advanced Clinical Assessment and Reasoning I 3
NRDNP838 Advanced Pathophysiology 3
Semester Total 6

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

Course ID Course Title Credits
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)

Course ID Course Title Credits
NRDNP864 Advanced Care Management I 6
Semester Total 6

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

Course ID Course Title Credits
NRDNP865 Advanced Care Management II 6
NRDNP873 Scientific Underpinnings 3
Semester Total 9

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

Course ID Course Title Credits
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)

Course ID Course Title Credits
NRDNP848B Role Practicum 7
NRDNP862 Practice Inquiry & IRB 3
Semester Total 10

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

Course ID Course Title Credits
NRDNP890 Residency 5
NRDNP850  Organizational Theory and Health Care Systems 3 
Semester Total 8

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

Course ID Course Title Credits
NRDNP890 Residency 5
Semester Total 5
Curriculum Minimum Total 76

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

Course ID Course Title Credits
NURSM615 Methodology of Online Teaching 3
NURSM703 Instructional Processes 3
NURSM713 Curriculum Design & Development 3
NRPHD800 Mentored Teaching 3