Doctor of Nursing Practice

Courses

Course List - Doctor of Nursing

The online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program has two entry options:

1. MSN to DNP — curriculum will be composed of five components for a total of 38–46 credits. (Your total number of credits will depend on the number of practicum hours you need to meet the 1,000-hour requirement.)
   • DNP Core Courses – 15 credits
   • Other Required Courses – 17 credits
   • Advanced Practice Clinical – 0–8 credits (Your number of credits depend on the number of hours completed in the student's MSN program; if you have completed 550 hours, additional clinical practice hours are not required.)
   • DNP Project Requirement – 6 credits (minimum)
2. B.S. to DNP — curriculum will be composed of seven components for a total of 61 credits.
   • Master's Core – 9 credits
   • Nurse Administrator Option Courses – 13 credits
   • DNP Core Courses – 12 credits
   • Other Required Courses – 14 credits
   • Advanced Practice Clinical – 4 credits (needed to meet the 1,000-hour requirement)
   • DNP Project Requirement – 6 credits (minimum)
   • Electives – 3 credits

Practicum Hours

A total of 1,000 hours of post–BS practicum are required in the DNP program. You may transfer 550 hours of practicum (if applicable) from the master's program. The remaining hours are accomplished through various courses in the DNP curriculum that include practicum hours as part of the coursework. Practicum hour plans will be developed in consultation with the course faculty member and with the approval of the DNP faculty adviser. Development of the plans for practicum experiences begins with your admission to the program. The practicum planning process involves establishing a site affiliation agreement with the practicum site and identifying a preceptor(s). You will be responsible for identifying potential practicum sites and preceptors and working with the Assistant Dean for Online Education and Outreach at the College of Nursing to accomplish the affiliation agreement process. Some students choose to complete practicum requirements at their place of employment and other students identify alternate practicum sites. 

MSN to DNP Curriculum

B.S. to DNP Curriculum

DNP Project

The DNP project is an important aspect of the program. You and your advising team will meet prior to the beginning of the first semester to begin planning your DNP project. Project identification and development progress along with coursework will align with evidenced-based practice and quality improvement initiatives. You will present project related presentations at varying points during the program. Please see the Benchmarks section for more details. The culmination of the program is an evidence-based practice project. The goal of the DNP project is to produce an actual, deliverable product that has originated from practice experience. You will identify a problem and use evidence-based research to develop a proposal to implement and evaluate a practice change initiative.