Application deadline
Credits and costs
CCNE Accredited
A Doctoral Degree in Nursing from World Campus
The online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a professional, practice-focused doctoral degree designed to prepare highly qualified nurses to be leaders who deliver expert nursing care and ultimately improve health care outcomes. This degree is designed for you if you are a nurse who plans to continue in a practice role, and who has already earned a bachelor's or master's degree in nursing.
Doctor of Nursing Practice – Leadership at Penn State
Providing quality nursing education since 1964, Penn State's Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, in partnership with Penn State World Campus, can help you update your knowledge and skills to meet the demands of the constantly changing health care field. Based on your previous education and nursing experience, the DNP–Leadership degree has two entry pathways:
- post–Bachelor of Science in Nursing for nurse administrators
- post–Master of Science in Nursing for nurse administrators and advanced practice nurses
Your Online DNP–Leadership Courses
Built on the DNP Essentials developed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the curriculum will focus on the translation of research into practice, transformational leadership, and advanced expert nursing practice. To support these Essentials, your course work will also include nursing/change theory, foundations of advanced nursing practice, health policy, informatics, and population-based health.
Total credits required will vary depending on your educational background and the number of practicum hours you need to meet the requirement.
MSN to DNP entry pathway: 38–46 credits
BS to DNP entry pathway: 61 credits
While providing you with the convenience and flexibility of an online program, the online DNP–Leadership program will include the same rigor you would expect from a traditional doctoral-level nursing program. In order to properly prepare you for the highest level of clinical nursing practice, you will be required to attend in-person intensive sessions and complete other doctoral benchmarks, including your Qualifying Examination, Comprehensive Examination, and DNP project with an oral presentation.
As a student in the online DNP–Leadership program, you can expect to take at least two courses per semester in fall and spring, with additional courses offered during the summer semester. Students entering through the B.S. to DNP pathway will be considered full-time students and can expect to take at least three courses per semester in fall and spring.
The Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at The Pennsylvania State University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791. Further information can be found at www.ccneaccreditation.org.
Courses
The core essentials of the online Doctor of Nursing Practice – Leadership (DNP–Leadership) program include translation of research into practice, transformational leadership, and advanced expert nursing practice. To support these essentials, other course work will include nursing/change theory, foundations of advanced nursing practice, health policy, informatics, and population-based health.
Depending on your educational background, the DNP–Leadership program has two entry pathways:
- Post–Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Nursing for nurse administrators (61 total credits)
- Post–Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) entry for nurse administrators and advanced practice nurses (38–46 total credits)
The culmination of the program is an evidence-based practice project. The goal of your 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.
DNP–Leadership Entry Options
The online Doctor of Nursing Practice – Leadership (DNP–Leadership) program has two entry options:
- 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 (The number of required credits depends on the number of hours completed in your MSN program; if you have completed 550 hours, additional clinical practice hours are not required.)
- DNP project requirement: 6 credits (minimum)
- B.S. to DNP — Curriculum will be composed of seven components for a total of 61 credits.
- Master's core courses: 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–B.S. practicum are required in the DNP–Leadership 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 course work. 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 Ross and Carol Nese 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
DNP Core Courses (15 credits)
Other Required Courses (17 credits)
DNP Project (6 credits)
Master's Core Courses (9 credits)
Nurse Administrator Option Courses (13 credits)
DNP Core Courses (12 credits)
Other Required Courses (14 credits)
Advanced Practice Clinical (3-4 credits)
DNP Project (6 credits)
Electives (3 credits)
Students can choose from a diverse list of online courses preselected by the program to satisfy this requirement.
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.
Course Availability
If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.
Costs and Financial Aid
Graduate Tuition
Graduate tuition is calculated based on the number of credits for which you register. Tuition is due shortly after each semester begins and rates are assessed every semester of enrollment.
| How many credits do you plan to take per semester? | Cost |
|---|---|
| 11 or fewer | $1,017 per credit |
| 12 or more | $12,203 per semester |
| How many credits do you plan to take per semester? | Cost |
|---|---|
| 11 or fewer | $1,027 per credit |
| 12 or more | $12,325 per semester |
Financial Aid and Military Benefits
Some students may qualify for financial aid. Take the time to research financial aid, scholarships, and payment options as you prepare to apply. Military service members, veterans, and their spouses or dependents should explore these potential military education benefits and financial aid opportunities, as well.
How to Apply
Deadlines and Important Dates
Your degree application, including receipt of all transcripts, must be received by the following deadlines to be considered complete:
Admissions Help
If you have questions about the admissions process, contact our admissions counselors.
Admission Requirements
The decision to pursue the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a serious one. It is highly recommended that you contact the program office to discuss your potential program of study with the program team prior to submitting your application. The online DNP program will be a rigorous, competitive program, and you should thoroughly understand the level of time and commitment that will be expected of you through the course of your studies.
Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree in nursing from a U.S. regionally accredited institution or a postsecondary degree in nursing that is equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate degree earned from an officially recognized degree-granting international institution. Students entering from the post-master's route must have earned a master's degree with a major in nursing from a program accredited by a national accrediting agency for nursing.
Applicants to the DNP–Leadership program must also have a current license to practice professional nursing in at least one state in the United States or a foreign country. You are also expected to have a grade-point average (on a 4.0 scale) meeting the requirements for your track:
- BS to DNP: cumulative undergraduate GPA ≥ 3.5 and B+ or better on subsequent course work
- MSN to DNP: cumulative graduate GPA ≥ 3.5 and B+ or better on subsequent course work
What You Need
Applications are submitted electronically and include a nonrefundable application fee.
You will need to upload the following items as part of your application:
A copy of an official transcript from each institution attended, regardless of the number of credits or semesters completed. Transcripts not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation. Penn State alumni do not need to request transcripts for credits earned at Penn State, but must list Penn State as part of your academic history. Upon admission and your acceptance of admission, you will be asked to send an additional official transcript. You will receive instructions at that time.
Statement of Purpose — You should submit a personal statement not to exceed 300 words, which should describe your relevant work experience; clearly articulated reasons for applying to the selected option; long-term goals or career aspirations; and other information that may be useful to the admissions committee.
English Proficiency — The language of instruction at Penn State is English. With some exceptions, international applicants must take and submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Minimum test scores and exceptions are found in the English Proficiency section on the Graduate School's "Requirements for Graduate Admission" page. Visit the TOEFL website for testing information. Penn State's institutional code is 2660.
Please note that for entrance into a Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing graduate-level program, the minimum acceptable score for the TOEFL is 580 for the paper-based test, or a total score of 80 with a 25 on the speaking section for the Internet-based test (iBT). The minimum composite score for the IELTS is 7.0.
References (3) — obtained from academic and professional perspectives. If you completed college-level courses over the last five years, an academic reference is required. Other references should be from a nursing supervisor, preferably holding a degree higher than yours. You will need to initiate the referral process through the online application by entering names, email addresses and mailing addresses of three references. Upon submission of your application, those individuals will each receive an email asking them to complete a brief online recommendation specifically regarding your commitment to the health care profession and potential for success in an online program. Please inform all references that they must submit the form for your application to be complete.
Program-Specific Questions/Materials
Vita — listing your professional experience and other qualifications
Writing Sample — A published or unpublished scientific paper, thesis, or other scholarly writing sample
Interview — You will be asked to participate in an interview, via Internet-based video conferencing or in-person
Start Your Application
Begin the graduate school application
- Choose Enrollment Type: "Degree Admission"
- Choose "WORLD CAMPUS" as the campus
Checking Your Status
You can check the status of your application by using the same login information established for the online application form.
Technical Requirements
Review the technical requirements for this degree program.
Get the resources you need to make informed decisions about your education. Request information on this program and other programs of interest by completing this form.
Advance Your Career
Advance Your Career
You can use the knowledge gained from this program and the support of Penn State career resources to pursue careers in a variety of fields, depending on your goals.
Contact Us
To learn more about the Doctor of Nursing Practice – Leadership (DNP–Leadership) program, offered in partnership with the Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, please contact:
World Campus Admissions Counselors
Phone: 814-863-5386
Email: [email protected]
Cody Hoffman
Student Enrollment Recruiter
Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing
Phone: 814-865-0865
Email: [email protected]
To learn more about additional, highly respected nursing programs from Penn State, visit the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing website.
Faculty
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Dr. Diane Berish, Ph.D.
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DegreePh.D., Miami University
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DegreeM.A., University of Virginia
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DegreeB.A., University of Notre Dame
Dr. Diane Berish is an assistant research professor. Her research interests include statistics and research methods, long-term services support, aging and health care policy, and health care quality. Dr. Berish works with students to find the best methods to understand their DNP projects.
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Dr. Barbara Birriel, Ph.D., ACNP-BC, FCCM
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DegreePh.D., Penn State
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DegreePost-grad certificate ACNP, University of Pennsylvania
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DegreeMSN, Thomas Jefferson University
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DegreeBSN, Bloomsbury State College (University)
Dr. Barbara Birriel is an assistant research professor and an acute care nurse practitioner. Her research interests include ethics for the practitioner, palliative care, and family caregiving experiences in heart failure patients.
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Kristen Bransby, CRNP, CPNP-PC
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DegreeDNP, University of Maryland
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DegreeMSN, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Primary Care Track, Drexel University
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DegreeB.S., Nursing, Penn State
Dr. Kristen Brandsby, associate teaching professor, is a doctoral-prepared pediatric nurse practitioner and pediatric mental health specialist who teaches the pediatric course work in the family nurse practitioner track and mentors and facilitates learning for the DNP students. Her practice interests include adolescents, pediatric mental health, health policy, and concussions.
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Cara Exten, PH.D., MPH, B.S.
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DegreePh.D., The Ohio State University
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DegreeMPH, Emory University
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DegreeB.S., East Tennessee State University
Dr. Cara Exten is an assistant teaching professor for the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. She is an infectious disease epidemiologist, focusing on health disparities affecting sexual and gender minority populations, with an emphasis on sexual health (specifically HIV and other sexually transmitted infections) and substance use. She has extensive experience in survey data collection, data analysis, and working with high-risk populations, and she is passionate about the examination of diseases in their entirety, including biological, sociological, and epidemiological factors.
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Donna M. Fick, RN, FGSA, FAAN
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DegreePh.D., Nursing Science/Geriatrics, University of California-San Francisco
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DegreeMSN, Gerontological Nursing, University of Cincinnati
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DegreeBSN, Nursing Science, Berea College
Dr. Donna M. Fick is the director of the Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence at Penn State. She is an instructor for a variety of graduate nursing courses. Dr. Fick's research interests include inappropriate medication use in older adults, recognition and management of delirium superimposed on dementia, and implementation of ultra-brief delirium screening in hospital settings.
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Sharilee Hrabovsky, D.Ed.
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DegreeD.Ed., Adult Education, Penn State
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DegreePost-master’s certification, Family Practice Nurse Practitioner, Widener University
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DegreeMSN, Villanova University
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DegreeBSN, Thomas Jefferson University
Dr. Sharilee Hrabovsky is an assistant research professor with the College of Nursing. She teaches online courses in the graduate school. She has been a practicing nurse for the last 36 years, 23 of them as a nurse practitioner, and has presented on tobacco use, treatment, and regulation research for the last eight years. She is a nationally certified tobacco treatment specialist and has worked with hundreds of tobacco users through clinical trials or direct patient care in their quest to reduce or quit tobacco use.
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Judith E. Hupcey, CRNP, FAAN
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DegreeEd.D., Nursing Education, Columbia University Teachers College
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DegreeM.Ed., Nursing Education, Columbia University Teachers College
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DegreeM.S., Adult Nurse Practitioner, Columbia University School of Nursing
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DegreeBSN, Columbia University School of Nursing
Dr. Judith E. Hupcey, professor of nursing, medicine, and bioethics, is the associate dean for graduate education and research in the College of Nursing. She is also a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing. Her research focuses on persons with heart failure at the end of life and their family caregivers. She recently completed a study investigating the palliative care needs of persons with heart failure and their family caregivers. From this study, a cutting-edge model of palliative care for heart failure was developed.
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Susan Loeb, PH.D., RN, FGSA, FAAN
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DegreeDNP, Penn State
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DegreeMSN, Penn State
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DegreeBSN, Penn State
Dr. Susan J. Loeb is a professor for the College of Nursing and the College of Medicine. She is a faculty affiliate at the Center for Health Care Policy and Research and Center for Healthy Aging. Her program of research focuses on the health needs and issues of older inmates with chronic health conditions, including those with advanced chronic illnesses who are approaching the end of life. Her research has been funded by the National Institute on Aging and the National Institute of Nursing Research. Over the past two decades, Dr. Loeb has taught a wide array of courses across the nursing curriculum, from undergraduate through doctoral education. Most recently, her teaching has been in writing-focused courses, helping students develop their scholarly papers or dissertations. She also regularly teaches NURS 501: Issues in Nursing and Health Care.
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Paul Logan, PH.D., CRNP, ACNP-BC
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DegreePh.D., Penn State
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DegreeMSN, University of Pennsylvania
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DegreeBSN, Messiah College
Dr. Paul Logan is an assistant research professor for the College of Nursing. His research interests include outcomes, quality, and value in health care, particularly the quality of care provided by nurse practitioners. His clinical interests include acute care, critical care, and cardiovascular disease.
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Sheri Matter, Ph.D., MSN, RN
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DegreePh.D., Leadership and Administration, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
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DegreeMSN, Wilmington University
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DegreeMBA, University of St. Francis
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DegreeMHA, University of St. Francis
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DegreeB.S., Nursing, Wilkes University
Dr. Sheri Matter is the assistant dean of graduate professional programs and is an associate teaching professor in the College of Nursing. She has more than 30 years of nursing leadership, including as chief nursing executive of a multiple-hospital system. Dr. Matter's research for her dissertation focused on the nurse characteristics of a highly reliable organization.
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Madeline Mattern, DNP, FNP-C, CNE
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DegreeDNP, Carlow University
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DegreePost-Masters FNP Certificate, Penn State
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DegreeM.S., Penn State
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DegreeB.S., Penn State
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DegreeRN Diploma, Citizen’s General Hospital School of Nursing
Dr. Madeline Mattern is the director of nurse practitioner options and an assistant teaching professor for the College of Nursing. Her dissertation focused on current management strategies of Pennsylvania primary care nurse practitioners for persons diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Her research interests include reducing anxiolytic use in primary care and primary care of underserved and rural populations.
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Nicole Peterson, DNP, A/GPCNP-BC, CRNP, RN
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DegreeDNP, University of Iowa
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DegreeMSN, University of Iowa
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DegreeBSN, University of Iowa
Dr. Nicole Peterson is an assistant teaching professor and emeritus associate professor of instruction at the University of Iowa. She has been an adult and gerontological primary care nurse practitioner since 2008, with clinical practice experience in long-term care, community care, home care, and primary care. This includes providing geriatric and primary care to the Meskwaki Nation community (Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa and their employees). She has teaching experience in undergraduate and graduate nursing, including master’s and doctorate levels, as well as serving as a geriatric nurse practitioner.
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Britney Wardecker, PH.D.
DegreePh.D., Psychology, University of MichiganDr. Britney Wardecker is an assistant professor for the Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing and a faculty affiliate for the Penn State Center for Healthy Aging. Prior to her faculty position, Dr. Wardecker began training (funded by the National Institutes of Health) as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Center. Her research examines lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) older adults' psychological and physical health outcomes. She also loves to teach in the areas of health, discrimination, health disparities, and research methods. Her research interests include promoting health equity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) older adults; examining health disparities and individual differences in health (such as age, gender, and sexual orientation); and biomarker measurement.
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Beth Ann White, DNP, CRNP-BC, RN
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DegreeDNP, Penn State
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DegreeM.S. and Adult Nurse Practitioner, Penn State
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DegreeB.S., Nursing, Penn State
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DegreeRN, Diploma, Geisinger School of Nursing
Dr. Beth Ann White is the coordinator for the FNP program and is an associate teaching professor in the College of Nursing. She has worked as a case manager, disease manager, and regional manager for the Medical Home project, along with her continued practice as an adult nurse practitioner. Her research interest includes improved oral care in long-term care.
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Kelly Wolgast, RN, FACHE, FAAN
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DegreeDNP, University of Alabama
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DegreeM.S., Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College
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DegreeMSN, Vanderbilt University
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DegreeBSN, Penn State
Dr. Kelly Wolgast is the assistant dean for outreach and professional development and an associate teaching professor. She teaches both nurse administrator/management courses and nurse educator courses in Penn State's MSN and DNP programs. Her research interests include nurse leadership, health care delivery models, distance learning, and military/veterans' health.
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Andrea Yevchak Sillner, Ph.D., CNS, RN
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DegreePh.D., Nursing, Penn State
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DegreeM.S., Nursing, Penn State
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DegreeB.S., Nursing, Penn State
Dr. Andrea Yevchak Sillner is an assistant research professor in the College of Nursing. She is also a board-certified gerontological clinical nurse specialist. Dr. Sillner's research interests are in improving transitions of care for older adults and their informal family caregivers by focusing on technology-assisted communication and preferences of care.
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Mariya Tankimovich, DNP, CRNP, FNP-C, CNE
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DegreeDNP, University of Texas Health Science Center
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DegreeMSN, University of Texas Health Science Center
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DegreeBSN, University of Texas Health Science Center
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DegreeB.A., University of California
Dr. Mariya Tankimovich is the director of the DNP program and an associate teaching professor for the Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. Her practice improvement project is Implementation Plan of a Family Clinic–Based Pilot Study for a Smartphone-Based Short Message System Text-Messaging Intervention to Improve Dietary Practices among Adult Patients with Hyperlipidemia. Her DNP Fellowship Project was Connection to Care: Perceptions, Readmission, and Reality — a research project to study unwanted readmissions of pediatric patients at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston and to design and implement a plan to reduce such unwanted readmissions. Her research interests include health promotion and disease prevention, improving patient outcomes, and transitions-of-care challenges.
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Kimberly Van Haitsma, PH.D.
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DegreePh.D., Clinical Psychology, Bowling Green State University
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DegreeM.A., Clinical Psychology, Bowling Green State University
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DegreeB.A., Psychology, Calvin College
Dr. Kimberly Van Haitsma's research interests include developing observational methodologies to assess behavior and emotion in dementia, developing evidence-based education programs to enhance the skills of formal caregivers, advancing the understanding of person-centered care — "knowing preferences for everyday living" — and developing measurement tools for research, clinical practice, and evidence-based interventions for formal caregivers.
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Sheilah Yohn, DNP, AGNP-BC, RN
DegreeDNP, Wilkes UniversityDr. Sheilah Yohn is an assistant teaching professor. She is a practicing NP in a family care setting. Dr. Yohn’s interests are in providing care to the underserved.
