Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

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The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) addresses the growing need for nursing professionals with leadership skills and advanced expertise. Designed for MS-prepared nurses, Nurse Practitioners (NPs), and other Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), the DNP elevates your proficiency to the highest level within the nursing discipline while offering a flexible, online format that allows you to maintain your current professional role while you pursue your degree.

The program features highly accessible asynchronous sessions with opportunities for faculty and student interaction through optional virtual office hours. The curriculum also includes three nursing education courses that qualify you to sit for the National League for Nursing (NLN) Certified Nurse Educator (CNE®) examination – an added opportunity to position yourself for roles in academic nursing.

Program Details

The DNP program curriculum is designed to cultivate leaders in the healthcare field. It offers comprehensive preparation in advanced nursing leadership and educational strategies — equipping you with the tools to drive innovation and improve patient outcomes.

Core areas of study include organizational and systems leadership for quality improvement, research and analytical methods for evidence-based practice, nursing education, health policy, and population health.

You’ll learn to critically appraise evidence to support best practices, collaborate with interprofessional teams to enhance healthcare outcomes, and generate solutions to complex care issues. Additionally, you’ll analyze health policies, synthesize data to inform care recommendations, and advocate for socially just policies that promote ethical healthcare design and delivery.

The flexible online learning structure combines the convenience of asynchronous coursework with meaningful faculty and peer interaction. Optional virtual office hours provide added support and engagement throughout your journey.

This experience culminates in the DNP Scholarly Project — a quality improvement, evidence-based practice, or health policy project of original work that establishes you as a clinical leader and content expert.

Program Duration

The DNP program is a two-year, primarily online commitment. In addition to online coursework and interactive virtual opportunities, students are required to attend three strategic on-campus intensives at the beginning, middle, and end of the program. Each intensive is approximately 1-2 days in length and provides valuable opportunities for hands-on experience and in-person collaboration with faculty and peers.

National League for Nursing (NLN) Certification

Three nursing education courses within the DNP curriculum qualify you to sit for the National League for Nursing Certified Nurse Educator (CNE®) examination — a distinction that recognizes excellence in the advanced specialty role of the academic nurse educator.

The CNE® certification enhances your professional credibility and demonstrates your commitment to lifelong learning and the advancement of the nursing profession.

Career Impact

By earning your DNP, you’ll be able to practice at the highest level of the nursing profession. This degree equips you with the skills and knowledge to advance your career in nursing leadership and management, lead quality improvement and practice initiatives to enhance healthcare outcomes, and contribute to the profession as a nurse educator.

The program’s flexible learning model supports your ability to pursue advanced education without putting your career on hold.

Application Deadline

• Priority Deadline: December 1, 2025
• Final Deadline: February 18, 2026