Post- Baccalaureate to Doctor of Nursing Practice (BSN to DNP) Plan of Study
BSN to DNP
The W offers a pathway for nurses with a baccalaureate degree in nursing to earn a doctorate. The BSN to DNP pathway can be completed in a as little as eight terms (about 33 months). Students must meet the admission requirements for MSN program, including the BSN plus two years of practice, followed by the requirements for the DNP program.
MSN Full-Time Plan of Study
Prerequisite
| NU 513 - Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 |
45 contact hours. This is a preadmission course.
Building on prerequisite knowledge in pathophysiology, this course is designed to provide the learner with an advanced theoretical understanding of disordered physiologic mechanisms or disease states for selected health problems. Emphasis will be on the mechanism for production of the symptoms and signs for selected disease syndromes. Thus, the learner will be prepared to discriminate the mechanisms underlying the disease and its clinical manifestations as a basis for assessing and developing a plan of care.
All applicants must complete an Advanced Pathophysiology course with a grade of B or higher prior to starting the program.
Fall Semester 1
| NU 502 - Advanced Theoretical Issues in Nursing and Ethics | 2 |
| NU 503 - Advanced Health Assessment | 3 |
| NU 503L - Advanced Health Assessment Clinical | 2 |
| NU 508 - Advanced Nursing Research and Evidence Based Practice Strategies | 3 |
| NU 521 - Science of Diagnostic Reasoning | 3 |
| TOTAL | 13 |
Spring Semester 1
| NU 501 - Advanced Pharmacology | 3 |
| NU 505 - Primary Care Management I | 3 |
| NU 505L - Primary Care Management I Clinical | 4 |
| NU 550 - Advanced Primary Care Procedures | 2 |
| NU 597 - Clinical Research Project | 1-2 |
| TOTAL | 13-14 |
Summer Term 1
| NU 506 - Primary Care Management II | 2 |
| NU 506L - Primary Care Management II Clinical | 4 |
| NU 512 - Advanced Practice Role Development | 2 |
| NU 516 - Population Health in Advanced Nursing Practice | 2 |
| NU 570 - Advanced Healthcare Policy and Politics | 2 |
| NU 597-Clinical Research Project | 1-2 |
| TOTAL | 13-14 |
Total Hours Required for a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN): 39 Credit Hours
Fall Semester 2
NU 700 – Philosophy and Theory of Nursing Practice |
2 |
NU 701 – Quality and Safety in Complex Health Systems |
3 |
NU 704 - Informatics and Transformation of Health Care |
3 |
NU 708 - Standards of Care and Evidenced Based Practice |
3 |
| TOTAL | 11 |
Spring Semester 2
NU 713 - Chronic Disease in the Human |
3 |
NU 750 - Inter-professional Collaboration |
2 |
NU 799 - DNP Residency |
3 |
HED 517 - Biostatistics* |
3 |
| TOTAL | 11 |
Summer Term 2
NU 800 – DNP Project I (optional) |
2 |
| TOTAL | 2 |
Fall Semester 3
NU 721 - Science of Advanced Diagnostic Reasoning |
3 |
NU 770 – Health Care Policy & Economics |
3 |
NU 799 – DNP Residency |
3-4 |
NU 800 – DNP Project I |
2 |
| TOTAL | 11-12 |
Spring Semester 3
NU 712 - Leadership in Complex Health Care Systems |
3 |
NU 714 - Population Health |
3-4 |
NU 800 - DNP Project II |
3 |
| TOTAL | 9-10 |
Total Hours Required for a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP): Minimum of 38 semester credit hours earned Post Master
Fall Semester 2
NU 704 - Informatics and Transformation of Health Care |
3 |
NU 708 - Standards of Care and Evidenced Based Practice |
3 |
| TOTAL | 6 |
Spring Semester 2
HED 517 - * Biostatistics |
3 |
NU 713 – Chronic Disease in the Human |
3 |
NU 799- DNP Residency I |
3-4 |
| TOTAL | 6-10 |
Summer Term 2
NU 800 – DNP Project I |
2 |
| TOTAL | 2 |
Fall Semester 3
NU 700 – Philosophy and Theory of Nursing Practice |
2 |
NU 701 – Quality and Safety |
3 |
| TOTAL | 5 |
Spring Semester 3
NU 750 – Inter-professional Collaboration |
3 |
NU 799 - DNP Residency I |
3-4 |
| TOTAL | 6-7 |
Summer Term 3 (Optional)
NU 800 – DNP Project II |
2 |
| OR | |
NU 799 - DNP Residency II |
3-4 |
| TOTAL | 2-4 |
Students have an option to take DNP Project II or DNP Residency II in their second summer or in their third year.
Fall Semester 4
NU 721- Clinical Diagnostics and Analysis |
3 |
NU 770- Health Care Policy and Economics |
3 |
NU 800- DNP Project II |
2 |
| TOTAL | 6-8 |
Spring Semester 4
NU 712- Leadership in Complex Health Systems |
3 |
NU 714 - Population Health |
3 |
NU 800 - DNP Project II |
3 |
| TOTAL | 6-9 |
Total Hours Required for a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP): Minimum of 38 semester credit hours earned Post Master
Program Requirements
MSN Requirements
In addition to the general degree requirements and curriculum requirements noted above, the student must successfully complete the following:
- A minimum of 39 semester hours of approved graduate credit.
- A clinical research project or thesis.
- A comprehensive examination.
DNP Requirements
In addition to the general degree requirements (see Academic Policies and Procedures and curriculum noted below), the student must successfully complete the following:
- A minimum of 38 semester credit hours earned Post Master’s or a minimum of 78 credit hours earned Post BSN
- Maintain overall GPA of 3.0/B average or better
- Transfer only 6 graduate credits into any Program
- National certification as a nurse practitioner prior to NU 799.
Progression Policy
MSN Progression
The Master of Science in Nursing Program Progression policy is the following:
- An overall Grade Point Average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale must be maintained.
- A minimum grade of B is required in each clinical course.
- A minimum grade of C in all non-clinical nursing courses is required. Students may not earn a C in more than two courses (6 hours) and remain in the program.
- The failure to progress satisfactorily according to the above policies will necessitate that the student obtain readmission to the program through the Graduate Nursing Department.
- Readmission will be considered only once.
- Continued compliance with admission requirements such as criminal background checks and drug/alcohol screens.
DNP Progression
Once a student is admitted to DOCTORATE OF NURSING PRACTICE PROGRAM:
- A grade of “B” or above is required in NU 799 & NU 800 :
- These courses may be repeated only once.
- Students who fail to make a “B” on a second attempt of a failed nursing course or fails a subsequent nursing course is permanently excluded from the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program.
- A grade of “C” in non-clinical courses is allowed but more than 2 “C”s will result in expulsion. If the student’s GPA does not maintain a 3.0 or better they cannot graduate.
- A “WF” in any course is counted as a failure in that course.
- Students may be dismissed from the program for unsafe practice, unethical or illegal conduct. In such cases a student will receive an automatic “F” in the nursing courses affected by the actions.
- Students may be full time or part time.
