Post-Master's DNP Program
The Doctor of Nursing Practice is a terminal degree in nursing that prepares Registered Nurses (RNs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) to practice at the highest level of the profession. The Post-Master's DNP track is for nurse professionals who already have an MSN degree with approximately 500 clinical practice hours in the completed master’s program, which can be validated in writing by that program administrator. These students may or may not be nurse practitioners, but they must have completed a master’s degree with a clinical focus. The Post-Master’s DNP track is a leadership track with focus on advanced clinical practice, leadership, informatics and technology, quality indicators and outcomes improvement, and translation of evidence to practice in healthcare delivery.
Application Deadlines
Applicants for the Doctor of Nursing Practice are considered for admission for the fall semester only, and all required application materials must be received in Graduate Studies by August 1 or until all seats are filled.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| August 1 or until all seats are filled | Fall Admission |
Applications completed after August 1 will be considered for admission if seats remain available. If no seats are available, the application will be considered for admission in the fall semester of the following year.
Application Materials Required for the Post-Master's DNP Program
Applicants for the Post-Master's DNP must submit all of the following documentation to Graduate Studies to be considered for admission:
Graduate Admissions
Jacksonville State University
700 Pelham Road North
Jacksonville, Alabama 36265-1602
- Completed JSU Graduate Application for Admission.
- Non-refundable $35.00 application processing fee.
- Official transcript with degree posted, documenting the Master of Science in Nursing degree from a regionally accredited institution with a professionally accredited nursing program, with a clinical focus validating approximately 500 practice hours, including, but not limited to, certified nurse practitioners. (Students who have previously attended JSU do not need to request a transcript from the university.).
- Unencumbered RN license in the U.S.
- Overall GPA of 3.00 or higher on a 4.00 scale
- Professional resume [curriculum vitae (CV)].
- Completed Experience Form.
- Completed Verification of Clinical Practice Hours in Master’s Degree Program Form.
- Three Professional References. Reference forms will be submitted electronically. Instructions for submission will be sent through email to the applicant upon submission of the online graduate application.
- Professional interview and/or writing sample may be required.
- No additional qualifying exam (GRE, MAT).
Admission Requirements for the Post-Master's DNP Program
Applicants are admitted on a selective basis upon review of the completed application package.
The DNP program does not accept transfer credits from other institutions; accordingly, 100% of the credits for the DNP degree will be earned at JSU.
Graduation Requirements
- Completion of courses required for the selected pathway: 36 credit hours must be completed for the Post-Master’s DNP.
- Completion of supervised academic program practice hours: 630 hours must be completed for the Post-Master’s DNP.
- Satisfactory completion of DNP project and paper.
- Satisfactory completion of professional electronic portfolio.
Progression and Retention
In accordance with University policy, graduate students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all graduate courses attempted. A student whose GPA falls below the required minimum of 3.0 will be placed on probation and will receive notification from Graduate Studies of the requirements to reestablish good standing. Any student who does not attain good standing, as specified in their notification letter, will be dropped from graduate study. The maximum number of hours of "C" grades permitted to count toward the doctor degree or master's degree educator certificate programs, or graduate non-education certificates is six semester hours. All "C" grades are factored into a student's GPA. If a student earns a grade of "C" or below on more than six semester hours of courseswork, the student should consult his or her academic advisor and the Dean of Graduate Studies for advisement. All grades below a "C" must be repeated. A student must achieve an "A" or "B" in the repeat course and is only allowed to repeat the course once. A student's progression in the program may be impacted.
Minimum Requirements for the Post-Master's DNP Program
An individual plan of study is provided from the Director of Online and Graduate Academic Services at time of admission.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| NU 701 | Post-Master's DNP Online Orientation | 0 |
| NU 707 | Scientific Underpinnings of Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NU 708 | Evidence-Based Practice and Quality Improvement in Healthcare | 3 |
| NU 710 | Health Care Policy and Finance | 3 |
| NU 711 | Biostatistics and Translating Evidence | 3 |
| NU 712 | Clinical Prevention and Population Health | 3 |
| NU 713 | Organizational and Systems Leadership for the Advanced Practice Nurse | 3 |
| NU 715 | Innovative Leadership and Collaboration in Healthcare | 3 |
| NU 716 | Interprofessional Health Care and Informatics | 3 |
| DNP 796 | DNP Project Planning and Development | 3 |
| DNP 797 | DNP Residency I (210 Practicum Hours ) | 3 |
| DNP 798 | DNP Residency II (210 Practicum Hours ) | 3 |
| DNP 799 | DNP Residency III (210 Practicum Hours ) | 3 |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
36 Doctoral Semester Hours Required for this Degree
Graduation
All students must apply for graduation by the given deadline of the semester in which they plan to graduate. Please see the Graduation and Comprehensive Exam section of this catalog for more information.