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 March 15.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| March 15 | Fall Admission |
Applications completed after March 15 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
DNP students must maintain a 3.00 GPA. If the GPA falls below 3.00, a student will be placed on academic probation per policy of the Office of Graduate Studies. A maximum of two courses with a grade of "C" may be counted toward degree completion and graduation. However, only one C is permitted in a support or specialty course. A second C in a support or specialty course must be repeated. A course may be repeated only once. A student earning a third C or lower may be dismissed from the DNP program.
Minimum Requirements for the Post-Master's DNP Program
An individual plan of study is provided from the Director of Student 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 | Innovation 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.