Post-Masters to DNP

This degree is for the APRN or CNS with a master’s degree in nursing (MSN) degree that is ready to complete a clinical doctorate. Students also have the option to add a new NP specialty (FNP or PMHNP).

Post-Masters to DNP Program Overview

The PM-DNP program is designed to promote leadership and builds on your experiences as a nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist.  

  • Develop innovative and technology-enriched approaches that enhance your expert skills as a health professional.
  • Emphasizes leadership and the use of evidence-based medicine to improve patient outcomes. 
  • Learn from online lectures, plus demonstrations and exercises during virtual immersions.
  • Students may add an APRN specialty (FNP, PMHNP).
  • Complete your degree in as little as 20 months. Implement a Clinical Scholarly Project that provides confirmation of a student’s ability to apply research principles to a clinical problem.
 

Next Session

Spring I (Jan 8, 2024)

Estimated Tuition

$1224/Credit

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Ways to Learn

Online

WSCUC

University of Massachusetts Global is accredited by the WSCUC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

CCNE

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degrees at University of Massachusetts Global are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org)

Imagine Your Future as a Post-Masters to DNP

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    Post-Master's to DNP Program Admission Requirements

    Applicants for the online Post-Master's to DNP program must complete the formal application process with all required documents, which include:

    • Completed application
    • Current resume or CV
    • Personal interview with Program Director
    • Official transcripts from all regionally accredited institutions where post-baccalaureate coursework was completed or attempted
    • National certification as an APRN or CNS (or eligible to take National Certification exam), if required by your State Board of Nursing to practice  
    • MS Degree in Nursing from a CCNE or NLNAC accredited program with Advanced Practice Specialty (Nurse Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist) 
    • Unencumbered APRN license in the state where you plan to complete your clinical project residency hours*
    Application Deadlines
    • Spring I, 2024: October 15, 2023
    Residency Restrictions

    This program is not available to residents of all states. Please contact a University Enrollment Coach for details.

    * Unencumbered APRN license is not required of CNS or other APRN if license is not required by their state to practice, or if in the process of taking national certification exam in specialty.

    Program Curriculum

    •  

      PM-DNP Core Course Option 1

      The PM-DNP program is designed for the working APRN. Students take 1 course for nine 8 week sessions and 2 courses for one 8 week session. The program is completed in 10 sessions.

       
      DNPU 700 Healthcare Policy, Organization and Delivery

      3
      DNPU 701 Biostatistics for Clinical Practice *

      3
      DNPU 702 Innovations in Technology and Information Access

      3
      DNPU 703 Leading Through Innovation

      3
      DNPU 704 Evidence-Based Thinking for DNP-Prepared APRN Scholarship and Practice*

      3
      DNPU 705 Health Communication

      3
      DNPU 706 Transforming Health Care Through Outcomes Management

      3
      DNPU 707 Clinical Residency I for PM-DNP Clinical Scholarly Project (255 hours) 3
      DNPU 708 Application of DNP Clinical Scholarly Project **

      3
      DNPU 709 Clinical Residency II for PM-DNP Clinical Scholarly Project (255 hours) 3
      DNPU 710 Seminar in Evidence-Based Thinking for Scholarship and Practice

      3

      		   
      PM-DNP Core Course Subtotal

      33
      Transfer from Master of Science Degree in Nursing

       
      Transfer credits 40 
      Transfer from Master of Science Degree in Nursing Subtotal 40
      Students may transfer 500 clinical hours and a maximum of 40 credit hours from a MSN degree

      40
         
      Total Credits

      70-73
       

      PM-DNP Core Course Option 1

      The PM-DNP program is designed for the working APRN.  Students take 1 course for nine 8 week sessions and 2 courses for one 8 week session. The program is completed in 10 sessions and students may need to reduce work hours to accommodate completion of the clinical scholarly project (510 residency hours) and/or specialty clinical practicum (510 hours).
      PM-DNP adding a Specialty Core Courses
      DNPU 700 - Healthcare Policy, Organization and Delivery   3 
      DNPU 701 - Biostatistics for Clinical Practice*  3
      DNPU 702 - Innovations in Technology and Information Access  3
      DNPU 703 - Leading through Innovation  3
      DNPU 704 - Evidence-Based Thinking for DNP-Prepared APRN Scholarship and Practice*  3
      DNPU 705 - Health Communication  3
      DNPU 706 - Transforming Health Care through Outcomes Management  3
      DNPU 708 - Application of DNP Clinical Scholarly Project**  3
      DNPU 710 - Seminar in Evidence-Based Thinking for Scholarship and Practice   3
      DNPU 711 - Clinical Residency for DNP Clinical Scholarly Project for BSN-DNP & Post-Masters adding a Specialty (255 HRS)  3
      PM-DNP adding a specialty Core Course Subtotal 30
       Transfer Credits from Master of Science Degree in Nursing  
       Transfer Credits 40
       Transfer Credits from Master of Science Degree in Nursing Subtotal 40
       Added Specialty  
       Complete a Specialty 27
       Added Specialty Subtotal 27
       Total Credits 97
      *

      Students in these courses are required to attend virtual immersions
      **

      If a student does not complete his/her clinical scholarly project during the core course sessions, s/he will be enrolled in a DNPU 799 Independent Practicum for DNP CSP Completion for DNP CSP Completion (0 credits) and required to pay a Continuing Candidacy fee per session until the DNP CSP student receives a “P” in DNPU 708 Application of DNP Clinical Scholarly Project or until the student’s seven year program completion timeline has expired.
       †  Students adding a specialty take DNPU 711 Clinical Residency for DNP Clinical Scholarly Project for BSN-DNP & Post-Masters adding a Specialty in place of DNPU 707 Clinical Residency I for PM-DNP Clinical Scholarly Project or DNPU 709 Clinical Residency II for PM-DNP Clinical Scholarly Project to account for 255 clinical residency hours for the DNP CSP. 
    • NURU 603  Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan and Cultures

      3
      NURU 605  Advanced Pathophysiology across the Lifespan

      3
      NURU 606  Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics Across the Lifespan

      3
      NURU 610  Synthesis of Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (APRN) Professional Role

      3
      NURU 671 Foundations of Interprofessional Collaborative Practice

      3
      NURU 672 Management of Common and Acute Problems in Family/Across the Lifespan Care *

      3
      NURU 673 Practicum in Common and Acute Problems in Family/Across the Lifespan Care *^^

      3
      NURU 674 Management of Complex and Chronic Problems in Family/Across the Lifespan Care *

      3
      NURU 675 Practicum in Complex and Chronic Problems in Family/Across the Lifespan Care (255 hours)*^^

      3
      Total Credits

      27

      *

      Students in these courses are required to attend a face-to-face Immersion on the Irvine campus.

      ^^

      If a student does not complete the required 255 clinical hours during the initial specialty course clinical session/s (NURU 673 Practicum in Common and Acute Problems in Family/Across the Lifespan Care and NURU 675 Practicum in Complex and Chronic Problems in Family/Across the Lifespan Care), s/he will be enrolled in a NURU 699 Independent Practicum for Clinical Hours completion Independent Practicum for Clinical Hours completion (0 credits) and required to pay a Continuing Clinical fee, per each course and session, until the student receives a “P” in the specialty clinical course or until the student’s seven year program completion timeline has expired.
    • NURU 603  Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan and Cultures

      3
      NURU 605  Advanced Pathophysiology across the Lifespan

      3
      NURU 606  Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics Across the Lifespan

      3
      NURU 610  Synthesis of Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (APRN) Professional Role

      3
      NURU 641  Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan

      3
      NURU 642  Management in Lifespan Psychiatric and Mental Health Care*

      3
      NURU 643  Practicum in Psychotherapeutic Treatment Modalities (255 hours)*^^

      3
      NURU 644  Complex and Chronic Problems in Psychiatric and Mental Health Care

      3
      NURU 645  Practicum for Complex and Chronic Problems in Psychiatric and Mental Health Care*

      3
      Total Credits

      27

       * Students in these courses are required to attend a face-to-face immersion.

      ^^ If a student does not complete the required 255 clinical hours during the initial specialty course clinical session/s (NURU 643 Practicum in Psychotherapeutic Treatment Modalities and NURU 645 Practicum for Complex and Chronic Problems in Psychiatric and Mental Health Care), s/he will be enrolled in a NURU 699 Independent Practicum for Clinical Hours completion Independent Practicum for Clinical Hours completion (0 credits) and required to pay a Continuing Clinical fee, per each course and session, until the student receives a “P” in the specialty clinical course or until the student’s seven year program completion timeline has expired.

      		  

    Ways to Get Started

    Meet Our Faculty

    Webb_Bryan

    nursing

    Bryan Webb, DNP, AGPCNP-BC, CNOR, RNFA

    Associate Dean-DNP Programs, Director of Post Masters to Doctorate Program, Associate Professor

    Specialty

    Advanced Practice Nursing
    James_Morgan

    nursing

    James Morgan DNP, AGACNP-BC, PMHNP-BC

    Director, Immersion Planning and Simulation Development and Assistant Professor of Nursing

    Specialty
    Vanessa Kalis SNHP

    nursing

    Dr. Vanessa Kalis, DNP, ACNP-BC, CPNP-AC, CNS, CHSE, RN

    Professor of Nursing

    Specialty
    All nursing faculty
    sharon h nurse practitioner brandman
    It was always my goal to become a Nurse Practitioner. I wanted to mentor other nurses who were new to the profession and share my experiences with them.
    Sharon H.
    Doctorate of Nursing Practice
    It was a big sacrifice with two daughters in college and it takes persistence and patience. Brandman* is very supportive of students. They push their students in the right direction and motivate them. It was a positive experience and coming from a family of nurses, that’s saying a lot.
    Lorelei P.
    Doctorate of Nursing Practice
    *Brandman University is now UMass Global
    Both the faculty and staff members have been very supportive in every way, manifesting their core values in action. Students are accorded the same respect and dignity regardless of their cultural background, color, gender or religion.
    Jacinta A
    Doctor of Nursing Practice

    Related Information

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Questions about Nursing immersion sessions DNP program? Browse through frequently asked questions about Nursing at UMass Global. 

    DNP

    Do I need to live in or near Irvine, California, to complete my degree?

    No. Coursework is delivered online with virtual immersions for DNP students. Clinical practicum or mentored experiences are attended in the student’s home community.

    Can I work while completing my degree?

    Yes. The DNP programs are designed for working nurses. The amount of time you work during the program is dependent on your capacity as a student. However, many students reduce their work hours while completing the clinical practicum experiences required for the APRN specialty.

    How many credit hours is the DNP degree?

    To earn the DNP degree, students must earn 73 credit hours, with 33 of the credits taken in residency at University of Massachusetts Global. Students entering with an advanced practice MSN degree may transfer a maximum of 40 credit hours from the MSN when applying to the Post-Masters DNP.

    Does UMass Global offer continuing education courses or graduate certificates?

    Both continuing education courses and post-doctorate certificates in the two nurse practitioner specialties are offered.

    Does the nursing program offer fully online degrees?

    All nursing programs in the Marybelle and S. Paul Musco School of Nursing and Health Professions are delivered using a blend of online learning and clinical practicum or mentored experiences in a variety of healthcare settings.  During online sessions, students will engage in instructor-guided or self-directed study using live and recorded lectures, demonstrations, tutorials and other activities. This blend of teaching methods provides a rich and engaging learning experience for busy professionals who must juggle school, work and family.

    Each DNP program also requires virtual immersions on campus.

    FAQs

    Take the next step toward your DNP at UMass Global

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