Units required for program: 74
Program Description
The Doctor of Nursing Practice is designed to prepare registered nurses with baccalaureate degrees for advanced roles in nursing based on the premise that all nurse educators are leaders, and all nurse leaders use education principles to lead change. The program includes curriculum delivered fully online, clinical practicum experiences arranged in collaboration with the student, three brief on-campus intensives to build a community of scholars and assess student learning, and an in person oral defense of the project. The curriculum emphasizes the systematic study of professional nursing practice and preparation for educational and leadership roles.
Admission Requirements
Admission shall be granted on a competitive basis; meeting the minimum requirements qualifies an individual for but does not guarantee admission to the program. Requirements for admission shall apply to all DNP applicants and shall include the following:
- The applicant holds an acceptable bachelor's degree in nursing earned at an institution accredited by a regional accrediting association and a national professional accrediting association, as applicable. The applicant has completed equivalent academic preparation as determined by the appropriate campus authority.
- The applicant has attained a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 in an acceptable bachelor's degree in nursing as determined by the appropriate campus authority.
- The applicant maintains active, unencumbered licensure to practice as a registered nurse in the state in which practicum experiences will be completed.
- The applicant meets all requirements for credentialing or certification eligibility as appropriate to the nursing specialty area.
- The applicant has demonstrated sufficient preparation and experience pertinent to nursing practice to be successful in doctoral education.
- Evidence considered in the admission process shall include:
- letters of recommendation from professional persons knowledgeable about the applicant's nursing practice experience and the applicant's potential for scholarship and leadership.
- A written statement of purpose reflecting what the applicant expects to accomplish in the DNP program and how the DNP program will advance the applicant’s nursing career and practice.
- A personal interview may be required prior to admission
- The applicant shall meet any additional requirements established by the Chancellor in consultation with faculty and any additional requirements prescribed by the appropriate campus authority.
An applicant who does not qualify for admission may be admitted by special action if on the basis of acceptable evidence, the applicant is judged by the appropriate campus authority to possess sufficient academic and professional potential.
An applicant who is ineligible for admission because of deficiencies in prerequisite preparation may be admitted with conditionally classified graduate standing if, in the opinion of the program faculty, the deficiencies may be rectified by specified additional preparation, including examinations. An example of this is an RN from an accredited associate’s degree program and a baccalaureate degree in a discipline related to nursing (bridge courses will be required). The student shall be granted classified graduate standing upon rectification of the deficiencies and upon fulfillment of any other requirements as specified by the appropriate campus authority.
Advancement to Candidacy
Candidacy denotes that a student is fully qualified to complete the final stages of the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. Matriculated graduate students must submit a Petition for Advancement to Graduate Candidacy the semester prior to enrolling in the culminating experience course.
- removed any deficiencies in admission requirements and achieved classified status;
- successfully complete all courses with a grade of "B" or higher with a minimum of 3.0 ("B") overall grade point average in all DNP graduate level coursework;
- pass (with a grade of "B" or higher) Graduate Writing Intensive (GWI) course(s).
University requires that all graduate students complete the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) as a condition for advancement to candidacy.
Program Requirements
The Doctor of Nursing Practice program will be run on a year-round basis for 8 semesters. The full-time student will complete the degree in three years. The program includes curriculum delivered fully online, clinical practicum experiences arranged in collaboration with the student, and three brief on-campus intensives to build a community of scholars and assess student learning, and an in person oral defense of the project. There is no part-time option but students are permitted a Leave of Absence under certain circumstances. Per the CSU policy, the pattern of study will include at least 27 semester units in course organized primarily for doctoral students and the remaining units required for the degree shall be in courses organized from specialty advanced nursing coursework as identified by national nursing specialty certification agencies. Each student will complete a minimum of 1,000 practicum hours in order to meet the requirements of the Commission on Collegiate of Nursing Education (CCNE) which accredits the School of Nursing. Each student will also complete NURS 660B which meets the CSU policy requirement for a qualifying assessment. The doctoral project shall be a written product of systematic, rigorous evidence-based endeavor focused on a significant nursing practice issue. An oral presentation of the doctoral project shall be the final process for the acceptance of the candidate’s doctoral project. Courses listed below are sequential:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses: (73 Units) | ||
| Semester 1: | ||
| NURS 206 | Advanced Role Development in Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 210 | Research for Advanced Nursing: Methods and Measurement | 3 |
| NURS 208 | Ethics & Bioethics | 3 |
| Semester 2 | ||
| NURS 213 | Seminar in Organizational and Systems Leadership | 3 |
| NURS 217 | Population Health & Epidemiology | 3 |
| NURS 218 | Social Justice and Health Equity | 3 |
| Semester 3 | ||
| NURS 220 | Financial and Market Influences in Healthcare | 2 |
| NURS 230 | Advanced Concepts in Pathophysiology | 3 |
| NURS 231 | Pharmacology for Advanced Practice | 3 |
| NURS 232 | Advanced Physical Assessment Across the Lifespan | 2 |
| Semester 4 | ||
| NURS 219 | Healthcare Policy & Advocacy | 3 |
| NURS 221 | IRB & Proposal Writing | 1 |
| NURS 222 | Application of Theories for Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NURS 660A | DNP Project Part 1 | 2 |
| Semester 5 | ||
| NURS 620 | Translating Evidence Into Practice | 2 |
| NURS 622 | Quality Improvement & Risk Management | 3 |
| NURS 624 | Advanced Statistics & Biostatistics | 3 |
| NURS 660B | DNP Project Part 2 | 1 |
| Semester 6 | ||
| NURS 626 | Instructional Design & Technology | 3 |
| NURS 628 | Healthcare Informatics & Technology | 2 |
| NURS 630 | Principles of Teaching and Learning | 2 |
| NURS 660C | DNP Project Part 3 | 2 |
| Semester 7 | ||
| NURS 632 | Educational Program Development & Assessment | 3 |
| NURS 634 | Advanced Concepts in Executive Leadership | 3 |
| NURS 636 | Practicum in Educational Program Development in Nursing | 3 |
| or NURS 637 | Practicum in Executive Nursing Leadership | |
| Semester 8 | ||
| NURS 640 | Scholarly Dissemination & Advanced Professional Engagement | 2 |
| NURS 650 | Independent Practicum DNP Residency | 4 |
| NURS 660D | DNP Project Part 4 | 3 |
| Semester 9 (if needed) | ||
| NURS 599 | ||
| Total Units | 73 | |