Nursing (DNP)

Program Description

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a practice focused doctorate that prepares professional nurses for scholarly practice. Our graduates are clinical and health system experts that create, reform and lead improvements in practice, policy, populations, organizations, and government. In addition to the traditional DNP-Post Master's Entry, Jefferson offers a DNP-Post Baccalaureate Entry. Part time and full time plans of study are available. Enter our DNP Program and engage in inter-professional leadership across the health care continuum. Our nationally recognized, expert faculty will mentor you to design, implement and evaluate a year-long doctoral project aligned with your career interests and goals.

Curriculum: DNP, Post-Baccalaureate, 68 credits

• Post-Baccalaureate Entry¹
• Students admitted Summer 2025 and later

  Course List

  Code	Title	Credits
  NU 560	Advanced Pharmacology	3
  NU 570	Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology	3
  NU 603	Research for Advanced Practice Nursing I	3
  NU 605	Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse (Designated Electives)	3
  NU 673	Advanced Health Assessment	3
  NU 696	Leadership and Critical Decision Making	3
  NU XXX	Clinical I	6
  NU XXX	Clinical II	6
  NU XXX	Clinical III	6
  NU 702	Practice Inquiry: Designs, Methods and Analyses	3
  NU 704	Philosophy, Foundations, and Methods for Evidence-Based Practice	3
  NU 713	Digital Transformation in Healthcare: Trends and Opportunities	3
  NU 714	Healthcare Systems Safety, Quality, and Improvement Science	3
  NU 715	Leading Strategic Change in an Era of Healthcare Transformation	3
  NU 716	Perspectives in Community Engagement and Population Health	3
  NU 717	Health and Social Policy	3
  NU 718	Introduction to DNP Studies and the Scholarly Project	1
  NU 719	DNP Scholarly Project and Practicum Seminar I	4
  NU 720	DNP Scholarly Project and Practicum Seminar II	3
  General Elective		3
  Total Credits		68

Curriculum: DNP, Post-Baccalaureate, 66 credits 

• Post-Baccalaureate Entry¹
• Students admitted Spring 2025 and earlier

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
NU 560	Advanced Pharmacology	3
NU 570	Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology	3
NU 602	Health Policy	3
NU 603	Research for Advanced Practice Nursing I	3
NU 605	Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse	3
NU 673	Advanced Health Assessment	3
NU 696	Leadership and Critical Decision Making	3
NU XXX	Clinical I	3
NU XXX	Clinical II	3
NU XXX	Clinical III	3
NU 701	Scientific Underpinnings NP	3
NU 702	Practice Inquiry: Designs, Methods and Analyses	3
NU 703	Theor Found Org Chan HCS	3
NU 704	Philosophy, Foundations, and Methods for Evidence-Based Practice	3
NU 705	Adv Topics in Hlth Informatics	3
NU 706	Qual Msremnt & Outcme Analysis	3
NU 707	Leadership & Inter-Prof Collab	3
NU 708	Clin Prev&Pop Hlth Imp Nat Hlt	3
NU 709	Currnt Issue Health Soc Policy	3
NU 710	Spec-focused Practicum I	3
NU 711	Spec-focused Practicum II	3
NU 712	Spec-focused Practicum III	3
Total Credits		66

¹

Refer to JCN Student Handbook for specific Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) pathways.

The post-Baccalaureate to DNP program for graduates of accelerated BSN programs requires the completion of 66 credits and will culminate with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. Graduates of accelerated BSN programs will have transcripts from their baccalaureate program reviewed by the Chair of Graduate Programs for potential transfer credit and advanced standing in the post-Baccalaureate to DNP plan of study. The MSN degree will be conferred to students upon completion of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) Essentials of Master’s Education in Nursing (2021).

The post-Baccalaureate to DNP program for graduates of traditional Pre-licensure BSN programs requires completion of 68 credits and will culminate with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. The MSN degree will be conferred to students upon completion of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) Essentials of Master’s Education in Nursing (2021).

Curriculum: DNP, Post-Master's, 32 credits

• Post-Master’s Entry¹
• DNP Core Curriculum, 25 credits
• DNP Practicum Sequence, 7 credits
• Part-time and full-time plans of study are available.
• Students admitted Summer 2025 and later

Plan of Study Grid

First Year		Credits
NU 702	Practice Inquiry: Designs, Methods and Analyses	3
NU 704	Philosophy, Foundations, and Methods for Evidence-Based Practice	3
NU 713	Digital Transformation in Healthcare: Trends and Opportunities	3
NU 714	Healthcare Systems Safety, Quality, and Improvement Science	3
NU 715	Leading Strategic Change in an Era of Healthcare Transformation	3
NU 716	Perspectives in Community Engagement and Population Health	3
NU 717	Health and Social Policy	3
NU 718	Introduction to DNP Studies and the Scholarly Project	1
NU 719	DNP Scholarly Project and Practicum Seminar I	4
NU 720	DNP Scholarly Project and Practicum Seminar II	3
Designated Electives		3
	Credits	32
	Total Credits	32

¹

Refer to JCN Student Handbook & Course Catalog 2026-2027 for specific Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) pathways.