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Programs

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Overview

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is designed to prepare nurses at the highest level for advanced clinical practice and to meet the educational needs for the complexity of today's healthcare environment. Coursework will provide a strong foundation to accelerate evidence translation, critically appraise the practice environment, drive organizational change, and lead interprofessional approaches to achieve quality outcomes.

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Integrate advanced nursing knowledge and specialty competencies in a defined area of nursing practice to deliver holistic, person-centered, equitable care across diverse populations.
  2. Synthesize theoretical and empirical knowledge from a variety of sources to lead a systematic investigation of an identified practice issue.
  3. Lead team-based interprofessional care with intentional collaboration and effective communication to foster a climate of mutual learning, respect, and shared values.
  4. Integrate information and communication technologies, as well as informatics processes to make data-driven decisions that improve outcomes and optimize healthcare delivery.
  5. Drive innovation as a systems thinker, change agent, and advocate to influence health policy, improve organizational performance, and advance health equity.
  6. Advance the nursing profession through professional identity formation, ethical practice, disciplinary knowledge development, and clinical scholarship.

Program Goals

Prepare diverse clinical scholars and practice leaders who transform healthcare delivery, optimize health outcomes for diverse populations, and generate practice knowledge to advance the discipline of nursing.

Information about faculty and research can be found on the Doctor of Nursing Practice website.

AdmissionsLink to section

ApplyingLink to section

The School of Nursing uses an online self-managed application process. Applicants are required to complete all portions of the online application and submit the following documents:

  • Current Resume or CV
  • Transcripts of all prior college-level work
  • Letters of recommendation from members of the academic community and/or workplace professionals who know your qualifications for graduate study. Preferably, at least one recommendation should be from a former professor. At least two letters are required for master's and advanced certificate applicants and three for doctoral applicants. Letters of recommendation are managed on the online application.
  • Current RN license
  • English proficiency scores for non-native English speakers
  • Application fee
  • Short answer responses and essay

After the application is reviewed, the candidate will be contacted to schedule an interview with a School of Nursing faculty member. Program faculty conduct a holistic review of each application.

Applying to Doctoral ProgramsLink to section

  • Post-BS entry: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited school of nursing
  • Post-MS entry: Master's degree from an accredited school of nursing
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 from any undergraduate-level work and 3.5 from any graduate-level work
  • RN licensure from New York State
  • If applicable, national certification in your advanced-practice nursing specialty (preferred)
  • Undergraduate statistics course with a grade of C or above
  • English language proficiency

AcademicsLink to section

RequirementsLink to section

 Students entering the DNP Program with a baccalaureate degree complete coursework and clinical hours that prepare them as nurse practitioners in their chosen specialty practice area or as clinical nurse leaders. Effective fall 2024, post-MS DNP students with degrees from indirect care roles or other APRN tracks can enroll in the DNP program. Students entering the DNP program with a master’s degree typically complete a full year of coursework (part-time; two courses/semester) before beginning the clinical practicum component of the DNP curriculum. Students graduate with a total of 1,000 post-baccalaureate clinical hours. Students complete a DNP scholarly project which involves the design, implementation, and evaluation of innovative initiatives to improve clinical practice and/or influence health policy. DNP scholarly projects are conducted independently during DNP practicum courses under the guidance of each student’s DNP project team and in close collaboration with practice partners and mentors.

Graduate Course TitlesLink to section

  • NUR 467: Population Health in Theory and Practice
  • NUR 564: Quality, Safety, and Informatics
  • NUR 573: Leadership Skills for Interprofessional Collaborative Practice
  • NUR 509: Clinical Data Management (CDM) for the Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • NUR 572: Appraisal and Application of Evidence in Healthcare
  • NUR 574: Project Management for Systems Innovation
  • NUR 576: DNP Practicum I
  • NLX 473: Healthcare Financial Management
  • NUR 575: Health Policy Development and Political Change
  • NUR 577: DNP Practicum II
  • NUR 578: DNP Practicum III