Program of Study: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner DNP

Learn more about the courses you will take in the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner DNP program.

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Curriculum Overview

The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP) DNP is a three-year, full-time program for registered nurses entering with a bachelor's degree, as well as students in the Advanced Practice Nursing Immersion (APNI) to DNP pathway—designed for individuals with a non-nursing bachelor's degree—who have successfully completed the APNI prelicensure coursework. This program also offers an entry pathway for master's-prepared nurses.

Below are the programs of study for both the 2026–27 academic year (quarter calendar) and the 2027–28 academic year (semester calendar).

Program of study is listed as proposed to WABON, and currently subject to their review and approval. Nursing programs of study may change periodically to address state regulations, national accreditation, professional standards, licensing and certification requirements, and quality improvements to the curriculum. All nursing courses begin with prefix NURS.

2026-2027 Academic Year Program of Study

Below is the program of study for the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner DNP program for the 2026-2027 academic year. 

Note: During the first year of advanced practice coursework, APNI-DNP and RN-DNP students follow different course sequences. Beginning in the second year, students in both pathways complete the remainder of the program together.

Students in the APNI-DNP program have a 4-year program of study (167-169 total credits). During the first five academic quarters of graduate study, students complete 67 credits of pre-licensure coursework. Students begin their first year of advanced practice study—listed below—after successfully completing the pre-licensure coursework and passing the NCLEX-RN exam.

Fall Quarter Year 1 (14 credits)

6020 Epidemiologic Analysis of Populations at Risk

6024 Advanced Pathophysiology

6130 Foundations of Nursing Knowledge for Advanced Practice

6160 Leadership in Health Care Systems

Winter Quarter Year 1 (12 credits)

6004 Pharmacology for Registered Nurses

6075 Clinical Reasoning

6111 Health Informatics

6190 Quality Improvement Process and Methodologies

Spring Quarter Year 1 (6 credits)

6010 Health Care Policy鈥痜or a Just and Humane World

6017 Health Care鈥疎conomics and Finance

Students entering the AG-ACNP program with an RN have a 3-year program of study (110-112 total credits) that includes advanced practice and doctoral coursework. First year courses are listed below.

Summer Quarter Year 1 (11 credits)

6004 Pharmacology for Registered Nurses

6024 Advanced Pathophysiology

6110 Ethical Care for Social Justice

Fall Quarter Year 1 (13 credits)

6020 Epidemiologic Analysis of Populations at Risk

6075 Clinical Reasoning

6130 Foundations of Nursing Knowledge for Advanced Practice

6190 Quality Improvement Process and Methodologies

Winter Quarter Year 1 (12 credits)

6017 Health Care Economics and Finance

6111 Health Informatics

6120 Population-Based Health Care

6160 Leadership in Health Care Systems

Spring Quarter Year 1 (6 credits)

6010 Health Care Policy for a Just and Humane World

6014 Theory Informed Critical Inquiry I

Summer Quarter Year 2 (0 credits)

No courses

Fall Quarter Year 2 (9 credits)

6001 Advanced Health Assessment Lab

6101 Advanced Health Assessment Theory

6022 Advanced Pharmacology

Winter Quarter Year 2 (14 credits)

6015 Critical Inquiry II

6104 Management of Gynecological and Reproductive Health Lab

6204 Management of Gynecological and Reproductive Health Theory

6401 Diagnostics and Procedures

6411 Diagnostics and Procedures Lab

6406 Advanced Inpatient and Critical Care Pharmacology

Spring Quarter Year 2 (8 credits)

6018 Health Program Planning and Development

6402 Acute Care I: Management of Chronic Conditions in the Acute Care Setting

6412 Acute Care I Lab: Management of Chronic and Complex Conditions

Summer Quarter Year 3 (5 credits)

6403 Acute Care I Practicum: Management of Chronic Conditions during Acute Alterations in Health

Fall Quarter Year 3 (13 credits)

6404 Acute Care II: Management of Acute and Complex Conditions

6405 Acute Care II: Management of Acute Conditions During Altered States of Health

6414 Acute Care II Lab: Management of Acute and Complex Conditions

6901 DNP Internship I

Winter Quarter Year 3 (12 credits)

6407 Acute Care III: Management of Critical and Unstable Conditions

6408 Acute Care III Practicum: Management of Critical or Unstable Conditions during Altered State of Health

6417 Acute Care III Lab: Management of Critical and Unstable Conditions

6903 DNP Project Internship II

Spring Quarter Year 3 (7-9 credits)

6409 Acute Care Practicum IV: Specialty Focus

6905 DNP Internship III

DNP Project Presentation and Program Synthesis

2027-2028 Academic Year Program of Study

Below is the program of study for the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner DNP program under 探花精选's semester calendar, beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year.

Note: The total program length is three years for RN-DNP students and four years for APNI-DNP students. APNI-DNP and RN-DNP students follow the same plan of study throughout the three years of advanced practice coursework. For APNI-DNP students, advanced practice coursework begins after successful completion of all prelicensure coursework. The program of study below reflects only the three years of advanced practice coursework.

Summer Semester Year 1 (0 credits)

No courses

Fall Semester Year 1 (12 credits)

6XXX Professional Roles and Ethics in Advanced Practice (course code TBD)

6020 Principles of Epidemiology and Biostatistics

6022 Advanced Pharmacology

6024 Advanced Pathophysiology

Spring Semester Year 1 (7 credits)

6XXX Healthcare Informatics and Financial Management for Advanced Practice (course code TBD)

6XXX Population Health and Health Policy (course code TBD)

6001 Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning Across the Lifespan Theory

6101 Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning Across the Lifespan Lab

Summer Semester Year 2 (9 credits)

6XXX Systems Leadership for Quality Improvement in Healthcare (course code TBD)

6401 Diagnostic Evaluation and Procedures in the Acute Care Setting Theory

6411 Diagnostic Evaluation and Procedures in the Acute Care Setting Lab

6XXX Acute and Critical Care Pharmacology and Clinical Reasoning (course code TBD)

Fall Semester Year 2 (9 credits)

6XXX DNP Project Planning and Preparation (course code TBD)

6402 Management of the Complex Geriatric and Adult Population I Theory

6412 Management of the Complex Geriatric and Adult Population I Lab

Spring Semester Year 2 (9 credits)

6901 DNP Internship I - Implementation and Evaluation

6404 Management of the Complex Geriatric and Adult Population II Theory

6414 Management of the Complex Geriatric and Adult Population II Lab

64XX Application of Advanced Health Assessment for the Adult Geriatric Population (course code TBD)

Summer Semester Year 3 (6 credits)

6403 Adult-Gerontology Advanced Practice Practicum I

Fall Semester Year 3 (13 credits)

6903 DNP Internship II - Analysis and Dissemination

6407 Management of the Complex Geriatric and Adult Population III Theory

6417 Management of the Complex Geriatric and Adult Population III Lab

6408 Adult-Gerontology Advanced Practice Practicum II

Spring Semester Year 3 (7-9 credits)

6905 DNP Internship III - Elective

6409 Role Transition for the Advanced Practice Clinician

Transition to Semester Calendar

Beginning in summer 2027, 探花精选’s graduate programs will shift from a quarter calendar system to a semester calendar. As the transition takes place, the university is committed to minimizing impact on your time to completion and program cost as you progress toward your degree. Learn more about the Graduate Programs Move to Semesters.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Attend a virtual information session to meet a member of our admissions team, learn more about our nationally ranked DNP and get answers to all your questions about the program, the application process and more.

We are currently accepting applications for the 2027-2028 academic year. Start your application now (for free!) and take the first step toward your future career as an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner.

Explore DNP Programs

Not sure if this is the right DNP program for you? We offer flexible entry paths for RNs, BSNs and even non-nurses, as well as five distinct advanced practice specializations. Find the best fit for your career goals.

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