Online and Distance Degrees > Degree Programs > Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

DOCTOR OF (DNP)
Nursing Practice

Online

Program Overview

The DNP is a practice-focused degree designed to prepare graduates at the highest level in specialty practice or to assume leadership positions in health care.

Program Format
Online
Credit Hours
40
Tuition Per Hour
$420

Become a Leader With Your Doctorate in Nursing

Graduates of the DNP program focus on providing care to populations and communities with an emphasis on improving quality and access to underserved and diverse populations. Graduates employ abilities and skills in these areas to advocate for reasonable, rational and data driven health regulations, standards, and practices; sustain collaborative and strategic relationships; promote innovative, effective health care programs; and form partnerships with diverse groups to address health disparities.

Entry into the program is available every fall. The DNP curriculum includes the development of a practice or leadership focused project. All courses are offered in a distance accessible format and students develop the scholarly project under the direction of a team, including program faculty, the student, the clinical advisor, the faculty advisor and alumni mentors.

Note: This program requires a clinical component. It is the student’s responsibility to identify a site and an appropriate clinical advisor.

If you hold a BSN and are interested in the DNP, please contact Vickie Samuel, Graduate Recruitment and Retention Liaison, at vickie.bama@ua.edu or (205) 348-8163.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at The University of Alabama is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The Doctor of Nursing Practice consortium program at the Joint DNP Program University of Alabama (consortium of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, and The University of Alabama) is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Application DeadlineApril 30 for fall admission; August 1 for spring admission; December 1 for summer admission
Required For EntranceRN licensure; MSN in advanced practice area certification or certification eligibility as advanced practice nurse
PracticumYes
Other Program SpecificsMust attend one spring DNP Intensive and graduation

Curriculum

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) post-masters program requires 40 credit hours. Full-time students can complete the program in two years, and part-time students in three years.

Please note that courses are subject to change.

Part-time Program of Study

Fall Year 1

NUR 700 Clinical Data Management and Analysis
NUR 701 Writing for Publication

Spring Year 1

NUR 731 Philosophical, Theoretical, and Conceptual Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice
NUR 729 Evidence-Based Practice Design and Translation

Summer Year 1

NUR 735 Population Health in Advanced Practice Nursing
NUR 743 Evidence-Based Practice Strategies

Fall Year 2

NUR 733 Informatics for Advanced Practice Nursing
NUR 737 Interdisciplinary Leadership and Role Development for Practice Excellence

Spring Year 2

NUR 739 Scholarly Project – Optional (1 clinical)
NUR 740 Health Policy and Politics: Implications in Health Care
NUR 742 Program Evaluation Methods

Summer Year 2

NUR 738 Scholarly Seminar (1 didactic: 2 clinical)
NUR 739 Scholarly Project – Optional (1 clinical)

Fall Year 3

NUR 739 Scholarly Project (3 clinical)

Spring Year 3

NUR 739 Scholarly Project (2 clinical)

Total Credit Hours = 40

Full-time Program of Study

Fall Year 1

NUR 700 Clinical Data Management and Analysis
NUR 701 Writing for Publication
NUR 737 Interdisciplinary Leadership and Role Development for Practice Excellence

Spring Year 1

NUR 731 Philosophical, Theoretical, and Conceptual Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice
NUR 729 Evidence-Based Practice Design and Translation
NUR 740 Health Policy and Politics: Implications in Health Care

Summer Year 1

NUR 735 Population Health in Advanced Practice Nursing
NUR 739 Scholarly Project – Optional (1 clinical)
NUR 743 Evidence-Based Practice Strategies

Fall Year 2

NUR 733 Informatics for Advanced Practice Nursing
NUR 742 Program Evaluation Methods
NUR 738 Scholarly Seminar (1 didactic: 2 clinical)
NUR 739 Scholarly Project – Optional (1 clinical)

Spring Year 2

NUR 739 Scholarly Project (5 clinical)

Total Credit Hours = 40

View more information about this program through the University’s catalog.

Admission

Applications are accepted each semester. You must submit all documents by April 30 for fall admission, August 1 for spring admission or December 1 for summer admission

Prospective students must meet each of the following admission requirements:

A 3.0 grade point average, based on a 4.0 system in a completed graduate degree.
Master’s degree in nursing in an advanced nursing practice area (nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse midwife, or nurse anesthetist) from a regionally and CCNE or NLN accredited school of nursing. Students who have a master’s degree in nursing in an area other than advanced practice may request to have their application evaluated to determine if they meet requirements for admission to the DNP program.
Current unencumbered RN licensure in a state approved for admission.
Advanced practice national certification or eligibility to sit for advanced practice national certification, and must pass certification exam prior to completing 12 credit hours of DNP coursework. Students who are not yet certified will be considered for conditional admission.

If you reside or intend to seek professional licensure outside of the state of Alabama, please review the requirements for that state prior to applying to this program.

View the states from which the Capstone College of Nursing accepts applications for admission.

You Can Do It

At The University of Alabama we want to help you tell a legendary story, and that begins with a premier education and strong support. You can succeed at earning your degree from wherever you are. Want to know more? Let our graduates tell you their Bama By Distance stories.