Program Overview

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Introduction to the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at Marquette University is designed to prepare advanced practice nurses and nurse administrators at the highest level. Graduates of the program are prepared to demonstrate advanced, evidence-based management of care in a cultural context at the individual, family, population, and/or organizational/systems level.

Program Overview

The DNP program includes two entry points: the post-baccalaureate to doctor of nursing practice (B.S.N./D.N.P.) and the post-master's to doctor of nursing practice (M.S.N./D.N.P.). Students enrolled in the DNP may also earn an additional specialization in nursing education.

Degree Offered

• Doctor of Nursing Practice

Program Description

The doctor of nursing practice emphasizes development of nursing practice expertise at the highest level. The curriculum includes translational research, epidemiology, informatics, statistics, advanced clinical practice, health policy, and professional issues.

Specializations

The DNP program offers several specializations, including:

• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Dual Primary Care and Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
• Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Nurse Anesthesia
• Nurse Midwifery (Post-master's D.N.P. only)

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements for the DNP program include:

• A bachelor's or master's degree in nursing from an accredited program
• A minimum GPA of 3.0
• Completion of prerequisite courses
• Submission of transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement

Curriculum

The DNP curriculum includes coursework in:

• Theoretical foundations of nursing
• Ethics, policy, and health care advocacy
• Organizational and systems leadership
• Research and evidence-based practice
• Advanced health assessment
• Pharmacology
• Pathophysiology
• Health promotion and disease prevention
• Advanced practice nursing roles

Post-Baccalaureate DNP Curriculum

The post-baccalaureate DNP curriculum requires 63-91 credit hours, depending on the specialization. The curriculum includes:

• Core courses (24-30 credits)
• Specialization courses (24-30 credits)
• DNP project courses (9-12 credits)

Post-Master's DNP Curriculum

The post-master's DNP curriculum requires 30 credit hours. The curriculum includes:

• Core courses (15 credits)
• Specialization courses (6 credits)
• DNP project courses (9 credits)

Nursing Education Specialization

The nursing education specialization requires an additional 12 credit hours. The curriculum includes:

• Foundations of learner-centered teaching
• Curriculum design and implementation
• Assessment and evaluation of individuals and programs in health care education
• Facilitating learning in various learning environments

Accreditation

The DNP program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Program Outcomes

Graduates of the DNP program are prepared to:

• Demonstrate advanced, evidence-based management of care in a cultural context
• Analyze and apply models, theories, and scientific evidence to improve quality of health care
• Employ interprofessional and leadership knowledge and skills to transform health care and complex delivery systems
• Integrate knowledge of and skills in information systems and patient care technologies for the improvement and transformation of health care

University Policies

Marquette University policies, including academic censure, academic integrity, and attendance, apply to all students in the DNP program.

Graduate School Policies

Graduate School policies, including academic performance, advising, and conduct, apply to all students in the DNP program.

Course Descriptions

Course descriptions for the DNP program are available in the Marquette University bulletin.

Location

Marquette University is located at 1250 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53233.

Key Resources

Key resources for the DNP program include:

• Campus contacts
• Campus map
• Contact us
• Search marquette.edu
• eMarq
• CheckMarq
• D2L
• MyJob

Print Options

Print options for the DNP program information include:

• Send Page to Printer
• Download Page (PDF)
• Bulletin (PDF)