Program Overview

Online Post-Master's DNP Track

Lead, innovate, and transform healthcare.

The University of Indianapolis online Post-Master's DNP track prepares you to reach the pinnacle of your career as an advanced practice nurse and innovative leader by means of a top-tier education, a servant culture, and integrated student support.

Advantages

• Full-time and part-time online format designed to accommodate working nurses
• The placement coordinator will work with you as you identify an appropriate clinical site within a reasonable driving distance
• Prepare to design, implement, and evaluate healthcare systems
• Learn to make informed decisions anchored in scientific theory and research for advanced patient care

About the Online Post-Master's DNP Track

The online Post-Master's DNP track will prepare you with advanced skills in policy, advocacy, leadership, and translational research, empowering you to influence health care innovation and improve patient and population health outcomes in your community.

Track Length & Format

The online Post-Master's DNP track is 31-36 credit hours, with 500 - 1,000 practicum hours, and is completed on a full-time or part-time basis. It can be completed in 6 consecutive semesters. This course is 100% online.

Online Post-Master's DNP Sample Courses

Role Transformation and Scientific Underpinning of Advanced Nursing Practice (3 credits)

The purpose of this course is to explore the scientific and theoretical underpinnings that define health and health care delivery and provide the basis for advanced nursing practice. The course focuses on role transformation, interprofessional collaboration, and the advancement of leadership abilities. The emphasis is placed on the exploration of clinically relevant phenomena of interest that will be examined from the theoretical, ethical, and conceptual context. Development and evaluation of effective strategies for managing ethical dilemmas inherent in patient care and health care organizations are included. Prerequisites and/or corequisites: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor

Inquiry I: Methods for Evidence-Based Practice (3 credits)

The purpose of this course is to build a foundation for advanced clinical scholarship and health care improvement and to develop skills in analytical methods for evidence-based practice. The course focuses on the evaluation of existing literature and other evidence to determine the best evidence for practice. The emphasis is placed on critical appraisal of quantitative, qualitative, and quality improvement methodologies to promote safe and effective care within health care systems.

Strategic Leadership and Innovation (3 credits)

This course examines skills for developing strategic nurse leaders capable of leading innovation and change in health care. The Doctor of Nursing Practice student will explore emerging competencies for nurse leaders. The strategic management of health care delivery will be addressed from a variety of perspectives, ranging from those of large health care networks to small practices of health care providers to public health environments.

DNP Project Development and Proposal (4 credits)

This course is the first of a four-course series that provides the Doctor of Nursing Practice student with mentored opportunities to plan, develop, implement, evaluate, and disseminate an evidence-based scholarly project focusing on practice issues related to the student's topic of interest. Each course builds on the knowledge and practice expertise of the DNP student, culminating in the DNP project. Throughout DNP project courses, each student will practice specific hours in a clinical area related to their topic of interest and submit individual objectives for the DNP practicum experience. In each DNP project course, the student will be responsible for documenting and submitting a log of the practicum hours completed. This course focuses on the development of a DNP project within the student's practice setting including approximately 100 practicum hours.

When Can I Start?

There are 2 intakes: Fall and Spring

Admission Requirements

• BSN degree from an accredited institution and a master's degree in any field
• Unencumbered RN license
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
• 2 years of full-time work experience prior to starting practicum hours
• Letter of recommendation
• Essay

View the full admission requirements and admission process.

Tuition & Aid

• View Graduate Tuition Rates

Additional estimated costs include:

Fees Each Semester

• General Services Fee: $168 (All students)
• Nursing Fee: $600 (Graduate nursing clinical students)
• Nursing Fee: $168 (Graduate nursing non-clinical students)

Prior to Starting Classes

• $66.75 Background Check
• $94.99 Drug Test and Document Storage
• Cost of any immunizations you may need to complete

Shadow Health

• $130 for Shadow Health for NUGR 532 and NUGR 534

Students Taking NUGR 532 and NUGR 603

• NUGR 532 and NUGR 603 Kit for physical assessment and diagnostics approximately $300
• Travel expenses to Indianapolis + hotel (Only through Fall 2025)
• $47 ExamSoft*

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) Students: Clinical Courses

• $47 ExamSoft* per semester (January to August and then again August to December) (except Neonatal Nurse Practitioner courses)
• $81.75 for renewal of background check & drug test
• $75 HESI Admission Exam + Proctor-U (APRN students during their last semester)
• Background Check/Fingerprints (IN $35) (See the Indiana Professional Licensing Association website for current pricing)
• Certification exams: see websites for those institutions for current pricing
• Cap & Gown and nursing pin (optional; see the UIndy bookstore for pricing)

All expenses, including tuition and fees, are subject to change annually.

Technology Requirements

Students will be required to have technology that is compatible with the required computerized testing platform software. Please see the IT Help Page for requirements needed for Windows and MAC OS computers. Chromebooks will not meet the technology requirements for the School of Nursing.

*A computer that meets ExamSoft/Examplify expectations is required.