Doctor of Nursing Practice Post-BSN Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (DNP)

The Post-BSN to DNP Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist is a 3-year full-time program. Graduates will matriculate as DNP-prepared Clinical Nurse Specialists ready to care for patients from adolescence through geriatrics and will practice in acute care or community settings.

The curriculum includes advanced foundational coursework and clinical practicum experiences culminating in the DNP Practicum Scholarly Project. At the end of this program, the graduate nurse will be eligible to sit for the national certification examinations required to practice as an Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist and will subsequently be eligible for state licensure as a clinical nurse specialist. Students admitted to the Post-BSN to DNP CNS program must travel to campus for a maximum of 6 days per semester. These on-campus immersion sessions will support student success through instruction and testing of clinical skills utilizing skills labs, simulations, and expert seminars.

The program typically requires 2-4 courses per semester year-round to complete the program in 3 years. The program may be completed part-time over four years, requiring students to take 2-3 courses per semester year-round to complete the program.

Students must have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from an accredited School of Nursing (or complete Bridge requirements if the applicant is an RN with a bachelor's degree in another field) and be eligible for a Michigan Nursing License.

A four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or an equivalent degree from a non-U.S. institution. In addition, a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale, or 3.0 in the last half of the undergraduate program, is required for full admission. Applicants who do not meet minimum admission requirements may be considered for conditional admission.

Applicants must also meet the following program requirements:

Possess a BSN degree (Applicants holding an RN license with a bachelor’s in another discipline may apply for conditional admission).
Have at least a cumulative 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) college GPA. (Applicants may seek conditional admission with a GPA of 2.75).
Have a current unrestricted license to practice as a professional registered nurse in the U.S. or eligibility to obtain a Michigan license.
Have completed an approved basic statistics course that includes descriptive and inferential statistics within the last ten years.
Have completed a basic health assessment course.
Have completed an undergraduate community health nursing course and clinical (or equivalent) from an accredited university. In addition, RNs with a Bachelor’s in a discipline other than nursing must either complete the Community Health Nursing courses (NURS 450 & NURS 451) or complete the Community Health ATI Examination to demonstrate equivalency.

TOEFL: 79 iBT

IELTS: 6.5

Pearson English Language Test (PTE): 53
Michigan English Test (MET): 57

Application Deadline:

Fall: July 1; Winter: November 1