1. Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Post Master’s UMass On-Line
DNP Degree program for APRNs

2. UMass Boston on Dorchester Bay

3. Preparing APRNs for roles in:
health systems leadership
developing health policy
improving health care quality
Increasing healthcare access to communities and groups
applying theories and evidence-based research in healthcare delivery
Engaging others in advancing the implementation of health care policy

4. Who is Eligible? Master’s in Nursing prepared APRNs*:
Nationally Certified Nurse Practitioners
Women‘s Health or Family Nurse
Adult, Gerontology, Pediatrics, Neonatal, Psych/Mental Health, or Acute Care1 (Oncology and Dermatology NPs are eligible if they have a population focused NP preparation and certification)
Certified Providers
Nurse Midwives
Nurse Anesthetists
Clinical Nurse Specialists
State Licensed as RN and completed MS program with APRN preparation and now in leadership role
*MSN, non-NPs or non-Cert., may apply to the 21 credit post master’s NP through UMass On-Line program in Family or Adult/Gerontology .
The UMassOnline NP program requires a minimum of 600 hours of clinical internship.
Contact about PostMaster’sNP Program Director:
Go to:
APRN Consensus Work Group & NCSBN APRN Advisory Committee (2008) Consensus Model for APRN Regulation. AACN-NCHE: Wash, DC accessed at

5. Earning Your DNP
39 credits in a 3 year sequenced curriculum with options for summer courses
Participate and Learn where you are on your schedule:
Online Coursework using Blackboard Vista ® Software
Meet regularly with faculty using online Wimba® software
a virtual classroom
search literature with Healey eLibrary UMass Boston.
Shared portfolios using Google Apps software
Clinical internships in your home state
a minimum of 400 hours approved by your DNP & Capstone advisor
all clinical agencies are in your home state
we will work with your agency on an agreement with UMass Boston

6. Earning Your DNP Complete the Capstone Project
Advance through coursework and clinical successes
Define your conceptual area of interest & refine your focus with your nationally and internationally recognized faculty advisor and team
Convene your Doctoral Committee of experts
Propose a Capstone Project that will improve health care quality
promote new policy & procedures for health care
increase effectiveness through consumer access or cost control
Be ready to present and publish YOUR Doctoral Work!

7. Learn with our Leaders in Nursing
Our faculty are distinguished teachers, researchers, clinicians, and administrators
All faculty are engaged in research, teaching, & other scholarly work
All PhD and DNP clinical faculty are dedicated to leading you towards professional growth

8. 39 # Credits Fall S1 Spr1 Sum1 Fall 2 Spr S2 Sum 2 Fall S3 Spr 3
Semester
Course #
Course Name
39 # Credits
Year 1
Fall S1
NU765
Leaderhip and Mgmt in Health Care 3
NU 760
Biostats I or Elective *
NU761
 DNP Internship I
Spr1
NU 616
Evidence Based Practice I *
NU 722
Health Care Systems and Quality
DNP Internship I
Epidemiology , Health Policy or Elective
Sum1
Summer courses TBA*
Year 2
Fall 2
NU 715
Informatics
NU 761
DNP Internship I * 1
NU 716
Evidence Based Practice II *
Spr S2
NU618
Health Policy and Ethics
NU 762
DNP Internship II*
NU 637
Psychosocial Mental Health * Elective
Sum 2
 Elective , Health Policy or Epidemiology
Year 3
Fall S3
NU 763
DNP Internship III*
MBA 650
Organizational Analysis/ Skills* 4
Spr 3
NU 766
Health Economics & Finance
NU 764
Capstone Seminar & Internship IV* 6

9. Plan of Study for the DNP Program - Year 1
Semester
Course #
Course Name
# Credits
Year 1
Fall S1
NU765
Health Care Management 3
NU 760
Biostats I (if req’d) or Elective
DNP Internship 50hr
Spr S1
NU 616
Evidence Based Practice I
NU 722
Health Care Quality
DNP Internship 50 hr 1 13
Sum1
Summer courses (arrange with Advisor)

10. Plan of Study for the DNP Program - Year II
Fall 2
NU 715
Informatics 3
NU 762
DNP Internship II 50 hrs
NU 716
Evidence Based Practice II 6
Spr S2
NU 780
Epidemiology
DNP Internship II 50 hrs. 1
Elective ( NU 618 Intro to Health Policy ) 7
Sum 2
Summer courses (up to 3 cr.)

11. Plan of Study for the DNP Program - Year III
Fall 3
NU 763
DNP Internship III 2
Elective 3 5
Spr 3
NU 766
Health Care Economics and Finance
NU 764
Capstone Seminar &
Internship IV
Total Credits 39 (minimum for the degree)
T22otal Credits 39

12. Complete all required course work
Earning Your Doctor of Nursing Practice Design & Complete Your Capstone Project
Complete all required course work
Define your project area & refine your focus
Propose a Capstone Project that will improve health care quality for example:
promote new policy & procedures for health care
increase effectiveness through consumer access or cost control
Select your doctoral committee of experts
The final product is a publishable quality written article on your doctoral capstone

13. Applications and Matriculation
Get YOUR UMB Graduate Admissions application at:
Applications must include sealed transcripts and sealed references
Mail your application in one envelope, to:
Office of Graduate Admissions - Campus Center
UMass Boston,
100 Morrissey Blvd.
Boston Ma 02125
Deadlines for Applications:
Fall Semester: May 1st
Spring Semester: November 1st
Include application fee of $40.00.

14. Portfolio Admission Requirements
Continues …
BS / MS in nursing from an NLN or CCNE accredited program:
GPA of 3.0 or higher in the baccalaureate degree
A 3.2 GPA in master’s degree program of study
A science GPA of 3.0 in master or the baccalaureate program
official sealed transcripts from undergraduate and graduate programs
Three letters of recommendation from health professionals referencing your clinical expertise, scholarship, and leadership ability
A scholarly abstract of prior work - no more than 300 words

15. Portfolio Admission Requirements
…continued
500 word professional goal statement with five career objectives
professional resume
registered nurse license: APRN license in your state
TOEFL scores if needed (see UMB Graduate Admissions web for the requirements for non-USA undergraduate degree, non-native English speaking applicants: )
undergraduate statistics course grade of B or better
undergraduate health assessment course grade of B or better
*No GRES are required.

16. Application Portfolio Review
The Admissions Committee evaluates:
the curriculum in your prior MS program of study
the grades you achieved
Evidence of your expertise as an advanced practice nurse
Applicants with voids in their program of study may need to take additional courses beyond the 39 credits to meet:
the DNP Essentials (AACN, 2006)* competencies
and UMass Boston DNP program objectives
*AACN (2006), Essentials of the Doctor of Nursing Practice accessed at

17. Admission Notification
UMass Boston Graduate Admissions Office will notify you of the admission decision in writing
If recommended by our College, you will receive a letter of notifying you of the procedures for matriculation into the DNP Program
When you hear from the graduate admission office that you are accepted:
send in your deposit a.s.a.p, and
contact the Program Director: Susan Parker RN, MS, DNP, GNP-BC
A program plan will be developed for you

18. Transferring Courses towards the DNP
Students may take two UMass Boston DNP courses (6 credits) prior to applying for admission (may request exception for UMB DNP program courses)
Students may take two transferrable DNP program courses at another institution (max of 6 credits)
Approved course credits transfer if not applied to a prior degree
To be transferred, you must achieve minimum 3.0 in each course
Non-matriculated students may enroll in online courses if space is available
Clinical internships are done in your home state:
You must work with your agency and our office to produce a signed working agreement with UMass Boston CNHS

19. Tuition & Fees Tuition for 3 credit course:
$463.33/cr x 3 = $  + $45 Registration Fee 
New Student Fee: $ in 2 parts:
$ at time of acceptance applied to first terms
95.00 is billed with tuition billing
Additional Fees
Application Fee: $ 40.00
A semester fee is also charged

20. Financial Support
Check with your employer about reimbursement benefit plan--full or partial are often available for work-related ed.
Accepted students may be eligible for financial funding through one of the following mechanisms:
Graduate Assistantships,
CNHS Federal Traineeships, and
Financial Aid (loans, grants, and scholarships)
Scholarships: Foundations for Nursing(ANPF, NBNA, AAN/Hartford Foundation, etc)
To apply for financial aid, after admission, you must:
Fill out the FAFSA form at
Check your financial aid status using WISER, or
Contact Financial Aid Services , or

21. …more info For more information about the DNP program go to:
More Questions? -- contact us:
Dr. Susan Parker
Dr. Margaret McAllister, DNP Past Director or
To have additional information sent provide us with your name and address here: program assistant.

22. How often do I come to campus?
Students are expected to attend the orientation to the program
The first weekend of the term in September
Students are also expected to attend the intensive workshops held
For Spring term 1 and Spring terms 2
And finally to defend your capstone project in Spring 3