Bulletin Year: 2022 - 2023 Graduate Bulletin | View this program in the current bulletin.

Admission Requirements

  • Comply with the regular admission requirements of the College of Graduate Studies and Research, which includes an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0, 
  • have a BSN from an accredited nursing program with a minimum 3.0 GPA,
  • a current RN license within the United States, and
  • access to a high-speed Internet connection.

Other desirable qualities:

  • Completion of an undergraduate or graduate level statistics course (preferred but not required).
  • Completion of a health assessment course in undergraduate program with a B or better.
  • Completion of courses in anatomy and physiology in an undergraduate or graduate program with a B or better.
  • Should be proficient in using Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, e-mail and accessing the Internet.

Students must provide the School of Nursing with current evidence of the following prior to their clinical rotations:

  1. An unrestricted RN license
  2. Two-step TB skin test, MMR, hepatitis B, varicella, and Tdap
  3. CPR certification
  4. Nurse practitioner student malpractice insurance
  5. Criminal background check
  6. Urine drug screen

Northern Michigan University is an accredited public institution that participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA). This authorizes NMU to enroll online students from all states and territories in the United States. However, individual state licensing agencies (i.e. State Boards of Nursing) at times dictate additional requirements for students completing clinics in their territories. The School of Nursing Graduate Coordinator determines compliance for meeting criteria for the state students are located in on admission to the program. Students need to be aware that regulations in any state may change without notification. In addition, applicants and students need to contact the Graduate Coordinator prior to relocating to a different state in order to ensure that progression in the program will not be affected.

All Applicants must submit:

  1. Graduate admission application and fee.  
  2. Official transcripts from all previously attended post-secondary institutions.
  3. School of Nursing application.
  4. A current resume.
  5. One-page written description of your goals for graduate study. The document should be typed using a computer with Times New Roman,12 pt. font, and double-spaced.
  6. Three letters of recommendation - one academic (candidates who have graduated within the last three years must include a faculty recommendation) and two clinical colleagues or manager. 

Application Due Dates

Applications are currently open and close October 15, 2023, for the next cohort which begins Winter 2024.  Contact graduate program director Dr. Melissa Romero (mromero@nmu.edu) with additional questions.

Doctor of Nursing Practice Curriculum - Post-baccalaureate Track

For department information or additional degree requirements, go to the Nursing department page.

Total Credits Required 78
Core Courses 41
NU 510 Theoretical and Scientific Foundations for Evidence-Based Practice 4
NU 512 Organizational and Systems Leadership for Quality Improvement and Safety 3
NU 513 Analytic Approaches for Advanced Nursing Practice 3
NU 520 Health Policy and Advocacy for Improving Rural and Population Health 3
NU 540 Professional Role Development 2
NU 612 Statistics for Health Care Professionals 4
NU 710 Research Utilization 3
NU 726 Epidemiology 3
NU 812 Interprofessional Leadership for Quality Improvement, Policy, and Health Care Transformation 4
NU 815 Informatics for Health Care 3
NU 818 Evidence Based and Translational Methods 3
NU 899 Scholarly Project (2 cr.) 6
 
Advanced Practice Core 9
NU 541 Advanced Health Assessment 3
NU 552 Advanced Pathophysiology 3
NU 554 Advanced Pharmacology 3
 
Family Nurse Practitioner Specialty 28
NU 542 Primary Care Management-1 3
NU 543 Clinical Practicum-1 4
NU 544 Primary Care Management-2 3
NU 545 Clinical Practicum-2 4
NU 546 Primary Care Management-3 3
NU 547 Clinical Practicum-3 4
NU 746 Primary Care Management - 4 3
NU 749 Clinical Practicum-4 4
 

DNP Graduation Requirements

To be eligible for graduation, post-baccalaureate DNP students will complete 78 credits and post-master’s DNP students will complete 33 credits of coursework. In accordance with guidelines established by our accreditors and regulatory bodies, post-baccalaureate DNP students are required to complete 1000 clinical practice hours with an approved preceptor. All programs are offered on a part-time basis and courses will be taught using a mixture of online and on-campus (hybrid/low-residency) methods. DNP students will be required to attend two on-campus sessions: (a) an orientation session prior to the start of classes and (b) DNP project oral presentation (takes place in the final semester just prior to graduation). Students will be invited to attend optional on-campus events and these will be ZOOMED and recorded for students who cannot attend. Some of these events include: (a) faculty-student meet and greet, (b) guest lecturers, and (c) simulation center events. The time to completion for the post-master’s DNP track takes one and a half (1.5) years and the post-baccalaureate DNP track will take four years to complete. Students are required to fulfill graduation requirements within seven years. Other graduation requirements include:

  • Earn an 83% (B grade) or better in each course.
  • Adherence to the university student code
  • Demonstrate a pattern of safe clinical practice and professional behavior
  • Maintain an unencumbered professional RN license
  • Successful oral presentation (defense) and completion of DNP project


Bulletin Year: 2022 - 2023 Graduate Bulletin