Doctor of Nursing Practice
Mission Statement
The mission of the School of Nursing is to be Christ-centered, people-focused, student-oriented, quality-driven, and future-directed in preparing qualified persons to serve a diverse population through the holistic profession of nursing.
Components for Learning
At AU, we offer a flexible program catered to you, the working nurse. If you are a RN with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, you can apply directly to the DNP program.
All classes are offered online, so you can learn anywhere. You will still meet your cohort and professors in person during a 2-3 day session most semesters.
In addition to coursework, you will complete a scholarly project and a clinical residency. The evidence-based project may include a quality improvement (QI) focus, a policy change, or perhaps a protocol development for your facility. Your advisor will guide you in this process. Throughout your time in the program, you will develop this project, from the conceptual stages to research and investigation to implementation and dissemination of the results.
Clinical residencies are required for all Doctor of Nursing Practice students. At the conclusion of your Doctoral program you will have completed at a minimum 1,000 clinical hours. While it is your responsibility to find a clinical preceptor, AU works hard to establish relationships with clinical partners, to aid you in your search. Your clinical and in-class experiences at AU will also prepare you for the national accreditation exam you must take to become certified to practice in your field.
Special Requirements for Admission
Minimum requirements:
- Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from a nationally accredited nursing program with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 averaged from all nursing degree programs.
- Active and unencumbered RN license
- CPR certification
- Current immunization record by start of program
Application Process
- Complete online application and pay application fee
- Two Letters of Recommendation
- Personal Statement
- Official Transcripts from all former academic institutions
- Resume
The Doctor of Nursing Practice mostly online FNP track is a 75 credit hour, nine semester program designed to train nurses for the Family Nurse Practitioner role and the ability to sit for a national certification exam with the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Students will start with core curriculum and complete 750 clinical hours in the first five semesters then transition into the DNP Scholarly Project preparatory courses and work on 500-600 additional clinical hours mostly designed in project completion.
Graduation Requirements
Anderson University School of Nursing Graduate Programs are cohort based. Student must have an overall GPA of a 3.0. In addition, students must have a B or higher in Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Health Assessment, Advanced Pharmacology, Primary Care Across the Lifespan, Care of Special Populations, Care of Aging Adults, and Integrated Care of Individuals and Communities.
Limitation in Completion of Requirements
A student in the MSN program must complete all degree requirements within five (5) years. A student in the DNP program must complete all degree requirements within seven (7) years. Time limits are computed from and include the first semester of credit applied to the degree program. Students who do not enroll for three (3) consecutive semesters are subject to all program policies, guidelines, and requirements in place at the time of re-enrollment. This guideline does not mean the student has the option of taking five (5) or seven (7) years to complete the degree if their track is a full-time cohort model.
