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DNP Curriculum-at-a-Glance

The Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is committed to transforming advanced nursing practice in preparing nurse practitioners and leaders through the following programs:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to DNP

The BSN to DNP pathway is designed for registered nurses who have completed a BSN from an accredited institution and wish to earn their DNP. This pathway is ideal for graduating nursing students, recent BSN graduates, and experienced nurses who aspire to advance their careers and gain the highest level of clinical expertise.

Pre-Graduate Option (PGO) to DNP

The PGO to DNP pathway is for registered nurses with a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field who wish to earn their DNP.

The PGO to DNP curriculum includes 1 to 2 additional courses taken during the summer prior to fall matriculation, ensuring all students are well-prepared to succeed in their advanced nursing studies and professional careers:

N525 Concepts of Professional Nursing III
Community/Population Health with Independent Study (Determined by gap analysis)

DNP Program Tracks:

Pursuing one of the fours tracks offered allows learners to tailor their advanced practice education to align with their career goals and interest in specific patient care areas.

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner	The Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner track equips future clinicians with the knowledge and skills needed for successful careers caring for acute, acute on chronic, and critically ill adult patients.
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner	The Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner track curriculum is based on generalist training in primary care with a focus on health promotion, disease prevention, and chronic disease management across diverse settings and populations for ages 13 and older.
Family Nurse Practitioner	The Family Nurse Practitioner track equips future FNPs to provide family-centered primary care, from wellness to illness, to diverse populations across the lifespan.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner	The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) track is geared towards providing classroom and clinical experience needed to address the mental health needs of patients across the lifespan.

Full-Time DNP Program Curriculum

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

DNP Year 1 - Diactic
Fall	N 603A Societal Forces	3cr
	N 603B.1 IP Community Service-Learning Practicum	0.5cr
	N 613 Advanced Pathophysiology	3cr
	N 704 Principles of Epidemiology	3cr
	N 706 Health Policy	3cr
Spring	N 603B.2 IP Community Service-Learning Practicum	0.5cr
	N 614 Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics	3cr
	N 615 Advanced Health Assessment	3cr
	N 716 EBP & Scholarly Inquiry	3cr
	N 723 Quality & Safety	3cr
	N 718 Scholarly Writing	1cr
Summer	N 715 Analytical Foundations of Practice Inquiry	2cr
	N 727 DNP Practice Inquiry Methods	2cr
	N 729 Diagnostic Reasoning: Complexities Associated with the Care of the Older Adult	3cr
	NXXX Elective (optional)	optional
	Total Credits in Year 1:	33+
DNP Year 2 - Clinical
Fall	N 740 A/B Adv. Nursing Science: Nursing Science: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Theory & Clinical Practicum	8cr
Spring	N 741A/B Adv. Nursing Science: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Theory II & Clinical Practicum II	8cr
	N 7091 DNP Project Proposal	1cr
Summer	N 741C Adv. Nursing Science: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Clinical Practicum III	2cr
	N 708 Organizational Systems & Health Care Financing	1cr
	N 709II DNP Project Proposal	1cr
	N7XX Advanced Nursing Science, Theory III	2cr
	Total Credits in Year 2:	23
DNP Year 3 - Scholarly Project
Fall	N 772 DNP Scholarly Project: Implementation	2cr
	N 776 Leadership for Advanced Practice	3cr
	N 707 Biomedical Informatics	3cr
Spring	N 773 DNP Scholarly Project: Evaluation	2cr
	N 778 Transition to Advanced Practice	1cr
	Total Credits in Year 3:	11
	TOTAL CREDITS IN PROGRAM:	67+

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

DNP Year 1 - Didactic
Fall	N 603A Societal Forces	3cr
	N 603B.1 IP Community Service-Learning Practicum	0.5cr
	N 613 Advanced Pathophysiology	3cr
	N 704 Principles of Epidemiology	3cr
	N 706 Health Policy	3cr
Spring	N 603B.2 IP Community Service-Learning Practicum	0.5cr
	N 614 Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics	3cr
	N 615 Advanced Health Assessment	3cr
	N 716 EBP & Scholarly Inquiry	3cr
	N 723 Quality & Safety	3cr
	N 718 Scholarly Writing	1cr
Summer	N 715 Analytical Foundations of Practice Inquiry	2cr
	N 727 DNP Practice Inquiry Methods	2cr
	N 729 Diagnostic Reasoning: Complexities Associated with the Care of the Older Adult	3cr
	NXXX Elective (optional)	optional
	Total Credits in Year 1:	33
DNP Year 2 - Clinical
Fall	N 730A/B Adv. Nursing Science: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Theory & Clinical Practicum I	8cr
Spring	N 731A/B Adv. Nursing Science: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Theory II & Clinical Practicum II	8cr
	N 7091 DNP Project Proposal	1cr
Summer	N 731C Adv. Nursing Science: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Clinical Practicum III	2cr
	N 708 Organizational Systems & Health Care Financing	1cr
	N 709II DNP Project Proposal	1cr
	N 7XX Advanced Nursing science Theory III	2cr
	Total Credits in Year 2:	23
DNP Year 3 - Scholarly Project
Fall	N 772 DNP Scholarly Project: Implementation	2cr
	N 776 Leadership for Advanced Practice	3cr
	N707 Biomedical Informatics	3cr
Spring	N 773 DNP Scholarly Project: Evaluation	2cr
	N 778 Transition to Advanced Practice	1cr
	Total Credits in Year 3:	11
	TOTAL CREDITS IN PROGRAM:	67+

Family Nurse Practitioner

DNP Year 1 - Didactic
Fall	N 603A Societal Forces	3cr
	N 603B.1 IP Community Service-Learning Practicum	0.5cr
	N 613 Advanced Pathophysiology	3cr
	N 704 Principles of Epidemiology	3cr
	N 706 Health Policy	3cr
Spring	N 603B.2 IP Community Service-Learning Practicum	0.5cr
	N 614 Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics	3cr
	N 615 Advanced Health Assessment	3cr
	N 716 EBP & Scholarly Inquiry	3cr
	N 723 Quality & Safety	3cr
	N 718 Scholarly Writing	1cr
Summer	N 715 Analytical Foundations of Practice Inquiry	2cr
	N 727 DNP Practice Inquiry Methods	2cr
	N 729 Diagnostic Reasoning: Complexities Associated with the Care of the Older Adult	3cr
	NXXX Elective (optional)	optional
	Total Credits in Year 1:	33
DNP Year 2 - Clinical
Fall	N 760A/B Adv. Nursing Science: Family Nurse Practitioner Theory I & Clinical Practicum I	8cr
	N 659A Adv. Nursing Science: Maternal Child Health	2cr
Spring	N 761A/B Adv. Nursing Science: Family Nurse Practitioner Theory II & Clinical Practicum II	8cr
	N 659B Adv. Nursing Science: Maternal Child Health	1cr
	N 7091 DNP Project Proposal	1cr
Summer	N 761C Adv. Nursing Science: Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical Practicum III	2cr
	N 708 Organizational Systems & Health Care Financing	1cr
	N 709II DNP Project Proposal	1cr
	N 7XX Advanced Nursing Science, Theory III	2cr
	Total Credits in Year 2:	26
DNP Year 3 - Scholarly Project
Fall	N 772 DNP Scholarly Project: Implementation	2cr
	N 776 Leadership for Advanced Practice	3cr
	N 707 Biomedical Informatics	3cr
Spring	N 773 DNP Scholarly Project: Evaluation	2cr
	N 778 DNP Transition to Advanced Practice	1cr
	Total Credits in Year 3:	11
	TOTAL CREDITS IN PROGRAM:	70+

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

DNP Year 1 - Didactic
Fall	N 603A Societal Forces	3cr
	N 603B.1 IP Community Service-Learning Practicum	0.5cr
	N 613 Advanced Pathophysiology	3cr
	N 704 Principles of Epidemiology	3cr
	N 706 Health Policy	3cr
Spring	N 603B.2 IP Community Service-Learning Practicum	0.5cr
	N 614 Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics	3cr
	N 615 Advanced Health Assessment	3cr
	N 716 EBP & Scholarly Inquiry	3cr
	N 723 Quality & Safety	3cr
	N 718 Scholarly Writing	1cr
Summer	N 715 Analytical Foundations of Practice Inquiry	2cr
	N 727 DNP Practice Inquiry Methods	2cr
	N 729 Diagnostic Reasoning: Complexities Associated with the Care of the Older Adult	3cr
	N 671 Psychotherapeutic Interventions I: Individual Therapy	1cr
	NXXX Elective (optional)	optional
	Total Credits in Year 1:	34
DNP Year 2 - Clinical
Fall	N 732A Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing I: Assessment and Diagnosis Across the Lifespan	4cr
	N 732B Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practicum	3cr
	N 673 Clinical Psychopharmacology	3cr
Spring	N 733A Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing II: Care of Adults, Older Adults and Consultation	3cr
	N 733B Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practicum II	3cr
	N 675 Psychotherapeutic Interventions II: Group, Couples and Family Therapy	2cr
	N 7091 DNP Project Proposal	1cr
Summer	N 734A Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing III: Care of Children Adolescents and Families	3cr
	N 734B Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practicum III	2cr
	N 709II DNP Project Proposal	1cr
	N 708 Organizational Systems & Health Care Financing	3cr
	Total Credits in Year 2:	28
DNP Year 3 - Scholarly Project
Fall	N 772 DNP Scholarly Project: Implementation	2cr
	N 776 Leadership for Advanced Practice	3cr
	N 707 Biomedical Informatics	3cr
Spring	N 773 DNP Scholarly Project: Evaluation	2cr
	N 778 Transition to Advanced Practice	1cr
	Total Credits in Year 3:	11
	TOTAL CREDITS IN PROGRAM:	73+

Part-Time DNP Program Curriculum

The DNP program is available on a part-time status during the first year curriculum only. The total length of the program would increase from 3 years full-time to 4 years part-time. The final 2 years of the DNP program must be taken on a full-time basis to accommodate the clinical practicum and scholarly project hour commitments.

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Year 1 (Part-time)
Fall	N 603A Societal Forces	3cr
	N 603B.1 IP Community Service-Learning Practicum	0.5cr
	N 613 Advanced Pathophysiology	3cr
Spring	N 603B.2 IP Community Service-Learning Practicum	0.5cr
	N 614 Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics	3cr
	N 716 EBP & Scholarly Inquiry	3cr
	N 718 Scholarly Writing	1cr
Summer	N 715 Analytical Foundations of Practice Inquiry	2cr
	N 727 DNP Practice Inquiry Methods	2cr
	Total Credits in Year 1:	18
Year 2 (Part-Time)
Fall	N 704 Principles of Epidemiology	3cr
	N 706 Health Policy	3cr
Spring	N 615 Advanced Health Assessment	3cr
	N 723 Quality and Safety	3cr
Summer	N 729 Diagnostic Reasoning: Complexities Associated with the Care of the Older Adult	3cr
	NXXX Elective (optional)	optional
	Total Credits in Year 2:	15+
Year 3 (Full-Time)
Fall	N 740 A/B Adv. Nursing Science: Nursing Science: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Theory & Clinical Practicum	8cr
Spring	N 741A/B Adv. Nursing Science: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Theory II & Clinical Practicum II	8cr
	N 7091 DNP Project Proposal	1cr
Summer	N 741C Adv. Nursing Science: Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Clinical Praicum III	2cr
	N 708 Organizational Systems & Health Care Financing	1cr
	N 709II DNP Project Proposal	1cr
	N7XX Advanced Nursing Science, Theory III	2cr
	Total Credits in Year 3:	23
Year 4 (Full-Time)
Fall	N 772 DNP Scholarly Project: Implementation	2cr
	N 776 Leadership for Advanced Practice	3cr
	N707 Biomedical Informatics	3cr
Spring	N 773 DNP Scholarly Project: Evaluation	2cr
	N 778 Transition to Advanced Practice	1cr
	Total Credits in Year 4:	11
	TOTAL CREDITS IN PROGRAM:	67+

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

Year 1 (Part-time)
Fall	N 603A Societal Forces	3cr
	N 603B.1 IP Community Service-Learning Practicum	0.5cr
	N 613 Advanced Pathophysiology	3cr
Spring	N 603B.2 IP Community Service-Learning Practicum	0.5cr
	N 614 Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics	3cr
	N 716 EBP & Scholarly Inquiry	3cr
	N 718 Scholarly Writing	1cr
Summer	N 715 Analytical Foundations of Practice Inquiry	2cr
	N 727 DNP Practice Inquiry Methods	2cr
	Total Credits in Year 1:	18
Year 2 (Part-time)
Fall	N 704 Principles of Epidemiology	3cr
	N 706 Health Policy	3cr
Spring	N 615 Advanced Health Assessment	3cr
	N 723 Quality & Safety	3cr
Summer	N 729 Diagnostic Reasoning: Complexities Associated with the Care of the Older Adult	3cr
	NXXX Elective (optional)	optional
	Total Credits in Year 2:	15+
Year 3 (Full-time)
Fall	N 730A/B Adv. Nursing Science: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Theory & Clinical Practicum I	8cr
Spring	N 731A/B Adv. Nursing Science: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Theory II & Clinical Practicum II	8cr
	N 7091 DNP Project Proposal	1cr
Summer	N 731C Adv. Nursing Science: Adult-Gerontology PrimarybCare Nurse Practitioner Clinical Practicum III	2cr
	N 708 Organizational Systems & Health Care Financing	1cr
	N 709II DNP Project Proposal	1cr
	N 7XX Advanced Nursing Science, Theory III	2cr
	Total Credits in Year 3:	23
Year 4 (Full-time)
Fall	N 772 DNP Scholarly Project: Implementation	2cr
	N 776 Leadership for Advanced Practice	3cr
	N707 Biomedical Informatics	3cr
Spring	N 773 DNP Scholarly Project: Evaluation	2cr
	N 778 Transition to Advanced Practice	1cr
	Total Credits in Year 4:	11
	TOTAL CREDITS IN PROGRAM:	67+

Family Nurse Practitioner

Year 1 (Part-time)
Fall	N 603A Societal Forces	3cr
	N 603B.1 IP Community Service-Learning Practicum	0.5cr
	N 613 Advanced Pathophysiology	3cr
Spring	N 603B.2 IP Community Service-Learning Practicum	0.5cr
	N 614 Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics	3cr
	N 716 EBP & Scholarly Inquiry	3cr
	N 718 Scholarly Writing	1cr
Summer	N 715 Analytical Foundations of Practice Inquiry	2cr
	N 727 DNP Practice Inquiry Methods	2cr
	Total Credits in Year 1:	18
Year 2 (Part-time)
Fall	N 704 Principles of Epidemiology	3cr
	N 706 Health Policy	3cr
Spring	N 615 Advanced Health Assessment	3cr
	N 723 Quality & Safety	3cr
Summer	N 729 Diagnostic Reasoning: Complexities Associated with the Care of the Older Adult	3cr
	NXXX Elective (optional)	optional
	Total Credits in Year 2:	15+
Year 3 (Full-time)
Fall	N 760A/B Adv. Nursing Science: Family Nurse Practitioner Theory I & Clinical Practicum I	8cr
	N 659A Adv. Nursing Science: Maternal Child Health	2cr
Spring	N 761A/B Adv. Nursing Science: Family Nurse Practitioner Theory II & Clinical Practicum II	8cr
	N 659B Adv. Nursing Science: Maternal Child Health	1cr
	N 7091 DNP Project Proposal	1cr
Summer	N 761C Adv. Nursing Science: Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical Practicum III	2cr
	N708 Organizational Systems & HealthCare Financing	1cr
	N 709II DNP Project Proposal	1cr
	N 7XX Advanced Nursing Science	2cr
	Total Credits in Year 3:	26
Year 4 (Full-time)
Fall	N 772 DNP Scholarly Project: Implementation	2cr
	N 776 Leadership for Advanced Practice	3cr
	N707 Biomedical Informatics	3cr
Spring	N 773 DNP Scholarly Project: Evaluation	2cr
	N 778 Transition to Advanced Practice	1cr
	Total Credits in Year 4:	11
	TOTAL CREDITS IN PROGRAM:	70+

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Year 1 (Part-time)
Fall	N 603A Societal Forces	3cr
	N 603B.1 IP Community Service-Learning Practicum	0.5cr
	N 613 Advanced Pathophysiology	3cr
Spring	N 603B.2 IP Community Service-Learning Practicum	0.5cr
	N 614 Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics	3cr
	N 716 EBP & Scholarly Inquiry	3cr
	N 718 Scholarly Writing	1cr
Summer	N 715 Analytical Foundations of Practice Inquiry	2cr
	N 727 DNP Practice Inquiry Methods	2cr
	Total Credits in Year 1:	18
Year 2 (Part-time)
Fall	N 704 Principles of Epidemiology	3cr
	N 706 Health Policy	3cr
Spring	N 615 Advanced Health Assessment	3cr
	N 723 Quality & Safety	3cr
Summer	N 671 Psychotherapeutic Interventions I: Individual Therapy	1cr
	N 729 Diagnostic Reasoning: Complexities Associated with the Care of the Older Adult	3cr
	NXXX Elective (optional)	optional
	Total Credits in Year 2:	16+
Year 3 (Full-time)
Fall	N 732A Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing I: Assessment and Diagnosis Across the Lifespan	4cr
	N 732B Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practicum	3cr
	N 673 Clinical Psychopharmacology	3cr
Spring	N 733A Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing II: Care of Adults, Older Adults and Consultation	3cr
	N 733B Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practicum II	3cr
	N 675 Psychotherapeutic Interventions II: Group, Couples and Family Therapy	2cr
	N 7091 DNP Project Proposal	1cr
Summer	N 734A Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing II: Care of Adults, Older Adults and Consultation	3cr
	N 734B Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practicum II	2cr
	N 709II DNP Project Proposal	1cr
	N 708 Organizational Systems & HealthCare Financing	3cr
	Total Credits in Year 3:	25
Year 4 (Full-time)
Fall	N 772 DNP Scholarly Project: Implementation	2cr
	N 776 Leadership for Advanced Practice	3cr
	N707 Biomedical Informatics	3cr
Spring	N 773 DNP Scholarly Project: Evaluation	2cr
	N 778 Transition to Advanced Practice	1cr
	Total Credits in Year 4:	11
	TOTAL CREDITS IN PROGRAM:	70+

Non-Degree Course Offerings

For those considering the DNP program, we invite interested students to take up to 3 courses (9 credits) as a non-degree student under Continuing Education at the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing. Non-degree courses are offered in fall, spring, and summer semesters with a flexible enrollment process.

Up to 3 courses can apply towards DNP degree completion. Non-degree courses that are offered to consider include Advanced Pathophysiology and Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics. Please reach out to GSNadmissions@umassmed.edu for additional guidance.

DNP Curriculum Archive

Curriculum PDFs are available for students enrolled PRIOR TO FALL 2024.