The UMSL College of Nursing is committed to admitting a diverse group of students who will become nurse leaders responsive to the specific needs of the communities and populations we serve. We value diversity, intellectual discourse and rigor, caring, professionalism, mutual respect and support, innovation, collaboration, and transparency. Applicants will be selected using inclusive and balanced admission criteria that measure their potential in nursing practice, education, research, and scholarship. We measure our success by graduates who become lifelong learners and leaders in their communities and in the profession of nursing.
Applicants to the DNP program will be holistically reviewed using criteria such as GPA, a personal statement, an essay, work/volunteer experiences, professional activities, leadership roles, honors, award recognitions, etc.
Due to higher education regulation changes, the University of Missouri–St. Louis cannot admit students from all states for online programs. Please see the Center for Teaching and Learning for additional information: http://www.umsl.edu/services/ctl/onlinelearning/state_authorization.html
Admission Criteria
The post-baccalaureate entry point is designed for registered nurses who have completed a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree and desire to obtain a doctoral degree in nursing practice. The student will develop the knowledge, skills, and expertise to become clinical scholars, clinical experts, and transformational leaders who will function at the highest level of nursing practice.
Admission Criteria:
- Admission to the University by completing the UMSL Graduate School application
- Completion of College of Nursing supplemental application
- BSN from a nationally accredited nursing program
- BSN 3.0 GPA (calculated on last 60 hours of BSN coursework)
- Current professional licensure
- Completion of an undergraduate general statistics course
Direct Admit BSN to DNP Option
Guaranteed admission to the BSN to DNP program is selective and open to students who have earned a BSN from UMSL or completed the UMSL CON Externship in Nursing Summer program and earned a BSN degree from a nationally accredited nursing program.
Admission Criteria:
- Admission to the University by completing the UMSL Graduate School application
- Completion of College of Nursing supplemental application
- BSN from UMSL OR completed the UMSL CON Externship in Nursing Summer Program and earned a BSN degree from a nationally accredited nursing program
- 3.75 GPA in last 60 hours of BSN coursework
Once admitted, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA.
Spaces in the BSN to DNP program are limited and are first awarded to guaranteed applicants. Based on space availability, applications will be accepted until the class is full.
Degree Requirements
The DNP Curriculum focuses on three tiers:
- Foundational Concepts
- Clinical Expertise
- Integration of Practice
Core Content for BSN to DNP program
Completion of the BSN to DNP program requires the completion of the following core content for all emphasis areas:
| NURSE 6111 | Healthcare Systems Concepts and Theory | 3 |
| NURSE 6130 | Research, Interventions and Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| NURSE 6660 | Introduction to Health Systems Management, and Policy for Underserved | 3 |
| NURSE 7211 | Biostatistics I | 3 |
| NURSE 7209 | Advanced Nursing Roles and the Role of the DNP | 3 |
| NURSE 7220 | Leadership in Practice | 3 |
| NURSE 7230 | Epidemiology | 3 |
| NURSE 7240 | Health Informatics | 3 |
| NURSE 7251 | Healthcare Economics | 3 |
| NURSE 7260 | Program Evaluation and Quality Management in Healthcare | 3 |
| NURSE 7291 | DNP Capstone I | 2 |
| NURSE 7292 | DNP Capstone II | 2 |
| NURSE 7293 | DNP Capstone III | 2 |
| NURSE 7443 | Healthcare Policy | 3 |
| Nursing elective (choose one of the following): | 3 | |
| Instructional Strategies in Nursing | ||
| Healthcare Law and Regulation | ||
| Social Determinants of Health | ||
| State of the Science in Nursing Research and Practice | ||
| Total Hours | 42 | |
Prior to completion of the DNP program, students will complete a clinical scholarship project that satisfies the graduate school requirement.
Nurse Practitioner Specialty Courses
| NURSE 6721 | Foundations of Pyschiatric Mental Health | 3 |
| NURSE 6737 | Psychiatric-Mental Health I: Diagnosis and Management in Advanced Practice Nursing | 4 |
| NURSE 6738 | Psychiatric-Mental Health II: Diagnosis and Management in Advanced Practice Nursing | 4 |
| Total Hours | 11 | |
Learning Outcomes
- Integrate informatics, research, and ethical/legal principles to provide excellence in advanced clinical nursing practice.
- Translate research to improve healthcare delivery and health outcomes.
- Generate strategies for multidisciplinary leadership through analysis of critical indicators and/or healthcare delivery systems to optimize patient care and safety.
- Demonstrate an understanding of strategies to influence health policy-making to improve health outcomes, shape healthcare delivery, and remove barriers to healthcare.
- Evaluate approaches to practice utilizing both nursing theories and other health system theories.