Doctor of Nursing Practice
Advance your career by earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. Nurses in this degree program learn to solve complex health issues, design and sustain quality improvement in organizations, and lead the transformation of health care through evidence-based clinical prevention and health services.
Two Entry Levels
- MSN to DNP - Enter with a completed master's degree (expands the skills and competencies of the advanced practice nurse)
- BSN to DNP - Enter with a completed bachelor's degree (the BSN to DNP program has one concentration, the Family Nurse Practitioner)
Student-arranged clinical practicum hours with qualified preceptors in your area.
Graduates in the BSN-DNP degree program are eligible to take national certification exams through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
100%
Online Coursework
BSN to DNP
4 YRS
Estimated Time
to Complete
(Includes 1,125 to
1,080 clinical hours)
MSN to DNP
2-3 YRS
Estimated Time
to Complete
(Minimal campus visits, including
required program orientation)
GRE
Exempt
You Will Learn To:
- Solve complex health issues
- Design and sustain quality improvement in organizations
- Lead transformation of health care
- Provide evidence-based clinical prevention and health services
- Design, deliver and evaluate care to improve patient outcomes
A short video about the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program. (10:48)
Admission Requirements
BSN to DNP and Post-MSN to DNP
- Admission to the University of Arkansas Graduate School
- Admission to the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing DNP program
- Completion of a nationally-accredited professional degree program in nursing
- A 3.0 cumulative GPA on the last 60 credit hours of attempted coursework in previous nursing program
- Current unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse
- Submission of curriculum vitae or professional resume
- Letters of recommendation from two professional references
- Completion of candidate interview
- Provide a "Statement of Purpose" outlining rationale for pursuing a DNP and how you fit the requirements of the program, mission and vision
Additional Requirements Post-MSN-DNP
- Graduation from a nationally accredited MSN program
- APN licensure, if required by student’s state of residence
- Certification as an APN
Application Cycle / Deadlines
Summer admission only
- November 1 - February 15
| Tuition / credit hour | $583.11 |
| Fee / credit hour | |
|---|---|
| Library | $4.41 |
| Network & Data Systems | $12.10 |
| Off-campus | $30 |
| Online Facilities | $2 |
Tuition and fees per credit hour reflect fall 2023 rates for students studying completely online. If an online student takes a course on campus, tuition and fees will differ.
Program revisions are underway. Courses, hours and tuition are subject to change.
I chose an online DNP study program, as it was flexible with my nursing career...It is a flexible program that is run by great faculty that strive on the success of their students."
Bushra SalamahZionsville, IN
The staff and faculty really were focused and geared toward success for the students. They really wanted to educate people and prepare them for future careers."
Jonathan MillerTexarkana, TX
Job Market Outlook
The Pathways career data reflect career information associated with degree programs, and that data may include some jobs that require additional credentials and experience BEYOND the academic degree, including but not limited to professional licensure and certification, additional coursework, and specific training. See " About this data" to learn more about Pathways.
Scholarship and Grant Information
Add an MSN to your DNP
Earn a Nursing Education master's degree while completing your DNP
The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing now offers a plan for students to work toward two degrees at the same time: Doctor of Nursing Practice in Family or Acute Care Practice and the Master of Science in Nursing in Nurse Educator. Students who fulfill DNP course requirements can add four more courses from the MSN to add a second degree, which expands job options to include nurse educator positions.
At a glance
- Four nurse education courses beyond the DNP
- One education-focused scholarly project
- Full- and part-time options
- Locally arranged clinical practicum hours with qualified preceptors
State Authorization
The DNP program is designed to meet the educational requirements for the occupational license of Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). Individual state boards of nursing may regulate out-of-state nursing education programs or clinical placement courses at APRN level.
The University of Arkansas DNP program is approved by the following state boards of
nursing to enroll students: Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi,
Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North
Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota,
Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Territories: Guam and American Samoa.
The program is currently not available to students residing in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington, Washington DC, and Wyoming.
This degree program requires clinical or internship hours that must be completed in an approved U.S. location or U.S. military base for military personnel.
The Online Learner
Health care systems and delivery have become increasingly complex. With continuous advances in patient care and the technologies that help deliver it, health care organizations can serve more patients than ever and in myriad ways.
Doctor of Nursing Practice Graduate Determined to Succeed
A first-generation college student, Susan Ferguson didn’t have any role models when it came to education but, early on, as a single mother, Ferguson decided she would further her education to care for herself and her son, now 22. Three ...
Nurse in Online Graduate Program Conducts Vaccination Research with Practical Implications
Elizabeth Tarlov traveled from Bethesda, Maryland, to speak to University of Arkansas nursing students about the importance of asking research questions that have both practical and policy implications in the communities they serve or will serve as nurses. The occasion ...
DNP Projects: Contributing Knowledge to the Field
Nursing is a profession that undergoes constant change. Advances in medical care, the development of improved patient care practices, the application of new technologies and the evolution of nursing education itself all contribute to a dynamic profession that not only ...
