Nursing Practice, DNP

Admission Requirements

• Current unrestricted licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN).
• A master’s degree in nursing with an advanced practice focus from an accredited university with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can address the applicant’s potential to succeed in the DNP graduate program and who can attest to clinical expertise.
• Letter of verification of master’s degree clinical hours from the institution where the master’s degree was earned.
• Pre-admission interview.
• A 300 word essay describing professional goals and area of interest for the capstone project.

The curriculum aligns with American Association of Colleges of Nursing's (AACN) The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (2021), incorporating relevant domains, concepts, and competencies. Designed for graduate-level RNs who have already mastered entry-level competencies, this course builds on that foundation by focusing on Level 2, Advanced-Level Nursing Education competencies.

Program Description

The University of Akron Post Master's Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program requires the following:

1. 37 credits of DNP courses;
2. 540 clinical practice hours; and
3. transfer from the student’s master’s degree in nursing program, practice role-specific coursework, which includes 500 clinical hours (or is taken as part of the DNP program).

The minimum passing grade for each course is a “B.” Students earning a grade less than “B” will be required to repeat the course the next time it is offered. A student will not be permitted to enroll in the next course until the course is repeated. A course can be repeated only one time in the DNP program. A second course grade below the grade of “B” will result in dismissal from the DNP program.

DNP Courses - Minimum of 37 Credits and Includes 540 Clinical Hours

DNP Elective Course