Doctor of Nursing Practice
Post-Master’s DNP
About the Program
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP): Post-Master’s option at St. Catherine University prepares nurses to provide leadership in shaping healthcare policy, improve outcomes using evidence-based practice, and implement changes in health systems to close gaps in care for the underserved
Our DNP: Post-Master’s option is for registered nurses who have completed a master’s degree in nursing. It gives you the tools to broaden your impact on healthcare systems and expand your career. Our coursework also takes you beyond the clinic to the state capitol to influence healthcare policy.
Our Curriculum
The 34-credit DNP: Post-Master’s option can be completed in 21 months. Classes meet in an online, primarily asynchronous format. Two in-person components are required: orientation (usually the first Friday of the fall semester), and a poster presentation at the end of the program (usually on the day prior to commencement).
Our advisors will help you integrate the DNP into the demands of your life. This program is designed to meet your educational and scheduling needs with interactive classes and online learning and practicum experiences. You may be able to apply up to 500 hours earned during your master's-level practicum toward the 1,000-hour DNP practicum requirement.
You will connect with a cohort of nurses who are experts in their fields and develop a network that you can call on throughout your career. You also receive one-on-one mentoring from a faculty advisor who helps you individualize the program to meet your goals.
Please note that the DNP: Post-Master's option does not include Nurse Practitioner coursework. A separate DNP degree is available for nurses interested in completing a Nurse Practitioner program with a specialization of Adult-Gerontology, Family, Neonatal, Pediatric, or Psychiatric-Mental Health.
Tuition and Fees
The 2024–25 tuition rate for the DNP: Post-Master’s option is $1,200 per credit. Additional costs include fees for student services and technology ($330 per term) and books (prices vary by course).
How to Apply
The application deadline is June 1 for Fall enrollment. Applications received after the deadline will be considered on a space-available basis
To be eligible for admission, applicants must have:
• A bachelor’s or graduate degree from an institution accredited by a nationally recognized, regional accrediting association.
o The baccalaureate nursing program (i.e. initial major or upper-division, postbaccalaureate second major) or comparable master’s-level program in which the nursing degree was awarded must be accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• A master’s degree in nursing from a program accredited by the ACEN, CCNE or the Council on Accreditation for Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (CANAEP).
• A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, and a grade of B- or higher in every nursing course.
• A current unencumbered nursing license
• Two years of recent nursing experience as a general staff nurse, clinical nurse specialist, nurse midwife, nurse anesthetist, nurse practitioner, nurse executive, nurse informatician or nurse educator
The DNP: Post-Master’s application requires the following materials:
• Admission essay
• Current résumé
• Video statement
• One recommendation
• Transcripts from all degree-granting institutions
• Official scores from TOEFL or IELTS (if native language is not English)
• Credential evaluation from World Education Services (if college/university coursework was completed outside the U.S.)
Visit our website for detailed application instructions
This document provides information about graduate studies at St. Catherine University. The information may change at any time Contact the Office of Graduate Admission to confirm program and application details.
2.2024
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Post-Master’s DNP
Start in the fall and complete the Post-Master’s DNP program in 21 months.
Sample Plan of Study: Fall Start
Year 1 Foundations of Nursing Practice Introduction to Biostatistics
DNP Practicum
Year 2 Leadership for Advanced Nursing Practice
Health Care Economics and Finance
DNP Integration III
DNP Practicum
Advanced Outcomes Measurement and Evaluation
Advanced Evidence-Based Practice
DNP Integration I
DNP Practicum
Health Care: Power, Policy and Politics
DNP Integration IV
DNP Practicum
Informatics for Advanced Nursing Practice
DNP Integration II
DNP Practicum