UMass Boston

Applicants must meet general graduate admission requirements in addition to the following program-specific requirements:

BS-DNP

• A current RN licensure in the state of Massachusetts
• One year of clinical practice
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
• Personal statement: As a prompt, focus on the following: why you want to pursue graduate studies, why are you interested in pursuing the track (DNP AGNP/ DNP FNP) you are applying for, and how will the degree help with your professional and personal goals
• Two (2) letters of recommendation
• Current résumé or CV
• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from an accredited program

MS-DNP

• Official transcripts for all colleges and universities attended
• Personal statement: As a prompt, focus on the following: why you want to pursue graduate studies, why are you interested in pursuing a DNP, and how will the degree help with your professional and personal goals
• Two (2) letters of recommendation
• Current résumé or CV
• Bachelor’s degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program or equivalent coursework
• Master’s degree in nursing or other health-related field from an accredited program
• Registered nurse license in the state or county of residence, advanced practice licensure in the state of residence with national certification

Deadlines: February 1 for fall

Application Fee: The nonrefundable application fee is $75. UMass Boston alumni and current students that plan to complete degree requirements prior to graduate enrollment can submit the application without paying the application fee.

Program Cost Information: For additional information regarding tuition and fees, please visit the Bursar’s Office or send an email to Bursar@umb.edu. Please refer to Graduate Student Financial Aid for more information on financial aid.

Course Requirements - BS to DNP

Core Courses (61 Credits)

• NURSNG 601 - Introduction to Advanced Practice Nursing: Knowledge for Practice in the Global Community 3 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 614 - Advanced Pathophysiology 3 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 615 - Advanced Health Assessment Practicum 3 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 616 - Evidence Based Practice I: Appraising the Strength and Significance of Evidence 3 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 618 - Introduction to Health Policy, Finance and Ethics 3 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 634 - Advanced Pharmacology for the Advanced Practice Nurse 3 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 637 - Mental and Psychosocial Health of the Urban Family 3 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 639 - Primary Care of Adults 3 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 640 - Advanced Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Across the Lifespan 6 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 670 - Primary Care of the Adult Practicum 6 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 714 - DNP Seminar I: Translating Evidence to Improve Practice 3 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 715 - Health Informatics 3 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 716 - DNP Seminar II: Designing & Evaluating Improvement Projects 3 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 722 - Improving Outcomes: Identification, Interventions, and Evaluation of Quality Improvement Activities 3 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 745 - Population Health I 3 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 765 - Health Systems Leadership 3 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 717 - DNP Seminar III: Implementation of a Theory Guided Improvement Project 3 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 718 - DNP Seminar IV: Improvement Project Synthesis & Outcomes 2 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 719 - DNP Seminar V : Dissemination of Improvement Project Outcomes 2 Credit(s)

Concentration Courses (9 Credits)

Complete two courses from one of the concentrations below.

Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner Concentration
Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration

Elective (3 Credits)

Complete one additional course.

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Course Requirements - MS to DNP

Core Courses (21 Credits)

• NURSNG 618 - Introduction to Health Policy, Finance and Ethics 3 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 714 - DNP Project Seminar I: Translating Evidence to Improve Practice 3 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 715 - Health Informatics 3 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 716 - DNP Seminar II: Designing & Evaluating Improvement Projects 3 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 722 - Improving Outcomes: Identification, Interventions, and Evaluation of Quality Improvement Activities 3 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 745 - Population Health I 3 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 765 - Health Systems Leadership 3 Credit(s)

Internship Courses (7 Credits)

• NURSNG 717 - DNP Seminar III: Implementation of a Theory Guided Improvement Project 3 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 718 - DNP Seminar IV: Improvement Project Synthesis & Outcomes 2 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 719 - DNP Seminar V : Dissemination of Improvement Project Outcomes 2 Credit(s)

Elective (3 Credits)

Complete one from below.

• NURSNG 601 - Introduction to Advanced Practice Nursing: Knowledge for Practice in the Global Community 3 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 607 - Evidenced Based Teaching Practices 3 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 608 - The Nurse Educator in the Academic Setting 3 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 609 - The Nurse Educator in the Practice Setting 3 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 612 - Transition from Nurse Clinician to Nurse Educator 3 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 637 - Mental and Psychosocial Health of the Urban Family 3 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 697 - Special Topics in Nursing 1-6 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 700 - Philosophy of Nursing Science: Ways of Knowing 3 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 711 - Scientific Basis for Chronic Illness Preventative and Risk Reduction 3 Credit(s)
• NURSNG 757 - Social Behavioral Determinants of Health 3 Credit(s)

For more information on curriculum, including course descriptions and degree requirements, visit the Academic Catalog.

• Evaluate the rule of the nurse in shaping health care policy and systems that provide care for individuals, communities, health professions and populations.
• Apply population health principles to analyze and interpret research data to address basic questions related to individual, aggregate, and population health at the local, state, and national levels and selected trends related to health care disparities and inequity in health care access to populations at risk.
• Apply theory guided and evidenced based research to develop practice innovations and influence policy formation that will improve quality, safety, outcomes, cost and/or access to care for a specific setting or population.
• Employ the leadership skills necessary in professional practice to direct clinical policy evaluation, management of systems change, and practice improvement.
• Evaluate programs related to the use of information, information technology, communication networks, and patient care technology that monitor outcomes of care, care systems, and practice improvement to improve quality and efficiency in care delivery.
• Demonstrate knowledge in leadership related to evaluation and resolution of ethical and legal issues within healthcare systems, health policy and in research with human subjects.
• Apply health care economic and finance theory, including budget preparation, utilizing economic measurements and management of the financial status of health care organizations, to analyze factors influencing health systems’ structure, function and process.
• Employ the knowledge of the science of improvement and process improvement methods, with a focus on structure, processes and outcomes, to advance quality and safety in health care organizations.
• Distinguish the concepts and methods of statistics, apply them in critiquing literature in the field of clinical and population-based research.
• Develop a practice improvement project that:
  • addresses a practice gap/problem in a priority area
  • is guided by theory
  • is based on best practice evidence
  • integrates knowledge from the sciences and humanities
  • applies an appropriate implementation method
  • addresses ethical considerations
  • evaluates outcomes
  • has the potential to lead to process and/or outcomes improvements in the local setting.

Program Requirements - BS to DNP

Complete 73 credits from 19 core courses, 3 concentration courses, and 1 elective course.

Concentration: Students must declare a concentration in adult/gerontological nurse practitioner or family nurse practitioner.
Capstone: Completion of a quality improvement project with implementation in a clinical setting. This scholarly project is completed under the direction of UMass Boston faculty.
Practicum: Complete 1065 clinical hours.

En Route Master’s Degree: Students may, with the approval of the program director, apply to receive an MS degree en route to the PhD. To qualify, students must complete 665 clinical hours and 48 credits of coursework.

Minimum grade: No courses with a grade below B may be applied toward the program.
Statute of limitations: Eight years.

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Program Requirements - MS to DNP

Complete 31 credits from 11 courses including seven core courses, three internship courses, and one elective.

Capstone: Completion of a quality improvement project with implementation in a clinical setting. This scholarly project is completed under the direction of UMass Boston faculty.
Practicum: Complete 400 hours over two years.

Minimum grade: No courses with a grade below B may be applied toward the program.
Statute of limitations: Five years.

Graduate Program Director Christine Salvucci
christine.salvucci [at] umb.edu
(617) 287-7547

Nursing DNP Program
dnp [at] umb.edu

SARA Compliance, Disclosure & Dispute Resolution
UMass Boston programs are designed to meet the requirements for licensure or certification in Massachusetts. Please contact your state licensing or certification board to determine whether the program meets the requirements for licensure or certification in other states.

 

 

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