Post-MSN DNP - Online

Admission Requirements:

• Bachelor's of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree* from a nationally accredited program and evidence of credentialing within the applicant's specialty.
• Preferred cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for undergraduate and graduate coursework (official transcripts for ALL post-secondary school coursework are required).  Applicants who attended a BSN or MSN program that issued pass/fail grades resulting in a 0.0 GPA will not be a competitive applicant.
• Verification of the amount of supervised clinical hours from the applicant's graduate program.
• Unencumbered, active advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) license in state where practicums will be conducted.
• A copy of current APRN specialty certification must be submitted (does not apply to Nurse Administrators).
  1. If you are not certified, you are required to provide evidence of completion of graduate level courses in Health/Physical Assessment, Physiology/Pathophysiology(across the lifespan) and pharmacology (broad categories of drugs) within the past 5 years.  These must be three separate courses that meet current criteria for content based on the Concensus Model for APRN regulation (AACN, 2008)
• Three references from professionals knowledgeable about the applicant's academic and nursing leadership potential (must use University forms that are available in the online application).
• Statement of professional goals, including an indication of scholarly project to be undertaken in residency at the end of the program of study.
• Current CV or Résumé.
• Interview, if requested, by the Admissions, Progression, and Graduation Committee.
• GRE scores are not required.

Applicants eligible for admission to the Post-MSN DNP online degree program
*Nurse Practitioners with MSN degree and active license as an APRN and certification as a nurse practitioner.
*Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) can apply for post-MSN entry if seeking a doctorate degree in their CNS specialty.

Applicants ineligible for admission to the Post-MSN DNP online degree program
*Post-MSN Nurse Educators are not eligible to apply for Post-MSN entry, but can apply for Post–BSN entry.
*CRNA’s are not eligible to apply for the Post-MSN DNP program, but can apply for Post-BSN entry.
*Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) who are interested in becoming Nurse Practitioner are not eligible to apply for the Post-MSN DNP program, but can apply for Post-BSN entry.

International Applicants Due to the distance-education nature of this program, MUSC is unable to issue- I-20 forms to allow students to obtain F-1 student visas. Only U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and those holding other valid U.S. visas will be accepted.

Clinical Experience:

Post-MSN students must graduate with a minimum of 1,000 practicum hours, including those precepted clinical hours earned during a MSN program.  A minimum of 300 precepted clinical hours will be required in the Post-MSN DNP plan of study even if an applicant enters the DNP program with more than 1,000 clinical hours from a MSN program.  Students entering the program with less than 640 precepted clinical hours from a MSN program will be required to obtain additional clinical hours during residency.   Post-MSN DNP students should seek clinical experiences that will make them stronger in their current role and build on their current skills.  It can be a variety of precepted experiences in various areas/subspecialties.

Out-of-state students are responsible for contacting their state nursing board to verify any requirements that are needed in order to conduct clinicals as a student or apply for an APRN license in their state upon graduation from an online, out-of-state program.

Programs of Study:

Students may enter the DNP program with MSN degree as a nurse practitioner, nurse administrator or clinical nurse specialist.  Post-MSN DNP graduates do not qualify for certification in an APRN specialty area different than their current certification because the DNP degree is an academic degree that is distinct and separate from the certification process.  A practice improvement project will be completed during the last year of the program under the direction of faculty.

Full and part-time plans of study are available.  Sample plans of study are found below:

Post-MSN DNP Plans of Study

• Adult-Gerontology, Pediatric, Family, or Psychiatric Mental Health: Full-time or Part-time
  
  

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