MSN with Clinical Concentrations (11-18 Courses, 36-57 Credit Hours)

1. Support Courses - (3 Courses, 9 Credit hours)

2. Core Courses - (4 Courses, 12 Credit hours)

3. Clinical Concentrations - (4-11 Courses, 15-36 Credit hours)

MSN with non-Clinical Concentrations (12 Courses, 37 Credit hours)

1. Core Courses - (4 Courses, 12 Credit hours)

2. Non-Clinical Concentration - (8 Courses, 25 Credit hours)

Core Courses - (4 Courses, 12 Credit hours)

1. Core Courses - 4 Courses, 12 Credit hours:  NU 607, NU 608, NU 610, NU 613 completed in MSN

2. DNP Residency Courses - 4 Courses, 12 Credit hours

Course Requirements

Support Courses - (3 Courses, 9 Credit hours)

1. 9 Credit hours:  NU 518, NU 545, NU 578

MSN/DNP Core Courses - (8 Courses, 24 Credit hours)

1.  24 Credit hours:  NU 607, NU 608, NU 610, NU 611, NU 612, NU 613, NU 615, NU 616

Clinical Concentrations - (4-11 Courses, 15-36 Credit Hours)

1. 24 Credit hours:  Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner:  AHN 568, AHN 571, AHN 572, AHN 573, AHN 574, AHN 575, AHN 576, AHN 577

2. 24 Credit hours:  Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner:  AHN 581, AHN 588, AHN 591, AHN 592, AHN 593, AHN 594, AHN 595, AHN 596, HSC 601, HSC 602, HSC 603

3. 17 Credit hours:  Adult-Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist:  NU 515, NU 516, NU 517, AHN 516, AHN 517, AHN 518, Elective AHN 519

4. 36 Credit hours:  Dual Role (Family NP/Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP):  AHN 538, AHN 548, AHN 549, AHN 550, AHN 551, AHN 552, AHN 553, AHN 554, AHN 555

5. 36 Credit hours:  Dual Role (Family NP/Emergency NP):  NU 580, NU 581, NU 582, NU 583, NU 584, NU 585, NU 586, NU 587, NU 588

6. 24 Credit hours:  Family Nurse Practitioner: CMN 568, CMN 571, CMN 572, CMN 573, CMN 574, CMN 575, CMN 576, CMN 577

7. 24 Credit hours:  Neonatal Nurse Practitioner: MCN 568, MCN 571, MCN 572, MCN 573, MCN 574, MCN 575, MCN 576, MCN 577

8. 24 Credit hours:  Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner:  MCN 558, MCN 562, MCN 563, MCN 564, MCN 565, MCN 566, MCN 567, MCN 571

9. 24 Credit hours:  Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner:  MCN 548, MCN 551, MCN 552, MCN 553, MCN 554, MCN 555, MCN 556, MCN 557

10. 24 Credit hours:  Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner:  CMN 548, CMN 551, CMN 552, CMN 553, CMN 554, CMN 555, CMN 556, CMN 557

11. 24 Credit hours:  Women's Health Nurse Practitioner:  MCN 538, MCN 541, MCN 542, MCN 543, MCN 544, MCN 545, MCN 546, MCN 547 

Non-Clinical Concentrations (8 Courses, 25 Credit Hours)

1. 25 Credit hours:  Executive Nursing Administration:  HSC 571, NU 539, NU 561, NU 553, NU 554, NU 565, NU 566, NU 567, NU 568

2. 25 Credit hours:  Nursing Informatics:  ISC 550, ISC 555, NU 539, NU 553, NU 554, NU 556, NU 557, NU 558, NU 559, NU 565

DNP Residency Courses (4 Courses, 12 Credit Hours)

1. 12 Credit hours: Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner:  AHN 604, AHN 617, AHN 618, AHN 619

2. 12 Credit hours: Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner:  AHN 693, AHN 694, AHN 695, AHN 696

3. 12 Credit hours: Adult-Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist:  AHN 634, AHN 635, AHN 636, AHN 637

4. 12 Credit hours: Dual Role (Family NP/Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP): 
   Option: a).  Family NP:  AHN 680, AHN 681, AHN 682, AHN 683 or
   Option: b).  Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP:  AHN 670, AHN 671, AHN 672, AHN 673

5. 12 Credit hours:  Dual Role (Family NP/Emergency NP:  NU 680, NU 681, NU 682, NU 683

6. 12 Credit hours:  Executive Nursing Administration: NU 661, NU 662, NU 663, NU 664

7. 12 Credit hours:  Family Nurse Practitioner:  CMN 680, CMN 681, CMN 682, CM 683

8. 12 Credit hours:  Neonatal Nurse Practitioner:  MCN 674, MCN 675, MCN 676, MCN 677

9. 12 Credit hours:  Nursing Informatics:  NU 656, NU 657, NU 658, NU 659

10. 12 Credit hours:  Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner:  MCN 604, MCN 617, MCN 618, MCN 619

11. 12 Credit hours:  Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner:  MCN 654, MCN 655, MCN 656, MCN 657

12. 12 Credit hours:  Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner:  CMN 604, CMN 617, CMN 618, CMN 619

13. 12 Credit hours:  Public Health Administration:  CMN 643, CMN 644, CMN 645, CMN 646

14. 12 Credit hours:  Women's Health Nurse Practitioner:  MCN 644, MCN 645, MCN 646, MCN 647

Subspecialties (8-11 Credit Hours)

Subspecialties are elective courses students may add to the degree program.

1. 11 Credit hours:  Addictions Nursing: HSC 580, HSC 581, HSC 582, NU 510, NU 511, NU 512  (Elective NU 513): May be added to any concentration.

2. 9 Credit hours: Advanced Forensic Nursing:  NU 500, NU 502, NU 503, NU 504, NU 505  May be added to any concentration.

3. 8 Credit hours: Cardiovascular:  AHN 630, AHN 631, AHN 632, AHN 633  May be added to Adult-Gerontological Acute NP,  Adult-Gerontological Primary Care NP, Dual Role (Family NP/Adult Gerontological Acute Care NP), Dual Role (Family NP/Emergency NP), Family NP, Women’s Health NP, Post-Graduate Certificate Emergency NP, and any Adult-Gerontological CNS student with a strong background in cardiovascular and/or acute care nursing.

4. 8 Credit hours:  Clinical Lipidology:  HSC 595, HSC 596, HSC 597, HSC 598  May be added to Adult-Gerontological Primary Care NP, Adult-Gerontological Acute NP, Adult-Gerontological CNS, Family NP, Dual Role (Family NP/Adult-Gerontological Acute NP), Dual Role (Family NP/Emergency NP), Women's Health NP, and Post-Graduate Certificate Emergency NP.

5. 8 Credit hours: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Healthcare Subspecialty: HSC 501, HSC 502, HSC 503, HSC 504 May be added to any concentration.

6. 15 Credit hours:  Emergency Nurse Practitioner:  NU 570, NU 571, NU 572, NU 573, NU 574, NU 575, NU 576, NU 577  May be added to Family NP, Dual Role (Family NP/Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP), or taken as a Post Graduate Certificate if already Family NP certified.

7. 11 Credit hours:  Nurse Educator:  NU 620, NU 621, NU 622, NU 623  May be added to any concentration.

8. 9 Credit hours:  Palliative Care:  AHN 530, AHN 531, AHN 532, AHN 533  May be added to any concentration.

Elective courses - (1-3 Credit Hours)

1. 1 Credit hour:  NU 509 Bioethics in Advanced Practice Nursing

2. 3 Credit hours:  NU 597 Introduction to Scholarly Writing

3. 3 Credit hours:  HSC 500 Addressing Gender Discrimination and Disparities in Healthcare

4. 1 Credit hour:  HSC 573 Responsible Prescribing of Commonly Used Drugs

5. 1 Credit hour: HSC 510 Interprofessional Teams for Behavioral Healthcare in Primary Care Seminar

6. 1 Credit hour: HSC 511 Interprofessional Teams and Telehealth Delivery of Integrated Behavioral Healthcare Seminar

7. 1 Credit hour: HSC 512 Motivational Interviewing and Trauma Informed Care in Interprofessional Behavioral Healthcare Seminar

 

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BSN TO DNP PATHWAY

The BSN to DNP curriculum consist of 69 to 87 Credit hour. The program can be completed in ten semesters of full-time study or in sixteen semesters of part-time study. Full-time study is defined as six or more Credit hours per semester. Permission to take more than twelve Credit hours per semester must be obtained from the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs prior to the student enrolling. The program must be completed within 7 years of matriculation.

Course work is offered on-line and students are required to come to campus at least one time when they begin the clinical portion of their specialty program for an intensive classroom, clinical skills, and evaluation sessions. Specialty tracks within the College of Nursing's graduate program require a practice component. Faculty assist students in locating a site and preceptor if it is indicated. Students who are unsuccessful in being accepted by an agency in their home community may have to travel to another area to complete practice requirements. 

The program does not require a thesis or dissertation; however, students are required to complete a major synthesis project that results in a quality improvement change and has a substantial effect on health care outcomes. Residency requirements for the synthesis project can be completed in the student's home region with an approved mentor.

Admission Criteria

To be considered for admission to the DNP program, the applicant must meet the following requirements:

1. Citizen or Permanent Resident of the United States of America.
2. Current registered nurse licensure with no restrictions. Nurses with any restrictions on their license, including participation in a voluntary disciplinary alternative program, cannot be admitted.
3. Prior to enrolling in nurse practitioner clinical courses, students are required to have at least 2 years of experience in an area appropriate to their specialty.
4. Applicants to the BSN to DNP pathway must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on all BSN work (A=4.0).
5. BSN degree must be from a regionally accredited institution.
6. Students must be in good standing with all academic institutions/nursing programs that they have attended in order to be admitted to the DNP program.
7. Submission of Health Data Forms and evidence of health insurance required upon admission.
8. Admission will be contingent on a negative drug screen and results of an acceptable background check.

Application Procedures

Admission to the program is limited and selective. Application forms and other information may be obtained from the College of Nursing's website at https://www.southalabama.edu/colleges/con/dnp/dnpapplic.html or by contacting the college directly at College of Nursing, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama 36688; condnpadmit@southalabama.edu; Telephone: (251) 445-9400.

1. Admission to the program is limited and selective.
2. Completion of Primary and Supplemental Applications is required.
   1. Primary Application submitted through Nursing Centralized Application System (NursingCAS) at www.NursingCAS.org. Official transcripts of all college and university studies, regardless of the outcome of enrollment, must be sent directly from the home institution to the NursingCAS. These documents become the property of the NursingCAS and will not be returned to the applicant. Applicants are responsible for any fees required by NursingCAS for their services.
   2. Supplemental Application submitted directly to the DNP Office at the USA College of Nursing. This application requires a non-refundable processing fee of $100.00, a Personal Goal Statement, and a résumé /CV documenting clinical experience.
3. Students are admitted to a specialty track and may not change their track without permission.

Application Deadlines

Applications are accepted three times a year, and must adhere to the following application deadlines:

• Fall Semester Deadline is March 1
• Spring Semester Deadline is July 15
• Summer Semester Deadline is December 1

Academic Progression Policy

Students in the BSN-DNP program must meet the following requirements to progress in the program:

1. Maintain an overall GPA of 3.0. Any term in which a graduate student drops below a 3.0 Program GPA, the student is placed on probationary status and has a period of two terms to attain a 3.0 Program GPA or be dismissed.
2. Students in these programs can have a maximum of two “C”s. 
3. A maximum of two (2) courses with a grade of "C" can be counted towards a degree; however, only one (1) "C" is permitted in support or specialization courses. If a second "C" or lower is earned in a support (NU 518, NU 545, NU 578) or specialization course, the course in which the second "C" or lower is obtained must be repeated before a student may move forward with a specialty course. All corresponding specialty clinical and didactic courses must be taken in sequence. 
4. A student earning a third "C" or lower will be academically dismissed from the program. 
5. A student earning two grades of "F" in the program will be academically dismissed. 
6. The final outcome of the DNP Project Planning and Development course and the Progression course is "Successful/ Unsuccessful."  Students receiving two grades of “U” in these courses will be academically dismissed.
7. Failure to show good ethical and moral character including but not limited to any of the following may result in dismissal from the program: (a) conviction of a crime, (b) disciplinary action against a nursing license in Alabama or any other state, (c) positive drug test, (d) adverse background check, or (e) disruptive behavior, including online behavior.  All students must notify the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Dean of the College of Nursing immediately or no later than 48 hours of any of the above stated incidents.
8. All students must notify the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Dean of the College of Nursing immediately or no later than 48 hours following an arrest. Failure to report an arrest may result in removal from the program.
9. All students are subject to testing for controlled substances and must submit to random drug testing as requested. A positive test or refusal to submit to testing will result in removal from the program.
10. All students are subject to a background check and must submit to additional background checks as requested. An adverse finding or refusal to submit to a background check may result in removal from the program.
11. A student who has been academically dismissed is not eligible for readmission to the DNP program and is not eligible for admission to the MSN program.  

DNP Residency Coursework Policy

The DNP Residency Coursework includes the DNP Project Planning and Development, Residency I, Residency II, and Residency III. Students who do not meet all requirements in a course must complete a DNP Progression Course prior to moving forward with the next course in the DNP Residency progression.

Scientific Review Committee Policy

The DNP project will be reviewed by the USA College of Nursing DNP Scientific Review Committee to evaluate rigor and feasibility. The review process will occur during Project Planning and Development. The DNP project must be reviewed by the Scientific Review Committee before enrolling in Residency I.

Graduation Information

Students in the BSN-DNP program will apply for two separate graduations. Applications should be submitted to the Registrar's Office the semester before the anticipated graduation. Each candidate must submit an application for the Master of Science in Nursing degree upon completion of the degree requirements. Upon completion of requirements for the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, each candidate must submit an application for that degree. The student's curriculum schedule indicates the semester in which each degree should be awarded. See the University Calendar for specific application deadlines.