Program Overview

The BS to MS Nursing (FNP) in partnership with the DePaul University and their College of Science and Health School of Nursing is an online Master of Science (MS) in nursing with a family nurse practitioner (FNP) concentration. Building upon the expertise and values of the largest Catholic university in the U.S., this program features thought leadership pieces from CommonSpirit Health, one of the largest not-for-profit healthcare systems in the U.S. The degree focuses on holistic care from diagnosing, treating, and helping to manage illnesses to counseling and patient education, tackling every aspect of medical service in a variety of populations, from infants to seniors.

The program is a combination of extensive practical experience through 600 clinical hours and high-quality online learning content with a focus on social responsibility and ethical and political engagement in nursing. Participants will graduate with an MS in nursing with a family nurse practitioner (FNP) concentration accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and be prepared for the FNP National Certification examinations (FNP-BC).

Gain Clinical Autonomy and Support Patients Through the Entire Lifecycle

#1
largest Catholic university
in the U.S. by enrollment (DePaul University)
70+
years of quality nursing programs
from DePaul University College of Science and Health School of Nursing
120+
years of academic excellence
are provided by DePaul University

Program Outline

Curriculum

The BS to MS Nursing (FNP) program consists of a fixed track of 2 years and 9 months, amounting to 70 quarter hours, which are geared towards preparing graduates for the FNP National Certification examinations.

The curriculum allows participants to develop the theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary to deliver nursing care to people of all ages across the health continuum: Years one and two consist of online learning content, giving students the opportunity to fit their studies into their busy lives as practicing healthcare professionals.

Three Practicums in Population-Based Nursing Practice making up the last three quarters of the program function as rich, immersive experiences that present an integral part of students’ advanced practice nursing education and career preparedness.

Year 1

  • Fall Quarter
    • NSG 464: Health Assessment for Advanced Practice (6 quarter hours)
  • Winter Quarter
    • NSG 428: Pathophysiology for Advanced Practice (4 quarter hours)
    • NSG 400: Theoretical Components of Nursing (4)
  • Spring Quarter
    • NSG 446: Ethical and Political Engagement in Nursing (4)
    • NSG 401: Nursing Research (4)
  • Summer Quarter:
    • NSG 554: Informatics and Technology Applications (4)
    • NSG 481: Biostatistics and Epidemiology (4)

Year 2

  • Fall Quarter
    • NSG 484: Pharmacology for Advanced Practice (4)
  • Winter Quarter
    • NSG 474: Primary Care of the Adult and Older Adult (4)
    • NSG 473: Primary Care of the Infant, Child, and Adolescent (4)
  • Spring Quarter
    • NSG 478: Clinical Management of Acute and Chronic Illnesses (4)
    • NSG 475: Women's Reproductive Health and Gynecology (4)
  • Summer Quarter
    • NSG 488: Issues in Advanced Practice Nursing (4)
    • NSG 598: Graduate Research Synthesis (4)

Year 3

  • Fall Quarter
    • NSG 483: Practicum in Population-Based Nursing Practice I (4)
  • Winter Quarter
    • NSG 487: Practicum in Population-Based Nursing Practice II (4)
  • Spring Quarter:
    • NSG 490: Practicum in Population-Based Nursing Practice III (4)

Academic Entry Requirements

All applicants must:

  • Hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from an ACEN, CNEA, or CCNE accredited nursing program
  • Hold a minimum 2.75 GPA from their undergraduate degree
  • Have earned a ‘C’ or better in a Foundational Research Statistics course. This must be validated by transcript from the conferring institution. The statistics course does not have to be completed at the time of application (applicants can be conditionally admitted pending successful completion before enrolling in courses), but must be completed at matriculation.

Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must be mailed from the issuing institution’s registrar’s office directly to the Office of Graduate Admission at NursingCAS; P.O. Box 9201; Watertown, MA 02471. In order to expedite the processing, be sure to include the Transcript Request Form.

Colleges and universities that issue official electronic transcripts can email them to graddepaul@depaul.edu.

Students can send scanned copies for provisional acceptance. If you have transcripts from non-U.S-universities and/or require assistance with the application process, please contact our enrollment advisors.

Other Entry Requirements

All applicants must:

  • Hold a current unencumbered license as a Registered Nurse in the U.S., with eligibility to practice in the state where their clinical will take place
  • Hold residency in the U.S. other than the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Louisiana, Missouri, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wyoming
  • Write a personal statement of two to three pages as to why the student wants to pursue the degree and how the program will further their academic and professional goals
  • Provide two letters of reference from former or current faculty or employer(s)
  • Provide a resumé including professional activities (i.e. organizational memberships, committee memberships, officer positions, etc.) and community service activities

Note: Proof of a criminal background check, drug screen, immunization records, basic and advanced life support will not be required at the point of application, but will have to be submitted prior to starting clinical hours.

Required Courses

DePaul to provide

Who Should Study This Program?

If you’re currently an RN with a BSN wanting to gain more clinical autonomy by specializing as an FNP, our BS to MS Nursing (FNP) program will prepare you for advanced clinical practice that involves individuals and families across the health continuum. The curriculum is specifically geared towards preparing graduates for the FNP National Certification examinations.

What You Will Earn

  • An MS in nursing with a family nurse practitioner (FNP) concentration awarded by DePaul University and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001. Phone: 202-887-6791.
  • Preparation for the FNP National Certification examinations

Key Program Features

Specialized FNP track, curriculum prepares students for the FNP National Certification examinations

600 clinical hours during three Practicums in Population-Based Nursing Practice function as rich, immersive experiences

Access to thought leadership pieces from nursing professionals from the largest Catholic university in the U.S. and one of the largest not-for-profit healthcare systems in the U.S.

Co-created by one of the Best Midwestern Colleges in the U.S. (The Princeton Review’s The Best 384 Colleges 2019)

DePaul ranked one of the Best National Universities (U.S. News & World Report 2018)

Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

Created by the largest Catholic university in the U.S. with 120+ years of academic excellence

The DePaul University College of Science and Health School of Nursing provides 70+ years of quality nursing programs

Curriculum is developed by experienced nurses

Experiential learning via video, case studies, projects, discussions, and career-relevant tools

Modularized learning helps manage workload

DHGE students have access to 3,300 Regus workspaces

Close interaction with faculty and a small student-to-faculty ratio

Connect with like-minded nurses

DePaul is one of the Midwest’s largest healthcare universities

98% of 2018 DePaul nursing graduates are employed, continuing their education, or not seeking employment; 100% are in a job related to their degree

U.S. News & World Report 2018 rated nurse practitioner the fourth best job in the country for 2018, giving it a score of 8.2 out of 10

According to the 2019 Medscape Nurse Career Satisfaction Report 2019, 96% of NPs are glad they chose the nursing profession

DePaul University

About DePaul University

DePaul is the largest Catholic university in the U.S. and the largest private, nonprofit university in the Midwest, with more than 22,000 students and some 300 academic and professional programs.

Established in Chicago in 1898, DePaul continues to strengthen what makes it unique: respected academics, real-world knowledge, and a commitment to social responsibility, all informed by the place it calls home — the urban and multicultural city of Chicago. The university’s distinctive mission establishes a strong foundation of inclusive liberal-arts education, religious pluralism, and social justice — responsibilities that endure in the life of the university today.

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