Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP-DNP), D.N.P.

New Student Admission Requirement

• Completed application for admission.
• Applicants must hold a master’s degree in nursing (Advanced Practice Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with specialty) from an accredited college or university.
• Applicants must hold licensure as a registered nurse. 
• Applicants must have a graduate GPA of 3.20 or higher (on a 4.00 scale).
• Submit an example of writing that is in APA style format.
• Submit three professional references as letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic or professional background. The letters should include an assessment of the applicant’s current work quality and ability to complete graduate education successfully.
• Submit a current professional resume and cover letter.
• Applicants must have successful, passing grade, completion of a graduate-level statistics course in the last five years.
• Applicants must complete a face-to-face, phone, or online interview with program faculty. Applicants must have a satisfactory professional demeanor and be able to articulate professional goals alignment with the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program
• International students whose first (native) language is not English need to have English proficiency test scores sent directly from the testing agency to demonstrate meeting the Ferris standards for English proficiency (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo).

In addition to the above requirements, the student with a GPA of less than 3.20 (on a 4.00 scale), undergraduate deficiencies, or graduate-level statistics deficiency may be provisionally admitted with the following requirements:

• Successfully completed seven (7) semester hours of graduate coursework with a 3.20 GPA (on a 4.00 scale) to satisfy admission requirements.
• Completion of a graduate-level statistics course, with a passing grade, by the end of the first semester.

Major Courses - 36 to 42 Credits Required

• NURS 750 - Intensive I Credit Hours: 1
• NURS 760 - Evidence-Based Practice I Credit Hours: 3
• NURS 765 - Evidence-Based Practice II Credit Hours: 3
• NURS 770 - Theoretical Foundations Credit Hours: 3
• NURS 775 - Emergent Theories of Health Credit Hours: 3
• NURS 800 - Intensive II Credit Hours: 1
• NURS 820 - Informatics for Leadership Credit Hours: 3
• NURS 823 - Healthcare and Social Policy Credit Hours: 3
• NURS 825 - Healthcare Program Development Credit Hours: 3
• NURS 870 - Evidence-Based Pratice III Credit Hours: 3
• NURS 880 - Healthcare Systems Leadership Credit Hours: 3
• NURS 891 - Residency I Credit Hours: 3
• NURS 892 - Residency II Credit Hours: 3
• NURS 893 - Residency III Credit Hours: 3
• NURS 899 - DNP Integration Credit Hours: 4

Notes

• Students who return to the university after an interrupted enrollment, not including summer semester, must normally meet the requirements of the curriculum which are in effect at the time of their return, not the requirements which were in effect when they were originally admitted.
• For NURS 891 , NURS 892 , and NURS 893 , total residency hours will be individually determined, and some students may need to take one, two, or three residency courses or 3 to 9 credits. Post-Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Post-BSN) supervised clinical hours must be equivalent to 1,000 hours for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
• The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Integration course, NURS 899 , will be available to take spring, summer, and fall semesters. Progression through residencies and integration course will be individually determined.
• Credit Variance - Credits required may vary based on course placement, prerequisites, etc. If you have questions, contact your advisor.

University Graduation Requirements

These are the minimum graduation requirements for a graduate degree at Ferris State University:

• A minimum of 30 credits must be earned.
• A 3.00 or higher cumulative Ferris State University GPA in graduate courses is required.
• A minimum grade of C or higher must be earned in each course with no more than two grades of C.
• A minimum of 70 percent of the degree requirements must be earned from Ferris State University to meet the Residency requirement.
• No more than 20 percent of required hours can be thesis credits.
• No more than 6 hours can be independent study and/or special topics.
• Degree requirements shall be completed within 5 years from first enrollment in a graduate course following admission.
• Each student must complete a thesis, graduate project, policy paper, internship, comprehensive examination, or additional course work.

Programmatic Graduation Requirements

These are the additional graduation requirements mandated by the program:

• All requirements as specified in the All Major Requirements section must be met.
• A 3.20 or higher cumulative Ferris State University GPA in graduate courses is required.
• A minimum grade of B or higher must be earned in each course with no more than two grades of B. Two unsuccessful attempts, grades less than B, in any DNP course(s) will result in a dismissal from the program. Successfully complete courses in the order of the program delivery from the time of entrance. All courses except the final residency must be completed prior to the integration course, NURS 899 .

First Year

Second Year

Third Year

• NURS 892 - Residency II Credit Hours: 3 (See Notes Section)
• NURS 893 - Residency III Credit Hours: 3 (See Notes Section)
• NURS 899 - DNP Integration Credit Hours: 4 (See Notes Section)

First Year

Second Year

Third Year

First Year

Second Year

Third Year

Fall Courses