Doctor of Nursing Practice (Post-Baccalaureate)

Continue your nursing education with a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. A doctor of nursing practice degree is designed for students and professionals interested in pursuing education in advanced practice nursing. To help narrow your studies and professional focus, you will choose a degree role of primary care nurse practitioner (NP), clinical nurse specialist (CNS program is currently on hold) or nurse administrator/nurse executive, along with a population focus of either adult-gerontologic or family nursing. 

As the knowledge necessary for a nursing career rapidly expands and patient care becomes increasingly more complex, the need for DNP graduates continues to grow. Throughout our rigorous and in-depth curriculum, you'll learn how to identify information-processing challenges and evaluate informatics solutions, helping to improve workflows and eliminate everyday obstacles. Coursework will also teach how to advocate for social justice and ethical health policies, giving a voice to those who need it.

Upon graduation, you'll have mastered strategies used in needs assessment and have learned how to successfully implement effective health care interventions, programs and policies. This enhanced knowledge will equip you with new skills, additional tools and more connections, making you well-prepared to advance your career.

Accreditation information

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791, through December 31, 2031.

The programs are also approved by the Wisconsin State Board of Nursing.

Licensure information

The U.S. Department of Education requires institutions to disclose information for programs leading to professional certification or licensure about whether each program meets state educational requirements for initial licensure or certification.  

The requirements of this program meet licensure in the following states: Minnesota, Wisconsin

The requirements of this program do not meet licensure in the following states: N/A

It has not been determined whether the requirements of this program meet licensure in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming.

By earning your DNP degree, you open doors to endless career possibilities. Whether you're interested in becoming a nurse practitioner or working in a specialty area like midwifery, our CCNE-accredited program will bring you one step closer to achieving your goals.

Doctor of nursing practice careers

• Nurse practitioners
• Clinical nurse specialists
• Nurse administrators

Dive into subjects like organizational and systems leadership, evidence-based practice and research utilization, information systems and patient care technology. Our DNP curriculum is designed so that you will become an expert in interprofessional collaboration, improving patient and population health outcomes, effecting change and evaluating health outcomes. Toward the end of your education, you will develop and present on a project in a phenomena of interest that focuses on advancing the nursing profession.

What classes do doctor of nursing practice (post-baccalaureate) students take?

Your classes may cover topics like: 

• Advanced nursing practice and informatics 
• Epidemiology and biostatistics for population health 
• Human responses in health and illness 
• Leadership and health policy in nursing 
• Pharmacotherapeutics for clinical practice 
• Philosophical, theoretical and ethical foundations for advanced nursing practice 
• Physiological and pathophysiological concepts 

Learn more about the doctor of nursing practice, adult-gerontology-administration degree in the UWEC course catalog.

Learn more about the doctor of nursing practice, adult-gerontology-primary care nurse practitioner degree in the UWEC course catalog.

Learn more about the doctor of nursing practice, adult-gerontology-clinical nurse specialist degree in the UWEC course catalog.

Learn more about the doctor of nursing practice, family health-administration degree in the UWEC course catalog.

Learn more about the doctor of nursing practice, family health-nurse practitioner degree in the UWEC course catalog.

Prior to applying, we strongly encourage you to contact Dr. Catherine Kenney, admissions coordinator, Graduate Nursing Programs, to review your career goals, discuss your interest in the program and address any questions you might have about the program. Information sessions are also available so that you can better understand the graduate nursing program options at UWEC.  

Applications for Fall 2023 are now open.

Please submit the following materials for admission to the DNP program:

• A completed University of Wisconsin-Online Admission Application, which includes uploading a resume/CV and completing an essay, and a $56 University application fee. This fee may be paid by credit card at the time you submit the university application.
  • Find the essay questions and instructions in the BSN to DNP Application Essay Details document.
• Transcripts of your academic work must be sent from the institution that granted your baccalaureate degree in nursing and from any institution from which you have completed coursework necessary for admission (e.g., an undergraduate statistics course if taken at an institution different from your degree-granting institution).
  • Transcripts must be sent by this institution through a secured electronic delivery service (preferred) or by mail to UW-Eau Claire Office of Admissions 105 Garfield Avenue Eau Claire, WI 54701. Emailed or faxed transcripts will not be accepted.
• The DNP Demographic Data Form including information about your RN license can be sent electronically to admissions@uwec.edu. You must have a valid RN license in the U.S. to apply. An RN license in the state of Wisconsin is required by July 1 after being admitted to the DNP program. Special consideration/exceptions may be obtained for applicants completing a BSN and are licensure eligible.
• References from three individuals who are knowledgeable about your clinical ability and/or potential for graduate study (e.g. employer, nurse manager, supervisor or instructor). You will need to complete the top section of the DNP Reference Form and send it as an attachment to your reference providers. Your references can send this completed form electronically to admissions@uwec.edu.

For consideration for admission, an applicant must have:

• An undergraduate degree in nursing (with at least a 3.00 GPA) from a program accredited by CCNE, NLN or ACEN.
• A U.S. RN licensure (Wisconsin RN license required by July 1 immediately following admission).
• Prerequisite course content in undergraduate statistics and health assessment (minimum grade of C). 

The Department of Nursing Graduate Curriculum and Admissions Committee reviews completed applications after the priority date. Following admission to the nursing program, students must in a timely manner provide required health record information, information to conduct a criminal background check and evidence of current CPR certification.

Please contact Dr. Catherine Kenney (715-836-3638, kromricc@uwec.edu) or Patricia McGregor, university services program associate (715-836-4834, mcgregpj@uwec.edu) if you have any questions about the application process. 

We offer the post-baccalaureate (BSN to DNP) option on both a full-time and part-time basis. In the BSN to DNP Program Plan, you will find information about the part-time and full-time program plans. The full-time plan is for three years and the part-time plans are for four and five years. 

All graduate coursework is taught by nursing faculty who hold doctoral degrees. Courses will be offered over the summer, fall and spring terms, with classes beginning in fall 2021. Students select a population focus of either adult-gerontologic or family health nursing, and a role preparation as an administrator (at least 68 credits) or adult-gerontologic primary care nurse practitioner or family nurse practitioner (at least 73 credits).

Students complete at least 1,050 hours of clinicals for an administration focus and at least 1,087 hours for advanced clinical practice (NP, CNS). To facilitate graduate study, first-year courses are mostly 700-level courses taught on Mondays. Second-year courses include 800-level courses generally taught on Tuesdays. Third-year courses consist of 800-level courses taught on Wednesdays. These courses are taught in a combination of delivery methods including in-person, as well as both synchronous and asynchronous online. The summer and winterim courses are also offered in a hybrid format that combines online components with immersion experiences. Clinical practicums require additional time scheduled during the week, though many of these hours can be arranged within a one-hour driving distance from your home community/region. 

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