The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at UWM prepares nurses for the highest academic preparation in clinical nursing. The DNP will prepare practitioners who are able to use their education and expertise in evidence-based practice in providing outstanding care and collaborative leadership to improve clinical care delivery, patient outcomes, and system management.

There are three entry options for the Doctor of Nursing (DNP) Practice Program:

1. Program for individuals with a bachelor's degree in nursing and a current Registered Nurse license.
2. Program for individuals with an advanced practice master's degree in nursing and a current Registered Nurse license.
3. Program for individuals with a master of nursing (or equivalent) degree and a current Registered Nurse license.

Students may be admitted for the Fall or Spring semester, on a part-time or full-time plan of study.

Students entering with a bachelor's degree in nursing or a master of nursing degree and a current RN license choose a specialization in one of the following areas:

• Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG ACNP)
• Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
• Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS):  Population focus in Adult-Gerontology, Maternal-Infant/Women’s Health, or Pediatrics. 
• Community/Public Health 
• Nursing System Leadership (Nurse Executive or Informatics) 

Transcript Designated Concentrations:

• Family Nurse Practitioner 
• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Clinical Nurse Specialist- Adult-Gerontology
• Clinical Nurse Specialist-Maternal-Infant 
• Clinical Nurse Specialist-Pediatrics 
• Community Public Health 
• Nursing System Leadership-Nurse Executive 
• Nursing System Leadership-Informatics 

Admission Requirements 

Application Deadlines

Application deadlines vary by program, please review the application deadline chart for specific programs. Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars.

Admission 

The admission requirements of the DNP program in Nursing are consistent with those requirements specified by the Graduate School of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In addition, students must also meet the following requirements for the College of Nursing:

1. A bachelor's degree or a master's in Nursing from a professionally accredited program, with a minimum undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 (4.0 scale).
2. One year of clinical experience relevant to the chosen specialty.
3. Completion with a grade of B or higher of an upper-level undergraduate course in statistics within the last five years.
4. Current registration as a professional nurse.
5. Three (3) letters of recommendation for graduate study in nursing, two (2) of which are from persons most knowledgeable about the applicant's recent academic and work experiences.
6. Completion of a personal statement.
7. Current CV or resume.
8. Submission of two writing samples.
9. Personal interview with a faculty member may be requested.

These data are used by the Admissions Subcommittee as indicators of academic potential.

The student is expected to satisfy deficiency requirements within three enrolled semesters. No course credits earned in making up deficiencies may be counted as program credits required for the degree.

Reapplication

A student who receives a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee must formally reapply for admission to the Graduate School before continuing studies toward the DNP. 

Credits and Courses

Post Baccalaureate Curriculum

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a three-year, full time, 65-credit post-baccalaureate program, which includes 30 credit hours of core theoretical courses, an advanced nursing practice core (12 credits), a research core (9 credits) a systems core (9 credits), 27 credits hours of specialty theory and practicum courses, and 8 credits in the DNP Project Core.

¹

 May be completed over 1 or 2 semesters.

Post Generalist Master's Curriculum (MN or equivalent)

¹

 May be completed over 1 or 2 semesters.

Post-Master’s Curriculum (Other Nursing Master’s Degrees)

The Post-Master’s Curriculum includes Nursing Master’s Degrees that are not Advanced Practice or a Generalist Master’s (MN or equivalent). Examples may include a Master’s in Nursing Education or Nursing Leadership. An individual plan of study will be developed based on review of the previous Master’s Program coursework and transcript.

Clinical Nurse Specialist Requirements

The theory courses vary by population focus and must provide content across the continuum from wellness through acute care for the selected population. The plan for theory course work must be approved by the CNS option coordinator. The following courses under the Specialty Theory Electives heading are examples of those that can be included as specialty support credits. Other courses can be included with advisor approval.

Clinical Nurse Specialist: Adult-Gerontology Practicum

Additional Requirements

Faculty Advisor

The student must have a Faculty Advisor to advise and supervise the student’s studies as specified in Graduate School regulations. The student is assigned to a Faculty Advisor at the time of admission.

Leadership Practice Immersion

Both the post baccalaureate and post master’s curriculum include a 4-credit DNP Project III, an experience that will include the required DNP project. This residency experience will include 460 additional clinical hours in the student’s specialty focus area and will include an emphasis on the evidence-based practice, leadership and system competencies of the DNP prepared graduate.

Time Limit

Students in the post baccalaureate DNP program must complete all degree requirements within seven years of the first enrollment semester as a degree student. Students in the post master’s DNP program must complete all degree requirements within five years of the first enrollment semester as a degree student.

Minimum Grade Requirement

For continuation in the program, in addition to general Graduate School requirements, students must achieve a minimum grade of B- in all required nursing courses. However, an overall GPA of 3.00 is still required for the degree.

Residence

The student must meet minimum Graduate School residence requirements.

DNP Project II: Proposal/Doctoral Preliminary Examination

The student must pass a doctoral preliminary examination to qualify for formal admission to candidacy for degree. The doctoral examination comprises a written portfolio and an oral component, taken in that sequence, with each component requiring a passing grade for successful completion. The examination is an integrative experience that is designed to validate the student’s mastery of the content of the DNP curriculum and must be completed prior to beginning the residency experience.

DNP Project III: Leadership Practice Immersion

The candidate will complete a final comprehensive clinical project as part of the Leadership Practice Immersion experience which demonstrates the ability to implement the principles of evidence-based practice and translation under the direction of the faculty advisor.

The candidate must, as the final step toward the degree, pass an oral examination in defense of the clinical project. A candidate who does not pass this examination may apply for reexamination within one year from the initial examination date. This reexamination may occur only one time. A candidate who does not pass this examination within program time limits may be required to undergo another comprehensive preliminary examination and be readmitted to the program and/or candidacy.