Program Overview
College of Natural and Health Sciences
Director: Melissa Henry, Ph.D.
Location: Gunter 3080
Telephone: 970-351-2293
Website: www.unco.edu/nhs/nursing/
Post Bachelor's in Nursing – Graduates are qualified to be recognized as a Family Nurse Practitioner, apply for national certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center or American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, and be recognized as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) from the CO State Board of Nursing.
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Concentration: The post-bachelor's DNP program is for BSN nurses who are interested in a practice-focused doctorate. You will be prepared as a clinical expert with a focus on the critical thinking, leadership and political policy skills needed to advocate and create changes in healthcare practice at the individual, population and organizational systems levels. BSN to DNP graduates will provide primary care health promotion and disease management for patients with episodic or chronic illnesses across the life span, focusing on the underserved.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice prepares expert clinicians for advanced practice roles in hospitals, primary care clinics, specialty settings such as long term care facilities, and virtually any area they wish to practice within the healthcare industry. These highly skilled practitioners will be the leaders in healthcare delivery and care management.
Specific exceptions to the Graduate School requirements for doctoral degrees have been approved. Due to the clinical focus of this degree, rigorous academic standards are maintained throughout the program. To earn the Nursing DNP degree, students will be required to complete a DNP Scholarly Project instead of a doctoral dissertation. DNP students must complete the following as a part of the requirements for the DNP degree: a DNP Scholarly Project Proposal and a formal Final Defense of the completed DNP Scholarly Project.
Admission
Location: Greeley + Online
Start Term: Fall
General Doctoral Degree Admission Requirements
Nursing D.N.P.-Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Concentration (Post Bachelor's)
Admission Deadline
Starts Each Fall Term
The deadline for completed applications (including all supplemental materials) for fall 2025 is July 15. Additional applications will be considered on a space available basis. You may contact nursing@unco.edu to see if applications are still being accepted for the upcoming fall term.
Admission Requirements: NursingCAS
Applicants must apply to the program through the Nursing Centralized Application Service (NursingCAS). Please submit all required materials by the application deadline to avoid a delay in the evaluation and screening of your application. All official transcripts are submitted to NursingCAS, and do not need to be resubmitted UNC.
The UNC School of Nursing will review applications following the application deadline. Official admission notifications will be sent in the 2-4 weeks that follow.
Admission Requirements: Graduate School
Applicants must apply to the program through the Nursing Centralized Application Service (NursingCAS) before the program area reviews the applicant’s request for admission. Failure to submit all required materials will delay the evaluation and screening of your application.
Each applicant must:
Take the following steps to be considered for admission:
Step 1: Complete the Application
Complete the NursingCAS application.
- Answer the application questions.
- Send your requests for letters of recommendation.
- Request three (3) academic or professional letters of recommendation from those who can attest to your academic potential and abilities. You will be asked to supply information for your recommenders in the application.
- Send to NursingCAS an official transcript from each college or university where courses were taken including documentation of a bachelor's degree or higher was earned (or is in progress). Help with Transcripts – NursingCAS
Step 2: Request Transcripts
Please Note: As all official transcripts are submitted to NursingCAS, they do not need to be resubmitted to the Office of Admissions.
Applicants with academic credentials from outside the U.S. will need to follow therequirements for submission of foreign transcripts. Click on the Transcripts tab for information about international transcripts.
Step 3: Note About the GRE
This program does not require GRE scores.
Step 4: Supplemental Items
You will need to submit the following in NursingCAS:
- A statement of career goals articulating "why now" for your practice doctorate. Prospective DNP applicants must describe their current professional RN role as it relates to their clinical experience(s), clinical advancement(s,) leadership role(s) and career goals as an NP.
- Current vita or resume
- Copy of current RN license
- Submission of a brief sample of professional writing (maximum of 10 pages). Examples:
- Describe a scholarly evidence based case study that best exemplifies your practice.
- Describe a current practice related concept including its scope and significance, the patient population and the clinical setting of interest.
- Discuss alternative approaches described in the literature and identify an approach that you might take in addressing the concept.
A personal interview may be required.
International applicants (non-U.S. citizen/non-U.S. Permanent Resident) please refer to the International Admissions Requirements page for further information about submitting transcripts, English proficiency scores, passport copy and financial documentation.
For More Information
For more information about the admission process, please email the Office of Admissions at grad.admissions@unco.edu or call 970-351-2881.