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 for this rigorous, clinical doctoral program; ensuring all academic standards are maintained. To earn the Nursing DNP degree, students will be required to complete a 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.
Health Policies for FNP Concentration: OSHA & HIPAA requirements, immunizations, American Heart Association BLS and ACLS certification, student malpractice insurance, criminal background check and drug screen are required.
Admission
Location: Greeley + Loveland + Online
Start Term: Fall
General Doctoral Degree Admission Requirements
Admission Deadline
Starts Each Fall Term
The priority deadline for completed applications (including all supplemental materials) is February 1st for the upcoming fall term. Additional applications will be considered on a space available basis. You may contact nursing@unco.edu to see if applications are still being accepted.
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 Include:
- A bachelor’s degree, or higher level direct entry pre-licensure degree program, in nursing from an ACEN, CNEA or CCNE accredited institution
- Current, unencumbered CO RN license, or eligibility for Colorado licensure as a registered nurse.
- Meet UNC Graduate School Requirements for admission.
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 in the program leading to RN licensure.
- One year of post-licensure clinical nursing experience is recommended.
- Meet the School of Nursing requirements for English Language Proficiency.
- Pass a background check and 10-panel drug screening.
Application Requirements Include:
- Official transcripts from each college or university where courses were taken including any courses in progress and including documentation of a bachelor’s or other prelicensure nursing degree.
- 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 the requirements for submission of foreign transcripts.
- Copy of current unencumbered RN license.
- Two letters of reference that address the applicant’s capabilities to complete a clinical doctorate. Applicants will be asked to supply contact information for references in the application.
- Statement of career goals.
- Current CV or resume.
- Submission of a brief sample of professional writing (maximum of 10 pages). Examples:
- Describe a scholarly evidence-based case study that best exemplifies professional nursing practice.
- Describe a professional nursing practice related concept including its scope and significance, patient population, and clinical setting of interest.
- Submission of nursing school scholarly paper or current professional nursing practice scholarly works.
- A personal interview may be required.
- Documentation of English Proficiency, if applicable.
Please note: This program does not require GRE scores.
International Applicants
International applications (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.