COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH

Learn more about the Doctor of Nursing Practice.

About the Program

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Programs at Temple University, College of Public Health Graduate nursing education strongly reflects the mission, vision values and goals of the Department of Nursing, College of Public Health and the broad mission of Temple University. The DNP program prepares graduates to become leaders in their practice and facilitate care of individuals, families and communities grounded in evidence-based practice and research. Embedded in the program is the social context of health systems, health policy, and health economics and their impact on the individual, family and community. Based on the selected program concentration, the students are prepared to provide direct primary care to individuals across diverse settings and indirect administration of systems of care, as well as to participate in the development and implementation of health policy. The DNP program extends the students' knowledge and skills in their selected area of study. Through the integration of the evidence-informed clinical practice, quality improvement and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) essentials of nursing education, faculty work with DNP students to cultivate the value of evidence-based practice and its potential impact on populations and health systems.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 7 years

Campus Location: Main Campus

Full-Time/Part-Time Status: Both full-time and part-time schedules are available to DNP students. Classes may be offered between 8:00 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. Most didactic classes are held on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings via a synchronous online platform. Other weekday evening classes may be required as per the nursing department. Summer courses are included as a part of the curriculum.

Accreditation: The Doctor of Nursing Practice programs at Temple University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (https://www.aacnnursing.org/ccne-accreditation).

Areas of Specialization: Post-Masters concentrations are available:

Post-Masters DNP includes:

• DNP degree without a concentration, which can be completed in 2-3 years on a full-time or part-time basis. It is designed for nurses who hold a master's degree and desire to obtain a generic DNP degree without any specialization.
• DNP with a Health Systems Leadership (HSL) concentration, which can be completed in 3-4 years. It is designed specifically as a post-master's program for nurses who hold a master's degree and desire knowledge and advancement in the business and administrative ranks of a health system.
• The Post Masters DNP programs do not lead to national licensure nor certification. The DNP program remains in compliance with the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.

Job Prospects: Graduates of the program are employed in a variety of advanced practice nursing positions.

Licensure/Certification: Professional Nurse Licensure (RN) in Pennsylvania or a multistate licensure is required for both post-BSN and post-masters applicants. Additional licenses may be obtained in states in which clinical work is to be done. For more information about licensure, see https://www.ncsbn.org/membership/us-members/contact-bon.page.

The Post Masters DNP programs do not lead to national licensure nor certification. The DNP program remains in compliance with the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.

Non-Matriculated Student Policy: Non-matriculated students can take a total of 6 graduate credits prior to matriculation. DNP Program Director and Department Chair approvals are required for registration as a non-matriculated student. After completion of 6 credits, non-matriculated students must apply for admission within 12 months.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall: April 15

All applicants to the DNP in Nursing program must apply via the Centralized Application Service for Nursing Programs (NursingCAS). The system can be accessed at https://www.nursingcas.org/.

Letters of Reference:
Number Required: 2

From Whom: Letters of recommendation should assess the applicant's ability to work independently, academic and scholarly performance, analytical thinking and aptitude for advanced study, commitment to urban health, communication skills, and professional contributions. Authors should be supervisors or academics and indicate how long they have known the applicant and in what capacity.

Coursework Required for Admission Consideration: Two admission options are offered for the DNP program:

• Post-Masters DNP – Applicants to the post-masters DNP program may elect to pursue a concentration in Health Systems Leadership (HSL). All applicants must have an active registered nurse license, practice experience, and an earned masters degree. The DNP degree requires 1,000 nursing practice hours. Students may apply up to 500 hours earned during their masters program toward the 1,000-hour requirement. Hours required for national certification may also be applied. Upon admission, a gap analysis process will be completed to determine the number of hours required to achieve the 1000 nursing practice hours. Students with non-nursing master's degrees will be evaluated for admission on an individualized basis.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: All applicants must present credentials that are the equivalent of a baccalaureate degree at Temple University. Official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended must be submitted.

A WES evaluation is required for applicants who completed their bachelor's degree outside of the United States. This can be requested at https://www.wes.org/ and submitted through NursingCAS.

Statement of Goals: In a 500- to 1,000-word statement of purpose, describe your background, academic and professional goals, and how your interests relate to the DNP program at Temple.

Standardized Test Scores:
GRE/MAT: Optional, although applicants who believe GRE scores would complement their application are encouraged to submit scores directly to NursingCAS using code 4033. If submitted, scores are expected to be at or above the 50th percentile.

Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was other than English, with the exception of those who subsequently earned a master's degree at a U.S. institution, must report scores for a standardized test of English that meet these minimums:

• TOEFL iBT: 79 (send officially to NursingCAS using the NursingCAS-specific TOEFL code B506)
• IELTS Academic: 6.5
• PTE Academic: 53
• Duolingo: 110

Resume: Current professional resume or CV is required.

Interview: An interview conducted by the Nursing Graduate Faculty is scheduled when all required materials have been submitted by the applicant.

Laptop: All incoming students in the College of Public Health are required to have a laptop. Academic programs in the college are technology intensive. They incorporate statistical and database analyses; utilize specialized tools for athletic training, kinesiology and physical therapy; stream audio and video for communication sciences; facilitate online interactive counseling for social work; and foster clinical experiences and online assessments. The laptop requirement enables the College of Public Health to improve opportunities for active learning and provide greater access to specialized software and required tools in and out of the classroom, better preparing students for the workforce. Learn more about device specifications and suggested vendors. Students can use excess financial aid (i.e., funds that are reimbursed after all tuition and fees are paid) to meet student needs, including the purchase of a laptop. Scholarships may also provide funding.

Transfer Credit: With departmental approval, DNP students may satisfy a maximum of 20% of their coursework requirement through transfer credit. This equates to 9 credits, external to Temple University's Department of Nursing, for a post-baccalaureate DNP applicant and 6 credits, external to Temple University's Department of Nursing, for a post-master's DNP applicant. A transferred course must be equivalent to coursework offered at Temple, and the grade must be a "B" or better to transfer. The decision is made by the Director of Graduate Programs in conjunction with the appropriate faculty member and forwarded to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for final approval. Students must provide the syllabus with details of requirements for course completion including assignments for the course(s) being considered for transfer credits. Additional documentation may be required for evaluation of courses for transfer of credit.

Clearances: The Nursing DNP program requires students to complete clinical/field education experiences at facilities both on and off Temple University's campuses. Placements require a Pennsylvania state criminal background check, Pennsylvania state child abuse clearance, FBI fingerprinting clearance, and a drug screen. Negative results may limit or eliminate placement options for the student, resulting in their inability to meet admission/graduation requirements. Conviction of a misdemeanor, felony, or felonious or illegal act may prevent an individual from becoming licensed and/or obtaining Advanced Practice Nursing approval. Students need a physical examination, proof of required immunizations, Quantiferon testing, CPR certification and personal health insurance. Students who do not comply with the required health and immunization requirements will not be permitted to attend clinical and may be dismissed from the Nursing program.

Other: Copies of the applicant's current nursing licenses must be provided with the application. Note that students who hold advanced practice licenses must maintain licensure throughout enrollment in the DNP program.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required to Earn the Degree: 33, plus 12 additional credits for the optional Health Systems Leadership concentration

Required Courses for Post-Masters DNP (Full-Time):

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Fall		Credit Hours
EPBI 5001	Biostatistics for Health Professions	3
NURS 5101	Translation of Evidence in Healthcare	3
NURS 8204	Policy: Health Care Advocacy in Advanced Nursing Practice	2
	Credit Hours	8
Spring
NURS 8101	DNP Project I: Problem Identification	2
NURS 8201	Health Indices of Urban Populations in Primary Healthcare	3
NURS 8205	Nursing Leadership for Systems and Communities	2
HRPR 5001	Current and Emerging Issues in Public Health and Health Professions	0
	Credit Hours	7
Summer
NURS 8102	DNP Project II: Planning and Development	2
NURS 8302	Managing Outcomes Through Nursing Quality Initiatives	3
	Credit Hours	5
Year 2
Fall
NURS 8103	DNP Project III: Implementation, Evaluation and Dissemination	3
HRPR 8985	Teaching in Higher Education: Health Professions	3
	Credit Hours	6
Spring
EPSY 8960	Seminar Series: Problems in Educational Psychology	3
NURS 8206	Health Economics and Business Practices in Primary Healthcare	2
NURS 8207	Advancing Health Through Information Technology	2
	Credit Hours	7
	Total Credit Hours	33

Required Courses for Post-Masters DNP, Health Systems Leadership Concentration (Full-Time):

Plan of Study Grid

Year 1
Fall		Credit Hours
EPBI 5001	Biostatistics for Health Professions	3
NURS 5101	Translation of Evidence in Healthcare	3
NURS 8204	Policy: Health Care Advocacy in Advanced Nursing Practice	2
	Credit Hours	8
Spring
NURS 8201	Health Indices of Urban Populations in Primary Healthcare	3
NURS 8205	Nursing Leadership for Systems and Communities	2
NURS 8206	Health Economics and Business Practices in Primary Healthcare	2
HRPR 5001	Current and Emerging Issues in Public Health and Health Professions	0
	Credit Hours	7
Summer
NURS 5108	Human Resource Management in Healthcare	3
NURS 5109	Organizational Theory and Leadership Perspectives	3
	Credit Hours	6
Year 2
Fall
HRPR 8985	Teaching in Higher Education: Health Professions	3
NURS 5202	Executive Leadership in Complex Healthcare Systems	3
	Credit Hours	6
Spring
NURS 8101	DNP Project I: Problem Identification	2
NURS 8207	Advancing Health Through Information Technology	2
EPSY 8960	Seminar Series: Problems in Educational Psychology	3
	Credit Hours	7
Summer
NURS 8102	DNP Project II: Planning and Development	2
NURS 8302	Managing Outcomes Through Nursing Quality Initiatives	3
	Credit Hours	5
Year 3
Fall
NURS 8103	DNP Project III: Implementation, Evaluation and Dissemination	3
	Credit Hours	3
Spring
NURS 5104	Legal and Ethical Issues for Healthcare	3
	Credit Hours	3
	Total Credit Hours	45

Minimum Grade to be Earned for All Required Courses: B-

Culminating Event:
Clinical Practice Project:
Over the course of completing NURS 8101 DNP Project Development I, NURS 8102 DNP Project Development II, and NURS 8103 DNP Project Implementation, the student develops an evidence-based clinical practice project in consultation with a committee composed of faculty and site mentor.

Contacts

Department Contacts: