As baby boomer healthcare professionals prepare for retirement, higher-level healthcare positions across the country are opening up. Opportunities are emerging for the next generation of experienced nurses to take on leadership roles and help tackle complex decisions about the future of our healthcare system. For nurses with an MSN degree who want to seize these opportunities, an online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program can provide the training needed to start the process of becoming leaders in either clinical or systems positions.
Maryville University Online DNP Curriculum
The online DNP programs aim to prepare future healthcare leaders for high-level careers in clinical practice, policy, advocacy, systems leadership, and more.
Check out a full list of Maryville’s Online DNP course offerings here*:
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Core and Capstone Courses
The DNP program is 11 courses, 33 credit hours
Doctor of Nursing Practice Foundation Courses (15 credit hours)
| NURS 700 | Principles of Epidemiology and Biostatistics | 3 Credits |
This course is designed to introduce students to the purpose, content, and methods of epidemiology and biostatistics. Students will learn to evaluate and use output from statistical computing software. Prerequisite: NURS 710 | ||
| NURS 701 | Foundations of Clinical Scholarship | 3 Credits |
This course is designed to explore the phenomenon of interest related to the DNP scholarly project. Students will systematically develop a project protocol that is supported by the literature and submit it for department approval.
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| NURS 702 | Integrating and Synthesizing Research | 3 Credits |
This course is designed to emphasize an objective approach to the integration and synthesis of knowledge. Manuscript preparation and practical use of evidence are incorporated to prepare students for the design of research proposals. Prerequisite: NURS 700 and NURS 701 | ||
| NURS 709 | Advanced Health Policy | 3 Credits |
This course is designed to present the student with knowledge of the American healthcare system. Economically and politically feasible/viable policy changes that would improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the system’s delivery of health care will be explored. The student will analyze the policy making process in preparation to be effective advocates for health policy change. | ||
| NURS 710 | Graduate Statistics | 3 Credits |
This course is designed to provide an understanding of the measurement of phenomena as it relates to the research process. Procedures for selecting, applying, and interpreting the correct statistical application to a research problem will be presented with students processing the results. Prerequisite: NURS 700 | ||
Doctor of Nursing Practice Capstone Courses (18 credit hours)
| NURS 703 | Ethics For Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 Credits |
This course is designed to explore ethical principles for the highest level of nursing practice. Students will use evidence-based nursing and interprofessional literature to analyze ethical issues in professional practice. | ||
| NURS 704 | Quality and Patient Safety in Advanced Nursing Practice | 3 Credits |
This course is designed to provide students with the foundation of process improvement (PI) and quality improvement (QI) concepts. Evidence-based practice and change management will be integrated with concepts of PI and QI. Systems thinking will be emphasized. | ||
| NURS 705 | Clinical Inquiry I | 3 Credits |
This course will allow the students to design an evidence-based project that will guide clinical practice. The feasibility of conducting this initiative will be explored. Potential funding sources and budget issues will be examined. Students will apply the elements of protection of human subjects and complete the Maryville IRB. Prerequisite: NURS 700, NURS 701, NURS 702, and NURS 703 | ||
| NURS 706 | Clinical Inquiry II | 3 Credits |
This course is designed to expand the students knowledge of clinical project data collection and analysis of data. Students will apply integrated research concepts pertaining to the clinical project. Utilization of various methods of data analysis and data management systems will be explored. Complete project data is needed prior to the start of this course. Prerequisite: NURS 705 and NUS 705L | ||
| NURS 707 | Clinical Inquiry III | 3 Credits |
This course is designed to expand the students understanding of methods of dissemination in translational research. Variables that impact the analysis of data related to the scholarly project will be examined. Implications for patients, clinical practice and the healthcare systems will be explored and findings disseminated. Prerequisite: NURS 706 | ||
| NURS 708 | Organizational and Systems Leadership | 3 Credits |
This course is designed to allow students to analyze organizational, management and social science theories in the context of organizational leadership and change management. Systems thinking is emphasized. | ||
Doctor of Nursing Practice with NP Concentration (DNP-NP)
DNP-NP students complete the courses listed above plus:
Graduate Nursing Core Courses (6 credit hours)
| NURS 603 | Professional Role Development: Advanced Practice Nurse | 3 Credits |
This course provides a theoretical foundation for exploring, analyzing and evaluating advanced nursing practice roles within the health care system. Legal and ethical contexts are included. | ||
| NURS 610 | Health Promotion/Disease Prevention | 3 Credits |
This course focuses on health screening, health promotion and disease prevention at the individual, regional and national level. This includes the exploration at the advanced nursing practice role to direct program planning, development, implementation and evaluation to improve healthcare outcomes. | ||
DNP-NP Credits by Concentration:
AGPCNP 62 Credit Hours, AGACNP 68 Credit Hours, FNP 68 Credit Hours, PNP 65 Credit Hours, PMHNP 71 Credit Hours
Nurse Practitioner Core Courses (11 credit hours)
| NURS 611 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 Credits |
Provides the basis for understanding the pathophysiology of diseases and the changes in normal function that result in manifestations indicative of illness across the lifespan. | ||
| NURS 612 | Advanced Health Assessment | 5 Credits |
This course explores focused and comprehensive health assessments in a variety of settings and patients across the lifespan. This includes development of health promotion strategies and prioritization of care. Prerequisite: Online - NURS 611, NURS 615 Corequisite: On Ground - NURS 615 | ||
| NURS 615 | Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics | 3 Credits |
This course focuses on the pharmacological foundation for safely prescribing medical regimens of illnesses for individuals across the lifespan. Also included are illness prevention, non-pharmacological and legal implications for prescriptive authority for the nurse practitioner. Note: Selection of appropriate therapies, patient education and evaluation parameters are stressed. | ||
AGACNP Concentration Curriculum
For the AGACNP concentration you will need:
| NURS 640 | Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Diagnosis and Management I | 3 Credits |
This is the first didactic management course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program. Focus is on individuals experiencing illness seen in the acute care setting. Students will analyze practice guidelines and develop differential diagnoses, implement clinical judgment and decision-making, as it relates to evidence based care management. Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, and NURS 615 Corequisite: NURS 641 or NURS 641C | ||
| NURS 641 | Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Diagnosis and Management Practicum I | 3 Credits |
First practicum course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program. Students will apply and integrate concepts presented in NURS-640 with focus on applying knowledge and skills in acute care practice settings. Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, and NURS 615 Corequisite: NURS 640 | ||
| NURS 642 | Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Diagnosis and Management II | 3 Credits |
This course is the second didactic management course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program. Students will continue to expand on knowledge, decision making and management of acute and emergent physiological alterations in health. Students will analyze practice guidelines and develop differential diagnoses, implement clinical judgment and decision-making, as it relates to evidence based care management. Prerequisite: NURS 640 and NURS 641 or NURS 641C Corequisite: NURS 643 or NURS 643C | ||
| NURS 643 | Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Practicum II | 3 Credits |
This is the second practicum course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program. Students will apply and integrate concepts presented in the NURS 642 with focus on comprehensive health care to complex, acute and critically ill patients in a clinical, preceptored practicum experience. Prerequisite: NURS 640 and NURS 641 Corequisite: NURS 642 | ||
| NURS 644 | Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Diagnosis and Management III | 3 Credits |
This is the final didactic management course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program. Students will continue to analyze practice guidelines and develop differential diagnoses, implement clinical judgment and decision-making, as it relates to evidence based care management in complex symptomology. Prerequisite: NURS 640, NURS 641 or NURS 641C, NURS 642 and NURS 643 or NURS 643C Corequisite: NURS 645 or NURS 645C | ||
| NURS 645 | Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Practicum III | 3 Credits |
This is the final practicum course in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program. The student will apply and integrate concepts presented in the NURS-644 with focus on comprehensive health care to complex, acute and critically ill patients in a clinical, preceptored practicum experience. Prerequisite: NURS 642 and NURS 643 Corequisite: NURS 644 | ||
AGPCNP Concentration Curriculum
For the AGPCNP concentration you will need:
| NURS 620 | Adult-Gerontology Health Care I | 3 Credits |
This course covers the care of adults experiencing acute, chronic and complex health problems of select body systems in this first of two sequential courses. Current research based interventions are analyzed. Individual, family, and group counseling/education for patients and families are incorporated. Included is primary, secondary and tertiary disease prevention and management of complex symptomatology. Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, and NURS 615 Corequisite: NURS 621 or NURS 621C | ||
| NURS 621 | Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Practicum I | 3 Credits |
This course will cover the theoretical, clinical and role components of care by an advanced practice nurse and are integrated in a supervised clinical practicum. Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, and NURS 615 Corequisite: NURS 620 | ||
| NURS 623 | Adult-Gerontology Health Care II | 3 Credits |
This course covers the care of adults experiencing acute, chronic and complex health problems of select body systems in this second of two sequential courses. Current research based interventions are analyzed. Individual, family, and group counseling/education for patients and families are incorporated. Included is primary, secondary and tertiary disease prevention and management of complex symptomatology. Prerequisite: NURS 620 and NURS 621 or NURS 621C Corequisite: NURS 624 or NURS 624C | ||
| NURS 624 | Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Practicum II | 3 Credits |
This course will cover the theoretical, clinical and role components of care by an advanced practice provider and are integrated in a supervised clinical practicum. Opportunity is provided for the assessment, management, and evaluation of adults with chronic and acute health problems in a primary care setting. Prerequisite: NURS 620 and NURS 621 Corequisite: NURS 623 | ||
FNP Concentration Curriculum
For the FNP concentration you will need:
| NURS 620 | Adult-Gerontology Health Care I | 3 Credits |
This course covers the care of adults experiencing acute, chronic and complex health problems of select body systems in this first of two sequential courses. Current research based interventions are analyzed. Individual, family, and group counseling/education for patients and families are incorporated. Included is primary, secondary and tertiary disease prevention and management of complex symptomatology. Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, and NURS 615 Corequisite: NURS 621 or NURS 621C | ||
| NURS 621 | Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Practicum I | 3 Credits |
This course will cover the theoretical, clinical and role components of care by an advanced practice nurse and are integrated in a supervised clinical practicum. Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, and NURS 615 Corequisite: NURS 620 | ||
| NURS 623 | Adult-Gerontology Health Care II | 3 Credits |
This course covers the care of adults experiencing acute, chronic and complex health problems of select body systems in this second of two sequential courses. Current research based interventions are analyzed. Individual, family, and group counseling/education for patients and families are incorporated. Included is primary, secondary and tertiary disease prevention and management of complex symptomatology. Prerequisite: NURS 620 and NURS 621 or NURS 621C Corequisite: NURS 624 or NURS 624C | ||
| NURS 624 | Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Practicum II | 3 Credits |
This course will cover the theoretical, clinical and role components of care by an advanced practice provider and are integrated in a supervised clinical practicum. Opportunity is provided for the assessment, management, and evaluation of adults with chronic and acute health problems in a primary care setting. Prerequisite: NURS 620 and NURS 621 Corequisite: NURS 623 | ||
| NURS 629 | Pediatric/Family Health Care | 3 Credits |
This course prepares Family Nurse Practitioner students to develop expertise and assume responsibility for health promotion, maintenance, and management of chronic and acute illness of children and women’s health. Emphasis is placed on the child within the framework of the family. Prerequisite: NURS 623 and NURS 624 or NURS 624C Corequisite: NURS 630 or NURS 630C | ||
| NURS 630 | Pediatric/Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum | 3 Credits |
This course provides the student with an opportunity to assume responsibility for the primary health care services of individuals and families under clinical supervision. The student is expected to assume increasing responsibility for planning and implementing therapeutic processes and for documenting and evaluating outcomes of care. The role of the FNP in health care promotion and management and collaboration with health professionals. Prerequisite: NURS 623 and NURS 624 Corequisite: NURS 629 | ||
PNP Concentration Curriculum
For the PNP concentration you will need:
| NURS 650 | Health Promotion of the Pediatric Population | 3 Credits |
This course focuses on growth and development and milestones of pediatric patients using theories and evidence based practice. Students will learn anticipatory guidance techniques, health promotion and illness prevention concepts within the pediatric population, incorporating individual, cultural, ethnic, and spiritual preferences. Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 615 and NURS 612 (may also be taken concurrently) Corequisite: NURS 655C | ||
| NURS 651 | Pediatric Assessment and Diagnosis I | 3 Credits |
This course is the first in a two-part pediatric primary care didactic sequence. In this course students will focus on acute and chronic primary health care problems of children and adolescents. Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612, NURS 615 & NURS 650 Corequisite: NURS 652 or NURS 652C | ||
| NURS 652 | Pediatric Assessment and Diagnosis Practicum I | 3 Credits |
This is the first practicum course in the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) program. Students will apply and integrate concepts presented in the NURS-651 with focus on applying knowledge and skills in pediatric primary care practice settings. Prerequisite: NURS 650 Corequisite: NURS 651 | ||
| NURS 653 | Pediatric Assessment and Diagnosis II | 3 Credits |
This course is second in a two-part pediatric primary care didactic sequence. In this course students will focus on acute and chronic primary health care problems of children and adolescents. Prerequisite: NURS 651 and NURS 652 or NURS 652C Corequisite: NURS 654 or NURS 654C | ||
| NURS 654 | Pediatric Assessment and Diagnosis Practicum II | 3 Credits |
This is the second practicum course in the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) program. Students will apply and integrate concepts presented in the NURS 653 with focus on applying knowledge and skills in pediatric primary care practice settings. Prerequisite: NURS 651 and NURS 652 Corequisite: NURS 653 | ||
PMHNP Concentration Curriculum
For the PMHNP concentration you will need:
| NURS 660 | Psychopharmacology and Advanced Mental Health | 3 Credits |
This course will cover assessment and identification of discrete aspects of cognition, psychopathology, affect and behavior in the diagnosis and treatment planning of psychiatric illness across the life span. Also included is the appropriate use, monitoring and evaluation of prescribing psychotropic medication, including pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Prerequisite: NURS 611, NURS 612 and NURS 615 | ||
| NURS 661 | Psychiatric Mental Health Diagnosis and Management I | 3 Credits |
In this course theories and models will be used to develop an understanding of the etiologies of acute and chronic mental health disorders among adults and older adults. Selection of appropriate treatment strategies including individual and group psychotherapies will be discussed. Prerequisite: NURS 660 Corequisite: NURS 662 or NURS 662C | ||
| NURS 662 | Psychiatric Mental Health Diagnosis and Management Practicum I | 3 Credits |
This practicum course is designed to synthesize advanced practice knowledge relevant to adult and older adult patients with psychiatric illness. A variety of psychotherapeutic strategies will be explored. Prerequisite: NURS 660 Corequisite: NURS 661 | ||
| NURS 663 | Psychiatric Mental Health Diagnosis and Management II | 3 Credits |
This is the first of two didactic courses designed to assist the student in development of the advanced practice nursing role with the care and management of individuals with a mental health disorder across the lifespan. Prerequisite: NURS 661 and NURS 662 or NURS 662C Corequisite: NURS 664 or NURS 664C | ||
| NURS 664 | Psychiatric Mental Health Diagnosis and Management Practicum II | 3 Credits |
This practicum is designed to synthesize advanced practice knowledge relevant to patients with psychiatric illness across the lifespan. Prerequisite: NURS 661 and NURS 662 Corequisite: NURS 663 | ||
| NURS 665 | Psychiatric Mental Health Diagnosis and Management III | 3 Credits |
This is the second of two didactic courses designed to assist the student in development of the advanced practice nursing role with the care and management of individuals with a mental health disorder across the lifespan. Prerequisite: NURS 663 and NURS 664 or NURS 664C Corequisite: NURS 667 or NURS 667C | ||
| NURS 667 | Psychiatric Mental Health Diagnosis and Management Practicum III | 3 Credits |
This practicum is designed to synthesize advanced practice knowledge relevant to patients with psychiatric illness across the lifespan. Prerequisite: NURS 663 and NURS 664 Corequisite: NURS 665 | ||
To ensure the best possible educational experience for our students, we may update our curriculum to reflect emerging and changing employer and industry trends. Professional licensure and certification regulations vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Students are encouraged to visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing for the state in which they intend to practice to verify specific licensure requirements which includes ensuring the program of interest meets the licensure requirements prior to enrolling. Students may visit the professional licensure page or reach out to our team of enrollment advisors for guidance.
Ready for your next step?
Skills, Concepts, or Opportunities an NP Certificate Degree Can Provide
DNP classes can vary by program, but a typical DNP curriculum can help students develop skills and expertise in the following key areas:
- Evidence-based practice. Evidence-based practice, or EBP, is a clinical approach that integrates three components into patient care decision-making: clinical expertise, patient values, and the best available research evidence. EBP is now used across healthcare fields, and it’s widely seen as the most effective way to provide high-quality patient care. Students learn how to apply evidence, how to gather new evidence, and how to determine patient preferences and values.
- Patient care. Improving patient outcomes is the primary goal of any position a DNP may take on. Students learn about issues such as patient safety and quality of patient care in order to prepare them to make patient care decisions at a higher level.
- Healthcare policy and setting. Familiarizing themselves with current healthcare policy and how healthcare is practiced across different settings prepares students to effect policy changes, whether they’re working in government, advocacy, or another role.
- Legislative advocacy. There’s great demand for DNPs who can work to advocate for changes in healthcare policy, working to protect patients or to ensure that policies reflect the latest research.
Common Courses for DNP Students
Specific DNP classes may vary by program, but most universities will offer courses that touch on the following core topics. These are some of the courses commonly offered for this degree:
Ethics for Advanced Nursing Practice. In this course, students explore ethical principles and decision-making models for nursing practice at the highest level. Using evidence-based nursing and inter-professional literature, students analyze ethical dilemmas that occur in nursing practice.
Quality and Patient Safety in Advanced Nursing Practice. Students get to work on systems thinking in this course, which introduces the foundational concepts of process improvement (PI) and quality improvement (QI). Students will examine these concepts through a theoretical lens and learn about select process improvement tools.
Clinical Inquiry. This course lets students take an active role in evidence-based research, as they design their own research studies to inform clinical practice. Students will navigate feasibility and budget issues, train human subjects, and write a proposal.
Organizations Theory and Systems Leadership. In this course, students can learn to analyze organizational, management, and social science theories related to organizational leadership and change management. Another opportunity to exercise systems thinking, this course prepares students for a possible path in systems management.
*Note. Clinical hour requirements for state licensure may vary by state. Students are encouraged to visit the Board of Nursing website for the state in which they intend to practice to verify specific requirements. Students may also reach out to our team of enrollment advisors for guidance.