If you are a nurse who currently holds a Master's degree, our Health Systems Leader Doctor of Nursing Practice degree offers you the opportunity to lead and transform health care systems on a local and national level. Our students are mission-driven to effect change on a larger scale and improve efficiencies in complex health care systems and policies. Often led by a clinical question that arises in their current community or place of work, our students seek to continue their education and advance their understanding of research-based practice to better apply their skills to larger, systematic problems.
Unlike other pathways to the DNP, you can complete the program as a full-time or part-time student, allowing you to balance work and studies. The DNP program at Seattle University supports you in developing a sophisticated understanding of your practice and its larger context.
Master’s prepared nurses complete a 11-quarter program of study leading to a clinical doctorate in nursing. Minimum credit requirements for post-master’s DNP is 48. DNP graduates must have a minimum of 1,000 clinical hours. Students may transfer 500 clinical hours from their MSN degree. Full-time enrollment is 6 credits per quarter. Part-time is 3 credits per quarter.
Year One | Year Two | Year Three |
Summer Quarter 4 credits |
Summer Quarter | Summer Quarter |
---|---|---|
6110 Ethical Care for Social Justice | ||
Fall Quarter 6 credits |
Fall Quarter 7 credits |
Fall Quarter 3 credits |
6130 Foundations of Nursing Knowledge for Advanced Practice 6190 Quality Improvement Process and Methodologies |
6020 Epidemiologic Analysis of Populations at Risk 6160 Leadership in Health Care Systems |
6901 DNP Internship I |
Winter Quarter 6 credits |
Winter Quarter 6 credits |
Winter Quarter 2-4 credits |
6017 Health Care Economics and Finance 6120 Population-Based Health Care |
6015 Critical Inquiry II 6111 Health Care Informatics |
6903 DNP Project Internship II |
Spring Quarter 6 credits |
Spring Quarter 6 credits |
Spring Quarter 2-4 credits |
6010 Health Care Policy for a Just and Humane World 6014 Theory Informed Critical Inquiry I |
6018 Health Program Planning and Development Elective |
6905 DNP Project Internship III DNP Project Presentation |
* Program of study shown is based on 2023-2024 AY and is subject to change based on faculty and other resource availability. All courses begin with prefix NURS.
International applicants and applicants for whom English is a non-native language can find additional admissions requirements on the International Students admissions page.
Learn more about the DNP program for RNs and Non-Nurse applicants at an upcoming online information session.
Thursday, May 2, 2024 from 12:00 to 12:30 PM Pacific
Thursday, May 16, 2024 from 12:00 to 12:30 PM Pacific
Thursday, May 30, 2024 from 12:00 to 12:30 PM Pacific
Thursday, June 13, 2024 from 12:00 to 12:30 PM Pacific
Thursday, June 27, 2024 from 12:00 to 12:30 PM Pacific
Thursday, May 9, 2024 from 12:00 to 12:30 PM Pacific
Thursday, May 23, 2024 from 12:00 to 12:30 PM Pacific
Thursday, June 6, 2024 from 12:00 to 12:30 PM Pacific
Thursday, June 20, 2024 from 12:00 to 12:30 PM Pacific
Our alumni go on to careers as health care leaders in systems across the Seattle area and the nation.
"Seattle University’s DNP degree enabled me to take the next step in my career; that is, to address the primary care shortage crisis by giving nurse practitioners the tools they need to succeed in complex community health settings."