Doctor of Nursing Practice
Department Website: Doctor of Nursing Practice
Post-Master’s DNP
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) at Gonzaga University is a post‑master’s program designed for nurses who hold a master’s degree in nursing and are prepared in an advanced practice or leadership role (e.g., nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife, or nursing administration). The program requires a minimum of 30 credits.
Consistent with Gonzaga University’s mission, the DNP prepares nurses to lead in the service of others. Graduates develop skills in systems thinking, translating evidence into practice, improving population health outcomes, leading quality improvement initiatives, and collaborating across professions.
The program is delivered primarily online with required virtual immersions. This format enables working professionals and those in geographically remote areas to pursue advanced education while continuing to serve their communities. Courses are offered in fall, spring, and summer terms, except for project courses, which are not offered during the summer.
Total program requirements vary based on prior coursework and practicum hours completed during the student’s master’s program. Students must complete sufficient coursework and practicum hours to meet the overall requirement of 1,000 practicum hours (inclusive of prior MSN hours), which may result in more than 30 total credits. Applicants who have not completed a biostatistics or inferential statistics course within the past five years must do so during the program.
Students participate in required virtual immersions during their first semester in NURS 700. These include an orientation immersion early in the term, introducing program expectations, Jesuit education, scholarly writing, and the DNP role, and a second immersion later in the semester focused on DNP project development, including topic selection, problem identification, and practicum planning.
The curriculum includes four practicum and seminar courses that support the development and completion of a scholarly DNP project aimed at improving clinical or leadership practice. Students may complete both the proposal defense and final project defense either in person or via video conferencing.
Program Overview
Admission
- Students applying to Gonzaga University must submit Gonzaga’s Graduate Application, which can be accessed online at https://www.gonzaga.edu/gradapply
- Along with the application for graduate study, each program at Gonzaga has distinct admission requirements. Please refer to the table below to view that detailed information.
| Program Name | How to Apply Link |
|---|---|
| Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – Post-Masters (Online) | https://www.gonzaga.edu/online-graduate-programs/online-programs/nursing-programs/doctor-of-nursing-practice-post-masters/eligibility-criteria-admission-requirements |