BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice

The BSN to DNP Program is now accepting applications for the Fall 2025 Semester! The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a professional practice degree designed to prepare advanced practice nurses for complex practice and leadership roles in the clinical setting as well as teaching roles at the community college and university levels.

Applications are still being accepted!

Applications to the BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program are still being accepted.

To submit your application, please contact CEHHS Student Services at cehhs-ss@csusm.edu

The deadline to submit your application is May 31st, or until the cohort has been filled.

If you have additional questions about submitting your application, please contact CEHHS Student Services at cehhs-ss@csusm.edu

Program Goals

The program is a rigorous academic experience designed to prepare nurses to assume the highest levels of nursing professional practice.
Graduates will develop advanced competencies in evidence-based practice, leadership, organizational change management, health policy, advocacy, and academic teaching.

Program at a Glance

Students will complete an evidence-based practice project.
Students will complete a total of 1000 doctoral clinical hours, with 750 hours in patient care.
There are 79-semester units for each of the two tracks of Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
This is NOT an online program. This is a hybrid program with less than 50% of classes offered off-campus.

Program Plans of Study

Detailed below are the plans of study for each of the BSN to DNP Program tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

Show All

Family Nurse Practitioner Track

**Semester One**
Course Code	Course Title
NURS 710	Introduction to Advanced Nursing Roles
NURS 712	Leadership and Healthcare Organizational Change
NURS 714	Evidence Based Inquiry
NURS 504	Advanced Pathophysiology

**Semester Two**
Course Code	Course Title
NURS 716	Financial Management in Healthcare
NURS 718	Research & Evidence in Practice
NURS 720	Statistics for Health Care
NURS 506	Advanced Pharmacology

**Semester Three**
Course Code	Course Title
NURS 730	Translating Evidence into Practice I: Project Seminar
NURS 502/503	Advanced Health Assessment + Lab
NURS 520	Advanced Practice Care of the Pediatric Client

**Semester Four**
Course Code	Course Title
NURS 732	Translating Evidence into Practice II: Project Seminar
NURS 526	Advanced Practice Care of Women in the Childbearing Years
NURS 560	Advanced Concepts of Gerontology Nursing Care
NURS 529D	Advanced Practice Clinical for the Family Nurse Practitioner

**Semester Five**
Course Code	Course Title
NURS 734	Translating Evidence into Practice III: Project Seminar
NURS 722	Healthcare Politics, Policy, and Advocacy
NURS 532A	Advanced Practice Management of Clients and Families Across the Lifespan I
NURS 533D	Advanced Field Study: Family Nurse Practitioner I

**Semester Six**
Course Code	Course Title
NURS 736	Translating Evidence into Practice IV: Project Seminar
NURS 724	Epidemiology and Population Health
NURS 534A	Advanced Practice Management of Clients and Families Across the Lifespan II
NURS 535D	Advanced Field Study: Management of Clients and Families Across the Lifespan II - Family Nurse Practitioner

**Semester Seven**
Course Code	Course Title
NURS 738	Translating Evidence into Practice V: Project Seminar
NURS 726	Information Technology for the Advanced Practice Nurse
NURS 566	Family Nurse Practitioner in Specialty Care
NURS 537D	Advanced Field Study: Management of Clients and Families Across the Lifespan III for the Family Nurse Practitioner

**Semester Eight**
Course Code	Course Title
NURS 740	Translating Evidence into Practice VI: Project Seminar
NURS 728	Concepts of Teaching in Nursing
NURS 568	Family Nurse Practitioner Transition into Practice
NURS 539D	Advanced Practice Externship - Family Nurse Practitioner

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Track

**Semester One**
Course Code	Course Title
NURS 710	Introduction to Advanced Nursing Roles
NURS 712	Leadership and Healthcare Organizational Change
NURS 714	Evidence Based Inquiry
NURS 504	Advanced Pathophysiology

**Semester Two**
Course Code	Course Title
NURS 716	Financial Management in Healthcare
NURS 718	Research & Evidence in Practice
NURS 720	Statistics for Health Care
NURS 506	Advanced Pharmacology

**Semester Three**
Course Code	Course Title
NURS 730	Translating Evidence into Practice I: Project Seminar
NURS 502/503	Advanced Health Assessment + Lab
NURS 582	Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Assessment & Psychiatric Disorders

**Semester Four**
Course Code	Course Title
NURS 732	Translating Evidence into Practice II: Project Seminar
NURS 584	Advanced Psychopharmacology
NURS 580	Advanced Concepts in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
NURS 529C	Advanced Practice Nurse Clinical I Psych/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

**Semester Five**
Course Code	Course Title
NURS 734	Translating Evidence into Practice III: Project Seminar
NURS 722	Healthcare Politics, Policy, and Advocacy
NURS 532B	Advanced Mental Health Management of Individuals Across the Lifespan

**Semester Six**
Course Code	Course Title
NURS 736	Translating Evidence into Practice IV: Project Seminar
NURS 724	Epidemiology and Population Health
NURS 534B	Advanced Mental Health Management of Groups & Families Across the Lifespan
NURS 535C	Advanced Field Study: Management of Groups & Families with Mental Health Needs Across the Lifespan

**Semester Seven**
Course Code	Course Title
NURS 738	Translating Evidence into Practice V: Project Seminar
NURS 726	Information Technology for the Advanced Practice Nurse
NURS 562	Advanced Practice Management Geriatrics
NURS 564	Advanced Practice Management Substance Abuse
NURS 573C	Advanced Field Study: Psych/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical Course IV

**Semester Eight**
Course Code	Course Title
NURS 740	Translating Evidence into Practice VI: Project Seminar
NURS 728	Concepts of Teaching in Nursing
NURS 538	Advanced Mental Health Management of Vulnerable Groups and Populations Across the Lifespan
NURS 539C	Advanced Field Study: Mental Health Management of Vulnerable Populations Across the Lifespan