Doctor of
Nursing Practice (DNP)

Step Into Advanced Practice and Healthcare Leadership 

CSUSM's Doctor of Nursing Practice prepares you to lead in advanced clinical roles — working alongside healthcare leaders to improve care for your patients and enhance outcomes for your community. 

• BSN to DNP: Designed for nurses with a bachelor’s degree and at least one year of clinical experience. Complete your doctorate in just eight semesters (three years) while gaining expertise in healthcare leadership, evidence-based practice and patient-focused care. 
• MSN to DNP: If you already hold a master’s in nursing, our doctorate program features five rigorous semesters and 36 units of doctoral coursework, helping you deepen your clinical knowledge and expand your professional influence. 

Your DNP opens doors to advanced clinical opportunities, leadership positions and greater earning potential across diverse healthcare settings. 

 

VIEW PROGRAM DETAILS

Choose From Two Areas of Focus

Admission and Costs

Admission

To apply for the DNP program, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) and at least one year of clinical experience. View all admission requirements.

Costs and Financial Aid

• Academic Year 2026-27: $9,095 per semester 
• Significant financial aid opportunities 

VIEW ALL PROGRAM DETAILS

 

Attend an Information Session

Learn more about the nurse practitioner doctorate program through a brief, informal online webinar and Q&A session: 

• Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 @ 7:00 p.m. (Join the Information Session)
• Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025 @ 7:00 p.m. (Join the Information Session)
• Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025 @ 9:00 a.m. (Join the Information Session)
• Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026 @ 9:00 a.m. (Join the Information Session)
• Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026 @ 7:00 p.m. (Join the Information Session)
• Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026 @ 9:00 a.m. (Join the Information Session)

Curriculum Highlights

CSUSM’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program equips you to become a leader in advanced clinical practice, specializing as a family practice nurse practitioner or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. You will engage in coursework that strengthens your clinical decision-making, evidence-based practice, leadership and ability to promote health across diverse populations. 

 

Take the Next Step in Your Healthcare Career.

Earn your Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.

LEARN MORE

 

 

Careers and Job Outlooks

 

FAQ

• What is a cohort?

  Students in the Doctor of Nursing Practice program progress through the curriculum as a unified group, fostering collaboration and professional networking opportunities. This cohort model ensures consistent peer support throughout the 79-unit BSN-to-DNP program.   

• Is this an online program?

  This is a hybrid program with at least 50 percent of class meeting time conducted face-to-face on campus, while roughly half of classes are delivered online. Additionally, intensive, in-person clinical placements occur during the final year of the program. 

• Is the California RN license required at the time of application?
  You must possess an active, unrestricted, California RN license prior to the first semester of the DNP program, with no previous or pending disciplinary actions. 
• Is there a work experience requirement?
  One year of full-time clinical registered nursing experience is required for admission; two years of experience is preferred. 
• When does the program start?

  The program starts only in the fall term. 

• How often do classes meet?

  BSN to DNP

  • Classes take place one day per week for core/master’s-level content
  • Doctoral courses are offered once a month on a Friday or Saturday  

  Post-MSN to DNP 

  • Doctoral-level intensives meet once a month on Friday/Saturday 
• What are the learning outcomes for the DNP program?

  When you graduate from the DNP program, you will be able to: 

   

  • Integrate nursing science, evidence-based practice and knowledge from other fields to deliver high-quality care.
  • Provide person-centered care, recognizing each patient’s unique needs and context —including their families and support systems.
  • Improve the health of whole communities and populations by collaborating with partners inside and outside of healthcare, from public health to government and beyond.
  • Use research and evidence to drive better patient care and transform healthcare systems.
  • Apply the latest principles of safety and quality improvement to make care safer and more effective.
  • Work effectively as part of diverse teams — including other professionals, patients, families and community members — to achieve the best possible outcomes.
  • Lead and manage the challenges of today’s complex healthcare systems.
  • Use information technology and data to enhance care, support decision-making and advance nursing knowledge.
  • Uphold nursing values and professionalism, building a strong professional identity through accountability and teamwork.
  • Commit to lifelong learning, personal health and resilience, and contribute as a leader within the nursing profession. 

  These outcomes will prepare you for advanced clinical practice and leadership roles on healthcare teams across a variety of settings. 

• How many clinical hours are required?

  All students will complete a total of 1,000 doctoral clinical hours, comprising 750 hours in direct patient care and 250 hours in the completion of an evidence-based-practice project at a clinical site. 

• How are clinical placements made?

  A dedicated placement coordinator will work with you to identify and secure clinical placements to ensure you are able to attain required doctoral clinical hours. The geographic scope of placements extends beyond just San Diego County to other areas throughout Southern California, like Riverside, Orange County and Los Angeles. 

• What is the culminating experience requirement?

  The culminating experience requirement for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is the DNP Scholarly Project. This project allows you to apply the advanced skills and knowledge gained throughout the program to address a real-world problem or need in healthcare practice or systems. Working independently with guidance from faculty, you will design, implement and evaluate an evidence-based project that aims to improve patient outcomes, healthcare processes or systems of care. The DNP Scholarly Project demonstrates your readiness for advanced practice and leadership, and it is an essential component for graduation from the program.  

• How long does it take to complete the program?
  • The BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice can be completed in eight consecutive semesters across three years.
  • The Post-MSN to DNP track takes five semesters (two years). 
• What career opportunities are available to DNP graduates?

  DNP graduates are prepared for a wide range of advanced nursing roles, including nurse practitioner positions in primary care, mental health, specialty clinics and hospitals. You can also pursue leadership roles in healthcare administration, clinical education, quality improvement or healthcare policy. Many DNP-prepared nurses advance to positions as nurse executives, clinic directors, healthcare consultants or faculty in academic nursing programs. 

• What is the job market demand?
  The job market demand for nurse practitioners is strong and continues to grow. Healthcare organizations nationwide seek advanced practice nurses to address provider shortages, manage complex patient needs and lead healthcare system improvements. According to national labor statistics, nurse practitioner roles and other advanced-practice positions are among the fastest-growing careers, with high employment rates and excellent salary potential — especially for those with doctoral-level preparation in areas like family practice and psychiatric mental health. 
• Is the program CCNE accredited?
  The CSUSM Doctor of Nursing Practice program is actively seeking accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and will be eligible for official review before the end of the program’s second year. CCNE accreditation is retroactive, which means that if granted, it will apply to all graduates of the program, including current students. Faculty are confident that the DNP program will achieve full CCNE accreditation by the time the first cohort graduates. 
• Can I work while enrolled in the program?
  Students may find they can work part time during the early portion of the DNP program, as classes typically meet once a week and doctoral courses meet monthly on weekends. However, once you begin clinical hours about halfway through the program, your schedule will become significantly more demanding. At that stage, balancing work with academic and clinical commitments becomes much more challenging, and full-time employment is generally not recommended. 
• What services do you offer to active military, veterans and dependents?
  Please visit our military and veteran services page to learn about the support and resources available to active-duty military, veterans and their dependents.