Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Deepen your expertise and expand your career
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is designed for nurses seeking a terminal degree in nursing practice. It is the only program of its type in West Michigan.
Courses are delivered in a primarily online with specialty practicums occurring in health care settings. Course delivery is dependent on the type of certification the student is pursuing:
- Nurse Practitioner (NP) students are on campus 1-2 times per semester in our state-of-the-art Interprofessional Simulation Center (second and third year). You will have access to a dedicated full-time placement coordinator who manages all of your clinical placements and academic advisors who create tailored program plans for each student. Full-time and part-time academic plans are available.
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) students can complete their course work fully online.
DNP coursework is designed around the national agenda to transform American health care through interprofessional collaboration, health care policy advocacy, patient-centered care, quality/safety initiatives, and the use of informatics.
Many possible outcomes
Advanced Nursing Practice Tracks
Student interested in certification as a Advanced Nursing Practice can choose from the following tracks:
Certified Nurse Specialist Tracks
DNP options are available for students interested in pursuing CNS, allowing graduates to pursue certification in either Adult/Gerontology or Pediatric.
KCON offers part-time and full-time options for CNS DNP students. Use the tool below to explore the different course offerings:
- Child/Adolescent Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Dual Child/Adolescent Primary Care/Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Child/Adolescent Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult/Older Adult Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Post-MSN to DNP Program
CNS DNP Student Progression Plan: Full-Time
Year 1
Fall Year 1
- STA 610 - Applied Statistics for Health Professionals
- NUR 600 - Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice
- NUR 665 - Health Care System, Policy, Advocacy & Politics
Winter Year 1
- NUR 666 - Epidemiology & Health Issues in Vulnerable Populations
- NUR 602 - Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan
- NUR 667 - Advanced Nursing Leadership Roles in Complex Systems
Summer Year 1
- NUR 645 - Lifespan Human Development
- NUR 603 - Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan
- NUR 668 - Informatics in Health Care
Year 2
Fall Year 2
- NUR 669 - Quality Management for Healthcare Settings
- NUR 781 - Mental Health for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
- NUR 604 - Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan & Diagnostic Reasoning
- NUR 681 - DNP Scholarly Project I
Winter Year 2
- NUR 700 - Evidence-Based Practice and Scholarly Inquiry
- NUR 753 - CNS I (4 Didactic/ 2 Clinical)
- NUR 682 - DNP Scholarly Project II
Summer Year 2
- NUR 754 - CNS II (4 Didactic/ 3 Clinical)
- NUR 794 - DNP Scholarly Project III
Year 3
Fall Year 3
- NUR 755 - CNS Didactic III, CNS (4 Didactic/ 3 Clinical)
- NUR 795 - DNP Scholarly Project IV
- Elective
Winter Year 3
- NUR 756 - CNS Residency
- Elective
CNS DNP Student Progression Plan: Part-Time
Year 1
Fall Year 1
- STA 610 - Applied Statistics for Health Professionals
- NUR 600 - Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice
Winter Year 1
- NUR 666 - Epidemiology & Health Issues in Vulnerable Populations
- NUR 602 - Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan
Summer Year 1
- NUR 645 - Lifespan Human Development
- NUR 668 - Informatics in Health Care
Year 2
Fall Year 2
- NUR 665 - Health Care System, Policy, Advocacy & Politics
- NUR 669 - Quality Management for Healthcare Settings
Winter Year 2
- NUR 667 - Advanced Nursing Leadership Roles in Complex Systems
Summer Year 2
- NUR 603 - Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan
Year 3
Fall Year 3
- NUR 781 - Mental Health for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
- NUR 604 - Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan & Diagnostic Reasoning
Winter Year 3
- NUR 753 - CNS I (4 Didactic/ 2 Clinical)
Summer Year 3
- NUR 754 - CNS II (4 Didactic/ 3 Clinical)
Year 4
Fall Year 4
- NUR 681 - DNP Scholarly Project I
- NUR 755 - CNS Didactic III, CNS (4 Didactic/ 3 Clinical)
Winter Year 4
- NUR 700 - Evidence-Based Practice and Scholarly Inquiry
- NUR 682 - DNP Scholarly Project II
Summer Year 4
- NUR 794 - DNP Scholarly Project III
- Elective
Year 5
Fall Year 5
- NUR 795 - DNP Scholarly Project IV
- Elective
Winter Year 5
- NUR 756 - CNS Residency
Not in West Michigan? No problem!
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Earn your degree from GVSU wherever YOU are. Our online curriculum conveniently fits in your busy schedule and we now offer degrees for students living outside of Michigan including:
- Florida
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Vermont
- Virginia
Interested in getting started? Explore next steps with the DNP program.
Applications are now open for the next DNP cohort, starting in Fall of 2026. Preferred admissions will be considered for those who apply by May 1. If program seats remain available, applications will be considered after May 1.
Do you have questions about the program or the application process? Contact Mike Stoll, Graduate Student Advisor at [email protected].
HRSA ANEW Grant funding opportunity
Grand Valley State University has partnered with McLaren Health Care and Trinity Health Muskegon to transform the delivery of and access to primary, mental health, and substance use disorder care services in rural and underserved communities for nurses from disadvantaged backgrounds and underrepresented minorities. This program provides financial support for qualified students from McLaren Health Care and Trinity Health Muskegon/Grand Rapids who gain admission into the GVSU Kirkhof College of Nursing Doctor of Nursing Practice program. To learn more about the HRSA ANEW opportunity and determine your eligibility, click here now!
The Kirkhof College of Nursing’s Master of Science in Nursing degree, Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate programs prepare registered nurses to take the national certification exam in their area of specialty (clinical nurse leader, primary care adult/gerontology nurse practitioner, primary care pediatric nurse practitioner, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, or nurse executive). Graduates seeking to practice in a state other than Michigan must meet the requirements of that state. For more information regarding state licensure/certification requirements, please visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) website at https://www.ncsbn.org/