MSN Leadership to Doctor of Nursing Practice

This Dual Credit Advantage degree option provides current Wilmington University MSN Leadership students the opportunity to take selected DNP courses to fulfill the requirements of the MSN Leadership program. Students therefore accelerate completion of the DNP program following successful completion of the MSN Leadership program at Wilmington University.

Legal Nurse Consultant, Nurse Educator, and Nurse Executive Concentrations:

Students have the option of (a) taking two selected DNP courses (GRN 8104: Politics and Policy in the Healthcare System and GRN 8102: Intro to Evidence-Based Practice) in place of two selected MSN-LDR courses (MSN 7741: Politics and Policy in the Healthcare System  and MSN 6608: Evidence-Based Practice in the Health Professions, respectively), and (b) receiving conditional acceptance into the DNP program before completion of the MSN-LDR degree. By participating in this option and completing the two selected courses above, the number of credits required to complete the DNP program at Wilmington University, following graduation from the MSN-LDR program, is 39 credits as opposed to the traditional 45 credits.

Public Health Concentration:

Students have the option of taking (a) three selected DNP courses (GRN 8102: Intro to Evidence-based Practice, GRN 8104: Politics and Policy in the Healthcare System, and GRN 8103 Epidemiology & Population Health) instead of three selected MSN-LDR courses ( MSN 7741: Politics and Policy in the Healthcare System, MSN 6608: Evidence-Based Practice in the Health Professions, and MSN 6616 Epidemiology respectively), and (b) receiving conditional acceptance into the DNP program before completion of the MSN-LDR degree. By participating in this option and completing the three selected courses above, the number of credits required to complete the DNP program at Wilmington University, following graduation from the MSN-LDR program, is 36 credits as opposed to the traditional 45 credits.

Eligibility Criteria:

1. Completion of all three MSN-LDR courses (nine credits)
   2. GPA of 3.0 or greater
   3. Letter of recommendation from doctorally prepared professional
   4. Current employment in an advanced nursing practice specialty
   5. Goals statement (see the intent form for instructions)

The MSN Leadership to DNP Intent Form is located in the College of Health Professions and Natural Sciences MSN Leadership Student Organization site. Upon submission of the intent to enroll form, the MSN Leadership and DNP Program Chairs will ensure that the eligibility criteria are met. If the eligibility criteria are met, students will be contacted by the DNP Program Chair to assist with appropriate course sequencing, advisement, and preparation for doctoral study.

This information applies to students who enter this degree program during the 2024-2025 Academic Year. If you entered this degree program before the Fall 2023 semester, please refer to the academic catalog for the year you began your degree program.