Montana State University – Bozeman Online NP Programs

What to Expect from MSU – Bozeman Online NP Programs

Admission Requirements: Applicants to the College of Nursing at Montana State University must meet the following general admission requirements: a preferred minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all undergraduate and graduate nursing coursework, submission of official transcripts from all prior educational institutions, three personal essays, three recent professional references, a clear background check, and a current unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license. Applicants must apply via the university’s graduate application portal during the annual application window from September 15th to December 15th for fall semester admission.

• Program Specific Admission Requirements:
• BSN-to-DNP – FNP and PMHNP: Applicants must be physically located in Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, or Alaska. Candidates must hold a BSN from a nationally accredited nursing program with clinical practice experience, successful completion of undergraduate research and statistics courses, and current RN licensure (Montana licensure required if clinical experiences occur in Montana).
• BSN-to-DNP – Nurse-Midwifery: Applicants must be physically located in Montana and hold a BSN from a nationally accredited nursing program with clinical experience. Completion of undergraduate research and statistics courses is required, along with current RN licensure in Montana. This option is exclusively available to residents of Montana.
• PMHNP Certificate: Applicants must hold a graduate-level APRN degree and national certification in a nursing specialty area. Physical residency must be in Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, or Alaska. Candidates should have completed prerequisite research and statistics coursework and hold active RN and APRN licenses.

All applicants must submit application materials including, transcripts, essays, references, and pass background and drug screenings. Transfer credits may be granted up to nine credits from non-conferred degrees and 30 from conferred degrees.

State Restrictions: Montana State University’s doctor of nursing practice (DNP) programs in FNP and PMHNP, and the post-graduate PMHNP certificate accept applicants who are physically located in Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, or Alaska. The Nurse-Midwifery DNP specialization is available exclusively to applicants residing in Montana, reflecting the specific clinical and regulatory requirements for this concentration.

Additionally, prospective students should contact the licensing board of their specific state of residence to determine if the program meets state requirements for NP licensure.

Study Plan: Montana State University’s online BSN-to-DNP and post-graduate PMHNP programs are structured to accommodate working nurses. Graduate courses are offered in a blended format, combining asynchronous online modules with synchronous video conference sessions that typically meet once a month during each semester. Some examinations and skill checkoffs may also be conducted synchronously with advance notice.

Students in the DNP programs can choose a full-time three-year or part-time four-year plan, while nurse-midwifery students generally follow an eight-semester, three-year curriculum. Across all tracks, campus intensives are required in Bozeman, with in-person orientation for first-year students, clinical skills weeks, and occasional simulation sessions at additional Montana campuses. Clinical practicums are completed at approved sites convenient to the student’s location.

Each DNP student also completes a scholarly project during their final year, developed with faculty advice and culminating in an oral defense.

BSN-to-DNP Curriculum: Montana State University’s BSN-to-DNP program requires completion of 82 credits for each of the FNP and PMHNP specializations. The nurse-midwifery track requires between 74 and 82 credits, depending on the specific course load. 

Core courses across all BSN-to-DNP tracks include advanced health assessment; advanced physiology/pathophysiology; evidence-based practice I and II; statistical applications; advanced pharmacology I and II; design healthcare delivery systems; graduate nursing scholarly project; advanced nursing leadership and roles; healthcare informatics; program planning and evaluation for quality improvement; ethics, law, and policy for advocacy in healthcare; finance and budget healthcare systems; and vulnerability and healthcare in diverse communities.

• BSN-to-DNP – FNP Courses: The FNP track includes courses like diagnostic reasoning; advanced primary care skills and procedures; FNP diagnosis and management I-III; and multiple advanced clinical practicums.
• BSN-to-DNP – PMHNP Courses: The PMHNP specialization covers psychiatric case formulation; introduction to advanced practice psychiatric mental health nursing; advanced psychopharmacology; PMHNP diagnosis and management I-IV; and advanced clinical practicums.
• BSN-to-DNP – Nurse Midwifery Courses: The nurse-midwifery track features midwifery-specific courses such as midwifery care during antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, and care of the neonate; clinical care skills and procedures; and advanced midwifery clinical practicums.

Post-Graduate PMHNP Certificate Curriculum: This certificate is designed for graduate-prepared APRNs pursuing specialty certification in psychiatric mental health nursing. Coursework builds from prior APRN education and focuses on population-specific clinical and theoretical competencies aligned with national certification expectations.

Throughout the programs, students complete scholarly projects integrating evidence-based practice and quality improvement. This curriculum structure ensures graduates are prepared for advanced practice and national certification in their chosen specialties.

Online Experience: Montana State University – Bozeman utilizes Canvas as its online Learning Management System (LMS). Courses have both asynchronous and synchronous components, with monthly video conferencing and teleconferencing likely. Dates and times for synchronous activities are published early on. Other course activities may include class discussions, readings, assignments, assessments, course modules, online chat, and discussion boards. Student services may include academic advising, faculty office hours, admissions counseling, online library, an online bookstore, technical support, and career counseling.

On-Site Requirements: Although Montana State University’s BSN-to-DNP and post-graduate PMHNP programs are delivered primarily online, students are required to come to campus for several on-site experiences. Campus intensives are held in Bozeman and may include an in-person orientation at the start of the program, clinical skills weeks, and periodic simulation sessions at additional Montana campuses. Depending on the track, students may be required to visit campus up to three or four times over the duration of the program for skill-building, simulation, and assessment activities.

Clinical practicum hours must be completed at approved healthcare sites that are convenient to the student’s location. Nurse-midwifery students will travel to the closest MSU campus for interprofessional simulation learning three times during their pre-clinical semester.