Montana State University – Bozeman Online BSN-to-DNP NP Programs
The College of Nursing through Montana State University (MSU) – Bozeman offers an online BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program with two online specializations:
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
Coursework is delivered mostly online with campus intensives in the fall of each year, totaling three to four visits over the duration of the program. In addition, students complete clinical preceptorships at approved sites local to them. Applicants should have one year of clinical work experience and Montana residency is preferred.
As part of the program, students complete a DNP scholarly project which they defend orally. A comprehensive exam with written and oral components is also required. The focus of the program is to prepare advanced practice nurses at the DNP level in scholarship, leadership, judgment, and clinical expertise. Educational objectives of the DNP program are numerous and focus on ethics, analysis, leadership, communication, evidence-based practice, assessment, advocacy, health outcomes, professional standards, diagnosis, and disease prevention.
Graduates are eligible to take their respective certification exams as an FNP or PMHNP through credentialing agencies. DNP graduates may work in leadership and management roles in primary care settings, private practice, research facilities, hospitals, long-term care facilities, government agencies, rehabilitation centers, schools, and counseling centers.
Montana State University – Bozeman is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). The BSN to DNP program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Montana State University – Bozeman is located in Bozeman, MT.
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What to Expect
Admission Requirements: Applicants must hold a BSN from a nationally accredited program which included supervised clinicals, with a minimum GPA of 3.0. One year of clinical experience and Montana residency is preferred. Prerequisites for both specializations include physical assessment, research, statistics, community health/public health. The PMHNP specialty also requires completion of undergraduate a psychiatric-mental health course. Applicants must also have an unrestricted RN license in Montana or the state in which clinicals will be completed. The College of Nursing admissions committee must extend a favorable recommendation to the prospective student. English language proficiency test scores are required for those whose first language is not English.
The admissions committee weighs the applicants’ experiences, attributes, and metrics in light of the vision and goals of the program as well as the needs of the nursing profession as a whole.
State Restrictions: Montana State University – Bozeman is an NC-SARA participant and accepts students from all states into the DNP program, however, Montana residency is preferred. Note that MSU has not determined whether the DNP program meets educational requirements to apply for licensure in any state or territory other than Montana. Interested students outside of Montana should contact the MSU School of Nursing to verify eligibility. 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 – Bozeman admits BSN to DNP students in the Fall only. The program takes three years to complete full-time or four years on a part-time basis. Students should expect to spend 9-12 hours per week on each three-credit course. Students are required to come to campus at the beginning of each semester as well as complete local practicums. A scholarly project and comprehensive exam are included in the program.
BSN to DNP Curriculum: The BSN to DNP program comprises 83 credits and includes at least 1,125 clinical hours. Courses for both specializations include Advanced Health Assessment; Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology; Evidence-Based Practice I-II; Statistical Applications; Advanced Pharmacology I-II; Diagnostic Reasoning; Design Healthcare Delivery Systems; Graduate Nursing Scholarly Project Seminar; Advanced Nursing Leadership and Roles; Healthcare Informatics; Professional Paper And Project; Program Planning And Evaluation, Outcomes, And Quality Improvement; Ethics, Law, And Policy For Advocacy In Healthcare; Finance And Budget Healthcare Systems; Vulnerability And Healthcare In Diverse Communities; And Translational Research Advanced Practice.
- FNP Courses: Advanced Clinical I – Family; Advanced Clinical II – Primary Care for Midlife Families; Advanced Clinical II – Psychotherapeutic Modalities; Advanced Clinical IV – (NP, Family/Individual) Primary Care Clinical Preceptorship.
- PMHNP Courses: Advanced Clinical I – Psychiatric/Mental Health; Advanced Clinical II – Psychotherapeutic Modalities; Advanced Clinical III – Psychiatric/Mental Health; Advanced Clinical IV – (NP) Psychiatric/Mental Health.
Online Experience: Montana State University – Bozeman utilizes D2L Brightspace as its online Learning Management System (LMS). Courses have both asynchronous and synchronous components with monthly video conferencing (WebEx) 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: MSU – Bozeman DNP students travel to the Bozeman, MT campus at the beginning of the fall of each year for face-to-face intensives. An orientation is included at the beginning of the first year intensive. Full-time students come to campus three times and part-time students may need to attend four intensives total. All other coursework is completely online with practicums completed local to the student.
Paying for the MSU – Bozeman Online BSN-to-DNP NP Programs
MSU – Bozeman offers reduced tuition to Montana residents. Tuition for each online NP program is listed in its corresponding table below. Travel expenses for campus intensives each year are not included in the tuition numbers. Prospective nursing students should contact the MSU – Bozeman College of Nursing for more details.
MSU – Bozeman offers federal unsubsidized graduate loans through application to the FAFSA. DNP students may also inquire with their employers as to the possibility of a tuition reimbursement program or tuition discounts. In addition, MSU DNP students may seek outside opportunities such as organizational or community scholarships.
MSU – Bozeman offers BSN to DNP degrees with FNP and PMHNP specializations that include 3-4 campus immersions, a DNP project, clinicals, and a focus on ethics, leadership, effective communication, assessment, advocacy, evidence-based practice, and disease prevention.
BSN to DNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
BSN to DNP – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
P.O. Box 173560
Bozeman, Montana 59717
Program Essentials
DNP – Doctor of Nursing Practice
FNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
Fall
No
3
82
1,125
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WV, WI, WY
Program Tuition
82
$346.77
$28,435.14
$455.41
$37,343.62
Program Essentials
DNP – Doctor of Nursing Practice
PMHNP – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Fall
No
3
82
1,125
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WV, WI, WY
Program Tuition
82
$346.77
$28,435.14
$455.41
$37,343.62
Tuition is calculated based on credits, at the published tuition rate. Rates may change, so please check here for the latest tuition information. For programs with variable tuition rates, we use the rates for part-time students. “Resident” and “non-resident” refer to the student’s school-recognized state residency status. Tuition number represents the cost of tuition for the entire program, not per semester or year. Estimated total tuition does not include additional fees.
Sara Navratil
WriterSara Navratil is a freelance writer and a Certified Canfield Success Principles Trainer. She’s the owner of Sara Liza Life, a company dedicated to helping people rewrite their lives. She enjoys researching and writing about healthcare-related topics, including information on online NP programs. When not working she likes to read, bake, and spend time with her family.