Thomas Jefferson University Online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs

What to Expect from Thomas Jefferson University Online Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs

Admission Requirements: Applicants to the TJU MSN Programs may apply online using a MyJefferson account. Applicants to Thomas Jefferson University’s online nurse practitioner programs must complete an application with an application fee and submit all required materials by specific deadlines for spring, summer, or fall enrollment. Programs require a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) from a regionally accredited institution, or an evaluated international equivalent. Jefferson accepts select three-year international degrees when they meet country and accreditation criteria. MSN applicants must present a minimum 3.0 GPA, while those entering the DNP post-baccalaureate pathway need a 3.2 GPA.

Each specialty may require specific clinical experience at the time of application:

• Adult-gerontology acute care: Minimum one year of inpatient hospital RN experience
• Neonatal nurse practitioner: Minimum one year in a level 3 or 4 NICU
• Pediatric primary care: Minimum one year of pediatric or neonatal RN experience
• Women’s health–gender related: Minimum one year of clinical RN experience

Applicants must complete the following with a letter grade of “B” or better at a regionally accredited institution: introductory bachelor’s level statistics; introductory undergraduate course in physical assessment (if integrated within BSN, evidence required for evaluation); and introductory BSN-level course in nursing research.

Applicants must submit official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate transcripts from all regionally accredited institutions they have attended and/or where they earned academic credit, a 750 to 1,000-word personal statement, a current professional resume, two letters of reference, and proof of a current, unencumbered RN license that notes the license expiration date. 

International applicants are welcome to apply. International students or those with international education must submit transcript reviews. In addition, if English is not an applicant’s primary language, the applicant must demonstrate sufficient English language proficiency to be offered admission.

State Restrictions: TJU accepts students from many states. However, some programs have restrictions on which states students may come from. Applicants should carefully review program requirements to ensure no residency restriction applies to them and confirm whether the TJU program they seek to study in will provide the necessary training to meet the requirements of the state board of nursing in the state where they ultimately plan to practice.

Study Plan: Thomas Jefferson University’s online NP programs are designed to provide flexible pathways for working professionals, with both full-time and part-time study options available. MSN programs can be completed in two or three years, while DNP post-baccalaureate tracks may be finished in four to six years.

Each NP program features a structured curriculum divided into core, advanced practice, and specialty coursework. MSN NP tracks require completion of 45 credits, including 18 credits from the graduate nursing core, nine credits of APRN core, and 18 credits focused on specialty areas. DNP NP tracks consist of 68 credits in total, which include a graduate core curriculum, APRN core courses, specialty curriculum, a dedicated DNP core curriculum, and an integrated DNP practicum sequence.

Courses are typically delivered in a fully online or hybrid format. At the start of every term, students are required to attend a mandatory one-day orientation. Students will develop a study plan at the initial orientation. Students may enroll in more than two classes per term if desired.

All NP tracks require significant clinical practice, with MSN students completing 750 clinical hours across three clinical courses (at least 16 hours per week during clinical courses), while DNP students complete scholarly project courses integrated with their practice experiences.

Transfer credit is available for up to six MSN semester credits from another regionally accredited institution for students who have matriculated.

Curriculum: The curriculum for Thomas Jefferson University’s online NP programs is built on an interdisciplinary foundation, integrating advanced nursing theory, research, leadership, and clinical practice. Each MSN and BSN-to-DNP track comprises core graduate courses, advanced practice core, and population-specific specialty curriculum, with clinical experiences included throughout.

MSN NP tracks require completion of 45 credits, including 18 credits from the graduate nursing core, nine credits of APRN core, and 18 credits focused on specialty areas. Students are required to complete a minimum of 16 clinical hours per week during their three clinical courses. After the program, students of all MSN programs will have earned 750 clinical hours.

Graduate core curriculum courses include health and social policy; research for advanced nursing practice I; role of the advanced practice nurse; leadership and critical decision making; philosophy, foundations, and methods for evidence-based practice; and digital transformation in healthcare: trends and opportunities.

APRN core courses include advanced physiology/pathophysiology; advanced health assessment; and advanced pharmacotherapeutics.

• MSN-AGACNP specialty courses are diagnostic reasoning and clinical decision making for acute care advanced practice nurse I, II, and III (three courses).
• MSN-AGPCNP specialty courses are management of common health problems in primary care; diagnostic reasoning and clinical decision making for adult care advanced practice nurse; and management of the adult and older adult in ambulatory care.
• MSN-FNP specialty courses are management of common health problems in primary care; management of women and children in ambulatory care; and management of the adult and older adult ambulatory care.
• MSN-NNP specialty courses include diagnostic reasoning and clinical decision-making for neonatal nurse practitioner I, II, and III (three courses).
• MSN-PPCNP specialty courses include diagnostic reasoning and clinical decision-making for pediatric advanced practice nurse I, II, and III (three courses).
• MSN-WHNP specialty courses include diagnostic reasoning and clinical decision-making for women’s health care nurse practitioner I, II, and III (three courses).

DNP NP tracks consist of 68 credits in total, which include an 18-credit graduate core curriculum, nine credits of APRN core courses, 18 credits of specialty curriculum, 16 credits of dedicated DNP core curriculum, and an integrated seven-credit DNP practicum sequence. Courses for the graduate core, APRN core, and specialty curriculum are the same as those in MSN programs.

The DNP core curriculum includes courses such as practice inquiry: designs, methods, and analyses; healthcare systems safety, quality, and improvement science; leading strategic change; perspectives in community engagement and population health; introduction to DNP studies; and a doctoral elective.

Finally, the DNP practicum sequence includes a scholarly project and practicum seminars integrated with clinical practice.

Online Experience: TJU utilizes Canvas as its online Learning Management System (LMS). Courses may be asynchronous with live lectures that are recorded for later viewing. Other courses or course elements may be asynchronous. Students should have a microphone and headset or earbuds instead of using computer speakers. Files must be saved in MS Office formats if students do not have the MS Office suite.

Faculty have weekly business hours to respond to email and voicemail messages, and students can request one-on-one appointments. Student services include technical support from the IT support desk, library services through the Scott Library, and support for the learning management system through EdTech support. Students also have access to academic support services, the Student Writing Center, disability accommodations, and career counseling.

On-Site Requirements: Thomas Jefferson University’s online NP programs are designed to be flexible and accessible, primarily delivered in a fully online or hybrid format to accommodate the needs of working professionals. While the majority of coursework is completed online, there are key on-site components.

All incoming NP students are required to attend a mandatory one-day, in-person orientation before the program begins. This orientation provides an opportunity to establish a study plan, meet faculty and staff, and receive essential information.

Aside from this, all clinical practice experiences are completed locally at approved healthcare sites in partnership with faculty. Students are expected to maintain at least 16 hours of clinical experience per week throughout their three designated clinical courses.