University of Colorado – Colorado Springs Online Nurse Practitioner Programs

What to Expect from the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs Online Nurse Practitioner Programs

Admission Requirements: All applicants must hold an unencumbered RN license in the state where they will complete clinical practicum hours. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher is required to apply. An application fee may be applicable.

• BSN-to-DNP and MSN Requirements: Hold a BSN and submit three letters of recommendation, official transcripts, and TOEFL test scores if applicable.
• Post-Master’s Certificate Requirements: Hold an MSN from an accredited program and submit a resume or CV, official transcripts, and TOEFL test scores if applicable.

State Restrictions: The MSN, BSN-to-DNP, and certificate nursing programs are available to students in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, California, Florida, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. Interested students should contact the Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences to verify enrollment eligibility and requirements. In addition, prospective students should inquire with their State Board of Nursing to verify certification requirements.

Study Plan: All programs have a rolling admissions process, which means applications are reviewed as they are completed and received. There are three starts per year in the spring, summer, and fall semesters.

The MSN program may be completed in three years on a full-time basis or four years part-time, with six years to complete the degree. The certificates may be completed in approximately two to three years, depending on how many courses are completed each term. Students have up to six years to complete the certificate programs.

The BSN-to-DNP program can be completed in as few as three years, depending on the course load each semester. A final culminating project consisting of a research paper, poster, and presentation completes the program.

MSN Curriculum: The FNP and AGPCNP specialties require completion of 47 credits, while the PMHNP specialty requires 48 credits, with all specialties completing 630 clinical practice hours. Core courses for the MSN include philosophical foundations of advanced nursing practice; advanced nursing practice in healthcare; research and knowledge translation in nursing; and research thesis or research analysis and application.

APRN courses for all specialties include clinical pharmacotherapeutics; advanced health assessment; and advanced pathophysiology.

• FNP Specialty Courses: primary care of pediatric patients and families; primary care of acute care conditions; primary care of chronic care conditions; gender health primary care; synthesis practicum
• AGPCNP Specialty Courses: primary care of acute care conditions; primary care of chronic care conditions; primary care of geriatric patients and families; gender health primary care; synthesis practicum
• PMHNP Specialty Courses: mental health assessment and interventions across the lifespan; adult psychiatric diagnosis and management for the PMHNP; geriatric psychiatric diagnosis and management for the PMHNP; child & adolescent psychiatric diagnosis and management for the PMHNP; synthesis practicum

Post-Master’s Certificate Curriculum: The FNP and AGPCNP certificates comprise up to 38 credits, while the PMHNP certificate includes up to 39 credits, all including 630 clinical practice hours. Courses follow the APRN requirements and specialty courses as listed for the MSN program.

BSN-to-DNP Curriculum: The BSN-to-DNP comprises 70 credits plus 1,170 clinical practice hours. Required courses for all three specialties include theoretical foundations of reflective practice; population-based health care for improving the nation’s health; research and knowledge translation in nursing; advanced pathophysiology; organizational systems leadership; health assessment; clinical nursing scholarship for evidence-based practice; and evaluation of clinical research & QI projects.

DNP courses include the DNP project and DNP seminar I-IV.

APRN courses for all specialties include clinical pharmacotherapeutics; advanced health assessment; and advanced pathophysiology.

• AGPCNP specialty courses include primary care of acute care conditions; primary care of chronic care conditions; primary care of geriatric patients and families; gender health primary care; and synthesis practicum.
• FNP specialty courses include primary care of pediatric patients and families; primary care of acute care conditions; primary care of chronic care conditions; gender health primary care; and synthesis practicum.
• PMHNP specialty courses include mental health assessment and interventions across the lifespan; adult psychiatric diagnosis and management for the PMHNP; geriatric psychiatric diagnosis and management for the PMHNP; child & adolescent psychiatric diagnosis and management for the PMHNP; and synthesis practicum.

Online Experience: UCCS utilizes Canvas as its online Learning Management System (LMS). Courses are asynchronous with no campus visits required. Students complete weekly assignments and interact with faculty and peers through forums, email, chat, phone, and other media resources through Canvas. Hands-on experience is gained through clinical practice. Online students have access to 24/7 technical support as well as the same student services as campus students.

On-Site Requirements: There are no on-site requirements for UCCS graduate nursing programs. All coursework is completed online, and clinical preceptorships are completed at an approved location near the student in approved states.