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Union University

Doctor of Nursing Practice

College of Nursing at Union

BSN-DNP Nurse Practitioner Track

The practice environment of a nurse practitioner is constantly changing. These changes are based on the increasing complexity of patient care and evolving practice issues of the healthcare system.

Request More Info Apply for Fall 2025

Program Offerings and Deadlines

  • Available blended between online and our Jackson, Germantown and Hendersonville campuses
  • Available full-time only
  • Admits once per year - Fall Semester start only.
  • Fall Cohort begins in August each year.
  • Rolling Admissions: Applicants may be interviewed after one of the following deadlines:
    • Priority deadline: Oct. 1
    • Second priority deadline: Dec. 1
    • Final deadline: April 1
    All documents, transcripts, and references must be received before one may be considered for an interview. The application cycle for the Fall 2025 cohort opens on Aug. 8, 2024.

2025-2026 Tuition Rates

Union Ranked #1 in the Nation
Union Ranked #1 in the Nation

Admissions

Admission Criteria

It is the policy of the graduate program of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Union University that all students applying for admissions meet the criteria as stated below:

  1. Have an unencumbered Tennessee or compact state RN licensure at the time of the application deadline.
  2. Completion of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, from an ACEN or CCNE accredited, and state approved nursing program
    1. The College of Nursing and Health Sciences BSN to DNP-NP program does not accept/transfer credits from courses taken on a pass/fail basis. All courses completed from other institutions prior to admission must adhere to the numerical GPA scale to meet the admission requirements.
    2. Applicants that have a prior degree from an institution that has a grading system of Pass/Fail will be reviewed on an individual basis by the program chair for possible acceptance.
  3. Last 60 hours GPA 3.0
  4. Cumulative science GPA (Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2, statistics) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale preferred
  5. Completion of the Nursing CAS application process, and other supplemental applications, which will include:
    1. 3 references (1 professional colleague, 1 professor, 1 supervisor)
    2. Personal Statement
    3. Official transcript(s) from all post-secondary institutions
    4. Statement of past clinical and/or work experiences, scholarly activities, and community service that supports future goals in obtaining a practice doctorate
  6. Union University College of Nursing application with $50 application fee
  7. If you are not a U.S. citizen, an international application must be completed and submitted with the Union University graduate supplemental application.
    1. All international transcripts must be evaluated by an accredited evaluating agency found at the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services' website: https://naces.org
    2. All international students must hold a permanent residence visa for acceptance to the BSN to DNP-NP program.
  8. Interviews will be conducted at the discretion of the chair of the NP program.
Admissions Contact

Nursing Admisssions, nursingadmissions@uu.edu, 731-661-5028, Fax: 731-661-5504

Admissions Checklist
  1. Application: All non-traditional nursing students must complete the NursingCAS application. After submitting your application in NursingCAS, you'll receive an email within 24 hours containing instructions to access your Union Enrollment Status Page. This page will have a link to the Supplemental Application and will provide updates throughout the enrollment process. It is important to submit your NursingCAS application at least 3–4 days before the deadline to ensure you have ample time to complete and submit your Supplemental Application on time. Incomplete and unverified applications received after the deadline will not be reviewed. If you should have questions about your NursingCAS application please feel free to contact them: (Phone: 617-612-2880 Email: nursingcasinfo@nursingcas.org)
    • *We strongly recommend checking your personal application page on the NursingCAS application portal to monitor the successful transmission of your transcripts and recommendations. Our admissions staff will also be working with you to ensure application completion.
  2. Read and sign the Community Values Statement and Standards of Admissions. Both signed pages must be received by the College of Nursing Admissions. (part of Supplemental Application)
  3. Application Fee: The Union University application fee is $50 and is non-refundable. You will be prompted to pay this fee after filling out the Supplemental Application. The NursingCAS application fee is $80 and is non-refundable. You have the option to pay online via the NursingCAS website.
  4. Transcripts: Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions must be submitted directly through NursingCAS. Please do not send transcripts for non-traditional nursing programs to Undergraduate Admissions. Transcripts may be sent to NursingCAS electronically or in a sealed envelope from all previous academic institutions attended. Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions must be sent to:
    • NursingCAS
      P.O. Box 9201
      Watertown, MA 02471
  5. Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of professional/academic reference specifying the applicant's capabilities for graduate study to include one letter of reference from the current supervisor. Letter of Recommendation forms are a part of the NursingCAS Application.
  6. Personal Statement: Please provide a statement of professional goals. Topics to be included are:
    • Your reasons for pursuing NAT, NP, EL, or PM DNP.
    • How you plan to use the DNP degree to transform your future practice and the profession
    • For PM DNP: A problem statement reflective of an issue in your practice you have identified as an opportunity for a practice inquiry project.
    • How you have prepared for success in this program
  7. Please provide proof of the items below by uploading to NursingCAS:
    • Proof of BSN or MSN degree completion, if applicable.
    • Proof of current RN Licensure.
    • Proof of Undergraduate Statistics.
    • Submission of Curriculum Vitae.
  8. Incomplete applications will not be considered for admission. All application documents must be received prior to the application deadlines. Incomplete applications will not be processed.
  9. If you are not a U.S. citizen, an international application must be completed and submitted with the BSN application. All international transcripts must be evaluated by an accredited evaluating agency found at the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services' website: naces.org
  10. Applicants from a country where the native language is not English may be required to show proof of English proficiency with scores no lower than 105 on the DuoLingo English Proficiency test. In addition, students must provide WES evaluations of transcripts.
  11. Applications which are incomplete by the application deadlines will be considered ineligible for admission.

Curriculum Models

Family Nurse Practitioner Track
Fall I
NUR 720 Faith and Science 3
NUR 515 Advanced Nursing Statistics for the Health Sciences 3
NUR 544 Advanced Health Assessment 3
BIO 500 Advanced Pathophysiology 2
NUR 622 Advanced Pharmacology 3
    14
Spring I
NUR 533 Advanced Nursing Research and Evidence Based Practice 3
NUR 715 Technological Transformations of Healthcare 3
NUR 547 Primary Care of the Family: Health Promotion (160 clinical hours) 4
    10
Summer I
NUR 600 Primary Care Procedures 2
NUR 617 Primary Care of the Family: Pediatric and Women's Health (160 clinical hours) 4
NUR 559 Role Development and Collaborative Strategies in Advanced Nursing Practice 2
    8
Fall II
NUR 710 Methods for Evidence Based Practice 3
NUR 730 Epidemiology 3
NUR 639 Primary Care of the Family: Acute and Chronic Management (160 clinical hours) 4
    10
Spring II
NUR 793 DNP Project Development 3
NUR 725 Healthcare Policy and Economics 3
NUR 650 Specialty Focus Practicum (80 clinical hours) 2
    8
Summer II
NUR 735 Fellowship I 2
NUR 705 Organizational Leadership and Management 3
NUR 745 Leadership and Teaching Practice Strategies 3
    8
Fall III
NUR 791 DNP Project Implementation 3
NUR 738 Fellowship II 3
    6
Spring III
NUR 794 DNP Project Completion 3
NUR 739 Fellowship III 3
    6
Summer III
NUR 728 Transitions to DNP Practice 3
    3
Total Credit Hours 73
Total Months 36
Total Clinical Hours 1220
Psychiatric Mental Health Track
Fall I
NUR 720 Faith and Science 3
NUR 515 Advanced Nursing Statistics for the Health Sciences 3
NUR 544 Advanced Health Assessment 3
BIO 500 Advanced Pathophysiology 2
NUR 566 Models and Theories for Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing 2
NUR 622 Advanced Pharmacology 3
    16
Spring I
NUR 533 Advanced Nursing Research and Evidence Based Practice 3
NUR 715 Technological Transformations of Healthcare 3
NUR 651 Mental Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning Across the Lifespan (160 clinical hours) 4
NUR 652 Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan 3
    13
Summer I
NUR 559 Role Development and Collaborative Strategies in Advanced Nursing Practice 2
NUR 653 Management of Acute and Chronic Mental Health Disorders: Children and Adolescents (160 hours) 4
    6
Fall II
NUR 710 Methods for Evidence Based Practice 3
NUR 730 Epidemiology 3
NUR 654 Management of Acute and Chronic Disorders Mental Health Disorders: Adult/Geriatric Populations (160 clinical hours) 4
    10
Spring II
NUR 793 DNP Project Development 3
NUR 725 Healthcare Policy and Economics 3
NUR 650 Specialty Focus Practicum (80 clinical hours) 2
    8
Summer II
NUR 735 Fellowship I 2
NUR 705 Organizational Leadership and Management 3
NUR 745 Leadership and Teaching Practice Strategies 3
    8
Fall III
NUR 791 DNP Project Implementation 3
NUR 738 Fellowship II 3
    6
Spring III
NUR 794 DNP Project Completion 3
NUR 739 Fellowship III 3
    6
Summer III
NUR 728 Transitions to DNP Practice 3
    3
Total Credit Hours 76
Total Months 36
Total Clinical Hours 1220
Certification Exams
  • FNP graduates are eligible to sit for the Family Nurse Practitioner Certification exams administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
  • The Psychiatric Mental health graduates are eligible to sit for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner exam administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.