University of Southern Indiana ACNP Programs (Acute Care) Online

The University of Southern Indiana offers 3 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) pathways:

Master of Science in Nursing – MSN AGACNP
Doctor of Nursing Practice – BSN to DNP AGACNP
Post-Master’s Certificate – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

All three programs are delivered 100% online with clinical placements arranged in the student’s home geographic area, supported by USI’s network of faculty-vetted preceptors across numerous U.S. states.

Program Tracks Overview

Program	Est. Tuition (In-State)	Est. Duration
MSN A G ACNP	~$24,351	2.5–3 years
BSN-DNP AGACNP	~$48,631	4–5 years
Certificate AGACNP	~$13,817	Varies

USI’s online nursing programs carry a national ranking from U.S. News & World Report, including recognition as one of the best online programs for veterans.

Master of Science in Nursing – AGACNP

The estimated cost for the MSN AGACNP program is approximately $24,351 and would take 2.5–3 years to complete on a full-time basis.

Estimate based on 42 credit hours × $546.94/credit including the $100/credit nursing program fee, plus approximately $1,380 in University Services and Comprehensive Learning fees across 6 semesters.

MSN Curriculum

The MSN AGACNP requires 42 credit hours divided across nursing core courses, clinical core courses, and specialty courses. All courses require a grade of B or better to earn the degree.

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Courses

NURS 674. Management of the Acutely Ill Adult and Geriatric Patient I
Introduces clinical management strategies for adolescents, adults, and older adults with acute or critical illness or worsening chronic conditions. Students examine the acute care nurse practitioner role within multidisciplinary care teams while focusing on stabilization and recovery. The course includes required supervised clinical hours.

NURS 675. Management of the Acutely Ill Adult and Geriatric Patient II
Builds on prior acute care training with continued study of complex health conditions affecting adult and geriatric patients. Students develop advanced clinical decision-making skills while collaborating with interdisciplinary health care teams. The course includes direct patient care experiences in clinical settings.

NURS 676. Management of the Acutely Ill Adult and Geriatric Patient III
Provides advanced clinical preparation for managing critically ill adult and elderly patients. Students strengthen diagnostic reasoning, treatment planning, and patient monitoring skills while working within acute care teams. Clinical practice hours support the development of advanced practice competence.

MSN Clinical Core Courses

NURS 617. Advanced Concepts of Pathophysiology
Examines physiological and pathological processes that influence acute and chronic illness across the lifespan. Students apply pathophysiology theories to understand disease development and guide advanced nursing care.

NURS 618. Advanced Health Assessment
Develops advanced clinical assessment skills for advanced practice nurses. Students learn to conduct comprehensive health histories, perform detailed physical examinations, and interpret findings to support diagnostic reasoning.

NURS 622. Clinical Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nurses
Explores pharmacological treatments used in patient care across the lifespan. Students study drug mechanisms, therapeutic uses, adverse effects, and prescribing considerations to support safe and effective medication management.

MSN Nursing Core Courses

NURS 601. Roles for Advanced Nursing Practice
Introduces the history and development of advanced nursing roles such as nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse educator, and nurse leader. Students examine professional competencies, education requirements, and regulatory standards for advanced practice.

NURS 602. Evidence-Based Practice for Advanced Nursing
Focuses on applying research findings to clinical practice. Students evaluate scientific literature, synthesize research evidence, and develop an evidence-based project that supports improved health outcomes.

NURS 603. Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Practice Nursing
Explores nursing theories and related scientific frameworks used in advanced practice. Students integrate theoretical concepts to support interdisciplinary collaboration and improve patient care.

NURS 604. Population Based Care and Health Policy
Examines population health concepts and the influence of social and environmental determinants on health outcomes. Students analyze epidemiological data and explore health policy strategies that improve community health.

NURS 605. Healthcare Informatics for Advanced Nursing Practice
Introduces information systems used in modern health care environments. Students study data management, information security, and digital tools that support clinical decision-making and patient care.

NURS 606. Nursing Leadership in Healthcare Systems
Examines leadership strategies used to guide change within health care organizations. Students analyze system performance, evaluate ethical and financial considerations, and develop approaches that improve organizational outcomes and patient care.

View the course catalog page for more details.

MSN Clinicals

Clinical practice requirements are completed in the student’s own geographic area. Students identify preceptors and clinical sites with assistance from USI’s clinical liaison; all preceptors and sites require written approval and a formal agreement before clinical hours begin. Campus visits may be required to demonstrate clinical competency, and faculty validate competency through virtual sessions, site visits, and preceptor conferences.

MSN Admissions Requirements

BSN from a nationally and regionally accredited nursing program
Minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (total BSN GPA, including transfer courses)
Undergraduate statistics course with a grade of C or better
Unencumbered U.S. RN license in all states of practice
International BSN graduates must submit evaluated transcript comparable to a U.S. BSN
One year full-time RN experience or 2,000 hours within the last five years (recommended, not required)
Online application + $40 application fee
Current professional resume or CV
Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions
Full-time and part-time study options available based on course availability

BSN-to-DNP – AGACNP

The estimated cost for the BSN-to-DNP AGACNP program is approximately $48,631 and would take 4–5 years to complete.

Estimate based on 78 credit hours × $596.94/credit including the $150/credit DNP program fee, plus approximately $2,070 in University Services and Comprehensive Learning fees across 9 semesters.

DNP Curriculum

The BSN-to-DNP requires 78 credit hours across four course categories: nursing core, project courses, clinical core, and specialty courses. Students proceed directly from a BSN to a DNP without earning an interim MSN. All courses require a grade of B or better.

BSN-to-DNP Nursing Core Courses (48 credits)

NURS 601 – Roles for Advanced Nursing Practice (1 cr)
NURS 602 – Evidence-based Practice for Advanced Nursing (4 cr)
NURS 603 – Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Practice Nursing (3 cr)
NURS 713 – Theory and Practice (3 cr)
NURS 715 – Analytical Methods for Population-Based Care (4 cr)
NURS 717 – Cultural Diversity (2 cr)
NURS 721 – Systems Leadership and Interprofessional Collaboration (5 cr)
NURS 724 – Healthcare Policy and Strategic Planning (3 cr)
NURS 725 – Resource Utilization in Healthcare (4 cr)
NURS 727 – Healthcare Technology and Informatics (3 cr)
NURS 732 – Wellness Promotion (2 cr)
NURS 734 – Patient Management Clinical Application Seminar (1 cr)
NURS 736 – Clinical Application of Pharmacotherapeutics (2 cr)
NURS 741 – Application of Assessment with Differential Diagnoses (1 cr)
NURS 772 – Clinical Education (4 cr)
NURS 854 – Critical Appraisal of Practice (3 cr)
NURS 855 – Synthesis of Nursing Practice (3 cr)

BSN-to-DNP Project Courses (6 credits)

NURS 866 – DNP Project Proposal (1 cr)
NURS 874 – DNP Project I (3 cr)
NURS 875 – DNP Project II (2 cr)

Clinical Core Courses (9 credits)

NURS 617 – Advanced Concepts of Pathophysiology (3 cr)
NURS 618 – Advanced Health Assessment (3 cr)
NURS 622 – Clinical Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nurses (3 cr)

AGACNP Specialty Courses (15 credits)

NURS 774 – Management of the Acutely Ill Adult and Geriatric Patient I for BSN to DNP (5 cr)
NURS 775 – Management of the Acutely Ill Adult and Geriatric Patient II for BSN to DNP (5 cr)
NURS 776 – Management of the Acutely Ill Adult III for BSN to DNP (5 cr)

See the course catalog page for more details.

DNP Clinicals

The BSN-to-DNP includes both direct and indirect practice hours in addition to the 78 credit hours. As with the MSN, clinical requirements are completed in the student’s geographic area through faculty-coordinated preceptor placements. All preceptors and clinical sites require written USI approval prior to beginning hours. Campus visits may be required to validate competency.

DNP Admissions Requirements

BSN from a nationally and regionally accredited nursing program
Minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (total BSN GPA)
Undergraduate statistics course with a grade of C or better
Unencumbered U.S. RN license in all states of practice
International BSN graduates must submit evaluated transcript comparable to a U.S. BSN
One year full-time RN experience or 2,000 hours within the last five years (recommended, not required)
Online application + $40 application fee
Current professional resume or CV
Official transcripts from highest degree-granting institution; unofficial transcripts from all other institutions attended
Applicants seeking transfer credit must submit official transcripts from the transferring institution

Post-Master’s Certificate – AGACNP

The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s Certificate in AGACNP is approximately $13,817 (24 credit hours × $546.94/credit including the $100/credit nursing program fee, plus approximately $690 in University Services and Comprehensive Learning fees across 2–3 semesters), with time to completion varying by prior coursework and transfer credit eligibility.

Certificate Curriculum

The program totals 24 credit hours divided into a 9-credit Clinical Core and a 15-credit AGACNP Specialty block. Up to 9 graduate credit hours may be transferred from another nationally or regionally accredited institution (grade of B or better required).

APRN specialty courses from outside institutions are not eligible for transfer. The 3 P’s — Advanced Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, and Health Assessment — may be transferred if completed at the graduate level within the past 5 years, subject to committee approval. All courses require a grade of B or better.

PMC Clinical Core (9 credits) — transferable

NURS 617 – Advanced Concepts of Pathophysiology (3 cr)
NURS 618 – Advanced Health Assessment (3 cr)
NURS 622 – Clinical Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nurses (3 cr)

AGACNP Specialty Courses (15 credits) — must be completed at USI

NURS 674 – Management of the Acutely Ill Adult and Geriatric Patient I (5 cr)
NURS 675 – Management of the Acutely Ill Adult and Geriatric Patient II (5 cr)
NURS 676 – Management of the Acutely Ill Adult and Geriatric Patient III (5 cr)

View the course catalog page for more details.

Certificate Clinicals

Clinical hours are completed in the student’s geographic area alongside the specialty coursework. Students identify preceptors and clinical sites with USI clinical liaison support; all sites and preceptors require written approval and a formal agency agreement before hours begin. Campus visits may be required for clinical competency validation.

Certificate Admissions Requirements

MSN from a nationally accredited nursing program and a nationally or regionally accredited college or university
Admission to USI’s School of Graduate Studies (includes official MSN transcript)
Online application + $40 application fee
Three references with contact information
Current professional resume or CV
Official transcripts submitted to Graduate Studies (electronic preferred)
International applicants may be required to submit additional documentation
Transfer credit requests require course syllabus submission; faculty reserve the right to request course work samples

Tuition

USI graduate nursing tuition is assessed per credit hour based on program level and residency status.

In-state and Kentucky reciprocity students pay $446.94/credit hour; online non-resident students pay $496.94/credit hour.

A program-specific nursing fee applies on top of base tuition: $100/credit hour for MSN programs (including the Post-Master’s Certificate) and $150/credit hour for DNP programs.

Additional per-semester fees include a University Services Fee ($10–$30 depending on credit load) and a Comprehensive Learning Fee ($100–$200 depending on credit load).

More tuition details are available here.

Application Deadlines

The MSN AGACNP program accepts applications for fall, spring, and summer starts. The BSN-to-DNP and Post-Master’s Certificate programs list the following upcoming dates:

Milestone	Date
Incoming Start Date	August 17, 2026
Application Deadline	July 1, 2026
Document Deadline	July 15, 2026

Applications are not reviewed until all required materials have been received. For MSN-specific deadlines across all entry terms, visit

USI’s MSN admissions page.

Accreditation

All three AGACNP programs at the University of Southern Indiana — the MSN, BSN-to-DNP, and Post-Master’s Certificate — are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE, ccneaccreditation.org).

Graduates are eligible to pursue national certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), with licensure and certification requirements varying by state.

Additional ACNP Programs in Indiana

Indiana University - Bloomington
University of Indianapolis - Indianapolis