Quinnipiac University School of Nursing offers Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner track:
- delivered 100% online with four mandatory one-week on-campus immersions featuring hands-on learning in state-of-the-art facilities and simulation labs.
- Students can typically complete the program in just over 2 years, maintaining flexibility while working.
- Quinnipiac’s AGACNP program achieved a 100% first-time pass rate in 2024 on the Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam.
- Graduates can transition seamlessly into the DNP program within two years of completing the MSN, without losing credits or repeating coursework.
Program Track Overview
Master of Science in Nursing – AGACNP
The estimated cost for the MSN-AGACNP program is $52,275 and takes approximately 2.5 years to complete full-time across 51 credits.
Curriculum
The MSN-AGACNP program totals 51 credits delivered entirely online except for four mandatory one-week on-campus immersions. The curriculum includes advanced practice nursing core courses, specialty assessment and diagnostic reasoning, acute care pharmacology, and sequential clinical practicums with diagnosis and management courses.
Required Courses (51 credits):
NUR 501 – Nursing Scholarship and Evidence-Based Practice (3 credits)
Introduces the principles and steps of evidence-based practice and how they relate to theory, research, and quality improvement. Students examine ethical and cultural issues in research and learn core methods of scientific inquiry. Common barriers to implementing evidence-based practice in real settings are identified and discussed.
NUR 502 – Principles of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (3 credits)
Covers fundamental epidemiologic concepts and methods used to study patterns of health and disease in populations. Students learn to interpret data, evaluate population-level interventions, and connect findings to nursing practice. Basic descriptive and inferential statistics are introduced and applied to health scenarios.
NUR 503 – Advanced Practice Nursing Leadership (3 credits)
Explores leadership theories and behaviors relevant to advanced practice nursing roles. Topics include health policy, ethics, interprofessional collaboration, and systems-based practice. Students analyze how nurse leaders influence care delivery and outcomes.
NUR 504 – Healthcare Technology and Innovation (3 credits)
Examines how nurses use technology and innovation to streamline workflows and improve care. Students explore tools that support communication, workload management, and patient engagement. The course emphasizes using technology to create more time for direct, high-quality patient interaction.
NUR 520 – Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
Teaches comprehensive health assessment skills and professional documentation across the lifespan. Students practice focused and head-to-toe examinations within diverse communities and settings. The course introduces diagnostic decision-making based on assessment findings.
NUR 520L – Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan Lab (2 credits)
Provides hands-on practice performing holistic health assessments in a lab and clinical residency format. Students refine physical exam techniques, communication, and clinical observation skills. The lab supports application of concepts learned in NUR 520.
NUR 522 – Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits)
Focuses on advanced principles of human pathophysiology and how diseases disrupt normal function. Students link common disorders to underlying homeostatic and defense mechanisms. Clinical correlations highlight how symptoms and physical findings reflect disease processes.
NUR 530 – Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits)
Introduces advanced pharmacokinetics and pharmacologic management across the lifespan. Students study major drug classes, indications, contraindications, and issues related to controlled substances and misuse. Legal and professional responsibilities of prescriptive authority in advanced practice are clearly outlined.
NUR 660 – Advanced Specialty Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning for the AGACNP (3 credits)
Builds advanced assessment and diagnostic reasoning skills for acutely ill adult–gerontology patients. Students integrate comprehensive health histories, focused exams, and communication strategies within a holistic framework. Learning is reinforced through ongoing application and a required on-ground immersion experience.
NUR 661 – Clinical Practicum and Seminar I for the AGACNP (3 credits)
Introduces supervised acute care clinical practice with 150 hours at an approved site. Students begin to apply diagnostic reasoning, manage common conditions, and clarify the AGACNP role. Seminars and simulation activities support reflection, skills practice, and feedback.
NUR 662 – Advanced Acute Care Pharmacology (2 credits)
Expands on prior pharmacology coursework to address medication management in acute care. Students study commonly used drugs, drug–drug interactions, and the risks of polypharmacy. Emphasis is on safe prescribing and monitoring in high-acuity settings.
NUR 663 – Clinical Practicum and Seminar II for the AGACNP (3 credits)
Provides 240 clinical hours to deepen acute care practice with more complex patients. Students refine assessment, intervention, and decision-making skills while applying ethical and legal standards. Seminars and simulations help integrate evidence-based care into day-to-day practice.
NUR 664 – Acute Care Diagnosis and Management I (3 credits)
Begins a three-course sequence on diagnosis and management for AGACNP practice. Students strengthen differential diagnosis skills and develop initial treatment plans for acute conditions. Care is framed through a holistic, patient-centered, and evidence-based lens with attention to team collaboration.
NUR 665 – Clinical Practicum and Seminar III for the AGACNP (4 credits)
Offers 240 additional clinical hours focused on complex and comorbid acute care cases. Students advance their clinical and leadership skills for coordinating interdisciplinary management. Seminar activities emphasize reflection on decision-making and role development in complex situations.
NUR 666 – Acute Care Diagnosis and Management II (3 credits)
Continues the diagnosis and management series with more advanced clinical scenarios. Students further refine differential diagnoses and treatment plans while considering social, ethical, and legal factors. Both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic strategies are emphasized in patient-centered care.
NUR 667 – Clinical Practicum and Seminar IV for the AGACNP (3 credits)
Serves as the final clinical practicum with 150 hours focused on complex patient care within health systems. Students integrate prior learning to manage high-acuity cases and navigate system-level influences on care. Seminars support consolidation of advanced clinical skills and professional role identity.
NUR 668 – Acute Care Diagnosis and Management III (3 credits)
Completes the diagnosis and management series with emphasis on comprehensive plans for highly complex patients. Students practice advanced clinical decision-making that accounts for systems-based factors and care transitions. The course reinforces holistic, evidence-based management with clear triage and intervention strategies.
NUR 669 – Transition to Practice for the APRN (1 credit)
Prepares nurse practitioner students for entry into advanced practice roles. Topics include scope of practice, interprofessional relationships, professional development, and self-care. Students practice key professional skills such as leadership behaviors, collaboration, and effective use of informatics.
More curriculum details are available here.
Clinicals
MSN-AGACNP students complete clinical hours distributed across four sequential clinical practicum and seminar courses:
- NUR 661
- NUR 663
- NUR 665
- NUR 667
Four mandatory one-week on-campus immersions are required throughout the program, providing focused hands-on experience in simulation labs and skills training.
Quinnipiac School of Nursing only makes clinical placements for students in Connecticut; students outside Connecticut are required to identify their own clinical sites and preceptors with guidance and recommendations from the School of Nursing.
Students must have at least one year of full-time acute care experience (ER or critical care preferred) prior to program entry.
Prerequisites & Admissions
- BSN degree with minimum 3.0 GPA
- At least one year of full-time RN experience (approximately 2,000 hours) in an ICU or acute care setting
- Undergraduate statistics course with grade of C or better (conditional acceptance available with completion of Quinnipiac statistics course)
- Current unencumbered and unrestricted RN license
- Minimum of one reference from professional supervisors or faculty who can speak to applicant’s professionalism, strengths, opportunities, and clinical experience in specialty
- Current resume or CV
- Personal statement (maximum 300 words per question) addressing: reasons for pursuing MSN at Quinnipiac, interest in AGACNP specialty, how professional experience prepares for advanced practice, career goals, graduate program readiness, professional self-assessment, resilience example, and plan for balancing commitments
- Official transcripts from all undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools attended
- International applicants: official TOEFL or IELTS scores
- Nonrefundable $45 application fee
- Background check and drug screen required after acceptance before classes begin
- Applications accepted on rolling basis with final deadlines generally two weeks prior to class start (Spring deadline: January 1; Fall deadline: August 1)
- Program currently accepts applications from students in: CT, MA, NY, NJ, RI, NH, VT, ME, and PA
- New York students cannot complete clinical requirements in NY (must complete in CT or NJ)
Tuition
Graduate nursing tuition is $1,025 per credit for the 2025-26 academic year.
Full-time students (Fall/Spring semester) pay $18,100 tuition plus fees; part-time students pay $12,750 tuition plus fees for Fall/Spring.
Student fees are $50 per credit (not to exceed $450 per semester), registration fees are $30 per term, and technology/lab fees are $420 per semester for full-time students or $195 per semester for part-time students.
Course fees of $1,280 apply to students taking specific clinical practicum courses (NUR 661, 663, 665, 667).
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, Master of Science in Nursing program, and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Quinnipiac University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Graduates of the AGACNP MSN program are eligible to take the national certification exam for Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioners.
Other Nursing Programs
Quinnipiac University School of Nursing offers additional programs including:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- Accelerated BSN
- New Careers in Nursing BSN (partnership with Hartford HealthCare)
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
- MSN concentrations: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (not currently accepting new students), Family Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Administration and Leadership, Nurse Educator
- Graduate Certificates: Health Professions Education, Holistic Nursing, Pain Management, Healthcare Innovation
More ACNP Programs for Connecticut Residents
- University of Connecticut - Storrs
- Western Connecticut State University - Danbury
- Yale University - New Haven