Seton Hall University offers 2 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Post-Master’s Certificate – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The MSN program is available online and prepares graduates to practice as nurse practitioners serving adult to elderly populations in acute settings.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program Name | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN – AGACNP | ≈ $75,360 | 2.5–4 years |
| Post-Master’s Certificate – AGCNP | ≈ $37,680–$61,230 | 1.5–3 years |
MSN – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the MSN-AGACNP program is approximately $75,360 plus fees and takes 2.5-4 years to complete on a full-time basis.
MSN Curriculum
The MSN-AGACNP track requires 48 credits consisting of core graduate nursing courses, didactic specialty courses, and clinical practicum experiences.
Students can take up to two courses per semester with programs typically completed in 5-8 semesters depending on full-time or part-time enrollment.
Required Courses:
NURS 6123 – Theoretical Basis for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 Credits)
Introduces major contemporary nursing and related theories that guide advanced practice. Students analyze philosophical and theoretical perspectives that shape nursing care. Emphasis is on how theory develops and connects to empirical research.
NURS 6124 – Forces in Health Care (3 Credits)
Examines how social, political, economic, and organizational forces influence health care. Students study how health policies are created and how key issues are framed and debated. Focus is on understanding policy arguments and their impact on practice and patient outcomes.
NURS 6223 – Health Promotion (3 Credits)
Explores comprehensive health needs for individuals across all ages. Reviews current and emerging approaches to health promotion and disease prevention in modern care systems. Emphasis is on strategies that support wellness in diverse populations.
NURS 6411 – Advanced Clinical Pathophysiology (3 Credits)
Covers the pathogenesis of major health conditions and their clinical manifestations. Students link signs and symptoms to underlying disease mechanisms. The course supports clinical reasoning by connecting etiology to appropriate management strategies.
NURS 6221 – Health Concepts for Aging (3 Credits)
Focuses on healthy aging, chronic illness, and frailty in older adults. Students use biopsychosocial theories of aging and evidence-based practice to examine management of chronic conditions. The course also considers policy, payment systems, and access issues affecting elders in both institutional and community settings.
NURS 6415 – Clinical Pharmacology (3 Credits)
Provides advanced pharmacotherapeutic knowledge for ambulatory patients from childhood through older age. Students study qualitative and quantitative aspects of drug action, including dosing and monitoring. Emphasis is on safe, effective medication use based on NURS 6411 foundations.
NURS 7141 – Nursing Research I (3 Credits)
Introduces methods used in quantitative and qualitative nursing research. Students critique published studies and explore scientific inquiry, ethics, and the role of research in theory and practice. The course builds skills to design practice-focused, theory-based research proposals.
NURS 7236 – Acute Care Theory I (3 Credits)
Prepares nurse practitioner students to manage common acute health problems in adults and older adults. Content builds on biopsychosocial concepts to support culturally responsive care. Health promotion and maintenance principles are integrated into acute care decision-making.
NURS 7250 – Acute Care Theory (3 Credits)
Focuses on diagnosis and management of chronic conditions across the illness trajectory. Case-based learning highlights risk factor modification and management strategies for major causes of morbidity and mortality. Attention is given to care of older adolescents through older adults, including diverse and minority populations.
NURS 7333 – Graduate Practicum I: Older Years (3 Credits)
Provides 135 clinical hours to build advanced, comprehensive assessment skills across age groups, with emphasis on older adults. Students perform bio-psycho-socio-economic, developmental, and functional assessments while strengthening cultural competence. The practicum supports role transition under close preceptor supervision.
NURS 7348 – Graduate Nursing Practicum II: Acute Care (4 Credits)
Introduces students to the acute care nurse practitioner role on interprofessional teams. Clinical experiences focus on patients with chronic or stabilizing acute conditions, emphasizing case management. Weekly seminars use case studies related to Acute Care Theory content.
NURS 7360 – Graduate Nursing Practicum III: Acute Care (4 Credits)
Emphasizes ongoing assessment and management of patients with acute and chronic conditions in inner-city tertiary and critical care settings. Students manage a patient caseload and progress from observing procedures to performing them with supervision. Seminar time supports reflection and integration of clinical experiences.
NURS 7369 – Graduate Nursing Practicum IV: Acute Care (4 Credits)
Focuses on management of critically ill adults and their families from onset of critical illness through recovery or end of life. Students provide holistic case management that spans intensive care, long-term care, and community settings. The course highlights use of complex technologies and collaboration with clinical nurse specialists.
NURS 7370 – Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Decision Making (3 Credits)
Develops advanced, integrated assessment skills to support accurate and timely clinical decisions. Students interpret data in light of patients’ biological, psychological, social, economic, cultural, developmental, and functional status. The course addresses shared decision-making, decision support, and cognitive biases that affect clinical judgment.
NURS 7470 – Advanced Professional Role Enactment (3 Credits)
Explores the evolving role of the advanced practice nurse in contemporary health care. Students analyze social, economic, and legal factors that shape acceptance and use of the nurse practitioner role. Leadership, role development, and case management for diverse populations are key themes.
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN Clinicals
The MSN-AGACNP program requires 675 total clinical hours distributed across four practicum courses following a preceptorship model.
Practicum I requires 135 clinical and seminar hours, while Practica II, III, and IV each require 180 clinical hours.
Clinical instruction is carried out by nurse practitioners and/or physicians who model collaborative practice behaviors at agency sites.
Students are assessed for cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning domains in clinical practice settings and during on-campus immersion experiences.
Out-of-state students should verify clinical rotation availability with the Director of Graduate Admissions before applying.
MSN Prerequisites & Admissions
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing from NLNAC, ACEN, or CCNE accredited program
- One year of professional nursing experience in acute care setting required at time of application
- Cumulative GPA of 3.2 or above (higher than standard 3.0 for other NP programs)
- Statement of professional goals
- Registered professional nurse licensure in U.S. state of practice and in New Jersey if clinical performed in New Jersey
- Letters of reference (one professional, one academic; two professional letters may be used if applicant is out of school over 5 years)
- TOEFL scores and WES reports for nurses educated outside U.S. or in language other than English (minimum scores: 22 reading, 22 listening, 26 speaking, 24 writing)
- $75 application fee
- Personal interview for selected students
- Academic prerequisites: Statistics, Nursing Research, and Undergraduate Physical Assessment course (not credited toward graduate degree)
- Basic physical assessment refresher course required prior to enrolling in Practicum I
- Prior to enrollment: Joint Commission and OSHA requirements for immunization, medical history, liability insurance, criminal background check, BLS for Healthcare Professionals certification, and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification
Post-Master’s Certificate – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s Certificate AGACNP program is approximately $37,680-$61,230 plus fees and takes 1.5-3 years to complete depending on gap analysis results.
Certificate Curriculum
The Post-Master’s Certificate requires 18-39 credits with exact credit requirements determined through individualized gap analysis.
The certificate prepares nurse practitioners with master’s degrees to attain additional AGACNP certification through both didactic and clinical courses.
Required Courses for All Post-Master’s Certificates:
- NURS 6223: Health Promotion (3 credits)
- NURS 6411: Advanced Clinical Pathophysiology (3 credits)
- NURS 6415: Clinical Pharmacology (3 credits)
- NURS 7370: Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Decision Making (3 credits)
- NURS 7470: Advanced Professional Role Enactment (3 credits)
AGACNP-Specific Courses (24 credits):
- NURS 6221: Health Concepts for Aging (3 credits)
- NURS 7236: Acute Care Theory I (3 credits)
- NURS 7250: Acute Care Theory (3 credits)
- NURS 7333: Graduate Practicum I: Older Years (3 credits)
- NURS 7348: Graduate Nursing Practicum II: Acute Care (4 credits)
- NURS 7360: Graduate Nursing Practicum III: Acute Care (4 credits)
- NURS 7369: Graduate Nursing Practicum IV: Acute Care (4 credits)
More curriculum details are available here.
Certificate Clinicals
Clinical placements are individualized and congruent with AGACNP certification requirements following the preceptorship model. Placement is made with certified, experienced advanced nurse practitioners and/or physicians.
Clinical hours are distributed across four practicum courses totaling 675 hours:
- 135 hours in Practicum I
- 180 hours each in Practica II, III, and IV
Students are assessed throughout clinical practice settings during hands-on experiences guided by onsite preceptors.
Certificate Prerequisites & Admissions
- Master’s degree in nursing from accredited program
- Gap analysis conducted to determine specific credit requirements (18-39 credits)
- Current nurse practitioner licensure
- Clinical experience as NP preferred
- Completion of prerequisite courses as determined by gap analysis
- All standard graduate nursing admission requirements apply
- Upon completion, graduates eligible to apply for AGACNP certification through appropriate certifying body
Tuition
Graduate nursing tuition is $1,570 per credit.
Full-time students (9+ credits) pay a $300 Graduate Nursing Fee per semester, $495 Technology Fee per semester, and $215 University Fee per semester.
Part-time students pay $160 Technology Fee per semester and $145 University Fee per semester.
Additional course-specific fees may include graphics lab fees ($25-$100), lab supply fees ($55-$105), Nursing EHR Go ($50-$100), and Nursing vSims ($40-$150). A one-time Nursing Review Course Fee of $350 applies.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at Seton Hall University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Seton Hall University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Graduates are prepared to take the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care certification exams through ANCC as well as the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) exam.
Related ACNP Programs for New Jersey Students
- Rowan University - Glassboro
- Rutgers University - Newark