UMass Chan Medical School Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing offers 3 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- Graduate Entry Pathway to DNP (for non-nurses)
- BSN to DNP
- Post-Graduate Certificate
Program Tracks Overview
| Program Name | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate Entry Pathway to DNP AGACNP | $170,000–$190,000 | 4 years full time |
| BSN-DNP AGACNP | $75,000–$85,000 | 3 years full time |
| Post-Graduate Certificate AGACNP | $16,506–$22,572 | 1 year full time (2 semesters) |
All programs feature clinical placements across Massachusetts, hybrid online/in-person coursework, and access to world-class simulation facilities at UMass Chan’s Interprofessional Center for Experiential Learning and Simulation (iCELS). The program emphasizes critical care training with optional concentration coursework available to all DNP students.
Graduate Entry Pathway to DNP – AGACNP
The estimated cost for the Graduate Entry Pathway program is approximately $170,000-$190,000 for in-state students and would take 4 years to complete on a full-time basis (16 months for MS phase, then 3 years for DNP phase).
GEP Curriculum
The Graduate Entry Pathway combines pre-licensure nursing education with advanced DNP training. Year 1 focuses on earning the MS in Nursing degree with NCLEX preparation, achieving 100% pass rates. The DNP phase follows the standard AGACNP curriculum outlined below, totaling 67+ credits over 3 years.
GEP Clinicals
Clinical training begins in the MS phase across Massachusetts facilities, progressing to 540 acute care clinical hours during the DNP AGACNP specialty phase in hospital settings including ICUs, step-down units, and emergency departments.
GEP Admissions Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in non-nursing field
- 3.0+ GPA
- Statistics course completed
- Anatomy & Physiology I & II with lab (within 5 years, B- or higher)
- Microbiology with lab (within 5 years, B- or higher)
- Nutrition (within 7 years, B- or higher)
- Human Growth & Development (within 7 years, B- or higher)
- Two letters of recommendation
- 500-word personal statement addressing three prompts
- Video essay (three 2-minute responses)
- Supplemental application with criminal background check
BSN to DNP – AGACNP
The estimated cost for the BSN to DNP program is approximately $75,000-$85,000 for in-state students and would take 3 years to complete on a full-time basis.
DNP Curriculum
DNP Year 1 – Didactic
FALL
N 603A Societal Forces (3 cr)
This course explores social and health system forces that shape graduate nursing practice, education, and research. Students study determinants of health, health disparities, policy, ethics, economics, technology, and regulation of advanced practice.
N 603B.1 IP Community Service-Learning Practicum (0.5 cr)
This course uses interprofessional community service learning in underserved or high-risk settings. Students plan, deliver, and evaluate a health promotion or disease prevention activity using Healthy People goals.
N 613H Advanced Pathophysiology (3 cr)
This course examines how illness affects interconnected body systems. Students analyze pathophysiology research and evaluate nursing interventions that support improved physiologic outcomes.
N 704 Principles of Epidemiology (3 cr)
This course teaches skills for reading and critiquing medical research using epidemiology study designs. Students evaluate strengths and limits of designs and build a study plan to test a clinical question.
N 706 Health Policy (3 cr)
This course explains how US health care systems, financing, and delivery shape policy. Students analyze current policy issues and apply ethics and social science ideas to policy evaluation and implementation.
SPRING
N 603B.2 IP Community Service-Learning Practicum (0.5 cr)
This course continues the interprofessional community service learning experience. Students refine assessment, intervention, and evaluation of a community-based health strategy and complete the two-semester sequence.
N 614 Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics (3 cr)
This course prepares advanced practice nurses to select and manage medications for common acute and chronic conditions across the lifespan. Students apply pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and study legal and ethical issues in prescribing.
N 615 Advanced Health Assessment (3 cr)
This course builds advanced interviewing, exam, and documentation skills for comprehensive and focused assessments. Students identify abnormal findings, form differential diagnoses, and create evidence-based plans using case studies.
N 718H Scholarly Writing (1 cr)
This course strengthens academic writing using APA style. Students practice grammar, clarity, synthesis, and professional written communication.
SUMMER
N 715 Analytical Foundations of Practice Inquiry (2 cr)
This course introduces statistical thinking for practice-based questions. Students interpret results from statistical software and critique published findings using common univariate methods.
N 727 DNP Practice Inquiry Methods (2 cr)
This course teaches methods used to translate evidence into practice settings. Students study quality improvement, guidelines, program evaluation, and policy analysis, plus ethics, measures, data sources, and dissemination.
N 729 Diagnostic Reasoning: Complexities Associated with the Care of the Older Adult (3 cr)
This course applies advanced assessment and diagnostic reasoning to common and urgent older-adult problems. Students use a problem-based approach that includes biological, psychosocial, social, and cultural factors across care settings.
NXXX Elective (optional)
DNP Year 2 – Clinical
FALL
N 740A Adv. Nursing Science: AGACNP Theory & Clinical Practicum (5 cr)
This course develops advanced assessment and critical thinking for adult-gerontology acute care. Students study disease processes, diagnostic criteria, and management strategies for acute and complex chronic problems.
N 740B AGACNP Clinical Practicum I (3 cr)
This clinical course builds history taking, physical exam, and diagnostic reasoning skills for acute care patients. Students create management plans and apply evidence-based standards through supervised role practice.
SPRING
N 741A Adv. Nursing Science: AGACNP Theory II & Clinical Practicum II (5 cr)
This course strengthens AGACNP clinical reasoning using evidence-based management of acute and complex chronic conditions. Students refine decision making tied to diagnosis and treatment planning.
N 741B AGACNP Clinical Practicum II (3 cr)
This practicum advances clinical reasoning and management planning for adult and older adult patients with acute and complex chronic problems. Students expand independence while using evidence-based standards and professional communication.
N 709I DNP Project Proposal (1 cr)
This course supports early development of the DNP scholarly project proposal across two semesters. Students work with faculty to define a project focus and integrate science, coursework, and practice to shape the proposal.
SUMMER
N 741C AGACNP Clinical Practicum III (2 cr)
This practicum is the final AGACNP clinical course and focuses on role readiness for acute care practice. Students refine diagnostic reasoning and manage more complex patients with greater independence.
N 708 Organizational Systems & Health Care Financing (3 cr)
This course examines systems theory and health care finance in clinical organizations. Students analyze global and organizational factors that influence quality care and team-based practice.
N 709II DNP Project Proposal (1 cr)
This course completes the DNP proposal by focusing on methods and project design. Students finalize and present the full scholarly project proposal.
N 741DH Advanced Nursing Science, Theory III (2 cr)
This course deepens critical thinking for advanced practice competencies across adult-gerontology tracks. Students focus on health promotion, prevention, and management strategies grounded in evidence.
DNP Year 3 – Scholarly Project
FALL
N 772 DNP Scholarly Project: Implementation (2 cr)
This course requires implementation of a DNP scholarly project that improves patient-focused organizational outcomes. Students integrate core and specialty learning and complete 60 indirect practice role hours.
N 776 Leadership for Advanced Practice (3 cr)
This course develops the student’s leadership identity and change skills in health care systems. Students evaluate leadership theories and build strategies for system-level improvement and professional growth.
SPRING
N 773 DNP Scholarly Project: Evaluation (2 cr)
This course completes the scholarly project through outcome evaluation and program outcomes demonstration. Students complete 60 indirect practice role hours and show expertise at the practice doctorate level.
N 778 Transition to Advanced Practice (1 cr)
This course prepares students for entry into advanced practice roles. Students apply advanced clinical decision making through simulation, case work, and professional role content.
More curriculum details are available here.
DNP Clinicals
Students complete 540 clinical hours across acute care settings throughout Massachusetts in Year 2. Clinical experiences include rotations in intensive care units, emergency departments, and step-down units caring for acute, acute-on-chronic, and critically ill adult patients. The program provides clinical placement coordination support.
DNP Admissions Requirements
- BSN degree from accredited institution
- 3.0+ GPA preferred
- Unrestricted Massachusetts RN licensure
- Statistics course (B- or higher preferred)
- Three video essays (2 minutes each)
- 600-word personal statement (two 300-word sections)
- Two letters of recommendation (academic or professional, within 5 years preferred)
Post-Graduate Certificate – AGACNP
Note: UMass Chan is NOT accepting students into the AGACNP Post-Graduate Certificate for Fall 2025 admission.
The estimated cost for the Post-Graduate Certificate program would be approximately $16,506-$22,572 for in-state students and would take 1 year to complete on a full-time basis (18 credits over two semesters).
Certificate Curriculum
Fall:
- Advanced Nursing Science: AGACNP Theory I (6cr)
- Advanced Nursing Science: AGACNP Clinical Practicum I (3cr)
Spring:
- Advanced Nursing Science: AGACNP Theory II (6cr)
- Advanced Nursing Science: AGACNP Clinical Practicum II (3cr)
Certificate Clinicals
Students complete 540 clinical hours in acute care settings with adults and older adults over two semesters. Graduates are eligible to sit for AACN or ANCC Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP certification exams upon program completion.
Certificate Admissions Requirements
- Master’s degree in nursing
- Current NP certification (Adult, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care, or Family NP)
- Advanced Pathophysiology (completed previously)
- Advanced Pharmacology for APRN (completed previously)
- Advanced Health Assessment for APRN (completed previously)
- Successful completion of head-to-toe physical examination
Tuition
Graduate tuition for non-pre-licensure courses is $917 per credit hour for in-state students, $1,137 for New England Regional students, and $1,254 for out-of-state students.
Pre-licensure level courses cost $1,029 (in-state), $1,177 (regional), or $1,324 (out-of-state) per credit hour.
Program-specific fees include DNP Clinical Year Fee of $6,830, Equipment Fee of $382, Health/Counseling Fee of $996, and Student Services Fee of $224.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
The Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing pre-licensure program is approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing. The DNP program is ranked as the top Doctor of Nursing Practice Program in Massachusetts by Nursing Schools Almanac and is part of the commonwealth’s only public academic health sciences center.
Other ACNP Programs for Massachusetts Nurses
- Elms College - Chicopee
- Northeastern University - Boston
- Regis College - Weston