Thomas Jefferson University College of Nursing offers 2 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- Master of Science in Nursing – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (MSN-AGACNP)
- Post-Graduate Certificate – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (PGC-AGACNP)
Program Tracks Overview
| MSN AGACNP | $68,759 | 2–3 years |
| Certificate AGACNP | $24,066 | 12–18 months |
Both programs offer online or combination online/on-site courses with flexible two- and three-year study options, allowing students to balance professional and academic commitments.
Master of Science in Nursing – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the MSN-AGACNP program is $68,759 total tuition, and would take 2-3 years to complete depending on course load.
Estimate based on $1,337 per credit for 45 credits plus fees including $1,054 departmental fee, IT fee, library fee, and clinical course fees.
MSN Curriculum
The 45-credit MSN-AGACNP curriculum prepares BSN-prepared registered nurses to assess and manage the full continuum of care services for acutely and critically ill patients across the high acuity spectrum.
The program consists of 12 courses including graduate core curriculum (18 credits), APRN core curriculum (9 credits), and specialty curriculum (18 credits).
Students are required to complete a minimum of 16 hours per week during three clinical courses, earning 750 clinical hours total at program completion. All accepted students attend mandatory one-day on-campus orientation before the program begins, where individual plans of study are created.
Graduate Core Curriculum (18 credits):
- NU 717: Health and Social Policy (3 credits)
- NU 603: Research for Advanced Practice Nursing I (3 credits)
- NU 704: Philosophy, Foundations, and Methods for Evidence-Based Practice (3 credits)
- NU 605: Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse (3 credits)
- NU 696: Leadership and Critical Decision Making (3 credits)
- NU 713: Digital Transformation in Healthcare: Trends and Opportunities (3 credits)
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Core Curriculum (9 credits):
- NU 570: Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology (3 credits)
- NU 673: Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits)
- NU 560: Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics (3 credits)
Specialty Curriculum (18 credits):
- NU 631: Diagnostic Reasoning and Clinical Decision Making for Acute Care Advanced Practice Nurse I (6 credits)
- NU 632: Diagnostic Reasoning and Clinical Decision Making for Acute Care Advanced Practice Nurse II (6 credits)
- NU 633: Diagnostic Reasoning and Clinical Decision Making for Acute Care Advanced Practice Nurse III (6 credits)
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN Clinicals
The MSN-AGACNP program requires 750 total clinical hours distributed across three clinical courses (NU 631, NU 632, NU 633). Students complete a minimum of 16 hours per week during clinical courses, which include a $232 course fee each. Clinical placements are a joint responsibility of both students and faculty members, with Jefferson viewing clinical placement as a partnership. Students gain experience managing acutely and critically ill patients across the full spectrum of high acuity care settings.
MSN Admissions Requirements
Prerequisites and Application Requirements:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree
- Current RN licensure
- Completion of application process through Jefferson College of Nursing
- Attendance at mandatory one-day on-campus new student orientation before program begins
- Individual plan of study created at orientation
Transfer Credits:
- Maximum of 6 MSN semester credits may be transferred from another regionally accredited institution following approval by the Chair of Graduate Nursing Programs (once matriculated)
Note: Students can take more than 2 classes per term based on their individual plan of study.
Post-Graduate Certificate – AGACNP
The estimated cost for the PGC-AGACNP program is $24,066 for 18 credits, and would take approximately 12-18 months to complete.
Estimate based on $1,337 per credit plus fees including $1,054 departmental fee, IT fee, library fee, and clinical course fees.
Post-Graduate Certificate Curriculum
The 18-credit Post-Graduate Certificate Program prepares graduate nurses holding a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing for advanced practice as Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioners.
Students take the APRN Core Curriculum including Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics, Pathophysiology of Human Disease, and Comprehensive Assessment for Clinical Decision-Making, followed by role- and population-specific didactic and clinical content in the specialty curriculum.
NPs returning for a PGCP in an NP population-focused area in which they are not currently practicing or certified may be granted academic credit for prior didactic and clinical experiences based on gap analysis of academic/practice portfolio.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Core Curriculum (9 credits, if not previously completed):
- NU 570: Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology (3 credits)
- NU 673: Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits)
- NU 560: Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics (3 credits)
Specialty Curriculum (18 credits):
- NU 631: Diagnostic Reasoning and Clinical Decision Making for Acute Care Advanced Practice Nurse I (6 credits)
- NU 632: Diagnostic Reasoning and Clinical Decision Making for Acute Care Advanced Practice Nurse II (6 credits)
- NU 633: Diagnostic Reasoning and Clinical Decision Making for Acute Care Advanced Practice Nurse III (6 credits)
Note: Total credits may vary based on gap analysis of previous academic preparation.
Post-Graduate Certificate Clinicals
The Post-Graduate Certificate requires clinical hours distributed across three specialty clinical courses (NU 631, NU 632, NU 633), each carrying a $232 course fee. Students complete role- and population-specific clinical experiences focused on assessing and managing the full continuum of care services for acutely and critically ill patients. Clinical placements follow the same partnership model as the MSN program, with joint responsibility between students and faculty members.
Post-Graduate Certificate Admissions Requirements
Prerequisites and Application Requirements:
- Master’s or doctoral degree in nursing from regionally accredited institution
- Current RN licensure
- Gap analysis of academic/practice portfolio conducted upon admission
- Academic credit may be granted for prior didactic and clinical experiences for NPs not currently practicing or certified in AGACNP population focus
- Completion of application process through Jefferson College of Nursing
- Attendance at mandatory orientation (if required)
Tuition
Graduate nursing tuition at Thomas Jefferson University College of Nursing is $1,337 per credit hour for all programs except the DNP Nurse Anesthesia Program.
Additional fees include a $1,054 departmental fee, prorated IT fee (see institutional chart), and prorated library fee (see institutional chart).
Clinical courses (NU 631, NU 632, NU 633) each carry a $232 course fee. The MSN-AGACNP program (45 credits) totals approximately $68,759 including all fees. The Post-Graduate Certificate (18 credits for specialty curriculum, potentially more with APRN core) totals approximately $24,066-$36,099 depending on gap analysis results.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
Thomas Jefferson University is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate program at Thomas Jefferson University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Graduates of both the MSN-AGACNP and Post-Graduate Certificate programs meet academic eligibility requirements for two certification options: the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification Examination offered by ANCC for the AGACNP-BC credential, and the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification Examination offered by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) for the ACNPC-AG credential.
More ACNP Programs for Pennsylvania Students
- Cedar Crest College - Allentown
- Drexel University - Philadelphia
- Duquesne University - Pittsburgh
- Moravian University - Bethlehem
- Penn State - University Park
- Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia
- University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia
- Widener University - Chester