The University of Texas at Arlington offers 2 Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Tracks:
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (MSN)
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (Post-Master’s Certificate)
Both tracks support online coursework, and they are built for working RNs who need flexible scheduling.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program Name | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN AGACNP | $26,814 | ~2 years (full-time) |
| Post-Master’s Certificate AGACNP | $13,080 | ~1 year (full-time) |
The programs focus on acute and critical care decision-making, and UTA also offers clinical placement support when students have difficulty finding a preceptor.
Master of Science in Nursing – AGACNP
The estimated cost for the MSN AGACNP program is $26,814 (41 credits at $654 per credit) and would take about 2 years to complete on a full time basis.
This track prepares APRNs to manage complex acute and chronic illness in late adolescents, adults, and older adults across high-acuity settings, with an emphasis on leadership and evidence-based care.
MSN Curriculum
The 41-credit curriculum includes graduate core, advanced practice foundation content, and acute care management courses.
NURS 5327 Exploration of Science and Theories for Nursing
This course examines the philosophical and theoretical foundations of nursing science. Students analyze key nursing theories and their role in guiding advanced nursing practice. Emphasis is placed on critical evaluation of theory as it applies to research and clinical decision-making.
NURS 5366 Principles of Nursing Research
This course introduces core principles of nursing research. Students integrate theoretical and empirical approaches to generate evidence that supports nursing practice. Emphasis is placed on understanding research design and interpretation of findings.
NURS 5367 Evidence-Based Practice
This course prepares students to lead evidence-based practice initiatives. Students learn to interpret evidence, plan practice changes, evaluate outcomes, and share results. Emphasis is placed on translating research into clinical improvement.
NURS 5315 Advanced Pathophysiology
This course builds advanced knowledge of physiologic and pathophysiologic processes across the lifespan. Students examine disease mechanisms and altered function. Emphasis is placed on linking pathophysiology to clinical presentation.
NURS 5334 Advanced Pharmacology for Nurse Practitioners
This course focuses on clinical pharmacologic therapeutics for advanced practice. Students study medication actions, therapeutic use, and safety considerations. Emphasis is placed on informed prescribing and medication management.
NURS 5220 Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning
This course applies theoretical foundations to comprehensive health assessment across the lifespan. Students develop diagnostic reasoning skills to support clinical decisions. Emphasis is placed on accurate assessment and interpretation of findings.
NURS 5120 Adult Gerontology Assessment Lab
This lab course provides hands-on practice in comprehensive assessment of adult and gerontology patients. Students apply assessment techniques in a structured setting. Emphasis is placed on skill development and clinical accuracy.
NURS 5350 Role of the Nurse in Advanced Practice
This course examines the multiple roles of the advanced practice nurse within healthcare systems. Students explore leadership, collaboration, and professional responsibilities. Emphasis is placed on role development in advanced practice.
NURS 5461 Adult Gerontology Management Across the Continuum of Care
This course focuses on managing acute and chronic conditions in adolescents, adults, and elders. Students examine care delivery across healthcare settings. Emphasis is placed on continuity of care and clinical decision-making.
NURS 5463 Adult Gerontology Acute Care
This course emphasizes interprofessional management of acute, critical, and complex chronic conditions. Students develop skills in evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment across care settings. Emphasis is placed on collaborative acute care practice.
NURS 5354 Adult Gerontology Acute Care Clinical Practice I
This clinical course provides supervised experience in high-acuity settings. Students manage care for adolescents, adults, and elders with complex needs. Emphasis is placed on applying advanced clinical skills.
NURS 5355 Adult Gerontology Acute Care Clinical Practice II
This course continues advanced clinical practice in acute care environments. Students build competence in managing secondary and tertiary care needs. Emphasis is placed on increasing clinical independence.
NURS 5640 Adult Gerontology Acute Care Advanced Practicum
This final practicum provides guided clinical preceptorship in acute care settings. Students integrate knowledge and skills in progressive practice experiences. Emphasis is placed on readiness for independent advanced nursing practice.
MSN Clinicals
The program includes 720 clinical hours, and students complete hands-on practice with a licensed preceptor in acute care settings.
- 720 total clinical hours
- Preceptor-guided specialty practice in secondary and tertiary care
- Clinical placement is collaborative, and UTA may assist if a student struggles to secure a site
MSN Admissions
UTA requires a complete graduate application, and CONHI reviews nursing-specific requirements during the file review.
- Apply to UT Arlington Graduate Admissions and submit official transcripts
- Pay the application fee and complete all application steps before review
- Hold an unencumbered RN license verified through Nursys
- Review CONHI graduate program requirements and university catalog guidance
- Submit transfer credit requests after acceptance, if applicable
Post-Master’s Certificate – AGACNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s AGACNP Certificate program is about $13,080 (20 credits at $654 per credit) and would take about 1 year to complete on a full time basis.
This track runs 100% online and uses a gap analysis of prior MSN coursework to set the final plan, so some students may take more or fewer courses.
Certificate Curriculum
UTA builds the plan from a transcript gap analysis, and the certificate foundations total 20 credits.
- NURS 5461 Adult Gerontology Management Across the Continuum of Care (4)
- NURS 5463 Adult Gerontology Acute Care (4)
- NURS 5354 Adult Gerontology Acute Care Clinical Practice I (3)
- NURS 5355 Adult Gerontology Acute Care Clinical Practice II (3)
- NURS 5640 Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP Advanced Practicum (6)
More curriculum details here: UTA AG Acute Care Certificate curriculum
Certificate Clinicals
Clinical training uses supervised, hands-on practice with a preceptor, and it supports transition into the AGACNP role.
- Students locate a preceptor that matches program needs
- UTA may assist with placement when a student has difficulty
- Clinical policies and requirements are managed through InPlace
Certificate Admissions
UTA sets clear entry rules for this post-master’s option, and it expects recent high-acuity experience for acute care tracks.
- MSN from an NLNAC- or CCNE-accredited program
- Active, unencumbered RN license
- Two years of RN clinical experience
- Two years of high-acuity direct patient care in the last five years for acute care options
- Undergraduate statistics with a grade of C or higher
- 3.0 GPA in the MSN degree program
Tuition
UTA lists the graduate tuition rate as $654 per credit hour for these online nursing tracks, and it also uses a pay-by-the-course model ($1,962 per 3-credit course).
Students should also plan for third-party and program-related expenses such as a background check and drug screen (estimate $80 plus possible additional screening), AHA BLS certification (estimate $60), and the EXXAT clinical system fee (estimate $133 one-time).
More tuition details are available here: UTA tuition page
Accreditation
UTA states that its baccalaureate, master’s, DNP, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs in the College of Nursing and Health Innovation hold accreditation through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
This accreditation supports program quality and helps graduates meet common eligibility expectations for advanced practice credential pathways.
Find More ACNP Programs for Texas Nurses
- Baylor University - Waco
- Texas Christian University - Fort Worth
- Texas Tech University - Lubbock
- Texas Woman's University - Denton
- UT Health San Antonio - San Antonio
- University of Texas at Tyler - Tyler
- University of Texas at El Paso - El Paso
- University of Texas Medical Branch - Galveston