For AGACNP, Columbia University offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) track.
The program is delivered in a cohort model combining classroom courses, supervised practice, portfolio development, and a final intensive practicum.
Columbia’s AGACNP program features:
- Clinical placements at prestigious New York metropolitan area institutions including NYP, Mount Sinai, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and NYU Brooklyn
- State-of-the-art simulation experiences and advanced technical skills training
- Preparation for ANCC (AG-ACNP) or AACN (ACNPC-AG) national certification exams
Program Track Overview
Doctor of Nursing Practice – AGACNP
The estimated cost for the DNP-AGACNP program is $81,243 and would take 2.5 years to complete on a full-time basis or 3.5 years on a part-time basis.
DNP Curriculum
The 80-81 credit curriculum prepares nurses to care for acutely and critically ill patients across the continuum of acute care services, emphasizing integration of didactic knowledge with patient management and advanced technical skills.
Required Courses:
NURS7000N – Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice (3)
This course teaches graduate nurses how to use research evidence to improve clinical care. Students develop practice questions, search and appraise the literature, and apply findings to support quality outcomes.
NURS7003N – Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (3)
This course covers health promotion and prevention strategies used in primary care. Students plan interventions for individuals, families, communities, and population groups.
NURS7005N – Health and Social Policy in the Context of Practice (3)
This course examines how social, legal, and political factors shape U.S. health care systems. Students evaluate policy issues and practice how nurses can influence policy to improve population outcomes and care quality.
NURS8102N – Advanced Pharmacology (3)
This course builds advanced knowledge of drug action and safe prescribing decisions. Students review pharmacokinetics and drug-receptor concepts and apply them through case-based clinical examples.
NURS8685N – Advanced Clinical Assessment Across the Lifespan (3)
This course strengthens advanced physical assessment using a systems approach. Students interpret abnormal findings, begin differential diagnosis development, and use clinical reasoning to analyze history and exam data.
NURS7001N – Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan I (3)
This course explores disease mechanisms and altered physiology across body systems. Students study etiology, clinical features, and therapeutic approaches for common conditions.
NURS8130N – Acute and Critical Care Pharmacology (3)
This course focuses on pharmacotherapy for acute and critically ill patients. Students evaluate drug selection, dosing, and safety while reviewing new therapies and debated treatment approaches.
NURS8788N – Advanced Clinical Assessment in Acute Care (2)
This course develops acute care assessment skills that rely on procedures and clinical technologies. Students practice hands-on skills and strengthen oral and written case presentation in lab or clinical activities.
NURS9910N – Translation and Synthesis of Evidence for Optimal Outcomes (3)
This course prepares doctoral students to translate research into practice. Students refine clinical questions, evaluate evidence using epidemiology and biostatistics basics, and complete a systematic review or meta-analysis.
NURS7002N – Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan II (2)
This course continues advanced study of pathophysiology across organ systems. Students analyze disease progression, clinical presentation, and treatment strategies for common conditions.
NURS8827N – Acute Care Radiology (1)
This course introduces imaging selection and basic interpretation skills for acute care practice. Students learn to choose appropriate studies and interpret select adult diagnostic images at a novice level.
NURS9150N – Scholarly Writing and Dissemination I (1)
This course introduces clinical scholarship and professional writing. Students build skills in literature searching, citation management, academic integrity, and publication planning, ending with an annotated bibliography.
NURS9405N – Practice Leadership and Quality (3)
This course prepares students to lead quality improvement work in health care systems. Students use systems thinking, assessment tools, and communication strategies to support organization-wide practice change.
NURS8185N – Diagnosis and Management of Acute & Critical Illness I (3)
This course begins a three-course sequence on acute and critical illness care management. Students use systems-based assessment, differential diagnosis, simulation, and case work while addressing health disparities and social factors.
NURS6940N – Management and Advanced Practice Nursing (1)
This course introduces practical issues in advanced practice roles. Topics include regulation, legal risk, reimbursement, and practice management in modern health care settings.
NURS7810N – Acute Care Simulation for the AG-ACNP (1)
This course uses simulation scenarios to strengthen acute care decision-making. Students integrate prior coursework and clinical learning to manage complex patient situations.
NURS9151N – Scholarly Writing and Dissemination II (1)
This course continues skill development in clinical writing and dissemination. Students build on prior work to advance publishable products and presentation-ready scholarship.
NURS9290N – Incorporating Genetics and Genomics in Advanced Practice Nursing (3)
This course links genetics and genomics to advanced practice decision-making. Students use case discussions to address testing, risk assessment, ethical issues, and lifespan applications.
NURS9412N – Informatics for Practice (3)
This course focuses on informatics tools that support evidence-based practice. Topics include EHRs, clinical terminology, data retrieval and analysis, decision support, and technology-enabled patient care decisions.
NURS8190N – Diagnosis and Management of Acute & Critical Illness II (3)
This course expands systems-based diagnosis and treatment of acute and critical conditions. Students strengthen differential diagnosis skills and comprehensive management through cases and simulation, with attention to disparities.
NURS8817N – Clinical Seminar in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care I (1)
This seminar supports clinical learning through guided discussion of practicum cases and literature. Students present organized case studies and lead peer dialogue using evidence-based references.
NURS8820N – Advanced Practicum in Acute Care for the Nurse Practitioner I (4)
This practicum develops acute care NP skills in evaluation and management of adult patients. Students practice history, exam, clinical decision-making, care coordination, and team collaboration with growing independence.
NURS9672N – Principles of Epidemiology and Environmental Health (3)
This course applies epidemiology and environmental health concepts to individual patient care. Students examine external and social factors that shape risk and outcomes, including occupational and behavioral influences.
NURS9742N – Acute Care Portfolio Advisement I (1)
This course begins the DNP portfolio sequence for competency documentation. Faculty guide students in selecting encounters, writing case narratives, and improving competency-based submissions.
NURS8195N – Diagnosis and Management of Acute & Critical Illness III (3)
This course completes the diagnosis and management sequence with advanced acute care reasoning. Students refine differential diagnosis and treatment planning through cases and simulation while addressing social drivers of health.
NURS8821N – Clinical Seminar in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care II (1)
This seminar continues structured discussion of practicum cases and research evidence. Students present cases, support claims with references, and facilitate clinical dialogue with peers.
NURS8823N – Advanced Practicum in Acute Care for the Nurse Practitioner II (5)
This practicum emphasizes advanced acute care management and increasing independence. Students manage patient groups with varied acuity and complete clinical case presentations in the advanced practice role.
NURS9752N – Acute Care Portfolio Advisement II (1)
This course continues guided development of the DNP portfolio. Faculty support encounter selection, narrative refinement, and competency alignment across ongoing clinical work.
NURS6930N – Interpersonal Violence and Abuse: Prevention, Assessment, and Intervention (1)
This course prepares clinicians to recognize and address interpersonal violence. Students learn prevention, screening, assessment, intervention planning, and referral strategies for domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse, and sexual assault.
NURS8824N – Clinical Seminar in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care III (1)
This seminar supports advanced practicum learning through case analysis and evidence review. Students present cases in a structured format and lead discussion grounded in current literature.
NURS8825N – Integration Practicum in Acute Care for the Nurse Practitioner (3)
This practicum integrates clinical skills from prior coursework into advanced acute care practice. Students complete case presentations, manage complex patient assignments, and function with high independence.
NURS9481N – Health Policy and Advocacy (2)
This course analyzes U.S. health policy and its impact on care delivery. Students examine the advanced practice nurse role in advocacy and leadership to improve patient and system outcomes.
NURS9762N – Acute Care Portfolio Advisement III (1)
This course completes the DNP portfolio advisement sequence. Faculty support final competency documentation, case narrative quality, and portfolio readiness.
NURS9730N – DNP Intensive Practicum (5–6)
This practicum requires fully accountable advanced practice care across clinical sites. Students integrate assessment, differential diagnosis, treatment, evaluation, and evidence synthesis while building a professional portfolio.
The curriculum is provided to specify academic requirements, though individual plans of study may vary and require program director approval. Progression is contingent upon meeting academic policies.
DNP Clinicals
Clinical experiences encompass intensive care units, general inpatient medicine, emergency medicine, and subspecialty services across the New York metropolitan area. Clinical rotations include:
Critical Care:
- NYP Cardiothoracic ICU, CCU, Surgical ICU, Medical ICU
- NYP-Lawrence Medical ICU
- Mt Sinai Surgical ICU, Transplant ICU, Neurosurgical ICU
- Memorial Sloan Kettering ICU
- Mt Sinai Rapid Response Team
General Medicine:
- NYU Brooklyn Intermediate ICU (stepdown)
Emergency Department:
- NYP-Cornell ED
- NYP CUMC ED
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Urgent Care Center
Subspecialty Medicine & Surgery:
- Mt Sinai West Neurosurgery
- Mt Sinai Abdominal Transplant
- NYP Lung Transplant, Cardiac Transplant
- NYP Palliative Care, Acute Pain Management
- NYP CT Surgery, Short-Stay Surgical
- NYP-Queens Advanced Heart Failure
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Inpatient Gynecologic Oncology, Neurologic Oncology, SACU
Clinical experiences include lecture, clinical rotations, simulation, and final intensive practicum. Students gain strong backgrounds in advanced assessment, therapeutics, and technology with emphasis on integrating didactic knowledge with patient management and advanced technical skills.
DNP Prerequisites & Admissions
Admission requirements are not fully detailed in the provided materials. Students in the post-BS DNP may be able to work part-time or per diem, though applicants should discuss schedule details with the program director. The program is configured in a cohort model requiring completion of classroom courses, supervised practice, portfolio development, dissemination of scholarly peer-reviewed work, and a final intensive practicum.
Tuition
Graduate nursing tuition for the DNP program is $77,964 with university fees of $3,279 for total direct costs of $81,243. A breakdown of applicable program fees is available on the program fees page.
For students in the MDE/DNP track, there is an additional budget item for the NCLEX (professional licensure expense) of $343 in Fall 2025.
See the official tuition page for more details here.
Accreditation
The program is certified for advanced practice/nurse practitioner status by the New York State Education Department. Upon completion of the DNP degree, graduates are eligible for professional certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (AG-ACNP) or the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (ACNPC-AG) and state licensure in their advanced practice specialty.
The Columbia DNP represents the highest degree in nursing practice, educating advanced practice nurses for fully accountable expert care and enabling graduates to independently provide complex care across ambulatory, acute, community, and home settings.
More New York ACNP Programs
- Daemen University - Amherst
- Hofstra University - Hempstead
- Molloy University - Rockville Centre
- NYU College of Nursing - New York
- Pace University - New York
- St. John Fisher University - Rochester
- Stony Brook School of Nursing - Stony Brook
- University of Rochester - Rochester