Daemen University offers 3 Acute Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- Master of Science in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (MS AGACNP)
- Doctor of Nursing Practice – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care (DNP AGACNP)
- Advanced Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The school delivers courses in a flexible format, and it supports part-time study for working nurses.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program Name | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MS – AGACNP | ~$45,524 | ~2 years (full-time) |
| DNP – AGACNP | Cost varies by entry point | ~3–4 years (full-time) |
| Advanced Certificate – AGACNP | ~$11,475 | ~1.5 years (full-time) |
All tracks support working nurses through flexible scheduling, faculty advising, and guided clinical placement support. Students also benefit from interprofessional simulation experiences through Daemen’s Center for Interprofessional Learning and Simulation (CILS).
The program highlights include help with clinical site planning, access to the Center for Interprofessional Learning and Simulation (CILS), and strong recent student outcomes such as 100% job placement and a 100% certification exam pass rate (2024).
Master of Science (MS AGACNP)
The estimated cost for the MS AGACNP program is about $45,524 (38 credits × $1,198/credit) and would take about 2 years to complete on a full time basis.
MS AGACNP Curriculum
The 38-credit plan combines graduate research and core courses with acute care specialty courses, plus a required thesis or project.
NUR505/L – Advanced Health Assessment (4)
Prepares adult-gerontology NP students to complete comprehensive histories and physical exams from young adulthood through older age. The course builds advanced clinical reasoning and diagnostic decision-making through lecture and lab practice.
NUR509 – Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
Examines disease mechanisms and altered physiologic processes in adult and older adult patients. Students connect cellular changes to clinical findings using evidence-based and problem-focused learning.
NUR513 – Issues in Advanced Practice Nursing (2)
Reviews current topics that shape advanced nursing practice, including ethics, culture, economics, quality improvement, and care models. The course emphasizes leadership roles, systems change, and care coordination.
NUR516 – Advanced Pharmacology (3)
Develops prescribing-focused pharmacology for adult-gerontology NP practice. Students study drug actions, therapeutic use, monitoring, interactions, and geriatric prescribing considerations, with attention to legal and ethical prescribing.
NUR550/L – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Pathophysiology and Practicum I/Lab (6,0)
Introduces acute care NP clinical practice for adults with complex acute and chronic conditions. Students strengthen assessment and management skills across key body systems while applying evidence-based plans, medication reconciliation, and patient teaching in supervised clinical care.
NUR551/L – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Pathophysiology and Practicum II/Lab (6,0)
Builds advanced acute care management for adults with higher-acuity and more complex problems. Students expand assessment, differential diagnosis, and therapeutic planning across additional body systems and critical conditions through supervised practicum experiences.
NUR630/L – Acute Care Preceptorship/Lab (2,0)
Provides a focused precepted clinical experience in an acute or critical care specialty area. Students complete supervised hours managing complex adult-gerontology patients while refining diagnostic reasoning, therapeutic planning, and evidence-based decision-making.
MS AGACNP Clinicals
Students complete practicum and preceptorship experiences in acute and critical care-focused learning.
- Clinical learning occurs through practicum and preceptorship courses with lab components.
- Sites can include acute care hospitals, critical care units, emergency departments, and urgent care settings.
- The program director supports site planning, and students can give input on site selection.
MS AGACNP Prerequisites & Admissions
- BSN from an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited program
- 1 year acute care medical-surgical experience (preferably inpatient)
- Statistics course with a grade of C or better
- Cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher (provisional review may apply below 3.25)
- Current New York State RN license
- Resume
- Interview with nursing faculty
- Letter of intent or references can strengthen the application
Advanced Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the Advanced Certificate AGACNP program is about $11,475 (27 credits × $425/credit) and would take about 1.5 years to complete on a full time basis, although the school structures it as a part-time option.
Certificate Curriculum
The certificate focuses on acute adult-gerontology advanced practice preparation for master’s-prepared nurses.
- NUR505/L Advanced Health Assessment/Acute Care (4)
- NUR509 Advanced Pathophysiology (3)
- NUR512 Nursing Theoretical Foundations (3)
- NUR516 Advanced Pharmacology (3)
- NUR550/L Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Pathophysiology and Practicum I/Lab (6)
- NUR551/L Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Pathophysiology and Practicum II/Lab (6)
- NUR630/L Acute Care Preceptorship/Lab (2)
Certificate Clinicals
Students complete practicum and preceptorship clinical work that supports eligibility for AGACNP certification.
- Clinical learning occurs through two practicum courses and a preceptorship.
- Settings can include hospital-based acute care and other high-acuity adult care sites.
Certificate Prerequisites & Admissions
- Master’s degree in a clinical area of nursing from an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited program
- Current New York State RN license
- 1 year medical-surgical or acute care experience (or equivalent)
- Resume that includes professional activities and continuing education
- Interview with nursing faculty
- Letter of intent or recommendations can strengthen the application
Doctor of Nursing Practice – (DNP AGACNP)
The estimated cost for the DNP AGACNP program varies by entry point and would take approximately 3 to 4 years to complete on a full-time basis, depending on whether students enter post-BSN or post-master’s.
DNP Curriculum
The DNP curriculum expands advanced clinical preparation with leadership, informatics, and health policy coursework, culminating in a scholarly project.
- Advanced practice core courses in assessment, pathophysiology, and pharmacology
- Doctoral-level coursework in leadership, health policy, informatics, and evidence-based practice
- Practice immersion and completion of a DNP Scholarly Project
DNP Clinicals
Clinical education includes practice immersion hours tied to the DNP Scholarly Project.
- Immersion experiences focus on systems-level practice improvement
- Sites are coordinated with program leadership to support timely completion
- Simulation experiences support interprofessional collaboration
DNP Prerequisites & Admissions
Post-Baccalaureate Entry:
- BSN from an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited program
- GPA of 3.25 or higher
- Statistics course with grade C or better
- One year acute care medical-surgical experience
- New York State RN license
- CV, personal goals statement, references, and faculty interview
MS-to-DNP Entry:
- Master’s degree from an accredited NP program
- Completion of advanced assessment, pathophysiology, and pharmacology
- New York State RN and NP licensure or eligibility
- Statistics course, CV, references, and faculty interview
Tuition
Graduate tuition is $1,198 per credit hour, plus a comprehensive fee that is $20 per credit for 1–8 credits or $180 flat for 9+ credits. Certificate tuition is $425 per credit hour.
See the official tuition page for more details: Daemen Tuition & Fees.
Application Deadlines
Daemen accepts applications year-round, and the certificate page notes “Apply Now for Fall 2026.”
Accreditation
Daemen’s nursing programs hold accreditation through the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The programs are also registered with the New York State Board of Regents through the New York State Education Department.
Additional New York ACNP Programs
- Columbia University - New York
- 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