Marquette University College of Nursing offers 4 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- Post-Master’s Certificate – AGACNP
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – AGACNP
- Post-BSN Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – AGACNP
- Post-MSN Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – AGACNP
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Post-Master’s Certificate AGACNP | $16,800 – $42,000 | ~1–3 Years Part-Time |
| MSN AGACNP | ~$58,800 | ~2–3 Years Part-Time |
| Post-BSN DNP AGACNP | ~$96,600 | ~3–4 Years Part-Time |
| Post-MSN DNP AGACNP | ~$42,000 | ~2 Years Part-Time |
Program Highlights:
- Offered in a mix of in-person, hybrid, and online courses; primarily part-time to accommodate working nurses
- Clinical site placement provided; sites include facilities in greater Milwaukee, throughout Wisconsin, and in northern Illinois
- Consistently high AG ACNP certification exam pass rates; personalized plans of study developed with a dedicated advisor
Post-Master’s Certificate – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the Marquette AGACNP Post-Master’s Certificate ranges from approximately $16,800 to $42,000 and would take approximately 1–3 years to complete on a part-time basis.
Estimate based on 12–30 credits × $1,400/credit depending on academic background.
Certificate Curriculum
Credit requirements range from 12 to 30, determined by the student’s prior academic preparation. All students complete the 21-credit specialty core; students without prior foundation coursework add up to 9 foundation credits.
- Specialty Courses (21 credits)
- Complex Acute Care Problems 1
- Complex Acute Care Problems 2
- Differential Diagnosis and Advanced Skills for the Acutely Ill Adult
- Complex Health Problems
- Advanced Nursing Care of the Acutely Ill Adult-Gerontology 1 – Clinical
- Advanced Nursing Care of the Acutely Ill Adult-Gerontology 2 – Clinical
- Advanced Nursing Care of the Acutely Ill Adult-Gerontology 3 – Clinical
- Foundation Courses (up to 9 credits, if not previously completed)
- NURS 6030 – Pathophysiological Concepts for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr.)
- NURS 6032 – Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr.)
- NURS 6035 – Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan (3 cr.)
More curriculum details available on the course catalog page.
Certificate Clinicals
Three clinical practicum courses are embedded in the 21-credit specialty core, each carrying 3 credits. Clinical practicum experiences include a minimum of 5 hours per credit.
- Advanced Nursing Care of the Acutely Ill Adult-Gerontology 1 – Clinical (3 cr., min. 15 clinical hours)
- Advanced Nursing Care of the Acutely Ill Adult-Gerontology 2 – Clinical (3 cr., min. 15 clinical hours)
- Advanced Nursing Care of the Acutely Ill Adult-Gerontology 3 – Clinical (3 cr., min. 15 clinical hours)
- Sites include facilities in greater Milwaukee, throughout Wisconsin, and northern Illinois
- A drug screen must be completed 3 months prior to beginning clinical practicum courses
- ACLS certification required prior to clinical; BCLS from the American Heart Association must be maintained throughout the program
- Grade below B- in any clinical course results in dismissal from the program
Certificate Prerequisites & Admissions
- MSN (or equivalent graduate degree in nursing) required for certificate admission
- Two years of full-time nursing experience in an acute care setting with adult population, required prior to beginning clinical practicum coursework
- Current RN licensure in Wisconsin or an eNLC state
- Three recommendation letters from previous/present employers or faculty familiar with graduate nursing education
- Resume and written statement of professional goals
- Completed application form and fee
- Transcripts from all colleges/universities attended (official transcripts required within first 5 weeks of admission term)
- Interview may be required
- International applicants: TOEFL or equivalent English proficiency score required
- Criminal background check and drug screen required upon admission (castlebranch.com)
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 must be maintained each term
- Application Deadlines: Spring — November 15; Fall — February 15
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the Marquette AGACNP MSN program is approximately $58,800 (42 credits × $1,400/credit) and would take approximately 2–3 years to complete on a part-time basis. A BSN is required for entry.
MSN Curriculum
The 42-credit MSN is organized into three blocks: a 12-credit core, a 9-credit foundation, and a 21-credit AGACNP specialty. Students earn the MSN en route to the Post-BSN DNP if they choose to continue.
- Required Core Courses (12 credits)
- NURS 6000 – Theoretical Foundations of Nursing (3 cr.)
- NURS 6007 – Ethics, Policy and Health Care Advocacy (3 cr.)
- NURS 6009 – Organizational and Systems Leadership (3 cr.)
- NURS 6010 – Research and Evidence as a Foundation for Nursing (3 cr.)
- Foundation Courses (9 credits)
- NURS 6030 – Pathophysiological Concepts for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr.)
- NURS 6032 – Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr.)
- NURS 6035 – Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan (3 cr.)
- AGACNP Specialty Courses (21 credits)
- NURS 6240 – Complex Health Problems (3 cr.)
- NURS 6335 – Differential Diagnosis and Advanced Skills for the Acutely Ill Adult (3 cr.)
- NURS 6340 – Complex Acute Care Problems 1 (3 cr.)
- NURS 6341 – Complex Acute Care Problems 2 (3 cr.)
- NURS 6351 – Advanced Nursing Care of the Acutely Ill Adult-Older Adult 1 – Clinical (3 cr.)
- NURS 6352 – Advanced Nursing Care of the Acutely Ill Adult-Older Adult 2 – Clinical (3 cr.)
- NURS 6353 – Advanced Nursing Care of the Acutely Ill Adult-Older Adult 3 – Clinical (3 cr.)
More curriculum details available on the course catalog page.
MSN Clinicals
Three clinical practicum courses anchor the AGACNP specialty block, each worth 3 credits. Clinical practicum experiences include a minimum of 5 hours per credit across all clinical courses.
- NURS 6351 – Acutely Ill Adult-Older Adult 1 – Clinical (3 cr.)
- NURS 6352 – Acutely Ill Adult-Older Adult 2 – Clinical (3 cr.)
- NURS 6353 – Acutely Ill Adult-Older Adult 3 – Clinical (3 cr.)
- ACLS certification required prior to starting clinical courses
- Drug screen required 3 months prior to beginning clinical practicum
- Clinical sites: greater Milwaukee area, throughout Wisconsin, and northern Illinois
- Grade below B- in any clinical course results in program dismissal
MSN Prerequisites & Admissions
- BSN from a nationally accredited program required; upper division major in nursing
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale)
- Undergraduate nursing research course and statistics course with inferential analysis (completed within 5 years of program start date)
- Undergraduate health assessment course (required for advanced practice specialization)
- Two years of full-time nursing experience in an acute care setting with adult population prior to beginning clinical practicum coursework
- BCLS certification from American Heart Association (maintained throughout program); ACLS required prior to clinical
- Current RN licensure in Wisconsin or an eNLC state
- Three recommendation letters from employers or faculty familiar with graduate nursing education
- Resume and written statement of professional goals
- Completed application form and fee
- Official transcripts from all institutions
- Interview may be required
- Criminal background check and drug screen required upon admission
- GRE not required
- Application Deadlines: Spring — November 15; Fall — February 15
⚠️ Indianapolis Cohort: A Milwaukee-based AGACNP MSN is available continuously; an Indianapolis cohort option is also offered on a biennial schedule (new cohorts begin in the fall of odd years, with applications opening in May of even years). Availability is contingent on sufficient cohort enrollment.
Post-BSN Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the Marquette AGACNP Post-BSN DNP program is approximately $96,600 (69 credits × $1,400/credit) and would take approximately 3–4 years to complete on a part-time basis.
A BSN is required for entry; students earn an MSN en route to the DNP.
Post-BSN DNP Curriculum
The 69-credit curriculum combines 27 DNP core credits, the same 21-credit AGACNP specialty block and 12-credit MSN core shared across tracks, and 9 foundation credits. A DNP scholarly project is required across three residency-linked courses.
- DNP Core Courses (27 credits)
- HEAL 6825 – Quality & Patient Safety in Health Care (3 cr.) or HEAL 6830 – Quality Improvement Science
- HEAL 6835 – Health Care Informatics, Technology and Professional Issues (3 cr.)
- HEAL 7010 – Translational Research (3 cr.)
- HEAL 7012 – Epidemiology (3 cr.)
- HEAL 8015 – Applied Statistics for Health Sciences (3 cr.)
- NURS 6746 – Professional Issues in APN/DNP Practice (3 cr.)
- NURS 7963 – DNP Project 1: Proposal and Residency (3 cr.)
- NURS 7964 – DNP Project 2: Implementation and Residency (3 cr.)
- NURS 7965 – DNP Project 3: Evaluation, Dissemination and Residency (3 cr.)
- MSN Core Courses (12 credits) — same as MSN track (NURS 6000, 6007, 6009, 6010)
- Foundation Courses (9 credits) — same as MSN track (NURS 6030, 6032, 6035)
- AGACNP Specialty Courses (21 credits) — same as MSN track (NURS 6240, 6335, 6340, 6341, 6351, 6352, 6353)
More curriculum details available on the course catalog page.
Post-BSN DNP Clinicals
Clinical practicum requirements are identical to the MSN track — three 3-credit clinical courses with a minimum of 5 clinical hours per credit. The DNP Project residency courses (Projects 1–3) add additional immersive scholarly project hours beyond the clinical practicum minimum.
- NURS 6351, 6352, 6353 – Acutely Ill Adult-Older Adult Clinical 1, 2, 3 (3 cr. each)
- NURS 7963–7965 – DNP Project residency courses (3 cr. each, includes residency hours)
- ACLS required prior to clinical; BCLS maintained throughout program
- Drug screen required 3 months before clinical practicum begins
- Clinical sites: greater Milwaukee area, throughout Wisconsin, and northern Illinois
Post-BSN DNP Prerequisites & Admissions
- BSN from a nationally accredited program
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0
- Undergraduate nursing research and statistics courses (within 5 years); undergraduate health assessment course
- Two years of full-time nursing experience in an acute care setting with adult population prior to clinical practicum
- Current RN licensure in Wisconsin or an eNLC state
- BCLS (AHA) maintained throughout; ACLS required before clinicals
- Three recommendation letters, resume, professional goals statement
- Completed application and fee; official transcripts from all institutions
- Interview may be required; GRE not required
- Criminal background check and drug screen required upon admission
- Optional: Nursing Education Specialization available as an add-on (12 additional credits; prepares for CNE exam)
- Application Deadlines: Spring — November 15; Fall — February 15
Post-MSN Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the Marquette Post-MSN DNP program is approximately $42,000 (30 credits × $1,400/credit) and would take approximately 2 years to complete on a part-time basis.
Students must hold an MSN with specialization in an advanced practice nursing role to enter at this level; nurses with an MSN but not in an advanced practice specialty must complete a post-master’s certificate concurrently.
Post-MSN DNP Curriculum
The 30-credit post-master’s DNP curriculum is focused on doctoral-level systems, policy, and research coursework, building on the student’s existing MSN specialty preparation. Prior coursework from the student’s MSN is evaluated on a case-by-case basis; additional coursework beyond 30 credits may be required if all DNP Essentials are not met. A DNP scholarly project is required.
- HEAL 6825 – Quality & Patient Safety in Health Care (3 cr.) or HEAL 6830 – Quality Improvement Science
- HEAL 6835 – Health Care Informatics, Technology and Professional Issues (3 cr.)
- HEAL 6848 – Health Care Policy (3 cr.)
- HEAL 7010 – Translational Research (3 cr.)
- HEAL 7012 – Epidemiology (3 cr.)
- HEAL 7049 – Outcomes Management (3 cr.) or NURS 7955 – Health Care Management and Leadership Clinical
- HEAL 8015 – Applied Statistics for Health Sciences (3 cr.)
- NURS 7963 – DNP Project 1: Proposal and Residency (3 cr.)
- NURS 7964 – DNP Project 2: Implementation and Residency (3 cr.)
- NURS 7965 – DNP Project 3: Evaluation, Dissemination and Residency (3 cr.)
Post-MSN DNP Clinicals
The post-master’s DNP does not include additional AGACNP specialty clinical courses — those are presumed met by the student’s prior MSN. Residency hours are embedded in the three DNP Project courses (NURS 7963–7965).
- Residency hours embedded in DNP Projects 1, 2, and 3
- NURS 6009 – Organizational and Systems Leadership is a prerequisite; must be completed prior to program start if not already taken
- Drug screen required 3 months before clinical practicum if applicable
Post-MSN DNP Prerequisites & Admissions
- MSN with specialization in an advanced practice nursing role, nursing administration/leadership, or health care policy from an accredited program
- Nurses with an MSN not in one of these three areas must complete a post-master’s certificate in an appropriate specialty concurrently with the DNP
- NURS 6009 – Organizational and Systems Leadership is a prerequisite (or equivalent)
- Current RN licensure in Wisconsin or an eNLC state
- Two years of full-time nursing experience in an acute care setting with adult population (for AGACNP clinical courses)
- Three recommendation letters, resume, statement of professional goals
- Completed application and fee; official transcripts from all institutions
- Transcripts evaluated on case-by-case basis — additional credits may be required beyond 30
- Optional: Nursing Education Specialization add-on available (12 additional credits)
- Application Deadlines: Spring — November 15; Fall — February 15
Tuition
| Program | Credits | Rate/Credit | Est. Tuition Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 12–30 | $1,400 | $16,800 – $42,000 |
| MSN AGACNP | 42 | $1,400 | ~$58,800 |
| Post-BSN DNP AGACNP | 69 | $1,400 | ~$96,600 |
| Post-MSN DNP | 30 | $1,400 | ~$42,000 |
The program page lists $1,400/credit; the university’s general tuition page lists $1,450/credit for Graduate School programs. Verify the applicable rate with Marquette prior to enrollment. Additional required fees include: CPR certification (~$60), health requirements/background check/drug test (~$124), clinical tracking system/Typhon (~$90 one-time fee for MSN/DNP specialty students), and variable clinical site fees each term.
More tuition details are available here.
Application Deadlines
| Term | Deadline | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | November 15 | All AGACNP tracks |
| Fall | February 15 | All AGACNP tracks |
Indianapolis MSN cohort applications open in May of even years for fall enrollment in odd years. Applications are submitted through Marquette’s Graduate School. Copies of transcripts are accepted for the application process; official transcripts must be submitted within the first 5 weeks of the admission term or a registration hold will be placed.
Accreditation
Marquette University’s BSN, MSN, DNP, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). All AGACNP track graduates are academically eligible to sit for the national Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) certification examination.
More ACNP Programs In Wisconsin
- University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
- University of Wisconsin Madison - Madison
- Viterbo University - La Crosse