Missouri State University offers 3 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – AGACNP
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – AGACNP (BSN to DNP)
- AGACNP Graduate Certificate
Program Tracks Overview
| Program Name | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN – AGACNP | $23,980 | 2.5 years |
| BSN to DNP – AGACNP | $35,316 | 4 years |
| AGACNP Graduate Certificate | $15,371 | 2 years |
All programs are delivered in hybrid or online formats, allowing working nurses to balance education with professional responsibilities. The programs prepare graduates to assess, diagnose, treat, and manage adults with acute, critical, and complex chronic illnesses across the entire adult age spectrum.
MSN – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the MSN – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program is approximately $23,980 (55 credits × $436/credit) and would take 2.5 years to complete on a full-time basis.
This program prepares baccalaureate-prepared registered nurses for advanced practice roles managing acutely ill adult patients.
MSN Curriculum
The curriculum consists of 55 credit hours combining 35 credits of NP core courses with 20 credits of AGACNP specialty courses:
NP Core Courses:
- NUR 703 – Population Health: A Local to Global Perspective
- NUR 710 – Clinical Epidemiology
- NUR 711 – Advanced Roles and Leadership in Nursing
- NUR 734 – Advanced Physical Assessment and Clinical Reasoning
- NUR 761 – Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics and Prescriptive Practices for the Advanced Practice Nurse
- NUR 765 – Applications of Advanced Pathophysiology
- NUR 772 – Research Methods for the Health Professions
- NUR 790 – Advanced Practice Practicum
- NUR 797 – Capstone Project
- NUR 824 – Health Policy to Improve Health Disparities
Adult Gerontology-Acute Care Option Courses:
- NUR 729 – Acute Care Treatment Modalities I
- NUR 735 – Acute Care Treatment Modalities II
- NUR 745 – Acute Care I
- NUR 755 – Acute Care II
- NUR 775 – Acute Care III
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN Clinicals
Students complete 672 clinical rotation hours throughout the program, applying theoretical knowledge in acute care settings under qualified preceptor supervision.
Clinical experiences are individually arranged with preceptors who have appropriate educational and experiential qualifications, and all sites must be approved in advance by the program coordinator.
MSN Admissions Requirements
- Cumulative GPA of 3.25 for last 60 hours of coursework (students below 3.25 must submit GRE scores: Verbal 150, Quantitative 145, Analytical Writing 3.5)
- Prerequisites: undergraduate human pathophysiology, nursing research, health assessment, healthcare informatics, and graduate-level inferential statistics with grade of “C” or higher
- Minimum one year full-time clinical practice experience (two years preferred)
- Application through NursingCAS with transcripts and references
- Interview with departmental selection committee
BSN to DNP – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the BSN to DNP – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program is approximately $35,316 (81 credits × $436/credit) and would take 4 years to complete on a full-time basis.
This program combines advanced practice preparation with doctoral-level leadership and evidence-based practice education.
DNP Curriculum
The curriculum consists of 81 credit hours including 42 credits of DNP core requirements and 39 credits of AGACNP specialty courses:
BSN to DNP Core Requirements (42 credits):
- NUR 703 – Population Health: A Local to Global Perspective
- NUR 710 – Clinical Epidemiology
- NUR 711 – Advanced Roles and Leadership in Nursing
- NUR 772 – Research Methods for the Health Professions
- NUR 800 – DNP Leadership I: Concepts for Evidence-Based Practice
- NUR 802 – Emerging Science and Methods of Advanced Practice
- NUR 810 – Finance Management and Entrepreneurship for Advanced Nursing Roles
- NUR 824 – Health Policy to Improve Health Disparities
- NUR 830 – DNP Leadership II: Impacting Disparities in Health and Healthcare
- NUR 840 – Technology for Transforming Nursing and Healthcare Systems
- NUR 860 – DNP Leadership III: Transforming Systems
- NUR 880 – Leadership and Innovation in Population Health Nursing
- NUR 993 – Transforming Practice
Adult Gerontology Acute Care Option Courses (39 credits):
- NUR 729 – Acute Care Treatment Modalities I
- NUR 734 – Advanced Physical Assessment and Clinical Reasoning
- NUR 735 – Acute Care Treatment Modalities II
- NUR 745 – Acute Care I
- NUR 755 – Acute Care II
- NUR 761 – Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics and Prescriptive Practices for the Advanced Practice Nurse
- NUR 765 – Applications of Advanced Pathophysiology
- NUR 775 – Acute Care III
- NUR 790 – Advanced Practice Practicum
More curriculum details are available here.
DNP Clinicals
Clinical experiences are individually arranged with qualified preceptors and can be completed in students’ local communities if sites and preceptors receive program approval.
Students should plan to travel outside their local community for some clinical experiences, and all sites require advance approval and established contracts before clinical work begins.
DNP Admissions Requirements
- Cumulative GPA of 3.25 for last 60 hours of coursework (students below 3.25 must submit GRE scores: Verbal 150, Quantitative 145, Analytical Writing 3.5)
- Prerequisites: undergraduate human pathophysiology, nursing research, health assessment, healthcare informatics, and graduate-level inferential statistics with grade of “C” or higher
- Minimum one year full-time clinical practice experience (two years preferred)
- BSN to DNP students required on campus minimum one day per week for seated classes
- Application through NursingCAS with transcripts and references
AG-ACNP Graduate Certificate
The estimated cost for the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Graduate Certificate is approximately $15,371 (20 credits × $436/credit plus fees) and would take 2 years to complete on a full-time basis.
This certificate is designed for nurses with existing master’s degrees who want to add AGACNP certification to their credentials.
Certificate Curriculum
The certificate program consists of 20 credit hours focusing exclusively on acute care specialty courses:
- NUR 729 – Acute Care Treatment Modalities I
- NUR 735 – Acute Care Treatment Modalities II
- NUR 745 – Acute Care I
- NUR 755 – Acute Care II
- NUR 775 – Acute Care III
More curriculum details are available here.
Certificate Clinicals
Students complete a minimum of 500 clinical hours in acute care settings throughout the certificate program. Clinical experiences are arranged individually with qualified preceptors and must be approved by the program coordinator prior to beginning clinical work.
Certificate Admissions Requirements
- Master of Science in Nursing degree from nationally accredited nursing graduate program or master’s degree in acceptable related discipline
- Cumulative GPA of 3.25 on 4.0 scale
- Completion of graduate courses in advanced pharmacology (including prescriptive practices), advanced pathophysiology, and advanced physical/health assessment
- Application through NursingCAS with transcripts and references
- Interview with departmental selection committee
Tuition
Graduate tuition is approximately $434 per credit hour for nursing programs.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Additional costs include online course fees, program fees of $3,000, supplemental clinical course fees of $1,125, background checks, clinical tracking fees, textbooks, and professional certifications.
Accreditation
The BSN, MSN, DNP, and post-master’s certificate programs at Missouri State University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Upon completion, graduates are prepared to take national AGACNP certification exams through ANCC or AANP and pursue advanced practice registered nurse licensure.
Additional ACNP Programs for Missouri Nurses
- Barnes-Jewish College - St. Louis
- Maryville University - St Louis
- Rockhurst University - Kansas City
- Saint Louis University - St. Louis