Saint Louis University offers 3 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – AGACNP
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Post-BSN – AGACNP
- Post-Master’s Certificate – AGACNP
Program Tracks Overview
| Program Name | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN AGACNP | $47,600 | 3 years (full-time) |
| BSN-DNP AGACNP | $89,600–$95,200 | 4 years (full-time) |
| Certificate AGACNP | $22,400–$43,400 | 1–2 years |
All programs are offered completely online through the Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing with rolling admissions and three annual start dates (fall, spring, summer). U.S. News and World Report consistently ranks SLU’s graduate nursing program as a top program in their Best Graduate Schools survey, with programs designed to educate nurses to become expert clinicians, health policy leaders, and catalysts for improved healthcare delivery in acute care settings.
BSN DNP – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the DNP Post-BSN AGACNP program is approximately $89,600-$95,200 and would take 4 years to complete on a full-time basis.
DNP Post-BSN AGACNP Curriculum
The 64-68 credit DNP Post-BSN curriculum includes 48-52 core credits and 16 AGACNP concentration credits delivered over four-year period with full-time and part-time curriculum plans available.
Program Core Requirements (48-52 credits):
- NURS 5000: Epidemiology (3 credits)
- NURS 5040: Advanced Practice Nursing: Role Acquisition (1 credit)
- NURS 5080: Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits)
- NURS 5110: Advanced Assessment and Clinical Decision Making (3 credits)
- NURS 5140: Health Promotion (3 credits)
- NURS 5160: Principles of Practice Management (2 credits)
- NURS 5170: Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits)
- NURS 5200: General Research Methods (3 credits)
- NURS 6110: Health Care Delivery Systems (3 credits)
- NURS 6130: Interprofessional Collaboration (3 credits)
- NURS 6140: Leadership in Health Care (3 credits)
- NURS 6150: Clinical Informatics (3 credits)
- NURS 6160: Evidence-Based Practice I (3 credits)
- NURS 6170: Evidence-Based Practice II (3 credits)
- NURS 6805: Introduction to Applied Statistics for Healthcare Research (3 credits)
- NURS 6960: Doctor of Nursing Practice Project Management (3 credits total, can be taken over multiple semesters)
- NURS 6961: Doctor of Nursing Practice Project (3 credits total, can be taken over multiple semesters)
AGACNP Concentration Courses (16 credits):
- NURS 5260: Advanced Clinical Studies I: The Acute Care Setting with 150 Clinical Hours (5 credits)
- NURS 5270: Advanced Clinical Studies II: The Acute Care Setting with 150 Clinical Hours (5 credits)
- NURS 5810: Advanced Practice Nursing Clinical Practicum with 450 Clinical Hours (6 credits)
DNP Post-BSN AGACNP Clinicals
Program requires 1,200 total clinical hours completed throughout curriculum including 750 hours in AGACNP concentration courses plus additional hours in core courses:
- Interprofessional Collaboration 75 hours
- Leadership in Health Care 75 hours
- Evidence-Based Practice I 75 hours
- Doctor of Nursing Practice Project 225 hours
Two campus visits to Saint Louis University required:
- first is two-to-three day residency at Valentine School of Nursing for assessment of diagnostic reasoning, clinical assessment skills, and therapeutic communication knowledge
- second visit at program end to present DNP project
Students work in emergency departments, tertiary care settings, intensive care units, trauma centers, and specialty medicine areas treating patients with acute, critical, and chronic illnesses.
DNP Post-BSN AGACNP Admissions
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing from program accredited by nationally recognized accrediting agency
- One year clinical experience
- 3.20 cumulative GPA minimum on 4.0 system
- Unencumbered RN license in state where clinical experience will be done
- Current CPR certification from American Heart Association
- Completion of undergraduate-level descriptive and inferential statistics course
- Completion of beginning-level health assessment or equivalent course
- Application submitted through NursingCAS with fee
- Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
- CV/résumé documenting education, clinical nursing experience, service to nursing profession/community
- Professional goal statement (one-to-two pages, double-spaced) outlining doctoral study goals, research translation area of interest for capstone project, career goals
- Copy of unencumbered RN license attached to application
- Rolling admissions with deadlines: July 15 (fall), December 15 (spring), April 15 (summer)
- International students on F-1 or J-1 visas not eligible due to online delivery
MSN – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the MSN-AGACNP program is approximately $47,600 and would take 3 years to complete on a full-time basis.
MSN-AGACNP Curriculum
The 34-credit MSN-AGACNP curriculum includes 18 core credits and 16 AGACNP concentration credits delivered completely online with individualized full-time or part-time curriculum plans suitable for personal and professional schedules.
MSN Core Courses (18 credits):
- NURS 5040: Advanced Practice Nursing: Role Acquisition (1 credit)
- NURS 5080: Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits)
- NURS 5110: Advanced Assessment and Clinical Decision Making (3 credits)
- NURS 5140: Health Promotion (3 credits)
- NURS 5160: Principles of Practice Management (2 credits)
- NURS 5170: Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits)
- NURS 5200: General Research Methods (3 credits)
- NURS 5900: Residency (0 credits)
AGACNP Concentration Courses (16 credits):
- NURS 5260: Advanced Clinical Studies I: The Acute Care Setting with 150 Clinical Hours (5 credits)
- NURS 5270: Advanced Clinical Studies II: The Acute Care Setting with 150 Clinical Hours (5 credits)
- NURS 5810: Advanced Practice Nursing Clinical Practicum with 450 Clinical Hours (6 credits)
MSN-AGACNP Clinicals
The MSN-AGACNP program requires 750 clinical hours completed across three courses:
- Advanced Clinical Studies I (150 hours)
- Advanced Clinical Studies II (150 hours)
- Advanced Practice Nursing Clinical Practicum (450 hours)
One campus visit required during second clinical management course to evaluate progress and teach skills not acquired through online learning such as suturing and office procedures.
Saint Louis University partners with students on clinical placement, pairing them with faculty mentors with expertise in desired fields while helping obtain preceptors for clinical rotations.
MSN-AGACNP Admissions
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing from program accredited by nationally recognized accrediting agency
- 3.0 cumulative GPA minimum on 4.0 scale
- Unencumbered RN license in state where clinical experience will be done (license required at time of application)
- Current CPR certification from American Heart Association required after acceptance
- Negative drug screening required after acceptance
- Completion of beginning-level health assessment course or equivalent prior to enrollment in Advanced Health Assessment
- Application submitted through NursingCAS with fee
- Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
- Copy of unencumbered RN license attached to application
- Rolling admissions with deadlines: July 15 (fall), December 15 (spring), April 15 (summer)
- International students on F-1 or J-1 visas not eligible due to online delivery
Post-Master’s Certificate – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s Certificate program is approximately $22,400-$43,400 and would take 1-2 years to complete.
Certificate Curriculum
The 16-31 credit Post-Master’s Certificate includes 0-15 core course credits (which may be transferred) and 16 specialty course credits. Minimum 15 credits required for completion with total varying based on individual file review and transfer credits.
Core Courses (0-15 credits, may be transferred or waived):
- NURS 5040: Advanced Practice Nursing: Role Acquisition (may be waived for existing NPs)
- NURS 5080: Advanced Pharmacology
- NURS 5110: Advanced Assessment and Clinical Decision Making
- NURS 5140: Health Promotion
- NURS 5160: Principles of Practice Management (may be waived for existing NPs)
- NURS 5170: Advanced Pathophysiology
- NURS 5900: Residency (Onsite in St. Louis, MO)
Specialty Courses (16 credits):
- NURS 5260: Advanced Clinical Studies I: The Acute Care Setting with 150 Clinical Hours (5 credits)
- NURS 5270: Advanced Clinical Studies II: The Acute Care Setting with 150 Clinical Hours (5 credits)
- NURS 5810: Advanced Practice Nursing Clinical Practicum with 450 Clinical Hours (6 credits)
Certificate Clinicals
Post-Master’s Certificate requires 750 clinical hours across three specialty courses completed in emergency departments, tertiary care settings, intensive care units, trauma centers, and specialty medicine areas.
Program conducted almost completely online requiring only one visit to St. Louis campus.
Saint Louis University partners with students on clinical placement, pairing them with faculty mentors with expertise in desired fields and helping obtain preceptors for clinical rotations.
Students learn complex monitoring and invasive therapies, high-intensity interventions, and continuous vigilance within high-acuity care range.
Certificate Admissions
- Master’s degree in nursing specialty, preferably from program accredited by nationally recognized accrediting agency
- 3.0 college cumulative GPA minimum
- Completion of graduate-level physiology or pathophysiology course and beginning health assessment course or equivalent
- Experience in advanced practice role in nursing
- Application submitted through NursingCAS with fee
- Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
- Copy of unencumbered RN license in state where clinical experience will be done
- Students may transfer three to six credits of graduate-level coursework at school’s discretion
- Students may petition for advanced standing in Advanced Health Assessment, Advanced Pathophysiology, and Advanced Pharmacology
- Rolling admissions with deadlines: July 15 (fall), December 15 (spring), April 15 (summer)
- International students on F-1 or J-1 visas not eligible due to online delivery
Tuition
Graduate nursing tuition is $1,400 per credit hour with additional charges that may apply. University fee is $120 for distance learning students. MSN programs total approximately $47,600 for 34 credits.
DNP programs range from $89,600-$95,200 for 64-68 credits. Post-Master’s Certificate programs range from $22,400-$43,400 for 16-31 credits depending on transfer credits and course waivers.
Students must maintain 3.0 cumulative GPA in all graduate/professional courses for continuation.
Saint Louis University offers scholarship and graduate research assistantship opportunities to eligible graduate students with most nursing students participating in tuition assistance programs provided through employers.
Financing available through grants, scholarships, federal and private loans, and institutional financing plans.
More ACNP Programs for Missouri Students
- Barnes-Jewish College - St. Louis
- Maryville University - St Louis
- Missouri State University - Springfield
- Rockhurst University - Kansas City
View all Missouri ACNP programs
Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) certificate program at Saint Louis University’s Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing are accredited by Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Saint Louis University Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing is fully approved by Missouri State Board of Nursing.
Graduates eligible for national certification through American Nurses Credentialing Center and/or American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.
Graduates of APRN programs eligible to sit for National Board Certification Exams in all states and territories.