Oakland University offers 2 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- MSN – AGACNP
- Post-Master’s Certificate – AGACNP
The programs focus on holistic patient care in the management of episodic and complex health issues in critically ill adolescents, young adults, adults, and older/aging adults in acute care/inpatient settings.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program Name | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN AGACNP | $45,672 (MI residents) | 2 years full-time |
| Post-Master’s Certificate AGACNP | $14,273+ (MI residents) | 1-2 years |
Key features include:
- Admission occurs once annually in Fall semester
- NursingCAS application
- Individual faculty interviews required for qualified applicants
Master of Science in Nursing – AGACNP
The estimated cost for the MSN AGACNP program is approximately $45,672 for Michigan residents or $51,756 for non-residents (based on 48 credits), and the program takes 2 years to complete on a full-time basis.
MSN Curriculum
The 48-credit curriculum includes foundation courses, clinical core courses, and specialty courses preparing graduates to manage critically ill patients in acute care settings:
Foundation Courses (10 credits):
- NRS 5312 – Theory and Transitional Research for Advanced Nursing Practice (4 credits)
- NRS 5322 – Nursing Scholarship and Dissemination (1 credit)
- NRS 5241 – Systems Leadership and Health Policy for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 credits)
- NRS 6398 – Graduate Project (2 credits)
Clinical Core Courses (11 credits):
- NRS 6411 – Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
- NRS 6421 – Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan (4 credits)
- NRS 6441 – Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan (4 credits)
Specialty Courses (27 credits):
NRS 5251 – Inter-professional Role Development Leadership and Ethics in Advanced Nursing Practice (3 credits)
This course examines advanced practice role development using role theory and ethics. Students review APRN competencies, regulation, and scope of practice within changing healthcare systems.
NRS 6627 – Advanced Concepts in Gerontology (3 credits)
This course prepares NP students to care for older adults using aging theory and developmental science. Topics include physiologic, psychological, cultural, environmental, and spiritual factors that influence health in later life.
NRS 6734 – Nurse Practitioner Diagnostic Testing and Procedures in the Acute Care Setting (2 credits)
This course builds diagnostic and procedural skills for acute and critical care. Students practice assessment, monitoring, and clinical management techniques for acutely ill adult patients.
NRS 6737 – Adult and Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Clinical Concepts in Acute Care I (6 credits)
This first acute care course introduces assessment and management of adult and older adult patients in high-acuity settings. Students address acute, chronic, and multisystem conditions through integrated didactic and clinical learning.
NRS 6747 – Adult and Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Clinical Concepts in Acute Care II (6 credits)
This second acute care course expands clinical reasoning and management skills for complex adult-gerontology cases. Students apply evidence-based approaches to acute, chronic, and multisystem problems in critical care environments.
NRS 6767 – Adult and Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Clinical Concepts in Acute Care III (7 credits)
This final acute care course emphasizes advanced management of high-acuity multisystem illness and readiness for independent practice. Students focus on role transition, clinical synthesis, and safe decision-making in acute and critical care.
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN Clinicals
The program requires a minimum of 630 clinical practice hours distributed across three specialty clinical courses focusing on acute care management of critically ill patients:
- Clinical hours integrated throughout specialty courses (NRS 6737, NRS 6747, NRS 6767)
- 630 total clinical practice hours minimum required for graduation
- Clinical experiences in acute care/inpatient settings including critical care units
- Focus on episodic and complex health issues in adolescents through older/aging adults
- Students responsible for meeting healthcare facility requirements for clinical placements
MSN Prerequisites & Admissions
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing from institution accredited by National League for Nursing or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Overall undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above
- Current unrestricted Registered Nurse license in United States or its territories
- Unrestricted RN license to practice in Michigan
- All transcripts from previously attended institutions
- Two letters of recommendation from healthcare professionals in nursing, leadership, administration/management, or education
- Professional statement (750 words or less) focusing on APRN consensus model, career goals, recent clinical experiences, and professional development plans
- Individual interview with School of Nursing faculty
- Application submitted through NursingCAS (not Oakland University Graduate Application)
Post-Master’s Certificate – AGACNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s AGACNP Certificate is approximately $14,273 for Michigan residents or $16,174 for non-residents (based on minimum 15 credits), with actual costs varying based on individualized gap analysis, and the program typically takes 1-2 years to complete.
Post-Master’s Certificate Curriculum
The curriculum is individualized based on gap analysis comparing prior MSN didactic and clinical experience with AGACNP national certification requirements. Students complete selected courses from foundation, clinical core, and specialty categories to meet certification eligibility:
Foundation Courses (10 credits available):
- NRS 5312 – Theory and Transitional Research for Advanced Nursing Practice (4 credits)
- NRS 5322 – Nursing Scholarship and Dissemination (1 credit)
- NRS 5241 – Systems Leadership and Health Policy for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 credits)
- NRS 6398 – Graduate Project (2 credits)
Clinical Core Courses (11 credits available):
- NRS 6411 – Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
- NRS 6421 – Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan (4 credits)
- NRS 6441 – Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan (4 credits)
Specialty Courses (27 credits available – typically required):
- NRS 5251 – Inter-professional Role Development Leadership and Ethics in Advanced Nursing Practice (3 credits)
- NRS 6627 – Advanced Concepts in Gerontology (3 credits)
- NRS 6734 – Nurse Practitioner Diagnostic Testing and Procedures in the Acute Care Setting (2 credits)
- NRS 6737 – Adult and Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Clinical Concepts in Acute Care I (6 credits)
- NRS 6747 – Adult and Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Clinical Concepts in Acute Care II (6 credits)
- NRS 6767 – Adult and Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Clinical Concepts in Acute Care III (7 credits)
Post-Master’s Certificate Clinicals
Clinical hour requirements are determined through gap analysis, with additional clinical hours added as necessary to meet the 500-hour minimum required for AGACNP certification:
- Minimum 500 clinical hours required for AGACNP certification eligibility
- Gap analysis identifies clinical experiences needed beyond prior master’s program
- Clinical hours integrated throughout specialty courses as determined by individualized plan of study
- Focus on acute care/inpatient settings with critically ill patient populations
- Students must meet all healthcare facility requirements for clinical placements
Post-Master’s Certificate Prerequisites & Admissions
- Master of Science in Nursing degree with overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above from accredited institution
- Current national APRN certification (completion of prior MSN as nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist)
- Current unrestricted Registered Nurse license in United States or its territories
- Unrestricted RN license to practice in Michigan
- All transcripts from previously attended institutions
- Two letters of recommendation from healthcare professionals
- Professional statement (750 words or less) addressing APRN consensus model, career goals, clinical experiences, and professional development
- Individual interview with School of Nursing faculty required
- Application submitted through NursingCAS
- Gap analysis completed upon admission to determine individualized coursework
Tuition
Graduate nursing students pay $951.50 per credit hour for Michigan residents or $1,078.25 per credit hour for non-residents. Oakland University does not charge additional fees, making tuition the only billable cost for coursework.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Application Deadlines
Applications for Fall admission have two deadlines: Early Decision (March 1) and Standard Decision (May 1). International students must apply by May 1 for Fall semester admission. All applications must be submitted through the Nursing Centralized Application Service (NursingCAS).
Accreditation
Oakland University School of Nursing is accredited through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Upon completion of all program requirements, graduates are prepared for certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).
More Michigan ANCP Programs
- Madonna University - Livonia
- University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
- Wayne State University - Detroit