Texas Christian University ACNP Programs

Texas Christian University offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner track:

Key program highlights include:

  • BSN to DNP (DNP-AGACNP)
  • 100% online coursework with three on-campus intensives throughout the program
  • 70 total credit hours including 1,000 minimum clinical hours
  • Three-year (36 months) or four-year (48 months) completion tracks available
  • Clinical practicum experiences close to home with TCU faculty supervision

The program prepares graduates to provide comprehensive healthcare to chronically, acutely, or critically ill adults and older adults in acute care settings, with graduates eligible for national certification through AACN or ANCC.

Program Track Overview

Doctor of Nursing Practice – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, BSN to DNP

The estimated cost for the DNP-AGACNP BSN to DNP program is approximately $105,000-$140,000 (varies by semester rates) and would take 3-4 years to complete depending on selected track.

DNP-AGACNP BSN to DNP Curriculum

The BSN to DNP-AGACNP curriculum requires 70 semester hours total, comprising 56 hours of didactic coursework and 14 hours of clinical practicum, with completion possible in three years (36 months) or four years (48 months).

Advanced Practice Core Courses

NURS 50003 – Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits)
This course explains how disease processes change body systems. Students study altered health states in adults and children using a systems approach.

NURS 50013 – Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits)
This course builds advanced assessment skills across the lifespan. Students practice diagnostic reasoning through structured methods and a practicum.

NURS 50022 – Advanced Practice Roles (2 credits)
This course prepares students for the DNP/APRN role. Students study leadership, role development, collaboration, advocacy, and licensure and certification topics.

NURS 50053 – Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics (3 credits)
This course teaches medication selection for patients with altered health states across the lifespan. Students study pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, treatment effects, safety, cost, and patient education for prescribing.

NAPN 84202 – Promoting Health and Wellness in Primary Care (2 credits)
This course prepares nurse practitioners to lead wellness and prevention in primary care and communities. Students apply health promotion, behavior change, and population health models to plan programs.

NAPN 84212 – Business and Legal Aspects for the Nurse Practitioner (2 credits)
This course covers legal, ethical, and business issues in NP practice. Students study practice models, risk management, and methods for measuring and improving outcomes.

NAPN 84223 – Diagnostic Methods & Procedures APRN (3 credits)
This course trains APRNs to use lab tests and diagnostic procedures to guide care. Students practice interpreting clinical data and learn office skills such as wound care and suturing.

NAPN 84213 – Primary Care Adult-Gerontology I (3 credits)
This course focuses on primary care management for adult and older adult patients. Students learn prevention, screening, diagnosis, and management of common acute and chronic conditions using team-based care.

AGACNP Specialty Courses

NAPN 85183 – Intro to Acute Care Adult-Gerontology Practicum (3 credits)
This practicum builds clinical decision-making for adult-gerontology acute care. Students provide supervised direct patient care and apply evidence-based guidelines in an acute care setting.

NAPN 85213 – Acute Care Adult-Gerontology I (3 credits)
This course teaches assessment and diagnosis for unstable adolescent, adult, and older adult patients with complex conditions. Students plan care with team-based management and review related legal and ethical issues.

NAPN 85283 – Acute Care Adult-Gerontology I Practicum (3 credits)
This practicum pairs with Acute Care Adult-Gerontology I and builds hands-on management skills. Students deliver supervised care in adult-gerontology settings and use evidence-based tools for safe care.

NAPN 85223 – Acute Care Adult-Gerontology II (3 credits)
This course advances diagnostic reasoning and differential diagnosis for unstable patients with complex illness. Students expand management plans and apply advanced practice standards to acute and complex chronic problems.

NAPN 85383 – Acute Care Adult-Gerontology II Practicum (3 credits)
This practicum deepens AGACNP practice in high-acuity and specialty settings. Students work with a multidisciplinary team to design, deliver, and evaluate care plans for acute, critical, and complex chronic illness.

NAPN 85385 – Acute Care Adult-Gerontology III Practicum (3 credits)
This advanced precepted practicum strengthens the full AGACNP role in high-acuity care. Students manage complex patients with a team, apply professional and legal standards, and refine independent clinical judgment.

DNP Core Courses

NDNP 81113 – Health Innovation and Complexity Science (3 credits)
This course examines how complex health systems affect care delivery and population outcomes. Students study health equity, safety, quality, and innovation concepts.

NDNP 81123 – Health Care Data Management and Analysis (3 credits)
This course teaches statistics and data skills for evidence-based improvement. Students learn data collection, analysis, interpretation, and critical review of health research.

NDNP 81143 – Population Health & Epidemiology (3 credits)
This course applies epidemiology and population health methods to community needs. Students assess social drivers of health, identify disparities, set priorities, and design interventions with measurable outcomes.

NDNP 81222 – Synthesis in Evidence-Based Practice (2 credits)
This course trains students to combine best evidence for clinical and system decisions. Students use research findings to support practice change.

NDNP 81233 – Decision Science and Informatics (3 credits)
This course builds decision-making skills using informatics and analytic methods. Students study how technology and decision models guide safe, efficient care delivery.

NDNP 81242 – Translation in Evidence-Based Practice (2 credits)
This course focuses on moving research evidence into real practice. Students plan how to implement evidence-based changes in care settings.

NDNP 81353 – Health Policy, Finance, & Economics (3 credits)
This course reviews how policy and economic forces shape health systems. Students study stakeholders, regulation, and financial decisions that affect care delivery.

NDNP 81133 – Systems & Organization Leadership (3 credits)
This course prepares students to lead change in health systems. Students study organizational strategy, business management, and the DNP role as a change agent.

NDNP 86712 – Foundations of Evidence-Based Practice and Research (2 credits)
This course introduces research methods used in evidence-based practice. Students study research design, EBP models, and core statistics concepts.

DNP Scholarly Project

NDNP 88061 – DNP Scholarly Project I (1 credit)
Students propose an evidence-based scholarly project. Students define the problem, aims, and plan for evaluation.

NDNP 88071 – DNP Scholarly Project II (1 credit)
Students build the project plan and prepare for implementation. Students finalize methods, measures, and timelines.

NDNP 88182 – DNP Scholarly Project III (2 credits)
Students implement and evaluate the scholarly project. Students collect results and assess impact on outcomes.

NDNP 88191 – DNP Scholarly Project IV (1 credit)
Students share project results with an audience. Students prepare dissemination materials and report outcomes.

Total Program: 70 Semester Hours (56 didactic, 14 clinical practicum), 1,000 minimum clinical hours

More curriculum details are available here.

DNP-AGACNP BSN to DNP Clinicals

DNP-AGACNP students complete minimum 1,000 clinical hours distributed across five clinical practicum courses, with clinical experiences supervised by TCU nursing faculty in concert with qualified preceptors located in students’ geographic areas.

Clinical Requirements:

  • Total minimum 1,000 clinical hours required
  • 14 credit hours of clinical practicum coursework
  • NAPN 85183: Intro to Acute Care Adult-Gerontology Practicum (3 credits)
  • NAPN 85283: Acute Care Adult-Gerontology I Practicum (3 credits)
  • NAPN 85383: Acute Care Adult-Gerontology II Practicum (3 credits)
  • NAPN 85385: Acute Care Adult-Gerontology III Practicum (3 credits)
  • Clinical practicum experiences take place close to home in students’ geographic areas
  • If adequate practicum or preceptor resources unavailable, experiences available in Fort Worth area
  • TCU nursing faculty supervise clinical experiences with qualified preceptors
  • Practice settings include critical care units, inpatient units, outpatient settings, specialty practices (neurosurgery, cardiology, hematology, trauma, orthopedics)

On-Campus Requirements:

  • Two-day orientation at program beginning
  • On-Campus Intensives (OCIs) scheduled throughout program for clinical training and skills assessments
  • Three total on-campus sessions required

Clinical Preparation:

  • Satisfactory drug screen and background check required within 30 days prior to beginning practicum
  • Must use TCU Nursing approved vendors
  • Current CPR certification (AHA BLS for Healthcare Provider)
  • Required immunizations per DFW Hospital Council requirements
  • Current health insurance coverage
  • Annual TB testing

DNP-AGACNP BSN to DNP Prerequisites & Admissions

Academic Requirements:

  • BSN from accredited school or university
  • Preferred cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on 4.0 scale) from baccalaureate nursing program
  • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
  • International transcripts require evaluation from transcript credentialing service
  • No GRE required
  • Up to six approved transfer credit hours accepted (BSN to DNP)

Clinical Experience:

  • Required: One year of full-time RN experience in inpatient acute care setting
  • Acceptable settings: progressive care, intensive/critical care, intermediate care, emergency department, telemetry unit
  • Applicants without acute care experience considered with conditional admission
  • Conditionally admitted students must obtain one year full-time acute care nursing experience before beginning NP practicum courses
  • Proof of acute care experience required before progressing to practicum phase

Licensure Requirements:

  • Current unencumbered licensure in Texas or state where practicum coursework will occur
  • Currently accepting Texas and New Mexico residents only for NP programs
  • Must maintain current unencumbered licensure throughout program

Application Materials:

  • Completed online application
  • Resume or curriculum vitae
  • Personal statement (no more than 2 pages double-spaced) addressing: 1) personal/academic/professional strengths and qualifications, 2) interest in clinical doctorate from TCU, 3) proposed DNP scholarly project area of interest
  • Three professional references (from supervisor, previous faculty, or other professional references)
  • Satisfactory completion of interview
  • Current CPR certification (AHA BLS for Healthcare Provider)
  • Immunization history meeting DFW Hospital Council requirements

International Applicants:

  • TOEFL score of at least 600 required
  • TSE score of 6 on institutional version required (within past two years)

Upon Acceptance:

  • $250 non-refundable deposit due with Intent to Enroll form
  • Deposit applied to student account upon beginning program
  • All submitted materials become property of TCU

State Authorization: TCU currently accepts students from: Alaska (conditional), Arkansas, Connecticut, D.C., Florida, Georgia (still researching), Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota (conditional), Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island (conditional), South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming (conditional)

Tuition

Graduate nursing program tuition is $2,145 per credit hour for Summer 2025 and $2,210 per credit hour for Fall 2025, Spring 2026, and Summer 2026. The DNP-AGACNP program requires 70 credit hours for completion.

Estimated Total Program Cost:

  • Tuition (70 credits): Approximately $154,700 (based on average rate of $2,210/credit)
  • Application Fee: $60
  • Graduate Student Senate Activity Fee: $24 per semester (for students taking 6+ hours)
  • Estimated Semester Fees: $144-$192 (6-8 semesters)
  • Total Estimated Cost: $154,900-$155,000

Additional Costs:

  • $250 non-refundable enrollment deposit (applied to student account)
  • Drug screening and background check (TCU-approved vendors required)
  • CPR certification (AHA BLS for Healthcare Provider)
  • Required immunizations
  • Current health insurance coverage
  • Books and supplies
  • Travel costs for on-campus intensives
  • Clinical site-specific requirements

Financial Aid Options:

  • Automatic tuition reduction available
  • TCU participates in Nurse Faculty Loan Forgiveness Program
  • Contact financial aid office for scholarship opportunities

Actual costs may vary based on completion timeline (3-year vs. 4-year track), number of summer terms taken at lower rate, and credit distribution across terms.

More tuition details available here.

Accreditation

The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Texas Christian University’s Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences is accredited by the appropriate nursing accreditation body.

State Boards of Nursing set standards for licensure, and some State Boards require approval of programs leading to advanced practice certification.

Students should contact their home state’s Board of Nursing to verify the program meets eligibility criteria for licensure credentials.

Graduates are eligible for national certification through the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Academic Standards

GPA Requirements:

  • Students must maintain minimum 3.0 GPA
  • No more than one grade of “C” or lower may satisfy degree requirements
  • Students with GPA less than 3.0 in any semester placed on academic warning
  • Must achieve 3.0 cumulative average by end of next six enrollment hours to remove warning status
  • Further enrollment requires special recommendation from Division Director and Associate Dean permission

Time Limits:

  • BSN to DNP degree must be completed within six academic years from first semester
  • Extension of time requires written application to Division Director
  • The practicum and project must be completed within two academic years
  • Additional courses may be assigned for students exceeding time limits

Incomplete Grades:

  • “I” grade recorded when work cannot be completed due to circumstances beyond student control
  • “I” grade not given to avoid earning “F”
  • Must be removed within first 60 days of regular semester following or changes to “F”
  • Extensions require written approval from instructor and Associate Dean
  • Program progression at Division Director discretion until “I” removed

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