University of Connecticut School of Nursing offers 3 Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- Master of Science (MS) in Nursing – AGACNP
- Post-Graduate APRN Certificate – AGACNP
- Bachelor of Science to Doctor of Nursing Practice (BS-DNP) – AGACNP
All programs are delivered entirely online with didactic coursework taught by highly experienced UConn faculty practitioners, though two mandatory on-campus intensive sessions are required in the spring prior to clinical rotations.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program Track | Est. Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| BS-DNP – AGACNP | $81,600–$84,000 | ≈ 4–5 years (full-time) |
| MSN – AGACNP | $54,000 | ≈ 2.5 years (full-time) |
| Post-Graduate APRN Certificate – AGACNP | ≈ $30,000 | ≈ 1.5–2 years |
UConn’s AGACNP programs ranked #5 among Online Nursing Master’s Programs in the country by U.S. News & World Report 2025, preparing graduates with exceptional clinical skills to manage acutely ill, complex adult and gerontology populations.
Bachelor of Science to Doctor of Nursing Practice (BS-DNP) – AGACNP
The estimated cost for the BS-DNP AGACNP program is approximately $81,600-$84,000 and takes approximately 4-5 years to complete full-time across 64-70 credits depending on concentration requirements.
DNP Curriculum
The BS-DNP program includes all coursework from the MS-AGACNP program (45 credits) plus post-master’s DNP core courses (19-25 credits). Students complete MS coursework first, earning an MS degree as part of the BS-DNP program before continuing doctoral studies.
MS-AGACNP Courses (45 credits):
- NURS 5012 Nursing Science and Patterns of Knowing in Advanced Nursing Practice 3
- NURS 5020 Statistical Methods in Health Sciences Research 3
- NURS 5030 Nursing Research for Clinical Scholarship 3
- NURS 5035 Evidence-based Practice to Advance Clinical Scholarship 3
- NURS 5060 Advanced Pathophysiology: Concepts for Advanced Nursing Practice Across the Lifespan 3
- NURS 5870 Health Policy and Populations-based Advocacy for the Scholarship of Application
Post-Master’s DNP Core Courses:
NURS 5500 – Advanced Diagnosis for APN Practice (3 credits)
Builds advanced diagnostic reasoning skills for common and chronic health problems in adults. Students practice developing differential diagnoses using history, physical exam, and clinical judgment. The course also introduces interpretation of imaging and lab data, including X-rays, CT scans, and key laboratory values.
NURS 5550 – Common and Chronic Health Problems in AGNP Practice I: AGACNP (3 credits)
Covers advanced management of common and chronic conditions in adult and geriatric acute care patients. Emphasis is on comprehensive assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning for acute and ongoing issues. Interprofessional collaboration is encouraged to optimize outcomes in complex cases.
NURS 5559 – AGNP Acute Care Clinical Practicum I (3 credits)
Introduces the clinical role of the adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner. Students begin assessing and managing acute and chronic illnesses in adult and older adult patients using an evidence-based approach. Clinical work focuses on applying pathophysiology and pharmacology knowledge in real acute care settings.
NURS 5560 – Complex and Comorbid Health Problems in AGNP Acute Care Practice II: AGACNP (3 credits)
Expands on care of adults and older adults with complex and coexisting conditions in acute care. Students refine skills in evaluating, diagnosing, and managing acute episodes layered on chronic disease. The course reinforces team-based approaches to safely manage high-acuity, high-risk patients.
NURS 5562 – Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning: AGACNP Focus (3 credits)
Develops advanced health assessment skills for adolescent through older adult acute care patients. Students practice detailed history taking, focused and comprehensive exams, and clinical pattern recognition. Emphasis is on linking assessment findings to accurate clinical diagnoses in the AGACNP role.
NURS 5569 – AGNP Acute Care Clinical Practicum II (3 credits)
Builds on the first practicum with more complex adult and older adult acute care cases. Students deepen skills in assessment, diagnosis, and management using evidence-based standards, pathophysiology, and pharmacology. The practicum emphasizes critical thinking, psychomotor skills, and role competence, with S/U grading.
NURS 5570 – Complex and Comorbid Health Problems in AGNP Acute Care Practice III: AGACNP (3 credits)
Focuses on advanced management of highly complex and comorbid conditions in adult and geriatric acute care patients. Students integrate prior knowledge to address unstable and multi-system problems. Collaborative practice and coordinated care plans are stressed for patients with high acuity and multiple needs.
NURS 5579 – AGNP Acute Care Clinical Practicum III (3 credits)
Serves as the culminating acute care practicum for the AGACNP student. Learners integrate all prior didactic and clinical content to manage common and complex problems in individuals, families, and populations. Emphasis is on independent clinical decision making, risk reduction, and full demonstration of AGACNP competencies.
NURS 5590 – Advanced Pharmacodynamics for Adult Gerontology Acute Care (3 credits)
Examines advanced pharmacodynamics and pharmacotherapeutics for adult-gerontology patients in acute care. Students study drug selection, dosing, and monitoring for complex and unstable conditions. The course focuses on safe, effective medication management within the AGACNP scope of practice.
DNP Clinicals
BS-DNP students complete a minimum of 1,000 supervised clinical hours post-baccalaureate, including the 720 hours from MS clinical practicums plus additional hours during DNP residency and seminar courses. Two mandatory on-campus intensive sessions are required for cadaver lab and simulation/skills lab work. Students must have minimum 2,080 hours of acute care RN experience within the past two years prior to beginning clinical practicums.
DNP Prerequisites & Admissions
- BSN degree from regionally accredited institution
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0
- Current RN license
- Minimum 2,080 hours of RN-level acute care experience within past two years
- Written response addressing degree goals, career interests, AGACNP specialty selection, and reasons for applying to UConn
- Three letters of reference: one academic, two professional
- Current resume
- Unofficial transcripts
- Verification of RN direct patient care hours
- International students: TOEFL or Duolingo scores as required
- Application deadline: April 15, 2026
- $1,000 non-refundable deposit required upon acceptance
- Completion of DNP project, scholarly portfolio, general exam required for graduation
Master of Science in Nursing – AGACNP
The estimated cost for the MS-AGACNP program is $54,000 and takes approximately 2.5 years to complete full-time across 45 credits.
MSN Curriculum
The MS-AGACNP program totals 45 credits delivered entirely online over five semesters for full-time students or seven semesters for part-time students. The curriculum includes nursing core courses, advanced practice nursing courses, and population-specific AGACNP specialty courses.
Required Courses (45 credits):
- NURS 5012 – Nursing Science and Patterns of Knowing (3 credits)
- NURS 5020 – Statistical Methods in Health Sciences Research (3 credits)
- NURS 5030 – Nursing Research for Evidence-based Practice (3 credits)
- NURS 5035 – Evidence-based Practice to Advance Clinical Scholarship (3 credits)
- NURS 5060 – Advanced Pathophysiology: Concepts for Advanced Nursing Practice Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
- NURS 5500 – Advanced Diagnosis for APN Practice (3 credits)
- NURS 5550 – Common and Chronic Health Problems in AGNP Practice I: Population Specific AGACNP (3 credits)
- NURS 5559 – AGNP Acute Care Clinical Practicum I (3 credits)
- NURS 5560 – Complex and Comorbid Health Problems in AGNP Acute Care Practice II: Population Specific AGACNP (3 credits)
- NURS 5562 – Advanced Health Assessment for the Nurse Practitioner Role: AGACNP Population Focus (3 credits)
- NURS 5569 – AGNP Acute Care Clinical Practicum II (3 credits)
- NURS 5570 – Complex and Comorbid Health Problems in AGNP Acute Care Practice III: Population Specific AGACNP (3 credits)
- NURS 5579 – AGNP Acute Care Clinical Practicum III (3 credits)
- NURS 5590 – Advanced Pharmacodynamics and Implications for Nursing Actions Adult Gerontology Acute Care Population (3 credits)
- NURS 5870 – Health Policy & Populations-based Advocacy for The Scholarship of Application (3 credits)
MSN Clinicals
MS-AGACNP students complete 720 clinical hours distributed across three practicum courses:
- NURS 5559
- NURS 5569
- NURS 5579
Two mandatory on-campus intensive sessions are required:
- one in the spring prior to beginning clinical rotations
- one prior to graduation, featuring direct work in the Human Anatomy Learning Laboratory (cadaver lab) and simulation/skills lab.
Students must have a minimum of two years of full-time experience (2,080 hours) within the past two years in an acute care setting prior to beginning clinical practicum courses.
MSN Prerequisites & Admissions
- BSN degree from regionally accredited college or university
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0
- Current RN license
- Minimum 2,080 hours (two years full-time) of RN-level practice experience in an acute care setting within the past two years, caring for acutely ill patients
- Written response addressing: reasons for pursuing degree, career interests and goals, reasons for selecting AGACNP specialty, and reasons for applying to UConn
- Three letters of reference: one academic (professor, faculty member, or academic advisor), two professional (one from clinical supervisor or nurse manager who directly supervised applicant; one from practicing APRN or physician who served as mentor or whom applicant shadowed)
- Current resume
- Unofficial transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate coursework
- Verification of RN direct patient care hours form showing proof of minimum 2,080 direct patient care hours
- International students: TOEFL minimum score of 550 (paper-based) or 79 (internet-based), or Duolingo minimum score of 100
- Application deadline: April 15, 2026 (2026 entry cycle opens September 8, 2025)
- $1,000 non-refundable deposit toward tuition required upon acceptance prior to course registration
Post-Graduate APRN Certificate – AGACNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Graduate AGACNP Certificate is approximately $30,000 and takes approximately 1.5-2 years to complete on a variable plan basis across 25 credits (estimated).
Certificate Curriculum
The Post-Graduate Certificate curriculum is individualized based on prior coursework and follows a variable plan of study. Students complete population-specific AGACNP courses and clinical practicums not previously completed in their master’s program.
Typical Required Courses:
- NURS 5500 – Advanced Diagnosis for APN Practice (3 credits)
- NURS 5550 – Common and Chronic Health Problems in AGNP Practice I: Population Specific AGACNP (3 credits)
- NURS 5559 – AGNP Acute Care Clinical Practicum I (3 credits)
- NURS 5560 – Complex and Comorbid Health Problems in AGNP Acute Care Practice II: Population Specific AGACNP (3 credits)
- NURS 5562 – Advanced Health Assessment for the Nurse Practitioner Role: AGACNP Population Focus (3 credits)
- NURS 5569 – AGNP Acute Care Clinical Practicum II (3 credits)
- NURS 5570 – Complex and Comorbid Health Problems in AGNP Acute Care Practice III: Population Specific AGACNP (3 credits)
- NURS 5579 – AGNP Acute Care Clinical Practicum III (3 credits)
- NURS 5590 – Advanced Pharmacodynamics and Implications for Nursing Actions Adult Gerontology Acute Care Population (3 credits)
Additional courses may be required based on transcript review and gap analysis.
Certificate Clinicals
Post-Graduate Certificate students complete 500 clinical hours distributed across three practicum courses. Two mandatory on-campus intensive sessions are required for cadaver lab and simulation/skills lab work. Students must submit verification of clinical hours completed during their initial APRN program and have recent acute care experience.
Certificate Prerequisites & Admissions
- Master’s degree in nursing or higher from regionally accredited institution
- Current RN license
- Current or previous APRN licensure and certification
- Minimum GPA of 3.0
- Verification of hours completed during initial APRN program
- Written response addressing reasons for pursuing certificate, career goals, and reasons for applying to UConn
- Three letters of reference: one academic, two professional (one from clinical supervisor/nurse manager, one from APRN or physician mentor)
- Current resume
- Unofficial transcripts for all graduate coursework
- Application deadline: April 15, 2026 (2026 entry cycle opens September 8, 2025)
- $1,000 non-refundable deposit required upon acceptance
Tuition
Graduate nursing tuition is $1,200 per credit or $3,600 per 3-credit course for all online students (Connecticut residents, non-Connecticut residents, and international students) beginning Fall 2024.
An online fee of $25 per credit applies to all classes with online instruction modality.
Various mandatory fees apply based on enrollment status, including general university fee, student health and wellness fee, student recreation center fee, infrastructure fee, matriculation fee, activity fee, transit fee, and technology fee.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
The University of Connecticut School of Nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Graduates of UConn’s AGACNP programs are prepared to apply for eligibility to take the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner examination given by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) or American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Other Nursing Programs
University of Connecticut School of Nursing offers additional programs including:
- MS in Nursing concentrations: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (not currently accepting new students), Family Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Administration and Leadership, Nurse Educator
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with multiple concentrations
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing
- Post-Graduate APRN Certificates in multiple specialties
- Graduate Certificates: Health Professions Education, Holistic Nursing, Pain Management, Healthcare Innovation
Other ACNP Programs for Connecticut Nurses
- Quinnipiac University - Hamden
- Western Connecticut State University - Danbury
- Yale University - New Haven