UT Health San Antonio offers 2 Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (BSN to DNP) – AGACNP
- Post-Graduate Certificate – AGACNP
Both programs are delivered in a hybrid format requiring campus attendance one to three days per week depending on enrollment status.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program Name | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| BSN to DNP AGACNP | $30,248 | 3–4 years (full-time) |
| Post-Graduate Certificate AGACNP | $15,904 | 1.5–2 years (full-time) |
UT Health San Antonio guarantees clinical placement with over 400 clinical affiliates and arranges all clinical rotations for students.
Doctor of Nursing Practice (BSN to DNP) – AGACNP
The estimated cost for the BSN to DNP AGACNP program is approximately $30,248 for Texas residents ($398 per credit hour x 76 credits) and would take 3-4 years to complete on a full-time basis.
BSN to DNP Curriculum
The 76-credit program combines leadership courses, scientific inquiry, and advanced specialty clinical practice across three main categories:
Core Leadership Courses:
NURS 7302 – Leadership in Healthcare
Students study healthcare leadership, change management, teamwork, communication, and conflict skills. The course also covers quality, safety, and national patient safety initiatives.
NURS 6315 – Informatics & Health Care Technologies
Students evaluate health IT and care technologies and use performance data to improve systems. The course covers documentation, usability, privacy, and policy topics tied to digital health.
NURS 6229 – Foundations of Scholarly Communication
Students strengthen scholarly writing and presenting skills. The course also covers digital communication and sharing results with stakeholders.
NURS 6380 – Epidemiology & Statistical Methods in Population Health
Students apply epidemiology and statistics to health data. The course covers study design, data collection, and interpretation of public health measures.
NURS 7303 – Knowledge Translation: Searching, Appraising and Synthesizing Evidence
Students learn evidence-based practice and knowledge translation models. They appraise research and synthesize evidence to address a practice gap.
NURS 7320 – Statistical Process Control and Quality Improvement Methods
Students use descriptive statistics and QI tools to evaluate care processes and outcomes. They learn to visualize and present data to support improvement work.
NURS 7304 – Knowledge Translation: Designing and Implementing Evidence-Based Interventions
Students design and implement evidence-based interventions using implementation and evaluation models. The course focuses on improving outcomes across practice, population, and system levels.
NURS 7415 – Health Systems Policy, Economics, and Financial Planning
Students analyze policy and economic factors that shape health systems. The course links policy change and financial planning to better outcomes and efficient care.
Advanced Practice Foundation Courses:
NURS 6430 – Advanced Pathophysiology
Students study advanced physiology and disease processes across body systems and the lifespan. The course builds clinical reasoning for advanced practice decisions.
NURS 6302 – Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics
Students apply pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacogenomics to drug selection and monitoring. The course focuses on safe, evidence-based prescribing across the lifespan.
NURS 6250 – Health Promotion and Population Health
Students use health promotion theory and population data to reduce risk and improve wellness. The course covers health equity, social factors, and disaster response.
NURS 6321 – Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning: Didactic
Students learn advanced history-taking and physical exam methods across the lifespan. They use diagnostic reasoning to form differential diagnoses.
NURS 6121 – Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning: Clinical Application
Students practice comprehensive and focused exams in a clinical setting. They apply assessment findings to build differential diagnoses.
AGACNP Specialty Courses:
NURS 6435 – AGACNP Diagnosis & Management: Concepts & Theory 1
Students learn acute care diagnostic and treatment approaches for adults and older adults. The course emphasizes evidence-based planning and team-based care.
NURS 6145 – Special Population Pharmacology: Applied Critical Care Pharmacology
Students apply advanced pharmacology to prescribing for acute, complex, and critically ill adolescents and adults. The course emphasizes practical medication planning and monitoring.
NURS 6147 – AGACNP Clinical Skills and Laboratory Science
Students learn to select and interpret diagnostic tests and lab results for NP decision-making. The course connects physiology and evidence to common acute care procedures.
NURS 6436 – AGACNP Diagnosis & Management: Concepts & Theory 2
Students build diagnosis and management skills for complex acute and critical conditions in high-acuity settings. The course focuses on evidence-based plans and interprofessional care.
NURS 6437 – AGACNP Diagnosis and Management: Clinical App 1
Students provide supervised acute care management for adults in high-acuity settings. The course integrates assessment, therapeutics, and team-based care.
NURS 6438 – AGACNP Diagnosis and Management: Clinical App 2
Students expand supervised management of acute, complex, and chronic problems in high-acuity settings. The course reinforces advanced assessment, treatment, and collaboration skills.
NURS 6135 – AGACNP Diagnosis and Management Clinical Seminar 1
Students reflect on clinical cases and connect practice to AGACNP core content. The seminar uses faculty mentoring, documentation review, and presentations.
NURS 6137 – AGACNP Diagnosis and Management Clinical Seminar 2
Students deepen case analysis and integrate clinical learning across acute care experiences. The seminar emphasizes synthesis, documentation, and scholarly case discussion.
NURS 6235 – AGACNP Diagnosis & Management: Concepts & Theory 3
Students focus on advanced role transition and management of complex conditions in high-acuity care. The course emphasizes individualized plans, evidence use, and team collaboration.
NURS 6227 – Advanced Practice Nurse Role and Transition to Practice
Students examine professional standards and role expectations for advanced practice. The course supports safe transition into advanced clinical practice.
DNP Project Courses:
NURS 7328 – DNP Project Problem Identification and Evidence Synthesis
Students identify a practice gap with a partner site and synthesize evidence to support a project direction. The course includes selection of a guiding model and project goal.
NURS 7211 – DNP Project Plan and Implementation
Students develop an implementation plan and present a formal proposal. The course focuses on leadership during rollout and continuous improvement.
NURS 7212 – DNP Project Evaluation
Students analyze project outcomes and evaluate the implementation process. The course uses ongoing improvement methods with faculty and site leaders.
NURS 7213 – DNP Project Dissemination
Students write and present project outcomes and recommendations. The course also addresses sustainment and professional wellbeing practices.
More curriculum details are available here.
BSN to DNP Clinicals
Students complete a minimum of 1,080 clinical/practicum hours post-bachelor’s degree with progressive clinical experiences. Clinical requirements include:
- 810 advanced practice clinical hours across specialty AGACNP courses
- 270 DNP project practicum hours
- Clinical ratio of 1:6 (90 clinical hours per credit hour) for students entering Fall 2025 and later
- Clinical ratio of 1:4 (60 clinical hours per credit hour) for students enrolled prior to Fall 2025
- On-campus skills lab requirements for multiple courses
- University guarantees clinical placement and arranges rotations through 400+ clinical affiliates
- Completion of DNP scholarly project with faculty guidance
BSN to DNP Admissions Requirements
Academic Requirements:
- BSN from CCNE, ACEN, or NLNAC-accredited program
- Valid RN licensure in Texas or compact state license
- Minimum 3.0 GPA from last 60 hours of college coursework
- BLS certification from American Heart Association
- Current immunizations and health insurance coverage
- Clear criminal background check
AGACNP Track-Specific Requirements:
- Minimum 1 year (2,000 hours) RN experience in clinical setting
- One year experience in acute care, critical care (ICU), or emergency room as documented on resume
- Three professional references submitted via NursingCAS
- Embedded online interview through NursingCAS application
- Current resume using BSN to DNP template
- $45 non-refundable School of Nursing application fee
- Separate NursingCAS application fee
Application Details:
- Application deadline: April 1
- Start term: Fall only
- Submit official transcripts to NursingCAS
- Complete NursingCAS application before deadline
Post-Graduate Certificate – AGACNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Graduate Certificate AGACNP program is approximately $15,904 for Texas residents and would take 1.5-2 years to complete on a full-time basis.
Estimate based on 28 minimum credit hours at graduate tuition rates plus fees.
Certificate Curriculum
The 28-credit minimum certificate program focuses on AGACNP specialty courses (total credits determined case-by-case upon admission):
Required Nursing Courses:
- NURS 6435 – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP Diagnosis & Management: Concepts & Theory 1
- NURS 6145 – Special Population Pharmacology: Applied Critical Care Pharmacology
- NURS 6147 – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP Clinical Skills and Laboratory Science
- NURS 6436 – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP Diagnosis & Management: Concepts & Theory 2
- NURS 6250 – Advanced Health Promotion, Health Protection, and Disease Prevention
- NURS 6235 – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP Diagnosis & Management: Concepts & Theory 3
- NURS 6437 – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP Diagnosis and Management: Clinical App 1
- NURS 6135 – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP Diagnosis and Management Clinical Seminar 1
- NURS 6130 – Nurse Practitioner Conceptual Basis For Advanced Practice Nursing
- NURS 6438 – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP Diagnosis and Management: Clinical App 2
- NURS 6137 – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP Diagnosis and Management Clinical Seminar 2
- NURS 6335 – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP Diagnosis and Management: Clinical App 3
More curriculum details are available here.
Certificate Clinicals
Clinical experiences total approximately 660 hours across three clinical application courses. Clinical requirements include:
- 240 clinical hours each in Clinical App 1 and Clinical App 2
- 180 clinical hours in Clinical App 3
- Clinical seminars accompanying each clinical application course
- On-campus OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examinations) required
- Preceptor-guided experiences in acute care settings
- Clinical placements guaranteed and arranged by university
Certificate Admissions Requirements
Academic Requirements:
- MSN from CCNE, ACEN, or NLNAC-accredited school
- Valid RN licensure in Texas or compact state with multi-state privileges
- Current APRN certification in Texas
- Minimum 3.0 GPA in previous graduate studies
- BLS certification from American Heart Association
- ACLS certification from American Heart Association
- Current immunizations and health insurance coverage
- Clear criminal background check
Graduate-Level Prerequisites (Grade of B or higher required):
- Advanced Health Assessment (must include didactic and clinical)
- Advanced Pathophysiology
- Advanced Pharmacology
Application Requirements:
- Three professional references via NursingCAS
- Interview and writing sample through Kira Talent (embedded in NursingCAS)
- $45 non-refundable School of Nursing application fee
- NursingCAS application fee
- Current resume or curriculum vita
- Professional goal statement/essay
- Official transcripts submitted to NursingCAS
Application Details:
- Application deadline: August 1
- Start term: Spring for APRN tracks
- Program length: 5 semesters
Tuition
Texas residents pay approximately $398 per credit hour in tuition (statutory $50 + differential $100 + designated $46 + designated deregulated $202).
Graduate nursing students also pay various fees including computer use ($90/semester), clinical skills fee ($1,022/semester), liability insurance ($3/semester), library fee ($139/semester), student service fee ($99/semester), medical service fee ($85.50/semester), fitness center fee ($180/semester), portfolio fee ($130/semester), and academic advising fee ($1,266/semester).
Non-residents pay $1,101 per credit hour (statutory $455 + designated $46 + designated deregulated $600). New students pay an additional $120 LINC fee in their first term.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
The AGACNP program meets the educational standards outlined by the National Task Force on Quality Nurse Practitioner Education, and graduates are eligible to sit for certification exams through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program, or the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN).
Find More ACNP Programs for Texas Nurses
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