This is a named option with the Nursing Practice, DNP.
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Hybrid course delivery
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APRN
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Clinical Nurse Specialist
Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website. Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online. |
| Fall Deadline | December 1 |
| Spring Deadline | This program does not admit in the spring. |
| Summer Deadline | This program does not admit in the summer. |
| GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) | Not required. |
| English Proficiency Test | Every applicant whose native language is not English or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English must provide an English proficiency test score and meet the Graduate School minimum requirements (https://grad.wisc.edu/apply/requirements/#english-proficiency). |
| Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT) | n/a |
| Letters of Recommendation Required | 3 |
Admission requirements for the DNP program (post-baccalaureate) are:
- Graduation from an accredited baccalaureate program in nursing
- GPA of 3.0 on the last 60 credits for the baccalaureate degree
- RN license
- One year of professional nursing experience
- Grade of B or better in a approved statistics course within the last 5 years. (Note: The course does not need to be taken before applying, but must be successfully completed prior to the start of the fall term.)
- Application essay (see School of Nursing website for specific criteria)
- Three letters of recommendation
- Curriculum vitae or resume
- English proficiency scores: Applicants whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English, must provide an English proficiency test score. Scores are accepted if they are within two years of the start of the admission term. See the Graduate School's Admission Requirements for more information on the English proficiency requirement.
Post-BS applicants have a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Applicants who have a non-APN master’s degree (i.e., nurse education) are considered post-B.S. applicants and are able to waive up to 18 credits based on previous graduate coursework, pending review of syllabi.
Admission requirements for the DNP program (post-master's) are:
- Graduation from an accredited baccalaureate program in nursing
- Master’s degree in a specialty track from an accredited nursing program
- GPA of 3.5 for the master’s degree
- RN license
- Certification as an advanced practice nurse
- One year of professional nursing experience
- Grade of B or better in a graduate level statistics course within the last 5 years. (Note: The course does not need to be taken before applying, but must be successfully completed prior to the start of the fall term.)
- Application essay (see School of Nursing website for specific criteria)
- Three letters of recommendation
- Curriculum vitae or resume
- English proficiency scores: Applicants whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English, must provide an English proficiency test score. Scores are accepted if they are within two years of the start of the admission term. See the Graduate School's Admission Requirements for more information on the English proficiency requirement.
Additional admission requirements for international applicants are:
- CGFNS Certification
- Minimum English proficiency scores in one of the following:
- TOEFL (600 PBT, 100 iBT)
- IELTS (8)
- MELAB (85)
All application materials must be received by December 1 for admission in the fall semester.
Graduate School Resources
Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.
Limited School of Nursing scholarships are available. Scholarship applications are reviewed annually by the scholarship committee.
Minimum Graduate School Requirements
Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements, in addition to the program requirements listed below.
Named Option Requirements
MODE OF INSTRUCTION
| Face to Face | Evening/Weekend | Online | Hybrid | Accelerated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | No | No | Yes | No |
Mode of Instruction Definitions
Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students are able to complete a program with minimal disruptions to careers and other commitments. Evening/Weekend: Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules. Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments. Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus. Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats. Contact the program for more specific information. Online: These programs are offered 100% online. Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format. |
CURRICULAR REQUIREMENTS
| Minimum Credit Requirement | Post–B.S.: 68 credits Post–M.S.: 51 credits (32 credits in the program plan plus 19 credits from Master's degree) |
| Minimum Residence Credit Requirement | Post–B.S.: 32 credits Post–M.S.: 32 credits |
| Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement | Half of degree coursework must be completed graduate-level coursework; courses with the Graduate Level Coursework attribute are identified and searchable in the university's Course Guide (http://my.wisc.edu/CourseGuideRedirect/BrowseByTitle). |
| Overall Graduate GPA Requirement | 3.00 GPA required. |
| Other Grade Requirements | A student may not receive more than one grade below a B (or a U grade) in any 12 month period. |
| Assessments and Examinations | No examinations are required. |
| Language Requirements | No language requirements. |
| Doctoral Minor/Breadth Requirements | DNP students are not required to complete a doctoral minor. |
Required COURSES
Post-Baccalaureate Option
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Systematic Evaluation of Practice Component | ||
| Approved Statistics Course (prerequisite) | 0 | |
| NURSING 706 | Nursing Research | 3 |
| NURSING 761 | Health Program Planning, Evaluation, and Quality Improvement | 3 |
| NURSING 764 | Nursing and Health Informatics | 3 |
| NURSING 806 | Evaluation and Application of Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| NURSING 906 | Scholarly Project 1 | 6 |
| Leadership/Policy Component | ||
| NURSING 703 | Health Care and Public Policy | 3 |
| NURSING 704 | Leadership in Advanced Practice Nursing I | 3 |
| NURSING 708 | Ethics for Advanced Practice in Health Care | 2 |
| NURSING 772 | Leadership and Organizational Decision-Making in Health Care | 3 |
| Leadership/Policy Elective | 3 | |
| Practice Component | ||
| Advanced Practice Course Core | ||
| NURSING 702 | Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Diverse Communities | 3 |
| NURSING 601 | Advanced Health Assessment 2 | 3 |
| NURSING/PHM PRAC 605 | Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Practice Nurses | 3 |
| NURSING 811 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3 |
| Population Theory Course | 3 | |
| Choose only one population: | ||
| Advanced Practice Nursing Theory: Adults and Older Adults | ||
| Advanced Practice Nursing Theory: Family Process & Child Development | ||
| Advanced Practice Nursing Theory: Psychiatric Mental Health | ||
| APN Clinical/Leadership Practicum & Role Core | ||
| NURSING 726 | Foundations for APN Clinical Practice I 2 | 3 |
| NURSING 727 | Foundations for APN Clinical Practice II 2 | 3 |
| NURSING 826 | Foundations for APN Clinical Practice III 2 | 3 |
| NURSING 728 | Advanced Practice Clinical Application and Role Development I 2 | 3 |
| NURSING 729 | Advanced Practice Clinical Application and Role Development II 2 | 3 |
| NURSING 828 | Clinical Leadership III 2 | 3 |
| NURSING 829 | Clinical Leadership IV 2 | 3 |
| 1 | 6 total credits required; 10 credit maximum. Taken for 2 credits per term (other credit amounts allowed only via faculty approval). |
| 2 | Students in the Adult/Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist named option must take these courses with a section number of 070. |
Post-Baccalaureate Three-Year Program Plan
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| NURSING 706 | 3 | NURSING 601 | 3 | NURSING 764 | 3 |
| NURSING 704 | 3 | NURSING/PHM PRAC 605 | 3 | NURSING 708 | 2 |
| NURSING 811 | 3 | NURSING 806 | 3 | ||
| NURSING 722, 741, or 751 | 3 | NURSING 703 | 3 | ||
| 12 | 12 | 5 | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| NURSING 726 | 3 | NURSING 727 | 3 | NURSING 772 | 3 |
| NURSING 728 | 3 | NURSING 729 | 3 | NURSING 906 | 2 |
| NURSING 702 | 3 | NURSING 761 | 3 | ||
| 9 | 9 | 5 | |||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| NURSING 826 | 3 | NURSING 829 | 3 | ||
| NURSING 828 | 3 | NURSING 906 | 2 | ||
| NURSING 906 | 2 | Elective (can be taken any term)1 | 3 | ||
| 8 | 8 | ||||
| Total Credits 68 | |||||
| 1 | See Pre-approved elective options. Additional options may be approved by program director. |
| 2 | Psych/Mental Health NP students must take NURSING 590 Contemporary Practices in Nursing Pediatric Assessment for Mental Health APNs (1cr) the summer prior to NURSING 726 Foundations for APN Clinical Practice I/NURSING 728 Advanced Practice Clinical Application and Role Development I. |
Post-Baccalaureate Four-Year Program Plan
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| NURSING 706 | 3 | NURSING 806 | 3 | NURSING 708 | 2 |
| NURSING 704 | 3 | NURSING 703 | 3 | ||
| NURSING 722, 741, or 751 | 3 | Elective (can be taken any term)1 | 3 | ||
| 9 | 9 | 2 | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| NURSING 811 | 3 | NURSING 601 | 3 | NURSING 764 | 3 |
| NURSING 702 | 3 | NURSING/PHM PRAC 605 | 3 | ||
| 6 | 6 | 3 | |||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| NURSING 726 | 3 | NURSING 727 | 3 | NURSING 772 | 3 |
| NURSING 728 | 3 | NURSING 729 | 3 | NURSING 906 | 2 |
| NURSING 761 | 3 | ||||
| 6 | 9 | 5 | |||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| NURSING 826 | 3 | NURSING 829 | 3 | ||
| NURSING 828 | 3 | NURSING 906 | 2 | ||
| NURSING 906 | 2 | ||||
| 8 | 5 | ||||
| Total Credits 68 | |||||
| 1 | See Pre-approved elective options. Additional options may be approved by program director. |
| 2 | Psych/Mental Health NP students must take NURSING 590 Contemporary Practices in Nursing (1cr) the summer prior to NURSING 726 Foundations for APN Clinical Practice I/NURSING 728 Advanced Practice Clinical Application and Role Development I. |
Post-Master's Option
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Systematic Evaluation of Practice | ||
| Approved Statistics Course (prerequisite) | 0 | |
| NURSING 761 | Health Program Planning, Evaluation, and Quality Improvement | 3 |
| NURSING 764 | Nursing and Health Informatics | 3 |
| NURSING 806 | Evaluation and Application of Evidence-Based Practice | 3 |
| NURSING 906 | Scholarly Project 1 | 6 |
| Leadership/Policy Component | ||
| NURSING 708 | Ethics for Advanced Practice in Health Care | 2 |
| Leadership/Policy Elective | 3 | |
| NURSING 772 | Leadership and Organizational Decision-Making in Health Care | 3 |
| Practice Component | ||
| Select one of the populations: | 3 | |
| Advanced Practice Nursing Theory: Adults and Older Adults | ||
| Advanced Practice Nursing Theory: Family Process & Child Development | ||
| Advanced Practice Nursing Theory: Psychiatric Mental Health | ||
| APN Clinical/Leadership Practicum & Role Core | ||
| NURSING 828 | Clinical Leadership III 2 | 3 |
| NURSING 829 | Clinical Leadership IV 2 | 3 |
| 1 | 6 total credits required; 10 credit maximum. Taken for 2 credits per term (other credit amounts allowed only via faculty approval). |
| 2 | Students in the Adult/Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist named option must take these courses with a section number of 070. |
Post-Master's Program Plan
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| NURSING 722, 741, or 751 | 3 | NURSING 806 | 3 | NURSING 764 | 3 |
| Elective (can be taken any term)1 | 3 | NURSING 761 | 3 | NURSING 772 | 3 |
| 6 | 6 | 6 | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| NURSING 828 | 3 | NURSING 829 | 3 | NURSING 708 | 2 |
| NURSING 906 | 2 | NURSING 906 | 2 | NURSING 906 | 2 |
| 5 | 5 | 4 | |||
| Total Credits 32 | |||||
| 1 | See Pre-approved elective options. Additional options may be approved by program director. |
Pre-approved elective options
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-approved elective options | ||
| NURSING/PHM PRAC/SOC WORK 746 | Interdisciplinary Care of Children with Special Health Care Needs | 3 |
| NURSING 657 | Clinical Psychopharmacology | 3 |
| NURSING 847 | Health Policy Practicum | 3 |
| NURSING 785 | Foundations of Curriculum Development and Evaluation in Nursing Education | 3 |
| NURSING 786 | Foundations of Teaching and Learning in Nursing | 3 |
| NURSING 787 | Nursing Education Practicum | 1-3 |
| NURSING/MEDICINE/POP HLTH 705 | Seminar in Interdisciplinary Clinical Research Evidence | 2 |
| COUN PSY 650 | Theory and Practice in Interviewing | 3 |
| SOC WORK 875 | Health, Aging, and Disability Policy and Services | 2 |
| POP HLTH/SOC 797 | Introduction to Epidemiology | 3 |
| POP HLTH 785 | Health Systems, Management, and Policy | 3 |
| NURSING/PHM PRAC 674 | Seminars in Interprofessional Mental Health Care | 2 |
| NURSING/LAW/MED SC-M 768 | Consumer Health Advocacy and Patient-Centered Care Clinical | 1-7 |
| POP HLTH 786 | Social and Behavioral Sciences for Public Health | 3 |
| POP HLTH 650 | Special Topics | 1-6 |
| PUBLHLTH/NURSING/PHARMACY/PHY ASST/PHY THER 758 | Interprofessional Public Health Leadership | 1 |
| PUBLHLTH 780 | Evidence-Based Decision-Making | 3 |
| POP HLTH 915 | International Health Systems and Policy | 2 |
| OTM 753 | Healthcare Operations Management | 3 |
Graduate School Policies
The Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures provide essential information regarding general university policies. Program authority to set degree policies beyond the minimum required by the Graduate School lies with the degree program faculty. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.
Major-Specific Policies
Prior Coursework
Graduate Work from Other Institutions
Post–B.S.: With program approval, students are allowed to count up to 18 credits of graduate coursework from other institutions. Graduate work should be less than five years old to be considered; additional justification and/or documentation are needed for work taken between five and tens years. Work more than ten years old will not be considered.
Post–M.S.: With program approval, students are allowed to count up to 19 credits of graduate coursework from other institutions. Graduate work should be less than five years old to be considered; additional justification and/or documentation are needed for work taken between five and tens years. Work more than ten years old will not be considered unless students are board certified advanced practice nurses (APN) and have continuous practice as an APN.
UW–Madison Undergraduate
No undergraduate coursework will be allowed to count toward DNP requirements.
UW–Madison University Special
With program approval, students are allowed to count no more than 9 credits of coursework numbered 300 or above taken as a UW–Madison University Special student. These credits are considered part of the total allowable credits available for a student to transfer. coursework should be less than five years old to be considered; additional justification and/or documentation is needed for work taken between five and ten years. Work more than ten years old will not be considered.
ProbatioN
A semester GPA below 3.0 will result in the student being placed on academic probation. If a student has not returned to satisfactory progress by the determined deadline, a decision about whether the student will be permitted to continue will be made by the graduate programs committee (or appropriate subcommittee) with input from the student’s advisor.
ADVISOR / COMMITTEE
Progression is reviewed each semester by academic affairs office staff and advisors.
CREDITS PER TERM ALLOWED
15 credits
Time Constraints
Post–B.S.: Students must complete the requirements within six years of admission. Upon the advisor’s recommendation, the associate dean for academic programs may grant a one-year extension.
Post–M.S.: Students must complete the requirements within four years of admission to the program. Upon the advisor’s recommendation, the associate dean for academic programs may grant a one-year extension.
grievances and appeals
These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:
- Bias or Hate Reporting
- Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
- Hostile and Intimidating Behavior Policies and Procedures
- Dean of Students Office (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
- Employee Assistance (for personal counseling and workplace consultation around communication and conflict involving graduate assistants and other employees, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff)
- Employee Disability Resource Office (for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities)
- Graduate School (for informal advice at any level of review and for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions)
- Office of Compliance (for class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence)
- Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts involving students)
- Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for employed graduate students and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff)
- Title IX (for concerns about discrimination)
Students should contact the department chair or program director with questions about grievances.
Other
Several forms of financial aid are available for graduate students: traineeships, fellowships, scholarships, research and teaching assistantships, and loans.
Graduate School Resources
Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career.
Faculty
Professors Scott (Dean), Bowers, Kintner, Kwekkeboom, Lauver, Oakley, Tluczek, Zahner; Associate Professors King, Steege, Ward, Willis; Assistant Professors Bratzke, Ersig, Gilmore-Bykovskyi, Jang, Pecanac, Roberts, Snedden, Whitmore; Clinical Professors Anderson, Bryan, Jarzemsky, Pinekenstein, Solheim; Clinical Associate Professors Andrews, Crary, Dwyer, Greene, Lothe, McGranahan, Murphy-Ende, Reinfeldt, Skurky, Voge, Yardo; Clinical Assistant Professors Adams, Astrella, Bell, Bennett, Cheatle, Coburn, Dachel, Eisch, Endicott, Fiegel-Newlon, Fisher, Francois, Halm, Hirvela, Horrigan, Kechele, Newton, Norder-Brandli, Saladar, Schardt, Seiler-Schultz, Wallace; Clinical Instructors Athanas, Bomkamp, Cattapan, Collins, Drake, Kobernusz, Krummen-Lee, Leclair, Lothary, Neuhauser, Norsby, Patrick, Pavek, Phillips, Schatzke, Schwartz, Woywod
Administration
Linda D. Scott, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN
Dean and Professor
ldscott@wisc.edu
Barbara Pinkenstein, DNP, RN-BC, FAAN
Interim Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Professor
pinkenstein@wisc.edu
Katie Bleier
Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs (Academic Dean)
katie.bleier@wisc.edu
608-263-5172
Pamela McGranahan, DNP, PHNA-BC, PMHNP-BC
DNP Program Director, Clinical Associate Professor
pmcgranahan@wisc.edu
608-263-5337
Advising and Student Services
Darby Sugar
Director of Advising and Student Services
darby.sugar@wisc.edu
608-263-5172
Mariah Allen
Graduate Academic Services Coordinator
mariah.allen@wisc.edu
Admissions and Recruitment
Mandi Moy
Director of Admissions and Recruitment
mandi.moy@wisc.edu
608-263-5261
Kate Beggs
Graduate Admissions and Recruitment Coordinator
katherine.beggs@wisc.edu