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.

Program Resources

Several forms of financial aid are available for graduate students in the School of Nursing. These include fellowships, scholarships, project and teaching assistantships, and loans. Most graduate assistantships cover the cost of tuition and provide a monthly stipend. Awards are made in the spring for the following academic year.

Graduate Research Scholars (GRS) fellowships are designed to support highly qualified underrepresented students in the doctoral programs. Doctoral students who are preparing to be full-time faculty in nursing programs are also eligible for the Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP). These loans, supported by the federal government, are available to cover tuition and other educational expenses. When graduates become full-time faculty members, up to 85 percent of the NFLP loan will be canceled over a four-year period.

Additional information on financial aid including application procedures is available in the School of Nursing Academic Affairs Office.

On This Page

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

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

Systematic Evaluation of Practice Component
Approved Statistics Course (prerequisite)0
NURSING 706 Nursing Research3
NURSING 761 Health Program Planning, Evaluation, and Quality Improvement3
NURSING 764 Nursing and Health Informatics3
NURSING 806 Evaluation and Application of Evidence-Based Practice3
NURSING 906 Scholarly Project 16
Leadership/Policy Component
NURSING 703 Health Care and Public Policy3
NURSING 704 Leadership in Advanced Practice Nursing I3
NURSING 708 Ethics for Advanced Practice in Health Care2
NURSING 772 Leadership and Organizational Decision-Making in Health Care3
Leadership/Policy Elective3
Practice Component
Advanced Practice Course Core
NURSING 702 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Diverse Communities3
NURSING 601 Advanced Health Assessment 23
NURSING/​PHM PRAC  605 Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Practice Nurses3
NURSING 811 Advanced Pathophysiology3
Population Theory Course3
Choose only one population:
NURSING 722
 Advanced Practice Nursing Theory: Adults and Older Adults
NURSING 741
 Advanced Practice Nursing Theory: Family Process & Child Development
NURSING 751
 Advanced Practice Nursing Theory: Psychiatric Mental Health
APN Clinical/Leadership Practicum & Role Core
NURSING 726 Foundations for APN Clinical Practice I 23
NURSING 727 Foundations for APN Clinical Practice II 23
NURSING 826 Foundations for APN Clinical Practice III 23
NURSING 728 Advanced Practice Clinical Application and Role Development I 23
NURSING 729 Advanced Practice Clinical Application and Role Development II 23
NURSING 828 Clinical Leadership III 23
NURSING 829 Clinical Leadership IV 23

Post-Baccalaureate Three-Year Program Plan

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
NURSING 7063NURSING 6013NURSING 7643
NURSING 7043NURSING/​PHM PRAC  6053NURSING 7082
NURSING 8113NURSING 8063 
NURSING 722, 741, or 7513NURSING 7033 
 12 12 5
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
NURSING 7263NURSING 7273NURSING 7723
NURSING 7283NURSING 7293NURSING 9062
NURSING 7023NURSING 7613 
 9 9 5
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
NURSING 8263NURSING 8293 
NURSING 8283NURSING 9062 
NURSING 9062Elective (can be taken any term)13 
 8 8 
Total Credits 68

Post-Baccalaureate Four-Year Program Plan

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
NURSING 7063NURSING 8063NURSING 7082
NURSING 7043NURSING 7033 
NURSING 722, 741, or 7513Elective (can be taken any term)13 
 9 9 2
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
NURSING 8113NURSING 6013NURSING 7643
NURSING 7023NURSING/​PHM PRAC  6053 
 6 6 3
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
NURSING 7263NURSING 7273NURSING 7723
NURSING 7283NURSING 7293NURSING 9062
 NURSING 7613 
 6 9 5
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
NURSING 8263NURSING 8293 
NURSING 8283NURSING 9062 
NURSING 9062  
 8 5 
Total Credits 68

Post-Master's Option

Systematic Evaluation of Practice
Approved Statistics Course (prerequisite)0
NURSING 761 Health Program Planning, Evaluation, and Quality Improvement3
NURSING 764 Nursing and Health Informatics3
NURSING 806 Evaluation and Application of Evidence-Based Practice3
NURSING 906 Scholarly Project 16
Leadership/Policy Component
NURSING 708 Ethics for Advanced Practice in Health Care2
Leadership/Policy Elective3
NURSING 772 Leadership and Organizational Decision-Making in Health Care3
Practice Component
Select one of the populations:3
NURSING 722
 Advanced Practice Nursing Theory: Adults and Older Adults
NURSING 741
 Advanced Practice Nursing Theory: Family Process & Child Development
NURSING 751
 Advanced Practice Nursing Theory: Psychiatric Mental Health
APN Clinical/Leadership Practicum & Role Core
NURSING 828 Clinical Leadership III 23
NURSING 829 Clinical Leadership IV 23

Post-Master's Program Plan

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
NURSING 722, 741, or 7513NURSING 8063NURSING 7643
Elective (can be taken any term)13NURSING 7613NURSING 7723
 6 6 6
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
NURSING 8283NURSING 8293NURSING 7082
NURSING 9062NURSING 9062NURSING 9062
 5 5 4
Total Credits 32

Pre-approved elective options

Pre-approved elective options
NURSING/​PHM PRAC/​SOC WORK  746 Interdisciplinary Care of Children with Special Health Care Needs3
NURSING 657 Clinical Psychopharmacology3
NURSING 847 Health Policy Practicum3
NURSING 785 Foundations of Curriculum Development and Evaluation in Nursing Education3
NURSING 786 Foundations of Teaching and Learning in Nursing3
NURSING 787 Nursing Education Practicum1-3
NURSING/​MEDICINE/​POP HLTH  705 Seminar in Interdisciplinary Clinical Research Evidence2
COUN PSY 650 Theory and Practice in Interviewing3
SOC WORK 875 Health, Aging, and Disability Policy and Services2
POP HLTH/​SOC  797 Introduction to Epidemiology3
NURSING/​PHM PRAC  674 Seminars in Interprofessional Mental Health Care2
NURSING/​LAW/​MED SC-M  768 Consumer Health Advocacy and Patient-Centered Care Clinical1-7
POP HLTH 650 Special Topics1-6
PUBLHLTH/​NURSING/​PHARMACY/​PHY ASST/​PHY THER  758 Interprofessional Public Health Leadership1
PUBLHLTH 780 Evidence-Based Decision-Making3
POP HLTH 915 International Health Systems and Policy2
OTM 753 Healthcare Operations Management3

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:

Student Appeals and Grievance Procedures

Students who feel that they have been treated unfairly have the right to question this treatment and receive prompt hearing of the grievance. Before instituting an appeal or grievance, students should discuss their particular situations with an appropriate staff member, e.g., faculty member, assistant dean, associate dean, or adviser.

Section One: Appeals

Appeals are limited to requests to continue in the curriculum after being dropped from the program for academic reasons.

Procedure
Filing Appeal

Graduate Student: A written appeal must be filed with the Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs within 10 working days of the date of the letter notifying the student of the decision to discontinue the student in the program, or the right to appeal is waived. The appellant (student) must submit to the Assistant Dean the following information:

  1. A written statement addressed to the Chairperson of the appropriate appeals committee specifying:
    • Precise grounds on which the appeal is based.
    • Circumstances associated with the need to appeal.
    • Arguments supporting the appeal.
    • Description of proposed remedial actions to be taken to improve the student's academic performance.
  2. The appellant may also submit letters of support from persons knowledgeable about the appellant's current and/or past academic work and/or other matters related to the appellant's academic performance. Any such letters must be submitted to the Assistant Dean by the same deadline.

Appeals Committee

Graduate Student: For the purposes of hearing the appeal, the Assistant Dean will arrange an appeals committee that consists of at least three School of Nursing faculty members and that includes at least one member of the Graduate Programs Committee. The Assistant Dean will collect the information relative to the appellant's academic situation and forward the information to the Appeals Committee.

Appeals Committee Meeting

  • Within 15 working days of the filing of the appeal, the Appeals Committee will schedule a meeting date for the purposes of hearing the appeal.
  • Appellant must appear before the Appeals Committee to present the appeal. Appellant may have a support person accompany him or her to the meeting with the Appeals Committee. Appellant must address the Appeals Committee under all circumstances. Appellant's chosen support person is limited to providing advice and support to appellant. No fewer than three working days prior to the meeting with the Appeals Committee, the appellant shall identify to the Committee the individual’s appellant wishes to be present at the meeting for the purpose of providing the Appeals Committee with information about the appeal.

The Appeals Committee is authorized to decide the appeal and is responsible for the following:

  1. Reviewing all data presented by the Appellant and others.
  2. Discussing the argument presented by Appellant and inviting Appellant to contribute to the discussion.
  3. Limiting statements of appellant and other individuals where information being presented is irrelevant, unduly repetitious, or disrespectful.
    • Deciding the appeal and providing a written decision, including the reasons therefore, to the Appellant and the appropriate Assistant Dean within 15 working days of the Appeals Committee meeting. The written decision shall identify and include where appropriate:
      • Appellant's stated reason for the appeal
        • Action taken by the Appeals Committee
      • Stipulations and recommendations for appellant's continuation in program (where appeal granted)
        • Rationale for decision
        • Names of individuals present at the hearing
      • Notice of appellant's right to appeal the Appeals Committee decision to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

4. If the appeal is granted, the Appeals Committee will discuss with the Appellant any stipulations (binding) and recommendations (non-binding) for continuation in the program.

Review of Appeals Committee Decision

  1. A written request for review of the Appeals Committee Decision by the Dean of the School of Nursing or the Dean's designee must be submitted to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs within 20 working days of the date of notification of the Committee's initial decision.
    The request must state the specific grounds for appeal which are limited to:
  • School policies were incorrectly applied;
  • Decision is contrary to state or federal law;
  • Proper appeal procedures were not followed; or
  • Unfounded, arbitrary, or irrelevant assumptions of fact regarding the appellant's performance were made by the Appeals Committee. Appellant must also identify the specific aspects of the Committee decision that he or she believes meet the criteria cited as a basis for appeal.

The Dean of the Dean's designee may meet with the appellant to discuss the request for review.

a. Copies of the information submitted to the Appeals Committee and the Appeals Committee decision shall be provided to the Dean or the Dean's designee for review. Only facts and information presented to the Appeals Committee may be introduced to and considered by the Dean or the Dean's designee.

b. The burden of proof shall be on the student to demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence that the Appeals Committee's decision was the result of one or more of the above bases for appeal.

c. The Dean or the Dean's designee shall notify Appellant and the Appeals Committee in writing within 30 working days of receipt of the request for review of the Appeals Committee decision or the appellant's meeting with the Dean's or Dean's designee, whichever is later, stating the action on the appeal and the grounds for the action taken.

d. The decision by the Dean or the Dean's designee on review is final.

e. Graduate students may seek Graduate School Procedural Review of the decision by the Dean or the Dean's designee. Please contact The Graduate School Office of Academic Services & Fellowship Administration in 217 Bascom Hall or at 608-262-2433 for information regarding this process.

Note: Deadlines referenced herein may only be altered by mutual agreement of the parties. Any such agreement must be in writing.

Section Two: Grievances

Informal Resolution

Any student in the School of Nursing who believes that he or she has been treated inequitably is encouraged to resolve the matter informally. The student should first talk with the person or group at whom the grievance is directed in an attempt to resolve the issue informally. The student may contact the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for assistance in resolving the matter informally. The student may also contact the following groups for assistance in reaching an informal resolution and/or information regarding other possible formal procedures to resolve the matter.

  1. Contact the UW-Madison Equity and Diversity Resource Center for information and assistance regarding discrimination or disability issues.
  2. Contact the Dean of Students for information about resources for addressing student concerns.

School of Nursing Grievance Procedure:

The grievance procedure is available to resolve student concerns regarding inequitable treatment that have not been satisfactorily resolved through the informal resolution process or where the student believes that informal resolution would not be productive. The grievance procedure is described below. Through the grievance process, the student may be accompanied by a support person. The use of this grievance procedure shall not prevent the student from seeking redress through another administrative or legal process.

  1. To initiate the formal grievance procedure, the student must submit his or her grievance, in writing, to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
  2. The written grievance shall include:
  • a statement that the student wishes a review of the situation by a Grievance Committee;
  • the identification of the person or group at whom the grievance is directed;
  • the specifics of the perceived inequitable treatment;
  • evidence in support of the student's belief that he or she has been treated inequitably; and
  • the outcome or resolution desired by the student.

3. A grievance must be initiated no later than 20 calendar days from the time the student knew or could reasonably have been expected to have known of the circumstances giving rise to the grievance. Initiation of the informal procedure described above within the 20- day period will extend the deadline for initiating the grievance to 40 calendar days from the time the student knew or could reasonably have been expected to have known of the circumstances giving rise to the grievance.

4. Within 30 calendar days after receiving the grievance, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs shall arrange for a committee meeting. The Committee may request a written response from the person or group at whom the grievance is directed, may ask for additional information from any or all parties involved, may request that the parties involved appear before the Committee, and/or may take other steps in attempting to resolve the grievance.

5. Within 60 calendar days after receiving the grievance from the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, the Committee shall send a written report of the Committee's recommendations to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. The student will also receive a copy of the report. The report shall include notice to the student of his or her right to appeal the Committee's recommendation to the Dean of the School of Nursing.

6. A student wishing to appeal the Committee's recommendation to the Dean of the School of Nursing must submit a written appeal to the Dean within 10 calendar days of the date of the Committee's report. The request must state the specific bases for appeal and identify the specific aspects of the Committee's recommendation that he or she believes are the subject of the bases for appeal. Where an appeal is filed with the Dean, a copy of the Committee's report shall be provided to the Dean for review. Only facts presented to the Committee may be introduced to and considered by the Dean. The Dean shall notify the appellant and the Committee in writing within 30 calendar days of receiving the written appeal stating the action on the appeal and the grounds for the action taken.

Section Three: Course Grade Appeals Process

If a student believes s/he has been awarded a grade for a course that does not adequately represent her/his performance in the course, they should speak with the course faculty member in an effort to attempt to resolve the issue informally. This must be done within 10 working days of receipt of the grade. During this informal process both student and faculty may consult with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to seek resolution of the issue.

If the student remains dissatisfied with the grade, the student has the option to initiate the formal Grievance procedure. To do this, the student must submit the grievance, in writing, to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs within 10 working days. The Associate Dean will appoint a committee to hear the grievance. The decision of the committee is final. There is no further appeal.

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. 

Program Resources

Career advising, funding, and professional development opportunities are shared with all students by a member of the School of Nursing Academic Affairs staff. Information on these support services can be found on the Student Site.

Faculty

School of Nursing Faculty Directory

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

Kristine Kwekkeboom, PhD, RN, FAAN

PhD Program Director, Professor
kwekkeboom@wisc.edu
608-263-5168

Advising and Student Services

Darby Sugar

Director of Advising & Student Services
darby.sugar@wisc.edu
608-263-5172

Mariah Allen

Graduate Academic Services Coordinator
mariah.allen@wisc.edu
608-263-5258

Admissions and Recruitment

Mandi Moy

Director of Admissions & Recruitment
mandi.moy@wisc.edu
608-263-5261

Kate Beggs

Graduate Admissions & Recruitment Coordinator
katherine.beggs@wisc.edu
608-263-5183