Located in one of the world’s top academic health centers, the nationally ranked DNP Program at UAB prepares nurses to reach the highest level of clinical practice ability using advanced clinical judgement and health systems decision-making and assume leadership roles in a variety of areas, including clinical practice, nursing administration, nursing education and nursing informatics, to make a difference in the lives of patients and their families.
- Offered in a part-time, distance-accessible format designed for working nurses to be able keep working while they are in school.
- Tuition assistance available.
- Renowned faculty mentors educate students using leading edge evidence-based practice models that prepare graduates for advanced clinical practice roles and leadership roles in nursing and healthcare administration, both making transformative impact, changing lives and health globally.
- The RN-DNP Bridge option is an alternate pathway into the existing Post MSN to DNP pathway for individuals with a BSN or the equivalent with a masters degree in a non-advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) specialty with a health related focus.
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Program Information
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Admission Requirements
Prospective students must meet the following requirements for admission:
- A master’s degree in an area of advanced nursing practice (nurse practitioner, nurse anesthesia, nurse midwife, or clinical nurse specialist,) OR in an advanced nursing role** (nursing administration, nursing informatics, clinical nurse leader, nursing education, or nurse management of care transitions) from a regionally accredited institution, equivalent to that offered in the UAB School of Nursing.
- Licensure as a registered nurse and advanced practice specialty certification or eligible to sit for advanced certification and pass their specific certification exam prior to completing 12 credit hours of coursework. Admission is conditional until advanced certification is achieved (if applicable).
- A graduate grade point average of at least 3.0 overall (based on a 4.0 scale) or in the last 60 hours of earned credit.
- Applicants should submit an official transcript from every college or university they have ever attended (even if for only one semester). Transcripts may be emailed electronically by the issuing institution to the UAB Graduate School at gradschool@uab.edu or mailed to:
- UAB Graduate School
LHL G03
1720 2nd Ave. S.
Birmingham, AL 35294-0013 - Three favorable references from persons who have knowledge of the applicant’s potential for success for graduate nursing studies.
- Evidence of an unencumbered/unrestricted license as a (1) registered nurse, and (2) advanced practice nurse or eligibility for licensure.
- Submission of a personal goal statement that is congruent with NP outcomes (300 words or less).
- Submission of a curriculum vitae/resume.
- If admitted to the DNP program, students must show proof of completion of a descriptive statistics course, equivalent to UAB’s MA-180, before starting the program.
**Admitted students with an MSN in an advanced nursing role will need a GAP analysis upon admission. The aim of the GAP analysis is to determine if the didactic content and the 500 clinical practicum hours required for entry into the Post-MSN to DNP pathway have been met. If not, appropriate bridge coursework may be added to the program of study.
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RN-DNP Bridge for Non-MSN Prepared Nurses
The RN-DNP Bridge option is an alternate pathway into the existing Post MSN to DNP pathway for individuals with a BSN or the equivalent with a master's degree in a non-advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) specialty with a health related focus.
- Students are enrolled in the DNP Program, and upon completion will be awarded the DNP degree.
- Students are not awarded a MSN degree.
Prospective students must meet the following requirements for admission:
- Applicant must have a BSN or the equivalent with a masters degree in a non-advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) specialty with a health related focus.
- A graduate grade point average of at least 3.0 overall (based on a 4.0 scale) or in the last 60 hours of earned credit.
- Applicants should submit an official transcript from every college or university they have ever attended (even if for only one semester). Transcripts may be emailed electronically by the issuing institution to the UAB Graduate School at gradschool@uab.edu or mailed to:
- UAB Graduate School
LHL G03
1720 2nd Ave. S.
Birmingham, AL 35294-0013
- UAB Graduate School
- Three favorable references from persons who have knowledge of the applicant’s potential for success for graduate nursing studies.
- Evidence of an unencumbered/unrestricted license as a registered nurse
- Submission of evidence of CPR certification.
- Submission of a personal goal statement that is congruent with NP outcomes (300 words or less).
- Submission of a curriculum vitae/resume.
- Upon admission, a GAP analysis will be performed to determine if the didactic content and the 500 clinical practicum hours required for entry into the Post-MSN to DNP pathway have been met. If not, appropriate bridge coursework may be added to the program of study.
- If admitted to the DNP program, students must show proof of completion of a descriptive statistics course, equivalent to UAB’s MA-180, before starting the program.
Bridge Courses
Students admitted to the RN-DNP Bridge option are required to complete four courses designed to “bridge” the necessary content needed to successfully complete the DNP program.
- NHSA 616: Nursing Financial Management - 4 hrs
- NHSA 618: Human Resource Management - 3 hrs
- NHSA 631: Advanced Quality and Patient Safety - 4 hrs
- *NUR 734: Advanced Experiential Clinical Course - (subject to GAP analysis)
*Bridge coursework is a prerequisite for successfully completing the DNP Program. A total of 500 advanced practice practicum hours is an admission requirement of Post-MSN to DNP students.
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State Regulations Governing Distance Programs
Out-of-state applicants to any of our distance-accessible programs should become familiar with their state’s regulations governing distance accessible programs. Prospective students residing in states other than Alabama should contact their state’s Board of Nursing and Department of Education for specific rules and regulations pertaining to students enrolled in out-of-state programs and are planning to conduct UABSON distance education in their home state. Only those students who reside in Alabama or those states where the UAB School of Nursing programs are available will be eligible to receive an offer of admission.
More information is available at the State Approval Website for Online Degree Programs at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
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Application for Admission/Application Deadlines
Application Deadlines
Summer 2025: March 1, 2025Fall 2025: May 1, 2025To Start the Application Process
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Sample Program of Study
Post-MSN to DNP: Summer Cohort1,2,3,4
Year 1 Semester Course Title Credit Hours 1 Summer NUR 737Q Interprofessional Leadership and Role Development for Practice Excellence 3 NUR 745Q Foundation of Scholarly Writing 3 2 Fall NUR 731Q Philosophical, Theoretical, and Conceptual Foundations for Advanced Practice Nursing 3 NUR 735Q Population Health in Advanced Practice Nursing 3 3 Spring NUR 740Q Health Policy and Politics: Implications in Health Care 3 NUR 729Q Evidence Based Practice Design and Translation 3 Total Credit Hours 18 Year 2 Semester Course Title Credit Hours 4 Summer NUR 700Q Clinical Data Management and Analysis 3 NUR 742Q Program Evaluation Methods 3 5 Fall NQI 702Q Clinical Data Management and Application for Improvement 3 NUR 743Q Evidence Based Practice Strategies 3 6 Spring NUR 733Q Informatics for Advanced Practice Nursing 3 NUR 738QL DNP Project Planning 3 NUR 739QL DNP Project Implementation and Evaluation 2 Total Credit Hours 20 Year 3 Semester Course Title Credit Hours 7 Summer NUR 739QL DNP Project Implementation and Evaluation 5 Total Credit Hours 5 Program of Study Total Credit Hours: 43 Post-MSN to DNP: Fall Cohort1,2,3,4
Year 1 Semester Course Title Credit Hours 1 Fall NUR 737Q Interprofessional Leadership and Role Development for Practice Excellence 3 NUR 745Q Foundation of Scholarly Writing 3 2 Spring NUR 731Q Philosophical, Theoretical, and Conceptual Foundations for Advanced Practice Nursing 3 NUR 735Q Population Health in Advanced Practice Nursing 3 3 Summer NUR 740Q Health Policy and Politics: Implications in Health Care 3 NUR 729Q Evidence Based Practice Design and Translation 3 Total Credit Hours 18 Year 2 Semester Course Title Credit Hours 4 Fall NUR 700Q Clinical Data Management and Analysis 3 NUR 742Q Program Evaluation Methods 3 5 Spring NQI 702Q Clinical Data Management and Application for Improvement 3 NUR 743Q Evidence Based Practice Strategies 3 6 Summer NUR 733Q Informatics for Advanced Practice Nursing 3 NUR 738QL DNP Project Planning 3 NUR 739QL DNP Project Implementation and Evaluation 2 Total Credit Hours 20 Year 3 Semester Course Title Credit Hours 7 Fall NUR 739QL DNP Project Implementation and Evaluation 5 Total Credit Hours 5 Program of Study Total Credit Hours: 43 1Program of Study is subject to change.
2All students are required to attend an on campus orientation and annual intensive.
3Students with an MSN in an advanced nursing role (non-advanced nursing practice) OR RN-DNP Bridge students will need a GAP analysis done on their previous graduate level coursework after admission is granted. The aim of the GAP analysis is to determine if the content and clinical practicum hours required for entry into the Post-MSN to DNP pathway have been met. If not, appropriate bridge coursework may be added to the MSN-DNP standard program of study.
4Curriculum is currently under revision due to credentialing updates and new programs of study will be updated in 2024. -
DNP Program Outcomes
Upon completion of the DNP Program, students will be able to:
- Synthesize scientific evidence for the development of clinical interventions for practice.
- Evaluate policy, healthcare delivery, and organizational systems for current and future health care needs.
- Translate scientific, theoretical, and ethical principles into healthcare for individuals, families, and populations.
- Incorporate knowledge of current and emerging health technologies to improve healthcare delivery and organizational systems.
- Advocate for social justice, equity, and ethical policies in healthcare.
- Demonstrate intra- and inter-professional collaboration to address health disparities and to improve the quality of healthcare across diverse populations and cultures.
- Assume complex leadership roles to advance clinical practice and healthcare delivery at the organizational and systems level and to improve health outcomes of individuals and populations.
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Tuition and Fees
The following tuition and fees are valid for the 2024-2025 academic year. Tuition and fees and are SUBJECT TO CHANGE annually based on approval from the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees and/or university.
The estimates below are based on the costs listed at the UAB Office of Planning and Analysis website.
Each student’s costs will vary depending upon a number of factors including state of residence, the number of credits taken in a semester, or whether the student attends class live or through a distance-accessible format. Fees vary by program and course.
Tuition and Fees
UAB School of Nursing 2024-2025Resident
Charge ($)Non-resident
Charge ($)DNP Coursework (in classroom per semester hour) 610 1,505 DNP Coursework (distance-accessible format per semester hour) 702 702 Fees - UAB School of Nursing Cost ($) Educational Support and Technology Fee (per course) 235 Other Related Expenses (Estimated) Cost ($) Travel/Lodging for Attending Annual On-Campus DNP Intensive (annual estimate) 800 Books and supplies (estimate per term) 600 Student Hospitalization Insurance Fee (estimate per month) 1 270 Background Check (annual estimate) 92 1 Estimate based on one student. May be waived with documented proof of equal or greater coverage. -
Funding Your Education
University Scholarships and Financial Aid
Information on Financial Aid, University Scholarships and other funding opportunities are available on UAB's Cost & Aid website.
UAB School of Nursing Scholarships
The UAB School of Nursing offers many scholarships, both need and merit based, to support nursing students across all programs. Scholarships are awarded twice a year, during the spring and fall semesters and requires just one application to be considered for all undergraduate or graduate scholarships. For more information or to start the scholarship application process, visit the SON Scholarship Application webpage.
Graduate Fellowships and Traineeships
There are a limited number of Graduate Fellowships and Traineeships that are awarded through the UAB School of Nursing that require students to meet specific requirements, and are only awarded when funds are available. When such funds are available in a particular program, students enrolled in the program will be notified and provided information on how to apply. Contact Katrina Staffney (email: KatrinaStaffney@uab.edu), for more information.
Information SheetNurse Faculty Loan
Federal Nurse Faculty Loan Funds are available to MSN students who intend to assume a faculty position in a school of nursing upon completion of the degree. These funds are limited to payment of tuition and fees and other reasonable educational expenses. Contact JoeAnn Kennedy (email: joeann@uab.edu), for more information.
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Information for International Students
NOTE: Prospective International students must first contact UAB International Admissions to determine eligibility to study in the U.S. and/or submit an application for admission to UAB.
The table below provides information on eligibility requirements for the DNP Program.
MSN-DNP F1 or J1 Visa Acceptable Not eligible for this program College Degree (MSN Equivalent or higher) Required Foreign Transcripts Evaluated Required English Proficiency Required Graduate Record Exam (GRE) Required Licensure as a Registered Nurse in the U.S. Required Application Requirements
- Prospective students must have a master’s degree in nursing equivalent to that offered by a U.S. regionally accredited educational institution.
- For Graduate Clinical Programs such as the Post-MSN to DNP Pathway, prospective students must also be licensed as a registered nurse in the U.S., in the state in which they will reside while completing the program.
- International applicants must, as part of their application, provide a detailed course by course evaluation of their academic transcripts and verification of their academic credentials. Students may use one of the following firms for transcript evaluation; a report of the evaluation must be submitted directly to the UAB School of Nursing prior to admission decisions.
- Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
P.O. Box 514070
Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470 USA
Website: www.ece.org - World Education Services
Bowling Green Station
P.O. Box 5087
New York, NY 10274-5087 USA
Website: www.wes.org - Applicants must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on prior college/university course work.
- Applicants must complete and submit their scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) as part of the application process. If the GRE was completed prior to application, only scores completed within the previous 5 years are accepted.
- Completion of a formal admission interview.
- Meet English language requirements. Students must submit scores on Tests of English Language (TOEFL or IELTS) and achieve the following minimum scores.
- TOEFL iBT 80 and minimum of 18 in each of the 4 test sections, or
- IELTS 6.5 and minimum of 6.0 in at least 2 of the 4 test sections.
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