Doctor of Nursing Practice

Concentrations Available

1. Doctor of Nursing Practice: Post Masters (for those who are already Masters-prepared advanced practice nurses such as NP, CRNA, CNM, CNS)
2. Doctor of Nursing Practice: Nursing Administration Systems (BSN to DNP, or nurses with a non-advanced practice Master's degree, or Advance Practice nurses with an interest in nursing administration). MBA option available with additional coursework.

DNP: Post Masters

The DNP: Nursing concentration curriculum for most post-master's students will be a minimum of 36 semester credits. With the close assistance of a chair and committee, all students will develop and implement an evidence-based innovative Translational Project designed to solve a significant health-care problem. Students will also complete additional clinical requirements to meet the mandated minimum of 1,000 Post-baccalaureate hours of specialty training that is one of the distinctions of a DNP graduate. Post-masters students may apply a maximum of 500 of their post baccalaureate clinical hours to the 1,000 minimum mandate.

DNP: Nursing Administration Systems

The DNP: Nursing Administration Systems (BSN to DNP, non-advanced practice Masters degree) curriculum is designed to accommodate students who have completed their BSN, or have a non-advanced practice Master’s Degree or a Master's in another field or Advance Practice nurses with an interest in nursing administration. Coursework can be completed on a full time or part time basis. Students in the concentration are required to take a minimum of 57 credits to achieve the DNP. 

Students are required to complete 1,000 clinical hours, including a clinical residency during which the student completes a Translational Project under the guidance of a chair and committee.

The DNP: Nursing Administration Systems allows students interested, after completion of the DNP degree, to continue on and complete the Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in healthcare administration.  

Program Milestones

The DNP Program content delivery is online for both concentrations, with the following mandatory components:

• Virtual - Interview for admission to DNP Program (late summer/early September of year application submitted – 1 hour)
• Virtual - Orientation and Stats Camp (in early December before program begins in January – 2.5 days)
• On Campus - Qualifying Exam/DNP Intensive (N7093 – 3 days)
• On Campus - Final Presentation/DNP Intensive (N7094 – 3 days)

The Doctor of Nursing Practice at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).