Doctor of Nursing Practice

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a practice-focused doctoral nursing degree for the Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner student seeking careers in advanced clinical nursing practice. The program emphasizes research application and utilization in clinical practice settings, interdisciplinary team building, organizational leadership and management development, utilization of information technology and quality improvement techniques, development and initiation of public policy, and the establishment of evidence-based practice.

Students complete a DNP Project and required clinical practicum hours. The clinical practicum hours support development and completion of the DNP Project and help students master the DNP Essentials for doctoral level advanced nursing practice. DNP Project examples include a pilot study, evaluation of an existing practice model, a quality improvement project, evaluation of a new practice model, and a consulting project.

• Completed Alcorn State University Graduate School Application.
• Official transcripts for all previous college course work, verifying that the applicant received a MSN with a specialty as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse.
• Evidence of graduation from a nationally accredited nursing program.
• Documentation of a minimum 3.0 overall grade point average on a 4.0 scale for the MSN degree and a grade of “B” or better in a graduate level research course taken within the last five-year period. The applicant must also verify the number of clinical practicum hours completed in the MSN Program.
• Copy of current unrestricted and unencumbered RN and APRN licenses and certification as an APRN in the state of residence in which the individual will complete clinical practicums.
• Individual Nursing Student Professional Liability Insurance in the amount of $1,000,000/$3,000,000 (prior to first project course).
• Three (3) letters of recommendation [professional, academic, and personal] on official letterhead with original signatures specifying in detail the applicant’s capabilities for graduate study and for future nursing practice. Letters must be current (< 1-year).
• A current resume that describes all work experience and education since becoming a registered nurse, detailed in chronological order, including full legal name, address, telephone number, and email address. The resume should be no more than two pages.
• Documentation of a minimum, on current resume, of one year of continuous clinical nursing experience with patient contact as a RN and/or advanced practice nurse within the past three-year period.
• Goal Statement. The required goal statement should be a narrative which expounds on how obtaining a DNP from Alcorn State University will help achieve the applicant’s career path, including reasons for seeking admission, state areas of research interest, goals while in the program and long-range career goals, qualifications and readiness for the program, and mentorship expected by program faculty.
• An interview with Graduate Nursing Faculty.
• Credential submissions: Decisions are made only after receipt of all credentials by the department’s admission committee; the entire application packet, including all supporting materials, must be submitted to the Graduate School. Official transcripts must be sent from the sending school, and Credential Evaluations (International students) from an approved Credential Evaluation Service.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test is the official standardized test required for admission to the Doctor of Nursing Practice. WAIVED