DNP: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

For financial aid purposes, there are credit minimums for full-time status that may differ from the plans of study. See details.

Post-BSN:

Plans of Study for Fall 2016 and Beyond:

• Three-Year Plan of Study
• Four-Year Plan of Study
• Five-Year Plan of Study

Plans of Study Prior to Fall 2016:

• Download a PDF

Post-Master's:

• Core Degree Requirements
• List of Specialty-Specific Courses

Post-Doctoral Certificate:

• Course Listing

Post-BSN: Three-Year Plan of Study

Post-BSN: Four-Year Plan of Study

Post-BSN: Five-Year Plan of Study

Post-Master's: Core Degree Requirements

The Post Masters-DNP with Specialty plan of study is by definition variable credit based on the student’s individual educational experiences.

Students should work closely with their advisor to determine specific plans of study.

All of the below degree requirements must be completed at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, or through transfer credits that are directly equivalent to UMSON coursework.

*Additional credits as needed to meet certification and 1,000-hour requirement.

**All students must complete a minimum of 48 credits to receive a DNP with specialty. Credits necessary to meet certification and DNP requirements determined upon admission.  Maximum credits for degree 80.

Post-Master's: List of Specialty-Specific Courses

If the student has already taken some of the required courses, the option of lowering the number of credits is possible upon review by the program director. 

Post-Doctoral Certificate: Course Listing

Doctoral-prepared nurses who want to add or change their area of specialty only need to take the courses necessary for certification in that specialty. Your personalized plan of study will be determined at the time of admission.

If the student has already taken some of the required courses, the option of lowering the number of credits is possible upon review by the program director. 

Your nursing education is an important investment. Financial aid and scholarships can help make your goals a reality.

UMSON offers multiple opportunities to help you afford your graduate education.

Learn More About Financial Aid and Scholarships

All students receiving funds through the University must:

• be enrolled at least half-time (6 credits) in a degree-seeking program
• complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year by UMB's award priority deadline
• FAFSA Submission period: Oct. 1 (of the previous year) through Feb. 28
• FAFSA School code: 002104

The UMB Office of Student Financial Assistance & Education is available to guide prospective and current students through the FAFSA application process and the financial aid award package.

Contact Us:

UMSON Scholarships and Grants Office
410-706-0489 | nrsscholarships@umaryland.edu

UMB Student Financial Assistance and Education Office
410-706-7347 | aidtalk@umaryland.edu

Note: The Nurse Anesthesia specialty accepts applicants for the summer session only and has different deadlines and requirements. 

All other specialties and the Post-Master's DNP option accept students for fall admission.

In this section:

• Deadlines
• Qualifications
• Application Materials
• Applicants without a High School Diploma or College Degree in the U.S

Deadlines:

For best consideration, applicants are encouraged to have all required application materials submitted by the deadlines listed below.

• Completed applications received after the priority deadline are reviewed on a space-available basis.
• After the admissions committee file review, applicants may be invited to an on-campus interview.
• Applicants not selected for an interview will not be advanced to the next stage of applicant review.  

Qualifications:

• bachelor’s degree with a major in nursing from:
  • an ACEN- (formally known as NLNAC) or CCNE-accredited college or university
    or
  • an equivalent degree from a comparable foreign institution
• an undergraduate cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0

Application Materials:

An interview with selected applicants will be arranged after the applications are received and reviewed.

Applicants without a High School Diploma or College Degree in the U.S:

• If you do not have a degree from a U.S. high school, college, or university, you are required to demonstrate English proficiency.
• If you have completed coursework outside of the U.S., you must have your transcripts evaluated.

More information.

This program is not eligible for F-1 or J-1 student visa sponsorship by the University of Maryland, Baltimore, due to the amount of online courses.

If you have questions regarding the admissions requirements or process, contact the Office of Admissions to avoid errors that could delay the processing of your application.

Post-Doctoral Certificates are available for the following specialty areas:

• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner/Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist 
• DNP: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• DNP: Family Nurse Practitioner
• DNP: Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner 
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner – Family

Learn more about our DNP Pathways.

In this section:

• Deadlines
• Qualifications
• Application Materials
• Applicants without a High School Diploma or College Degree in the U.S

Deadlines:

Fall Admission

Qualifications:

• Graduate degree in nursing (which may include a DNP)
• Doctoral degree (DNP, PhD, EdD, etc.)
• Active registered nursing license

Application Materials:

An interview with selected applicants will be arranged after the applications are received and reviewed.

Applicants without a High School Diploma or College Degree in the U.S:

• If you do not have a degree from a U.S. high school, college, or university, you are required to demonstrate English proficiency.
• If you have completed coursework outside of the U.S., you must have your transcripts evaluated.

More information.

This program is not eligible for F-1 or J-1 student visa sponsorship by the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

If you have questions regarding the admissions requirements or process, contact the Office of Admissions to avoid errors that could delay the processing of your application.

Specialty Director:

Brenda Windemuth, DNP, CRNP

Faculty Members:

Erica Alessandrini, DNP, CRNP, FNP-BC

Margaret B. Hammersla, PhD, CRNP-A

Elizabeth Galik, PhD, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP

Shannon K. Idzik, DNP, CRNP, FAANP, FAAN

Molly Parsons EdD, MS, FNP-BC

Barbara Resnick, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP

The questions below relate directly to the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner DNP specialty. You may also want to refer to our general FAQs regarding the DNP.

How long does it take to complete the specialty?

Students can choose from several options for completing their studies. Click the Sample Plans of Study tab to view each of the different options.

What type of nursing experience should applicants have?

It is preferred that applicants have at least two years of post-BSN nursing clinical experience. Applicants will benefit from having recent clinical experience that requires a high level of patient assessment and critical thinking. For example, experiences working on general medical surgical units, urgent/emergency departments, primary care practices, student health settings, ambulatory and outpatient clinics, or long term care settings.

How much hands-on clinical time will need to be completed?

The minimum number of practicum hours required for the DNP degree is 1,000 hours. For University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) graduates to be eligible for their respective board certification exams, they must complete the DNP degree. Refer to the plans of study for the number of clinical hours required each semester.

Do students have to find their own preceptor or clinical site? Can they do their clinical rotations where they work?

Students are not required to find their own preceptor or clinical site. The UMSON faculty is committed to assigning students to clinical sites that are appropriate for course and program objectives. We are fortunate to have contacts with many nurse practitioner alumni and other providers who serve as preceptors. UMSON has clinical contracts with agencies in a variety of settings across the state of Maryland and in Washington, D.C. Students with a particular clinical site/preceptor of interest may forward the contact information to the course faculty member so the faculty member can determine whether the site is appropriate to meet the course objectives. Faculty members must approve any student-suggested site. Students should not complete their clinical rotations in the specific environments where they are employed due to a potential conflict of interest. Final approval of clinical site placement is at the faculty member’s discretion.

Students will be exposed to clinical experiences across the adult aging continuum and in a variety of clinical settings.

Where can graduates work? What is the job market like for graduates of this specialty?

Graduates of the AGNP program are working in a variety of settings including primary care practices, specialty practices, long term care settings (assisted living or nursing home), senior housing sites, as members of clinically focused research teams, and in college and employee health clinics, among other settings.

Is there anything else I can do to strengthen my application?

Many variables are taken into consideration when reviewing a student’s application for admission. A strong foundation in courses such as anatomy and physiology, microbiology, pharmacology, and physical assessment is one key to success. Retaking courses with weak grades is suggested, but does not guarantee admission. Writing and grammar skills are also critically important for graduate-level education. Taking a writing course, particularly a technical writing course, may be of assistance. You may take these courses at a university of your preference. In addition, an applicant’s involvement in professional and organizational activities, as well as other scholarly activities, is evidence of leadership capabilities and interests. Current clinical experience requiring a high level of patient assessment and critical thinking is ideal and completion of certification in your specialty area is strongly recommended. We highly recommend that you spend several hours shadowing an advanced practice nurse in the specialty you wish to pursue.

How can I get additional information?

For more information regarding admissions to this specialty, please contact the UMSON Admissions Office at: 410-706-0501, option #2 or admissions.nursing@umaryland.edu.