Doctor of Nursing Practice

UMKC’s Doctor of Nursing Practice is the highest level of nursing practice. This DNP program prepares nurses to improve overall healthcare by anticipating, adapting, and evolving to the dynamic challenges in present and future healthcare environments. The DNP degree assists the students to become an active partner in improving healthcare outcomes, while participating in complex, dynamic, and demanding healthcare fields. Skills in teamwork, collaboration, clinical innovation and evaluation, complemented by advanced nursing skills is essential preparation for nurses to become leaders in an ever changing healthcare climate.

Nurses prepared at the doctoral level can expect to receive a blend of clinical, organizational, economic, interprofessional and leadership training. Students are taught to use advanced theory to impact daily practice. The practice-based doctorate gives graduates the tools necessary to translate evidence-based research into practice. Graduates are expected to function clinically at the highest level by evaluating outcomes based scientific research evidence, modify care to improve patient outcomes, and advance the delivery of healthcare.

Not sure if a DNP is right for you? UMKC has innovative, visionary faculty and well-established history in nursing education. UMKC developed the first DNP program in the region, graduating the first DNP class in 2008. Not sure which emphasis suits your needs? Let UMKC help. The dedicated faculty at SoNHS can help you align your passion with one of our clinical tracks.

UMKC’s accredited doctorate program offers several diverse emphasis tracks on campus and online. Our online programs consistently rank among the best in the country, and is in the top 10 of the “most affordable” online graduate nursing programs per a recent recognition from U.S. News and World Report.

There are a variety of specialty tracks for BSN and MSN prepared nurses to advance their education with the DNP: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Primary and Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (AC/PNP), Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP), Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), or the MSN-DNP or BSN-DNP.

BSN-DNP

New and updated Plan of Study available soon, accepting applications in 2027.

Wishing to apply sooner? Consider our MSN, then MSN-DNP option.

Contact us at nurses@umkc.edu for more information.

The core curriculum provides a solid foundation in the basic sciences, the use of evidence-based practice guidelines and theory as a basis for nursing practice. The post-bachelor's DNP curriculum is designed for registered nurses who have completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree or a Master of Science in Nursing degree with a generalist (non-APRN) or nursing education focus.

BSN-DNP Specialty Tracks

Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP)

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (Acute or Primary Care Tracks) (AC/PNP)

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

Women's Health Nurse Pracitioner (WHNP)

We also offer a specialty track to become a CRNA that is only offered as a BSN-DNP track

MSN-DNP

The Post-Master’s DNP curriculum is designed for nurses who have already earned a Master of Science in Nursing degree or Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia. Visit our MSN-DNP page for resources and a sample plan of study.

UMKC SoNHS offers three entry pathways in the Post-Master’s DNP program.

Post-MSN, APRN to DNP
- Intended for master’s prepared nurses certified in Advanced Practice (APRN) roles seeking to complete the DNP degree, including certified Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Nurse Anesthetists, and Nurse Midwives.
Post-MSN, Non-APRN to DNP*
- For those with a nursing master’s degree in one of the following areas: Nursing Leadership (Administration), Nursing Informatics, or Nursing Clinical Research Management. National certification in the area is preferred but not required.
- *Individualized plans of study are developed for students depending upon prior coursework. Applicants will need to provide course syllabi for evaluation of potential transfer credits from previous programs.
Post-MSN to Advanced Practice DNP (returning for a New or Second NP role and DNP)*
- Appropriate for master’s prepared nurses returning for coursework to obtain a new or second NP role along with the DNP, via adding a certificate.

* Please Note: Individualized plans of study are developed for students depending upon prior coursework. Applicants will need to provide course syllabi for evaluation of potential transfer credits from previous programs. Typically this route is completed by earning a certificate and then completing the MSN-DNP program in succession, sometimes with overlap.

MSN-DNP Specialty Tracks

ADULT GERONTOLOGY NURSE PRACTITIONER (AGNP)

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP)

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (Acute or Primary Care Tracks) (AC/PNP)

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)

Application Deadlines

Applications for all 2027 semester starts will become available on August 6th, 2026.

Spring 2027 Deadline: October 17th, 2026
- Only DNP programs with the PMHNP, FNP, AGNP & WHNP tracks offer Spring admission
Summer 2027 Deadline : March 5th, 2027
- All DNP programs & tracks
Fall 2027 Deadline : March 5th, 2027
- Only the MSN-DNP program offers fall admission

Admission Requirements

A BSN or MSN from a college or university nationally recognized by a nursing accrediting agency (CCNE or ACEN).
A GPA of a 3.2 on a 4.0 scale (calculated on the last 60 hours of your BSN degree) or a minimum of 3.2 for their MSN.
A current unencumbered licensure in the state in which the student completes clinical requirements.
The following two courses are pre-requisites to progression in the BSN-DNP program; students are permitted to complete the pre-requisite courses once admitted to the program as degree-seeking;
- Graduate level statistics course with a minimum grade of B.
- A free-standing undergraduate health assessment course which needs to be completed by the first summer or fall semester with a minimum grade of B.
The following three courses are pre-requisites to progression in the Post-MSN DNP program;
- MSN Nursing Theory course with a minimum grade of B
- MSN Nursing Research course with a minimum grade of B
- Graduate level statistics course with a minimum grade of B.
Personal interviews are required.
PMHNP Applicants: two years of RN experience is preferred.
NNP Applicants: experience required must be the equivalent of 2 years of recent full-time clinical practice experience as an RN in the care of critically ill newborns or infants in intensive care inpatient settings is required before a student begins the clinical courses. The majority of the clinical experience should be in a Level III and/or IV NICU. Students may enroll in preclinical courses while obtaining the necessary practice experience.
PNP Applicants: A minimum of one-year, full-time equivalent clinical experience within the past three years is required for admission.
ACPNP Applicants: A minimum of 2 years, full-time equivalent clinical experience within the past three years is required for admission.
WHNP Applicants: A minimum of two years full-time equivalent clinical experience within the past three years is strongly recommended for admission.

Please refer to CRNAfor program specific admission requirement.

Visit the Graduate Admissions page to view required application materials and step-by-step application instructions.

Additional Requirements

On campus residency requirement
- On campus residencies are required during the online programs during clinical courses only. These dates are scheduled in advance and communicated on the schedule for the semester. Faculty will provide more information prior to each scheduled on-campus residency.
- For the MSN-DNP Completion program without the addition of an NP/Specialty Role: there will not be any on-campus residencies of this kind.
Institute requirements (MSN - DNP)
- The MSN-DNP requires online attendance for the two-day Clinical Institute in May for those entering the last full year of the program. Dates will be provided well in advance.
State regulations requirement
- We are now a part of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) which allows us to offer online programs to students in other SARA states. We are able to accept and enroll students into most of our online programs in 48 states, including Washington, DC. We highly recommend that you review this information prior to submitting your application. Please review the state regulatory map to verify the status of your state’s regulations.
Online/hybrid distance learning program
- We designed the graduate programs to give professionals flexibility. Our courses are conducted online, some may require virtual class/chat times. Those that do have class/chat times are scheduled on Thursdays or Fridays and are communicated well in advance.
- Students use the Web-based software, Canvas, for their online courses. Courses are conducted in synchronous and asynchronous modes depending on the professor and class. You can log on to find homework, class assignments, a class list, a syllabus and more at any time. The program allows students to engage in interactive learning with faculty and other students in an online platform.