BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

The path to improved patient outcomes begins with clinical expertise.

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U.S. News & World Report Best Grad Schools Doctor of Nursing Practice #11Those who follow the BSN to DNP clinical expert path, will be in a position to reach the highest level of practice expertise through clinical skill and leadership development. With the level of nursing education required to become a Doctor of Nursing Practice, you will be prepared to achieve the one goal that resides at the very core of nursing - improved patient outcomes. If this is what drives you, you've found your path forward.

As a BSN to DNP student, you will earn your DNP degree, master’s degree, and be eligible for certification in one of our advanced practice specialties. One specialty must be selected at the time of application:


*These specialty areas are available in both online and on-campus formats.


The following specialty in the BSN to DNP program is available as a distance learning or on-campus program:

The following specialties of the BSN to DNP are available only as distance learning programs:

All other specialties listed are only offered through on-campus study. If you select a campus-based specialty, you will be required to complete all of the specialty coursework by attending classes in person on our Columbus campus.

As a BSN to DNP student, you can complete the program in three years of full-time study or four years of part-time study. The first phase of the program combines the DNP Clinical Expert coursework with the requirements to earn your Master of Science degree to become advanced-practice certified. In the final two years of study, you will complete your DNP immersion experiences and final project.

 

Licensure/Certification Information

A professional license is required to practice in the field of this academic program, or to advance or specialize in that field. This program meets advanced practice registered nurse licensure requirements in the State of Ohio and is approved by the Ohio Department of Higher Education.

Ohio State academic programs are designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure and certification and state licensing board contact information at go.osu.edu/disclosures for online programs and go.osu.edu/onground for on-campus programs.

If you are planning to seek a professional license or certification in a state other than Ohio, it is highly recommended that you contact the appropriate state licensing agency to seek information and guidance before beginning the program. In addition, online program availability may vary by state. For more information on state authorization requirements and disclosures related to online programs and state licensing board contact information, please visit online.osu.edu/state-authorization/disclosures.

 

Distance Learning

The Ohio State University College of Nursing is proud to offer particular graduate-level specialty programs in a distance learning format. Here, coursework is completed entirely online and clinical experiences are completed in the student’s area. The following specialties of the BSN to DNP program are available as distance learning or on-campus programs:

While the DNP coursework and the Masters-level coursework of these above specialties is completed through distance learning, most classes are offered synchronously. This means that there will be a designated time that you are required to log in and participate in class. Synchronous distance learning classes typically meet weekly on a Wednesday or Thursday, depending on your year in the program. You will not have to travel to campus to participate in DNP courses. We will hold an orientation on campus in August for newly admitted students, and you are strongly encouraged to attend. Students are also required to make a visit to campus at the end of the program to present and defend their final projects. Depending on the specialty, distance learning students may be required to visit the Ohio State campus up to 3 times throughout the Masters level of the program. Some specialties, though, do not require the student to visit campus at all. Typically, these visits are only a few days in length and students will be provided the dates far in advance to aid in preparing travel arrangements.

At this time, The Ohio State University College of Nursing is authorized to enroll distance learning students in many U.S. states. However, due to varying state laws and regulations, there are also many states in which we are not currently permitted to offer distance learning programs. Residents of these states are not able to participate in the programs. Applicants are strongly encouraged to visit the University’s Online Programs State Authorization webpage or email us at nursing@osu.edu to find out whether their program of interest is available in their home state. Please check back often, as the College and University are aggressively pursuing authorization in all 50 states. Residents outside of the U.S. are not able to participate in distance learning programs. Admission into a program is granted at the time of initial acceptance into the program and is dependent on program availability in the state where the student is physically located at the time of admission. If a student moves to a state other than the state where the student was physically present when admitted into the program, continuation within the program will depend on the availability of the program within the new state where the student is physically present. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the institution of a change in physical presence.

Randee Masciola
Associate Clinical Professor

Director, Doctor of Nursing Practice

Application Deadlines

  • Autumn 2024: Round 1
    Open: August 15
    Deadline: October 31
    Decision: End of February
  • Autumn 2024: Round 2*
    Open: February 8
    Deadline: March 1
    Decision: End of April

*Applications for all specialties are open during Round 1. Only select APRN specialty applications are open during Round 2. The specialties available for Round 2 application were announced in February 2024.

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Melanie Hlahol
Melanie Hlahol, current student

“This program is rigorous and has provided me with the best education to lead me to success in my future. I have felt supported throughout the entirety of this program and have been provided with excellent resources to help guide me throughout the
course of my career.”