Post-Master's Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Reach the pinnacle of clinical and leadership expertise.
Admissions | Curriculum | Tuition | FAQs | Information Sessions
As a nurse with a master’s degree, there are two tracks you may pursue in the DNP program:
- The DNP Clinical Expert track is the right choice if you want to reach the highest levels of patient care expertise. To be eligible, you must hold a master’s degree in nursing and a national-level advanced practice nursing certification.
- The DNP Nurse Executive track is the right choice if you want to lead innovative, transformative healthcare organizations. To be eligible, you must hold a master’s degree in nursing or other field, such as a Master of Business Administration or Master of Public Health. A national-level advanced nursing certification is preferred, but not required.
As a student in either track, you can complete the program in two years of full-time study or three years of part-time study.
Director, Doctor of Nursing Practice
Message from the Clinical Expert Track Director
The DNP Clinical Expert track provides education and experiences for those individuals who want to reach the highest level of patient care expertise and have a significant impact on patient outcomes. Our program uses an inter-professional collaborative approach steeped in wellness and evidence-based practice. Our world renowned faculty serve as mentors and advisors to help provide the tools to achieve your professional aspirations.
Message from the Nurse Executive Track Director
The DNP Nurse Executive track offers nurses who hold a master’s degree in nursing or other field an outstanding cutting-edge program that prepares them for executive leadership roles at local, state and national/international levels. The online program focuses on leading and transforming healthcare organizations through evidence-based practice, informatics, immersion experiences, and personal health and wellness. Students will be challenged in developing self-awareness, design thinking, leading and sustaining change, advancing strategic vision, changing organizational culture, ensuring quality and safety, developing and evaluating innovative programs, generating and managing finances, and advancing healthcare policy.
Distance Learning
The Ohio State University College of Nursing is proud to offer particular graduate-level specialty programs in a distance learning format. While the DNP coursework is completed through distance learning, many classes are offered synchronously. This means that there will be a designated time that you are required to log in and participate in class. You will not have to travel to campus to participate in DNP courses.
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.
Application Deadline
- Autumn 2025
Opens: August 1
Deadline: March 1, 2025
Contact us
Email nursing@osu.edu
