Lead Change. Elevate Care. Shape the Future.
The Post-Master's DNP: Leadership in Health Systems and Practice at the University of Utah is designed for experienced nurses seeking to lead change across clinical, academic, and organizational settings. Our curriculum integrates evidence-based practice, organizational leadership, systems thinking, and policy advocacy to prepare leaders who can transform complex health systems.
Through a flexible format, students combine rigorous academic coursework with individualized, real-world leadership projects that make an immediate impact from the bedside to the C-Suite.
Differentiated Student Expected Outcomes
The Post-MS to DNP: Leadership in Health Systems and Practice graduate is prepared to:
- Integrate evidence, systems knowledge, and leadership principles to design and evaluate strategies that improve health and organizational outcomes across care settings.
- Demonstrate advanced leadership, policy, advocacy, and collaborative skills to influence impactful, sustainable change in health care systems.
- Exhibit adaptability, innovation, and a commitment to continuous learning and professional engagement to lead in dynamic health care environments.
Emphasis Information
Fall 2026
NURS 6670 – Advanced Evidence‑Based Practice & Research
NURS 6671 – Applied Biostatistics for Evidence‑Based Practice
NURS 7414 – Leading Health System Change
NURS 7963 – Advanced Leadership Practicum
Spring 2027
NURS 7116 – Workforce Management in Nursing
NURS 6672 – Advanced Population Health
NURS 6673 – Quality and Safety
NURS 7963 – Advanced Leadership Practicum
Summer 2027
NURS 6676 – Informatics & Healthcare Technologies
NURS 6675 – Healthcare Finance & Economics
NURS 7911 – DNP Scholarly Project Planning
NURS 7963 – Advanced Leadership Practicum
Professional Focus Courses
Fall 2027
NURS 7912 – DNP Scholarly Project Implementation
NURS 7575 – Healthcare Finance & Budgeting for Organizational Leaders
NURS 7963 – Advanced Leadership Practicum
Professional Focus Courses
Spring 2028
NURS 7913 – DNP Scholarly Project Evaluation & Dissemination
NURS 7115 – Advanced Management in Complex Health Systems
NURS 7963 – Advanced Leadership Practicum
Professional Focus Courses
Total Credits: 35
View the University of Utah Catalog.
Spring 2026
NURS 6672 – Advanced Population Health
Professional Focus Courses
NURS 7963 – Advanced Leadership Practicum
Summer 2026
NURS 6675 – Healthcare Finance & Economics
NURS 6676 – Informatics & Healthcare Technologies
Fall 2026
NURS 7414 – Leading Health System Change
NURS 6670 – Advanced Evidence‑Based Practice
NURS 6671 – Advanced Biostatistics for Evidence‑Based Practice
Spring 2027
NURS 7116 – Workforce Management in Nursing
NURS 6673 – Quality & Safety
NURS 7963 – Advanced Leadership Practicum
Summer 2027
NURS 7911 – DNP Scholarly Project Planning
NURS 7963 – Advanced Leadership Practicum
Professional Focus Courses
Fall 2027
NURS 7575 – Healthcare Finance & Budgeting for Organizational Leaders
NURS 7912 – DNP Scholarly Project Implementation
NURS 7963 – Advanced Leadership Practicum
Professional Focus Courses
Spring 2028
NURS 7115 – Advanced Management of Healthcare Systems
NURS 7913 – Scholarly Project Evaluation & Dissemination
NURS 7963 – Advanced Leadership Practicum
Professional Focus Courses
Total Credits: 35
View the University of Utah Catalog.
Fall 2025
Graduate with MS in Nursing
Spring 2026
Take certification exam
Summer 2026
NURS 7911 – DNP Scholarly Project Planning
NURS 7963 – Advanced Leadership Practicum
Professional Focus / Certificate Courses
Fall 2026
NURS 7414 – Leading Health System Change
NURS 7575 – Healthcare Finance & Budgeting for Organizational Leaders
Professional Focus / Certificate Courses
NURS 7963 – Advanced Leadership Practicum
Spring 2027
NURS 7116 – Workforce Management in Nursing
NURS 7912 – Scholarly Project Implementation
NURS 7115 – Advanced Management in Complex Health Systems
NURS 7913 – Scholarly Project Evaluation & Dissemination
NURS 7963 – Advanced Leadership Practicum
Professional Focus / Certificate Courses
Total Credits: 30
View the University of Utah Catalog.
Fall 2026
NURS 7414 – Leading Health System Change
Professional Focus / Certificate Courses
Spring 2027
NURS 7116 Workforce Management in Nursing
Professional Focus/Certificate Courses
NURS 7963 Advanced Leadership Practicum
Summer 2027
NURS 7911 DNP Scholarly Project Planning
Professional Focus/Certificate Courses
NURS 7963 Advanced Leadership Practicum
Fall 2027
NURS 7912 DNP Scholarly Project Implementation
NURS 7575 Healthcare Finance & Budgeting for Org Leaders
Professional Focus/Certificate Courses
NURS 7963 Advanced Leadership Varies Practicum
Spring 2028
NURS 7913 DNP Scholarly Project Evaluation & Dissemination
NURS 7115 Advanced Management in Complex Health Systems
Professional Focus/Certificate Courses
NURS 7963 Advanced Leadership Practicum
Total Credits: 30
View the University of Utah Catalog.
Fall 2025
NURS 7414 Leading Health System
Change Professional Focus Courses
NURS 7963 Advanced Leadership Practicum
Spring 2026
NURS 7116 – Workforce Management in Nursing
Professional Focus Courses
NURS 7963 – Advanced Leadership Practicum
Summer 2026
Professional Focus Courses
NURS 7963 – Advanced Leadership Practicum
Fall 2026
NURS 7115 – Advanced Management in Complex Health Systems
NURS 7963 – Advanced Leadership Practicum
Spring 2027
NURS 7575 – Healthcare Finance & Budgeting for Organizational Leaders
NURS 7963 – Advanced Leadership Practicum
Total Credits: 15
View the University of Utah Catalog.
Application Deadlines
Fall & Spring Applications Open: August 1, 2025
Spring 2026 Application Closes: November 1, 2025, 11:59 PM MT
Fall 2026 Application Closes: March 15, 2026, 11:59 PM MT