LEAD CHANGE. ELEVATE CARE. SHAPE THE FUTURE.
The University of Utah's Post-Master's DNP in Leadership in Health Systems and Practice equips experienced nurses to lead transformation across health care systems through evidence-based leadership, systems thinking, policy advocacy, and impactful real-world projects.
Plans of Study
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Fall 2026 (Semester credits: 8)
NURS 6670 – Advanced Evidence‑Based Practice & Research
NURS 6671 – Applied Biostatistics for Evidence‑Based Practice
NURS 7414 – Leading Health System ChangeSpring 2027 (Semester credits: 9)
NURS 7116 – Workforce Management in Nursing
NURS 6672 – Advanced Population Health
NURS 6673 – Quality and Safety
NURS 7963 – Advanced Leadership PracticumSummer 2027 (Semester credits: 7)
NURS 6676 – Informatics & Healthcare Technologies
NURS 6675 – Healthcare Finance & Economics
NURS 7911 – DNP Scholarly Project Planning
NURS 7963 – Advanced Leadership PracticumFall 2027 (Semester credits: 6)
NURS 7912 – DNP Scholarly Project Implementation
NURS 7575 – Healthcare Finance & Budgeting for Organizational Leaders
NURS 7963 – Advanced Leadership PracticumSpring 2028 (Semester credits: 5)
NURS 7913 – DNP Scholarly Project Evaluation & Dissemination
NURS 7115 – Advanced Management in Complex Health Systems*NURS 7955 Independent Study may be used by students who need additional clinical hours beyond the standard curriculum to meet the CCNE requirement of 1,000 post-baccalaureate clinical hours for DNP education.
Total Credits: 35
View the University of Utah Catalog.
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Spring 2027 (Semester credits: 3)
NURS 6672 – Advanced Population Health
Summer 2027 (Semester credits: 4)
NURS 6675 – Healthcare Finance & Economics
NURS 6676 – Informatics & Healthcare TechnologiesFall 2027 (Semester credits: 8)
NURS 7414 – Leading Health System Change
NURS 6670 – Advanced Evidence‑Based Practice
NURS 6671 – Advanced Biostatistics for Evidence‑Based PracticeSpring 2028 (Semester credits: 7)
NURS 7116 – Workforce Management in Nursing
NURS 6673 – Quality & Safety
NURS 7963 – Advanced Leadership PracticumSummer 2028 (Semester credits: 3)
NURS 7911 – DNP Scholarly Project Planning
NURS 7963 – Advanced Leadership PracticumFall 2028 (Semester credits: 5)
NURS 7575 – Healthcare Finance & Budgeting for Organizational Leaders
NURS 7912 – DNP Scholarly Project Implementation
NURS 7963 – Advanced Leadership PracticumSpring 2029 (Semester credits: 6)
NURS 7115 – Advanced Management of Healthcare Systems
NURS 7913 – Scholarly Project Evaluation & Dissemination
*NURS 7955 Independent Study may be used by students who need additional clinical hours beyond the standard curriculum to meet the CCNE requirement of 1,000 post-baccalaureate clinical hours for DNP education.
Total Credits: 35
View the University of Utah Catalog.
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Summer 2027 (Semester credits: 10)
NURS 7911 – DNP Scholarly Project Planning
NURS 7963 – Advanced Leadership Practicum
Professional Focus / Certificate CoursesFall 2027 (Semester credits: 10)
NURS 7414 – Leading Health System Change
NURS 7575 – Healthcare Finance & Budgeting for Organizational Leaders
NURS 7912 – DNP Scholarly Project Implementation
NURS 7963 – Advanced Leadership Practicum
Professional Focus / Certificate CoursesSpring 2028 (Semester credits: 10)
NURS 7115 – Advanced Management in Complex Health Systems
NURS 7116 – Workforce Management in Nursing
NURS 7913 – DNP Scholarly Project Evaluation & Dissemination
NURS 7963 – Advanced Leadership Practicum
Professional Focus / Certificate Courses*NURS 7955 Independent Study may be used by students who need additional clinical hours beyond the standard curriculum to meet the CCNE requirement of 1,000 post-baccalaureate clinical hours for DNP education.
Total Credits: 30
View the University of Utah Catalog.
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Fall 2026 (Semester credits: 5)
NURS 7414 – Leading Health System Change
Professional Focus / Certificate CoursesSpring 2027 (Semester credits: 5)
NURS 7116 – Workforce Management in Nursing
NURS 7963 – Advanced Leadership Practicum
Professional Focus/Certificate CoursesSummer 2027 (Semester credits: 6)
NURS 7911 – DNP Scholarly Project Planning
NURS 7963 – Advanced Leadership Practicum
Professional Focus/Certificate CoursesFall 2027 (Semester credits: 8)
NURS 7912 – DNP Scholarly Project Implementation
NURS 7575 – Healthcare Finance & Budgeting for Org Leaders
NURS 7963 – Advanced Leadership Practicum
Professional Focus/Certificate CoursesSpring 2028 (Semester credits: 6)
NURS 7913 – DNP Scholarly Project Evaluation & Dissemination
NURS 7115 – Advanced Management in Complex Health Systems
Professional Focus/Certificate Courses*NURS 7955 Independent Study may be used by students who need additional clinical hours beyond the standard curriculum to meet the CCNE requirement of 1,000 post-baccalaureate clinical hours for DNP education.
Total Credits: 30
View the University of Utah Catalog.
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Fall (Semester credits: 6)
NURS 7414 Leading Health System (3 credits)
NURS 7115 Advanced Management of Healthcare SystemsSpring (Semester credits: 5)
NURS 7116 – Workforce Management in Nursing
NURS 6673 Quality & SafetySummer (Semester credits: 5)
NURS 7575 Healthcare Finance & Budgeting for Organizational Leaders
NURS 6676 Informatics & Healthcare TechnologyTotal Credits: 16
View the University of Utah Catalog.
Application Deadlines
Fall, Spring and Summer Applications open: August 1, 2026
Fall Application closes: December 1. Late-entry applications may be accepted until March 15th.
Spring Application closes: October 1
Summer Application closes: February 1
Application Requirements
- Submission of FutureU application. Apply now.
- An individual, up-to-date transcript for every college you have attended. Unofficial copies may be submitted for initial review, but official transcripts must be submitted if you are recommended for admission.
- Resume
- Responses to essay questions included in the application (limit of 1-2 pages).
- Three letters of recommendation, in addition to University Recommendation Form.
- Verification of RN license. If the RN license will not be posted by the application deadline, please upload a document stating the anticipated date of the NCLEX.
- International graduate applicants information and resources.
Eligibility
To apply to the DNP Program, you must have:
- Accepted Degrees:
- Master of Science in Nursing (MS/MSN)
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BS/BA/BSN) with an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) or Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BS/BA/BSN) with Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA), or Master of Public Health (MPH)
- GPA Requirement: A 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA in the undergraduate career, or otherwise demonstrable academic readiness for graduate-level studies. Degrees from competency-based institutions will automatically be awarded a 3.0 GPA.
- License Requirement: An active, unrestricted Utah state RN license. New Nurse License Compact Rules require nurses moving from one compact state to another compact state to apply for licensure in their new Primary State of Residence (PSOR) within 60 days.
Intent to Enroll Fee
If you are offered admission to the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program, you will be asked to submit a non-refundable $500 intent-to-enroll fee. This deposit will be credited toward your first semester’s tuition.
If the enrollment deposit is a financial challenge, you may request a deposit extension in writing to gradstudentinfo@nurs.utah.edu.
MS-DNP LHSP, Resident, Full-time: $34,200
MS-DNP LHSP, Resident, Part-time: $41,400
MS-DNP LHSP, Resident, 3 Semester (Recent U of U graduates): $24,600
MS-DNP LHSP, Resident, 5 Semester (Recent U of U graduates): $31,900
The University of Utah College of Nursing's Post-MS to DNP Leadership program is among the best in the Intermountain West, designed for working professionals. Graduates earn more than a DNP; they master the role and lead change across practice, executive, and health-system levels. Optional certificates in nurse education, informatics, or gerontology are available. The program is fully online, with no campus visits and a flexible, asynchronous format, with only a few scheduled video sessions per semester.
Unlike most post-master's DNP programs that focus on clinical APRNs or on executive administration alone, this program welcomes both clinical and non-clinical master's-prepared nurses, emphasizing systems leadership across contexts. Courses include organizational transformation, policy advocacy, workforce management, health care finance, evidence implementation, and quality improvement.
Graduates are prepared to excel in the DNP role and to drive change from bedside care to system-wide leadership.
Can I continue to work while in school?
Yes, we expect most students will continue working while in the Post-Master's to DNP emphasis.
What is the duration of each online DNP course?
Courses in the DNP emphasis are 16-week semester-based courses with the exception of 12-week course during the summer semester.
Are financial aid or scholarships available for the Post-MS to DNP?
Yes, the University of Utah College of Nursing offers tuition support via federal and local means. We are also partners in the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP). Please contact the University of Utah tuition assistance office for more information.
Is the University of Utah’s DNP program accredited?
Yes, the University of Utah College of Nursing is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) and nationally with the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Can I transfer credits that were earned in another doctoral program?
Yes, you can transfer graduate-level credits to the UoU DNP programs. However, there are restrictions. TIME LIMIT: Doctoral-level courses must have been taken within five years of your semester of admission. PROCESS: A transcript review and a gap analysis are completed prior to acceptance of course credit. Please speak with the Post-MS to DNP Emphasis Director for more information.
Can work experience count toward academic credit within the Post-MS to DNP?
Yes, at the University of Utah, we want to acknowledge your hard work and professional experiences. Requests for academic credit based on work experience are managed on a case-by-case basis and require administrative faculty review.
Do my previous MS clinical hours contribute to the required DNP 1,000-hour total?
Yes! Any MSN clinical, residency, or practicum hours earned with your MSN count toward the 1,000-hour DNP requirement. Additionally, the University of Utah's Post-MS-to-DNP curriculum includes 480 clinical hours, so for some APRNs, additional clinical hours may not be necessary. Hours are verified upon acceptance to the program.
Application Deadlines
Fall, Spring and Summer Applications open: August 1, 2026
Fall Application closes: December 1. Late-entry applications may be accepted until March 15th.
Spring Application closes: October 1
Summer Application closes: February 1