Texas Christian University

Texas Christian University offers an online BSN to DNP Family Nurse Practitioner program designed for registered nurses who possess a Bachelor’s of Nursing Science and want to earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice while pursuing APRN certification as an FNP. The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and graduates are eligible for national certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP).

All coursework in the BSN to DNP program is delivered online through the school’s learning management system. While the majority of instruction is asynchronous, students may meet with instructors for live sessions during the semester as needed. Students are required to make four campus visits over the course of the entire program, for an on-campus orientation and three clinical training intensives.

Admissions Requirements for the Online BSN to DNP Program

Texas Christian University’s online BSN to DNP program admits students in the Summer semester, with both full-time and part-time options available. Due to state regulations, the program is currently unable to accept students who reside in Massachusetts, or offer credit for any clinical practicum hours that take place in that state.

Applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school of nursing, and hold current RN licensure. The school prefers that applicants have at least one year of full-time RN experience, however recent BSN graduates may be considered based on their undergraduate GPA and letters of recommendation. A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred for all applicants. Applicants must also have taken the GRE, and preferably scored 150 in both the qualitative and quantitative sections and a 4.0 in the writing section.

Along with completing the online application, prospective BSN to DNP students must submit two official transcripts from all previous postsecondary institutions they attended, as well as their resume, GRE scores, and evidence of current CPR certification. In addition, they will need to have three professional references fill out the letter of recommendation form found on the program website. Students must also submit an essay detailing their academic and professional strengths, and what they hope to achieve through the program.

Online BSN to DNP Family Nurse Practitioner Program Requirements

The online BSN to DNP Family Nurse Practitioner program at Texas Christian University consists of 69 credits. This includes 50 hours of academic coursework and 19 hours of clinical practicum experiences. Students must complete a total of 1,000 clinical hours in order to qualify for the DNP degree. The full-time program is nine terms, and takes approximately three years to complete. The part-time option may take up to 18 terms, but must be completed within six years from when students first begin coursework. The school requires that all students maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA throughout the DNP program in order to graduate.

Coursework in the BSN to DNP program is divided between master’s-level advanced practice nursing core courses, DNP core courses, and FNP specialization courses. Examples of courses in the advanced practice nursing core include Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics, Diagnostic Methods and Procedures for the APRN, and Financial Concepts of Health Care. The DNP core includes Biostatistics for the Advanced Practitioner, Translational Research, Decision Science and Informatics, and Health Care Policy and Politics. The FNP-specific portion of the curriculum is comprised of courses focused on the primary care of families and adult-gerontology patients, and includes several corresponding practicums. Along with these primary care practicums, students must complete two Advanced Clinical Practicums as part of the DNP curriculum and their DNP project.


Overview: Texas Christian University: Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences

Department: Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences
Programs Offered: FNP
Degree Types: DNP (BSN required)
Accreditation: CCNE
Instruction Methods: Majority of courses use asynchronous instruction. Students and instructors may meet for live sessions during the semester as needed.
Phone Number: (817) 257-6749
Social Media: Facebook and Twitter

Texas Christian University Online FNP Programs

Online Doctor of Nursing Practice BSN to DNP Family Nurse Practitioner program

Program Overview
Program Specialty: Family Nurse Practitioner
Degree Type: DNP (BSN Required)
Program Structure: Online with on-campus orientation and intensives with clinical hours requirements
Website: dnp.tcu.edu

Program Requirements
Clinical Hours Requirements: 1,000 clinical hours required
Number of Credits Required: 69 credits needed to graduate
Number of Campus Visits Required: 4 (throughout entire program)

Program Options
Curriculum Options: Full-time and Part-time
Program Length: Full-time: program can be completed in 3 years; Part-time program must be completed within 6 years
Program Start Date: Summer admission only
Number of Terms: Full-Time: 9 terms; Part-Time: up to 18 terms

Requirements and Tuition
Application Requirements: BSN required; current RN; one year of full-time work experience as an RN preferred
GPA: Minimum GPA 3.0
Standardized Testing: GRE required (scores of 150 in both qualitative and quantitative sections preferred and a 4.0 in the writing section)
Tuition: ~$102,120 + fees
Cost Per Credit Hour: $1,480 per credit hour

Eligibility Restrictions: Program does not currently accept students from Massachusetts