Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program

At the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing, our DNP program delivers a robust curriculum that empowers nurses to excel in innovative leadership roles such as nurse practitioners, nurse executives, and mentors. It prepares them to drive advancements in health policy, quality improvement, and research, collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams and healthcare organizations, lead organizational systems and financial operations, and excel in advanced clinical practice. By integrating advanced clinical training with a strong foundation in evidence-based practice, the DNP program equips graduates with the skills needed to improve patient outcomes and drive innovation in health care.

We encourage all registered nurses, whether new graduates or those with extensive professional experience, to apply and take the next step in their nursing careers through one of the offered pathways:

Apply Now!

Fall 2025: BSN & PGO to DNP

• Priority Admission Deadline for Scholarship Consideration: 2/2/25
• Application Deadline: 4/6/25

Priority Admission Deadline for Scholarship Consideration: Applicants who submit a completed application by this deadline will be considered for our limited Chancellor and Nightingale Scholarships.

Application Deadline: Applications completed after the Priority deadline will be considered based on seat availability, up until this final admission deadline.* For consideration after the Application Deadline, please contact our Admissions Counselor

Applicants must submit a completed application to NursingCAS by the deadline date to be considered for admission. Application status emails will be sent to the email provided on the application via NursingCAS. 

What makes our DNP one of the best in Massachusetts?

• Top-ranked Doctor of Nursing Practice Program in Massachusetts by Nursing Schools Almanac.
• Part of the commonwealth’s first and only public academic health sciences center and consists of 3 schools with the UMass Memorial Hospital located on campus.
• Access to a world class medical school that includes a state-of-the-art simulation center and interprofessional learning environment. Take a tour of the Interprofessional Center for Experiential Learning and Simulation (iCELS)
• Clinically active, experienced, committed practicing faculty as APRNs and nurse leaders.
• A small faculty-to-student ratio ideal for graduate-level education.

What can you do with a DNP?

After this program, graduates can:

• Innovate in nurse leadership roles as nurse practitioners, nurse executives, nurse leaders or nurse mentors;
• Fill health policy, quality improvement science and research roles;
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary team and stakeholder health care providers and health care organizations;
• Lead organizational systems and health care business and financial operations; and
• Work in advanced clinical practice.

DNP Program Tracks:

Pursuing one of the fours tracks offered allows learners to tailor their advanced practice education to align with their career goals and interest in specific patient care areas.

Pursue one of our nurse concentrations of study including: 

• Cancer Care
• Critical Care
• Palliative Care
• Women's Health Care

EXPLORE THE CURRICULUM
 

  
DNP Program Requirements

BSN to DNP and PGO to DNP

GPA Requirement - GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred for all degrees. 

Education - Bachelor's degree in non-nursing field (PGO ONLY) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN); Unrestricted MA licensure as a registered nurse

Prerequisites Required - Statistics (no time limit on completion) with B- or higher preferred 

Video Essay - You will be required to complete 3 video essay interviews in the supplemental application; you will have 2 minutes to respond to each essay. There is no additional fee to complete the essays. 

Personal Statement  

• Please address both prompts below (300 words total):                                                                
  • Please discuss a person, incident or experience in your life that led you to want to pursue nursing as a career. Please describe what makes you a good candidate for a rigorous, fast-paced doctoral program. 
  • What is your understanding of the role of a nurse practitioner for the population focus of your intended nurse practitioner role (Family NP, Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP, Adult Gerontology Primary Care NP, or Psychiatric Mental health NP)?                                                                                       
• Please address the following prompt below (300 words total):  
  • How will the DNP enhance your practice as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)? 

References - Please submit 2 letters of recommendation from an academic or professional source, preferred within the last five years: 

• A professional reference should be from a former supervisor or professional colleague who can speak to your experience, competence, readiness, leadership, work ethic and dedication to your work. 
• An academic reference should be from a former faculty member or advisor.