DNP Programs in Massachusetts (MA)

The Bay State offers many options to Massachusetts nurses wishing to advance their career with a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. Many DNP programs are offered at colleges and universities throughout the state. In Boston alone you can find at least four schools offering DNP degrees.

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MGH Institute for Health Professions
School of Nursing

MGH Institute of Health Professions’ School of Nursing offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. There are several pathways offered for students seeking a DNP degree: an RN to DNP pathway, a post-Master’s DNP pathway, and a DNP for Nurse Executives pathway.

The RN to DNP program is designed for licensed RNs seeking a clinical-focused terminal degree in Nursing. While students entering the program typically already have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, RNs with other Bachelor’s degrees, Associate’s degrees in nursing, or nursing diplomas are eligible for entry into the program. Nurse Educators who are not advanced practice nurses are also eligible. Those without a BSN may require additional courses.

The RN to DNP program can be completed in four years (eight semesters). The program offers several advance practice specialty roles:

  • Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult Nurse Practitioner
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
  • Pediatric/Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
  • Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult Psychiatric & Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Dual Adult and Gerontological Nurse Practitioner
  • Dual Adult and Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner

The post-Master’s DNP program is designed for Master’s prepared RNs who are already advanced practice nurses. The program can be completed in six semesters.

Applicants to the post-Master’s DNP program must have a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from an accredited college or university. They must also have a current, unencumbered license as an RN.

The DNP for Nurse Executives program is designed for RNs with a Master’s degree who are already Chief Nursing Officers, VPs, or other executive level nursing leaders.

The program can be completed in six semesters. It utilizes a hybrid format combining online courses with monthly weekend sessions on Friday afternoon and Saturdays at the Charleston Navy Yard campus.

Applicants to the program must meet requirements similar to those of the post-Master’s DNP program.

Accreditation:

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

Contact Information:

Charlestown Navy Yard
36 First Avenue
Boston, MA 02129
(617) 726-2947


Northeastern University
School of Nursing

Northeastern University’s School of Nursing has a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program designed to prepare advanced practice nurses at the highest level. The program offers students a post-Master’s pathway to a DNP degree.

Students are required to complete 30 semester hours including a Capstone scholarly project. The degree is offereed on both a part-time and full-time basis. Full-time students can complete the program in 4 semesters.

Applicants to the post-Master’s DNP program must hold a Master’s degree in Nursing or an equivalent field of study with a graduate GPA of 3.5 or higher. They must be licensed as a registered nurse with at least two years of experience in the nursing field.

Accreditation:

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

Contact Information:

360 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 373-3621


Regis College

Regis College’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program is the first doctoral program at the Catholic college. The program was designed for Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Nurse Educators, and advance nursing practice leaders

Regis offers several DNP concentrations including:

  • Gerontology
  • Health Informatics
  • Integrative Health
  • Nursing Education
  • Health Policy

The program requires 33 credit hours – 24 core curriculum credits and 9 elective credits. Regis makes every effort to allow students in the program to continue to work full-time. They offer classes at night, over weekends, online, or in intensive sessions.

Accreditation:

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

Contact Information:

235 Wellesley Street
Weston, MA 02493
(781) 768-8389


Simmons College
School of Nursing and Health Sciences

Simmons College’s School of Nursing and Health Sciences offers the practice-focused Doctor of Nursing Practice degree to prepare nursing leaders to improve health care outcomes in management, research, and clinical practice. The program is a post-Master’s pathway to the DNP degree.

Their DNP program was designed for Advanced Practice Nurses (Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse Midwives, Clinical Nurse Specialists, and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists) with two or more years of advanced nursing practice experience. It was also designed for Master’s prepared nurses with two or more years of experience in a managerial or executive nursing role.

The post-Master’s program using a blended format. Courses are taught primarily online, but students are required to attend two on campus residencies each semester. Students are required to complete 24 credit hours of core courses, 6 credit hours of electives, and a Capstone scholarly project for which they receive 6 hours of credit. The program is offered on a full-time and part-time basis.

Applicants to the program must hold a Master of Science in Nursing degree or a related Master’s degree from a regionally accredited school with an overall graduate GPA of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Prospective students must be licenced as a registered nurse. They must also either be certified and licenced in an advanced practice specilialty (Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse Midwives, Clinical Nurse Specialists, and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists) or provide proof of two or more years of experience in a leadership nursing role as a nurse manager or executive.

Accreditation:

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

Contact Information:

300 The Fenway
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 521-2644


University of Massachusetts Amherst
School of Nursing

University of Massachusetts Amherst’s School of Nursing offers the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. There are two pathways to earn a DNP: a post-Baccalaureate DNP pathway and a post-Master’s DNP pathway.

Students may choose from two specialty roles:

  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Public Health Nursing Leadership

All courses in the program are delivered online. Students in the post-Baccalaureate DNP program will be required to complete 82-84 credit hours. Students in the post-Master’s DNP program are required to complete a minimum of 36 credit hours.

Applicants to the post-Baccalaureate DNP program will be required to have a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing or an Associate’s degree in Nursing with a non-Nursing Bachelor’s degree. In either case, an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is required.

Applicants to the post-Master’s DNP program will be required to hold a Master’s degree in Nursing with a graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Accreditation:

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

Contact Information:

Skinner Hall
651 North Pleasant Street
Amherst, MA 01003
(413) 545-5096


University of Massachusetts Boston
College of Nursing and Health Sciences

University of Massachusetts Boston’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences offers a post-Master’s pathway to the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.

The program is a 39 credit hour doctoral program. It can be completed in three years as a part-time student. All degree courses are offered online.

Accreditation:

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

Contact Information:

100 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125
(617) 287-5000


University of Massachusetts Lowell
School of Health & Environment

University of Massachusetts Lowell’s School of Health & Environment offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program to prepare advanced practice nurses with the leadership skills required to transform tomorrow’s health care system. The program at UMass is a 41 credit hour post-Master’s DNP program.

Applicant’s to the UMass DNP program must hold a Master of Science in Nursing degree with a minimum cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Prospective students must hold a current, unencumbered license as a registered nurse in the US and eligible for licensure in Massachusetts. They must also be nationally certified as an advanced practice nurse and be licenced as an APRN within the US and be eligible for licensure as an APRN in Massachusetts.

Accreditation:

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

Contact Information:

3 Solomont Way, Suite 2
Lowell, MA 01854
(978) 934-4525


University of Massachusetts Worcester
School of Nursing

University of Massachusetts Worchester’s School of Nursing offer a a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program. The 40 credit hour DNP program has two options or tracks:

  • Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse Administrator

Applicants to the DNP program with Nurse Practitioner track must hold a Master’s degree in Nursing from a nationally accredited (CCNE or NLNAC) program. They must have an unencumbered license as a registered nurse in Massachusetts. Prospective students for this track must be certfied in advanced practice nursing as a:

  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
  • Woman’s Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Gerontological Nurse Practitioner

Those applying to the DNP program with Nurse Administrator track are allowed to have a Master’s degree in a related field. Prospective students for the Nurse Adminstrator track must present evidence of unrestricted Massachusetts licensure as an RN, and it is also recommended that they are certified as a nurse manager or nurse executive.

Accreditation:

Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education

Contact Information:

55 Lake Avenue North
Worcester, MA 01655
(508) 856-5801