College of St. Scholastica

What you'll study

Coursework and clinical learning focus on advanced practice nursing, leadership, evidence-based practice, health policy, and quality improvement strategies to implement and sustain system changes. The program integrates telehealth competencies to expand access to care in underserved areas. Students choose one of three advanced-practice concentrations:

• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) – management of complex acute and chronic conditions in adult and geriatric patients across acute settings; graduate preparation also covers leadership, education, case management, consultation, and use of research in practice. Preceptors include nurse practitioners, acute care, or specialty physicians.
• Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) – primary care across the lifespan with emphasis on health promotion, disease prevention, and family-centered management; graduate-level work expands roles in policy, leadership, education, case management, consultation, and evidence-based practice. Preceptors include nurse practitioners and primary care or specialty physicians.
• Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) (Duluth only) – lifespan psychiatric-mental health assessment and management, including serious mental illness and substance-use concerns; community mental health promotion and prevention are emphasized; preceptors include nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, psychiatrists, and other licensed advanced mental health professionals.

Program delivery is online/hybrid with minimal on-campus lab/simulation days (typically 1–3 days per semester) and clinical experiences arranged near students’ homes when possible.

Entry requirements

The BS to DNP is intended for applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree—Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, or a bachelor’s degree in nursing. The program is created for working nurses; students are advised not to work more than 24 hours per week (0.6 FTE) while enrolled. Consult the program catalog and an advisor to create an individual course plan.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for advanced-practice roles such as nurse practitioner in primary care, acute care, or psychiatric-mental health settings, as well as leadership positions that influence quality improvement, health system change, education, case management, consultation, and health policy development. The program particularly prepares nurses to serve in underserved rural and urban communities and to lead telehealth initiatives.

Scholarships & funding angle

Tuition is listed at $991 per credit for the 2026–27 academic year; additional fees and course-material costs may apply. Total program cost and time to completion will vary with transfer credits and individual program plans. Prospective students should contact enrollment management for up-to-date tuition and funding opportunities.