DNP: Doctor of Nursing Practice

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The Doctor of Nursing Practice program prepares elite nursing professionals to lead in today's increasingly complex health care system, applying evolving best practices to make dramatic improvements in patient care.

Best Grad Schools Nursing DNP Program 2024The Doctor of Nursing Practice is the highest practice degree in nursing. It enables you to remain in direct patient care while providing you with the knowledge and training to be a leader in a fast-changing health care environment.

With a DNP from UMSON, you’ll be well equipped to translate advances in scientific research into improved outcomes for your patients.

UMSON's Doctor of Nursing Practice is top-ranked by U.S. News and World Report. The curriculum provides you an immersive education in:

  • evidence-based practice

  • quality improvement

  • systems leadership.

Our graduates possess clinical, organizational, economic, and leadership skills that have a direct impact on health care outcomes.

This program is offered as a great mix of face-to-face, supportive instruction and online classes, all with faculty who are experts in their areas of specialty.


Danielle LeVeck, DNP, AGAC-NP, CNS, RN, CCRN

Is the DNP really "worth" it?

Recent UMSON graduate Danielle LeVeck, DNP, AGAC-NP, CNS, RN, CCRN, gives her firsthand experience and debunks some myths on Nurse.org.

Read about our graduates' recent DNP projects.

Explore Our Specialties:

We also offer the DNP: Post-Master's Option, which allows you to earn your DNP without repeating coursework you completed for your master's degree.

Choose one of four paths to your DNP.

Our Doctor of Nurse Practice program has an option that fits your goals and experience, whether you 1) have your BSN, 2) have your master's in nursing or a related field, 3) are already a nurse practitioner, 4) are looking to change your specialty. Focus your energy and resources on only those courses that you need to achieve your goals. Learn more about our DNP pathways.

What You'll Do

After completing the postdoctoral certificate program, you’ll be prepared to:

  • Initiate, facilitate, and participate in collaborative efforts that influence health care outcomes with scholars, practitioners, clinicians, and policy makers from other disciplines
  • Lead at the highest educational, clinical, and executive ranks
  • Evaluate and apply ethically sound, culturally sensitive, evidence-based practice for the improvement of education, clinical practice, systems management, and nursing leadership
  • Analyze and apply scientific knowledge and related skills for the highest level of nursing practice
  • Design, implement, manage, and evaluate patient care and organizational systems

DNP Admission Information

The Nurse Anesthesia specialty accepts applicants for the summer session only and has different deadlines and requirements. 

All other specialties and the Post-Master's DNP option accept students for fall admission.

In this section:

Deadlines:

For best consideration, applicants are encouraged to have all required application materials submitted by the deadlines listed below.

Fall 2025 Timeline
Priority Deadline/Deadline for UMSON Scholarship Consideration Nov. 1, 2024
Completed applications received after this deadline are reviewed solely on a space-available basis. Only applicants who apply by this deadline will be eligible for consideration for merit scholarships (no additional application required). Federal financial aid eligibility is not impacted by this deadline.
Final Deadline July 1, 2025
All applications and supplemental documents must be received by this date. Incomplete applications after this deadline will be canceled.

Should the deadline fall on a weekend or holiday, applications will be accepted through the subsequent business day.

  • After the admissions committee file review, applicants may be invited to an on-campus interview.
  • Applicants not selected for an interview will not be advanced to the next stage of applicant review.  

Qualifications:

  • bachelor’s degree with a major in nursing from:
    • an ACEN- (formally known as NLNAC), CCNE- or NLN CNEA- accredited college or university
      or
    • an equivalent degree from a comparable foreign institution
  • an undergraduate cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0

Work experience requirements, if applicable, are included under the Required Work Experience dropdown on each DNP specialty page.

Application Materials and Instructions:

Materials

Submission Guidelines

Online Application and non-refundable $75 application fee.

Start your application now via the Admissions Dashboard.

The Admissions Dashboard is where you will:

  • submit your online application and fee
  • submit/request any supplemental documents
  • check your application status.

You can save your progress and return to your application at a later date. We recommend that you continue to log in for regular updates.

Two recommendations. Recommendations must come from sources knowledgeable about your work performance and experience. Only the first two recommendations received will be considered.

Submit/request these materials via the Admissions Dashboard.   

Essay. You may submit the essay portion with your online application. We recommend that you compose the essay portion using word processing software and copy and paste it into the text box in the online application. Applicants are expected to submit a concise essay (no more than 350 words) addressing the following: How will earning this degree (or postdoctoral certificate) impact your care of the population you expect to serve after graduation?

   

Typed résumé or CV. Be sure to include your full name with your résumé submission.

A copy of your valid, unrestricted (current) RN license in the United States. For a current list of compact states, see the Maryland Board of Nursing website; if you hold an active Maryland RN license, send us a copy of your printable license verification, available on the Maryland Board of Nursing website.

Official transcripts. An official transcript from every institution previously attended or currently attending must be submitted in a sealed envelope, as prepared by the sending institution.

Returning students are not required to submit UMSON transcripts; we will upload a copy of your UMSON transcript to your application.

Please note that UMSON is listed two ways in the Academics area. Please make sure you choose one of the following:

  • Maryland Baltimore, Univ of
  • UMB- School of Nursing

Have each institution submit electronically to admissions.nursing@umaryland.edu.

Residency classification. Applicants who are claiming in-state (Maryland) residency MUST apply for in-state status. 

Complete a residency application and submit it either by mail, e-mail, or fax to the Office of the Registrar using the instructions supplied at the bottom of the residency application. The completed application, signed and dated, should be submitted prior to the first day of enrollment for the term and program for which you are seeking admission.


An interview with selected applicants will be arranged after the applications are received and reviewed.

Applicants without a High School Diploma or College Degree in the U.S:

  • If you do not have a degree from a U.S. high school, college, or university, you are required to demonstrate English proficiency.
  • If you have completed coursework outside of the U.S., you must have your transcripts evaluated.

More information.

This program is not eligible for F-1 or J-1 student visa sponsorship by the University of Maryland, Baltimore, due to the amount of online courses.

If you have questions regarding the admissions requirements or process, contact the Office of Admissions and Student Scholarships to avoid errors that could delay the processing of your application.

Postdoctoral Certificate Admission Information

Postdoctoral Certificates are available for the following specialty areas:

Learn more about our DNP and Postdoctoral Certificate Pathways.

In this section:

Deadlines:

Fall Admission

  • Priority Deadline: Nov. 1
    If you submit your online application and all supplemental applications materials by this date, your application will be given priority consideration.
  • Deadline: July 31
    Completed applications received between Nov. 1 and June 1 will be reviewed on a space-available basis.

Spring Admission:

  • Priority Deadline: Oct. 1
    If you submit your online application and all supplemental applications materials by this date, your application will be given priority consideration.
  • Deadline: Nov. 15
    Completed applications received between Oct. 1 and Nov. 15 will be reviewed on a space-available basis.

Should the deadline fall on a weekend or holiday, applications will be accepted through the subsequent business day.

Qualifications:

  • Graduate degree in nursing (which may include a DNP)
  • Doctoral degree (DNP, PhD, EdD, etc.)
  • Active registered nursing license
  • As part of the application process, applicants interested in completing a post-doctorate certificate should complete the Pre-Application Assessment form. Based on the evaluation of the pre-application assessment, which includes the student's prior academic work and a gap analysis of courses/experiences, DNP faculty will tailor an individualized program plan and recommend a start term. Once you receive your individualized program plan, your dedicated admissions representative will guide you through the necessary steps to submit your application. We look forward to supporting you on your journey to advanced nursing education at the University of Maryland School of Nursing.

Application Materials and Instructions:

Materials/Qualification

Submission Guidelines

Online Application and non-refundable $75 application fee.

Start your application now via the Admissions Dashboard.

The Admissions Dashboard is where you will:

  • submit your online application and fee
  • submit/request any supporting materials
  • check your application status.

You can save your progress and return to your application at a later date. We recommend that you continue to log in for regular updates.

Two recommendations. Recommendations must come from sources knowledgeable about your work performance and experience. Only the first two recommendations received will be considered.

 Submit/request these materials via the Admissions Dashboard.

Official transcripts. An official transcript from every institution previously attended or currently attending must be submitted in a sealed envelope, as prepared by the sending institution.

Returning students are not required to submit UMSON transcripts; we will upload a copy of your UMSON transcript to your application.

Please note that UMSON is listed two ways in the Academics area. Please make sure you choose one of the following:

  • Maryland Baltimore, Univ of
  • UMB- School of Nursing

Have each institution submit electronically to admissions.nursing@umaryland.edu.

Essay. You may submit the essay portion with your online application. We recommend that you compose the essay portion using word processing software and copy and paste it into the text box in the online application.

Applicants are expected to submit a concise essay (no more than 350 words) addressing the following:

  • How will earning this degree (or postdoctoral certificate) impact your care of the population you expect to serve after graduation?
 Submit/request these materials via the Admissions Dashboard.

Typed résumé or CV. Be sure to include your full name with your résumé submission.

A copy of your active, unrestricted State of Maryland or compact state RN license. For a current list of compact states, see the Maryland Board of Nursing website; if you hold an active Maryland RN license, send us a copy of your printable license verification, available on the Maryland Board of Nursing website.

Residency classification. Applicants who are claiming in-state (Maryland) residency MUST apply for in-state status. 

Complete a residency application and submit it either by mail, e-mail, or fax to the Office of the Registrar using the instructions supplied at the bottom of the residency application. The completed application, signed and dated, should be submitted prior to the first day of enrollment for the term and program for which you are seeking admission.


An interview with selected applicants will be arranged after the applications are received and reviewed.

Applicants without a High School Diploma or College Degree in the U.S:

  • If you do not have a degree from a U.S. high school, college, or university, you are required to demonstrate English proficiency.
  • If you have completed coursework outside of the U.S., you must have your transcripts evaluated.

More information.

This program is not eligible for F-1 or J-1 student visa sponsorship by the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

If you have questions regarding the admissions requirements or process, contact the Office of Admissions and Student Scholarships to avoid errors that could delay the processing of your application.

UMSON has exceeded the goals set by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) and the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) to provide nurse practitioner education at the doctoral level. Read more about the DNP program background in our frequently asked questions.

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