Quick Highlights
Yes, A-State’s online DNP – Education program offers full-time and part-time study plans and is designed for working nurses. How demanding a given term feels depends on course sequence, project site and your verified prior practice hours, so treat any sample schedule as illustrative rather than a guarantee.
Don’t want to choose between working and earning a doctorate? The online DNP – Education program at Arkansas State University (A-State) is designed for students who are already teaching or precepting while they complete it, with a workplace-based capstone project instead of a separate clinical placement that would compete with your job for time. More nurses are choosing this path every year: over 108,000 have earned a DNP nationwide in the last 19 years, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), with enrollment still climbing.
Full Time or Part Time: What Actually Changes
The program offers both full-time and part-time plans, with the standard full-time sequence running as few as 14 months total when a student stays continuously enrolled full time in the standard course sequence with no gaps between terms. The real difference between the two is course load per term, not the total content covered.
A part-time plan spreads the same 36 credits across more terms, trading a longer total timeline for a lighter weekly load in any given semester. Neither plan requires taking a leave of absence from clinical or teaching work.
Illustrative planning grid (confirm exact course sequence and load with a student engagement specialist before enrolling):
| Term | Full-Time Sample Load | Part-Time Sample Load |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | 2 courses per term | 1 course per term |
| Term 2 | 2 courses per term | 1 course per term |
| Term 3 and beyond | Standard course load through internship courses and capstone project | Reduced load, extending total terms |
A student engagement specialist can map either plan against your specific credits and prior coursework before you commit to a term-by-term schedule.
What a Week Might Look Like
A working DNP – Education student’s week often blends coursework, asynchronous learning activities and progress on the doctoral project, planned around clinical or teaching hours rather than instead of them. An illustrative full-time week might include a few hours of recorded lecture or reading, participation in asynchronous discussion and incremental work on the capstone project, such as data collection or a literature review update, done during existing work hours when the project is based at the student’s own workplace.
Actual weekly time commitment varies by term, course load and how far along the capstone project is. This description is meant to set expectations, not to promise a specific number of hours.
Important Note
The program does not require traditional precepted clinicals. Instead, students complete 1,000 combined practice hours across MSN-level hours already earned and three DNP internship courses, with practice experiences built from course assignments and asynchronous learning activities rather than a separate clinical placement.
How the Workplace-Based Project Fits a Job
Most students complete their doctoral capstone project at their own workplace. Rather than traveling to a separate practicum site, the project applies directly to a problem or opportunity already present in your teaching or clinical setting. That said, not every workplace is automatically a fit:
- If your employer can host the project as designed, this is typically the most efficient path, since the project doubles as work you may already be doing.
- If your employer cannot host the project because of scope, data-access restrictions, organizational change or other reasons, faculty can support questions about identifying a clinical site. Raise this question early, not after the project is already underway.
- If you are between employers or changing roles mid-program, talk to your advisor about how a transition affects your project timeline before it happens, not after.
Whichever situation applies, raising it with your student engagement specialist early keeps the capstone timeline realistic instead. You can review course sequencing and capstone requirements in more detail on A-State’s online DNP – Education program page before deciding how the project fits your current role.
A Graduate’s Perspective
Dr. Cassandra Elliott, a registered nurse and clinical nurse educator, completed her DNP – Education while working full time. Her firsthand account of completing the program reflects the same workplace-based path many nurse educators are taking to help address the ongoing nursing faculty shortage:
“You’re able to work and do the things that you need to do, but you’re still learning.”
Her experience illustrates what working through the program can look like. It does not represent a guaranteed weekly time commitment or outcome for every student, since course load, project scope and prior practice hours vary by individual.
Employer Conversation Checklist
Before enrolling, or early in your first term, consider raising these points with your supervisor or department leadership. These conversations tend to go smoothly when framed as planning rather than a special request, and having them early helps avoid last-minute scheduling surprises:
- Whether your role or workplace could reasonably host a doctoral capstone project during your program
- Whether any existing job duties, such as precepting or informal teaching, might align with practice-hour documentation your program requires
- Whether your schedule has any flexibility around exam weeks or project milestones, even informally
Raising these details with your supervisor early also gives them time to plan around your schedule, rather than reacting to a conflict after it comes up.
Curious what a realistic plan looks like for your own schedule? Talk to a student engagement specialist about A-State’s online DNP – Education program and how the capstone project could fit your current workplace.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many courses do part-time students take per semester?
This depends on the specific plan and current course sequence, which your program adviser can confirm. Do not assume a fixed number without checking directly.
Does “as few as 14 months” mean every student finishes in 14 months?
No. That figure describes the fastest standard full-time pace, achieved only by students who stay continuously enrolled full time in the standard course sequence with no term gaps. Actual completion time depends on course load, pacing choices and individual circumstances.
Can I complete the required practice hours without leaving my current job?
Most students do, since the practice hours draw on a combination of prior MSN-level hours and course-embedded internship activities rather than a separate full-time placement. Confirm your specific situation with an adviser.
What if my employer changes while I’m completing my capstone project?
Talk to your adviser as soon as a change seems likely. Project continuity and site approval depend on specifics your adviser can help navigate before a change disrupts your timeline.
Is the practicum the same as a traditional nursing clinical rotation?
No. The program does not require traditional precepted clinicals. Practice hours come from a combination of MSN-level hours already completed and three DNP internship courses built around asynchronous learning and course assignments.
Is there demand for nurse educators?
Yes, nationally. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 17% growth in postsecondary nursing instructor roles between 2025 and 2035, much faster than average. Actual demand can vary by region, institution and specialty area.