Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree Online
Prepare to lead innovative improvements in the healthcare system at the micro and macro levels.
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Program Overview
Expand your nursing expertise with an online Doctor of Nursing Practice program
This affordable, flexible and practical online Doctor of Nursing Practice – General from A-State empowers you to both strengthen your patient-centered nursing practice and positively impact healthcare policy when you gain access to leadership positions.
Master nuanced elements of nursing with a dynamic curriculum composed of foundation and concentration courses, demonstrative evidence-based projects, and hands-on internships. Supported by the same distinguished A-State faculty you would work with on-campus, you will examine contemporary topics including healthcare informatics, alternate population health, ethical healthcare and the rapidly evolving study of diseases. Then, practice applying these newly acquired competencies through clinical opportunities where you will work with experts in nursing and other relevant disciplines.
This ACEN-accredited Doctor of Nursing Practice – General program is built especially for working nurses. Choose to be a full-time or part-time student, complete the 100% online coursework on your schedule and personalize your doctorate to your professional goals when you select your areas of interest to study. Additionally, complete your clinical requirements—and correlating assignments—in the context of your workplace to ensure your degree is relevant to your professional goals.
For state program approvals, please refer to our State Authorization & Licensure Disclosures page.
In this online Doctor of Nursing Practice – General program, you will learn how to:
- Implement and evaluate the impact of quality improvement projects in a healthcare organization
- Learn to translate research findings into programs that improve patient and healthcare outcomes
- Develop expertise in a specialty area that is of interest to you
- Identify system or organizational gaps in patient care or organizational effectiveness and develop/implement solutions to solve for those gaps
- Implement and evaluate the impact of quality improvement projects in a healthcare organization
- Learn to translate research findings into programs that improve patient and healthcare outcomes
- Develop expertise in a specialty area that is of interest to you
- Identify system or organizational gaps in patient care or organizational effectiveness and develop/implement solutions to solve for those gaps
Prepare for a variety of healthcare leadership roles, including:
- Clinical Director
- Nursing Director
- Clinical Director
- Nursing Director
DNP – General Online FAQS
Also available:
A-State offers a variety of post-graduate programs in a convenient online format. Explore our full range of online post-graduate programs.
Accreditation
The associate, baccalaureate, master's/post-master's certificate and Doctor of Nursing Practice nursing programs at Arkansas State University, located in Jonesboro, Arkansas, are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Contact ACEN by mail at 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326 or by phone at 404-975-5000.
Tuition
Achieve your degree with A-State’s affordable tuition
Our online Doctor of Nursing Practice – General program offers the same affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition to all U.S. residents. All administrative fees are included. Tuition may be subject to change on a yearly basis.
Tuition breakdown:
Calendar
Save these important dates and deadlines
Ideal for working nurses, Arkansas State University online programs are delivered in an accelerated format with multiple start dates each year.
| Term | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Due | Last Class Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 1 | 5/11/26 | 4/6/26 | 4/6/26 | 4/20/26 | 5/8/26 | 6/26/26 |
| Summer 2 | 6/29/26 | 5/25/26 | 5/25/26 | 6/8/26 | 6/26/26 | 8/14/26 |
| Fall 1 | 8/19/26 | 7/15/26 | 7/15/26 | 7/29/26 | 8/14/26 | 10/2/26 |
| Fall 2 | 10/12/26 | 9/7/26 | 9/7/26 | 9/21/26 | 10/9/26 | 12/4/26 |
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Admissions
Review the admission requirements for this online DNP – General program
We know you’re busy, so we’ve streamlined the A-State admission process to help you get started quickly and easily. Students who are interested in the online DNP – General program must have a Master of Science in Nursing degree from a CCNE, COA, ACEN or CNEA accredited program and a current unencumbered license.
Admission Requirements:
- Online application
- MSN degree
- Current unencumbered RN license
Doctor of Nursing Practice – General Admissions Guidelines
- Complete online application and submit application fee (see Application Submission Requirements below)
- Master of Nursing (MSN) from a CCNE, COA, ACEN or CNEA accredited program of nursing from a regionally accredited college or university that includes at least 40 faculty-supervised clinical hours
- Graduate cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. (Please note: Beginning Fall 1 2026, this program will require a 3.25 GPA on a 4.0 scale for admission).
- Official transcripts from the registrar of the colleges/ universities where the graduate degree (MSN) was earned and courses taken for transfer credit into the graduate program
- Current unencumbered RN license
Graduates of an MSN program with a specialty option that did not include the required certification eligibility requirements from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and/or the American Associated of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) (Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology; Advanced Health Assessment, including diagnostics and disease management; Advanced Pharmacology; and/or a minimum of 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours) are also eligible to apply. A request for a curriculum “Gap Analysis” to determine an individual plan of study will be requested from the program coordinator prior to starting the program.
English Proficiency Requirements
The College of Nursing and Health Professions School of Nursing requires a high level of proficiency in English so that all students will be able to fully meet academic and clinical objectives as well as meet criteria for professional licensure.
Applicants whose primary language is not English or did not attend K-12 in the United States must demonstrate English language proficiency through the following tests:- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of 4.5 on the preferred internet-based test (iBT), 570 on the paper-based test, or 213 on the computer-based test
- For exams taken before January 21, 2026:
We require a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 86 - For exams taken on or after January 21, 2026:
We require a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 4.5
- For exams taken before January 21, 2026:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a score of at least 7 and a spoken band score of 7
- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) with a score of 63
- Accuplacer Exit ESL with a score of 109
The TOEFL and Exit ESL are available at the Testing Center. When taking the exam off campus, the report code for A-State is 6011. All test scores are valid for two (2) years.
Exemptions may apply: See A-State's international undergraduate and graduate admission pages for more information.
Application Submission Requirements
Submitting your application takes three easy steps: filling out the application, submitting your documents and paying the application fee.
- When completing the online application, select 100% online student and then complete all the steps on the online application.
- Pay $30.00 non-refundable application fee.
- Submit all official college transcripts. Save time by requesting transcripts be sent electronically.
While not needed to render an admissions decision, the following information is required to be completed prior to starting the first course (or the applicable course):
- Satisfactory background check completed through Verified Credentials
- Completion of the Verification of Clinical Practice by the institution where you earned your MSN (applies to non-Arkansas State MSN graduates)
Also, the following information is required to be completed by the completion of your first semester:
- Current CPR Records
- Current TB Skin Test
- Hep B Vaccinations
- MMR 1 and 2
- Professional Liability Insurance
If you have any questions along the way, call us at 866-621-8096, and we'll be happy to help answer questions.
Document Submission Address
Submit all documents to:
A-State OnlineP.O. Box 2520
State University, AR 72467
Fax: 870-972-3548
Email: [email protected]
For non-US postal mail overnight delivery only:
A-State Onlinec/o Central Receiving
2713 Pawnee St.
Jonesboro, AR 72401
Additional Information About Transfer Credits
Up to 9 graduate hours from A-State or other higher education institutions may be credited toward a program. No course can be older than six years by graduation time. Transfer credit will be evaluated by the Director of the Program. To request prior credit be evaluated, please complete the Graduate Transfer Credit Evaluation Form.
Transfer work will be entered on the student’s permanent academic record when an official transcript is presented to the University from a regionally accredited institution. Any transfer work received from a non-accredited institution is evaluated and considered on a case by case basis in the Office of the Registrar in conjunction with Academic Affairs and the Office of International Programs (as applicable). Please note that Sophia Learning and Straighterline have previously been reviewed and are NOT accepted as transfer work.
DOCTORAL PROGRAM SUPPORT
From the first course to graduation, students have A-State’s full support. Our experienced faculty will teach, mentor and collaborate with you as you progress throughout the doctoral program.
Recognized as a Leader in Nursing Education
A-State is ranked among the "Best Nursing Schools in Arkansas" by U.S. News & World Report, 2025
Courses
Take a look at the Doctor of Nursing Practice – General curriculum
To finish the online Doctor of Nursing Practice – General program, you must complete a total of 36 credit hours. There are nine hours of concentration courses. The practicum/clinical hours must also be done in a state in which Arkansas State has State Operating Authority.
You can view your schedule of courses for this degree through the Course Smartsheet:
View the AOS Course Smartsheet
How to Use the Course Smartsheet
What is epidemiology in nursing?
Epidemiology in nursing is the study of how diseases and health conditions are distributed and spread within populations, and how nurses use this knowledge to improve patient care and public health outcomes.
This course explores the evolution of epidemiological methods and their application in advanced nursing practice. Students will examine how morbidity and mortality are quantified within populations and gain foundational knowledge in study design, data analysis, and inference. Acute and chronic disease epidemiology is used to illustrate key methods such as risk factor analysis, surveillance systems and disease etiology.
Throughout the course, learners will:
Analyze scientific data — including epidemiological, biostatistical and environmental sources — related to individual and population health
Synthesize epidemiological research, incorporating psychosocial and cultural dimensions
Evaluate randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in areas such as pain management
Apply epidemiological concepts to develop, implement and assess interventions for health promotion and disease prevention
Assess care delivery models and strategies using community, environmental and socioeconomic health concepts
By the end of the course, students will be equipped to use epidemiologic evidence to inform clinical prevention strategies and improve health outcomes across diverse populations.
What are the principles of healthcare ethics and genetics?
Principles of healthcare ethics and genetics examine ethical theories, bioethical principles, and genetic/genomic concepts for advanced practice. It addresses genetic testing, counseling implications, and confidentiality concerns. This field develops ethical reasoning for navigating moral dilemmas and making defensible decisions in genomic healthcare.
This course explores ethical theories and their practical implications in healthcare, with a particular focus on genetics and its impact on individuals, families and populations at risk for genetic disorders. Learners will engage with topics in ethics and genetics to inform clinical decision-making and population health strategies.
Key competencies include:
Analyzing scientific data — including epidemiological, biostatistical and environmental sources — to inform care at individual and population levels
Synthesizing concepts such as psychosocial factors and cultural diversity to develop and evaluate health promotion and disease prevention interventions
Evaluating care delivery models and strategies using community, environmental, occupational and socioeconomic health concepts
By the end of the course, students will be prepared to apply ethical reasoning and genetic principles to improve health outcomes and address disparities in care.
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