Doctor of Nursing Practice – Leadership Online
Strengthen your abilities in leadership, clinical studies and theoretical models while preparing to respond to the rising demand for nurse leaders and directors.
Program Overview
Expand your nursing expertise with the online DNP – Leadership program
Advance your practice with the online Doctor of Nursing Practice – Leadership from Arkansas State University. Whether you are seeking specialized credentials and cutting-edge knowledge for a promotion, or if you’re aiming to excel in your current position, this doctorate empowers you to flourish as a healthcare leader in any professional setting.
Lead innovative solutions to systemic challenges in healthcare when you engage with the cutting-edge, accessible and 100% online coursework in the DNP – Leadership program from A-State. Examine models of leadership and ways they are effectively used in the healthcare setting; study quality improvements in healthcare management while learning about current regulation rationales; and understand applications of healthcare economics in the context of nursing practice, nursing leadership and healthcare delivery. Use your leadership skills, real-world experiences and advanced knowledge to effectively discover, address and solve challenges in healthcare organizations.
Personalize this ACEN-accredited doctoral leadership program and make it relevant to your professional goals when you identify your areas of interest for study and complete the clinical requirements—and correlating assignments—in the context of your workplace. From health informatics to alternate population health, this online DNP – Leadership program delves deeply into contemporary topics that will prepare you to pilot innovative change in a dynamic healthcare environment.
For state approvals, please consult the Program Map.
In this online DNP – Leadership program, you will learn how to:
- Demonstrate impact of implementations of academic research results in a healthcare organization
- Understand the drivers of effective healthcare delivery and design/implement systems to address gaps within healthcare organizations
- 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
- Demonstrate impact of implementations of academic research results in a healthcare organization
- Understand the drivers of effective healthcare delivery and design/implement systems to address gaps within healthcare organizations
- 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 educator roles in healthcare, including:
- Nursing Director
- Chief Nursing Officer
- Nursing Director
- Chief Nursing Officer
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
Accredited by ACEN
Tuition
A-State’s affordable tuition makes advancement easy
Our online DNP – Leadership 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
Remember these important dates and deadlines
Ideal for working nurses, Arkansas State 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2 | 3/10/25 | 2/24/25 | 2/24/25 | 2/28/25 | 3/7/25 | 5/2/25 |
| Summer 1 | 5/12/25 | 4/28/25 | 4/28/25 | 5/1/25 | 5/9/25 | 6/27/25 |
| Summer 2 | 6/30/25 | 6/16/25 | 6/16/25 | 6/19/25 | 6/27/25 | 8/14/25 |
| Fall 1 | 8/20/25 | 8/4/25 | 8/4/25 | 8/7/25 | 8/15/25 | 10/3/25 |
| Fall 2 | 10/13/25 | 9/29/25 | 9/29/25 | 10/2/25 | 10/10/25 | 12/4/25 |
Now enrolling:
Have questions or need more information about A‑State online programs?
Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online from A-State?
Admissions
How to be admitted to our online DNP – Leadership 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 – Leadership 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
DNP Admission Guidelines
- Complete online application and submit application fee
- 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
- Official transcript(s) submitted by the registrar of any college/university you have attended. Official transcripts are sealed transcripts sent from the granting institution.
- 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.
This program requires a high level of English proficiency to meet academic and clinical objectives, along with meeting the criteria for licensure. You may be required to provide proof of English proficiency per A-State School of Nursing English Proficiency Standards. Additionally, if you’ve ever attended a professional program in the past, you may be required to provide a letter of good standing.
Request all official transcripts be sent directly to A-State from all colleges or universities attended. Save time by requesting transcripts be sent electronically.
International Students
Students from non-English speaking countries or for whom English is not a native language must take one of the following tests:
Submit all documents to:
P.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
Close Additional Required Documents [ – ]
As part of your file, 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 A-State MSN graduates)
Note: These documents are not required to render an admissions decision.
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
Courses
Combine cutting-edge theories with real-world experiences
To finish the online DNP – Leadership 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. Please consult the Program Map for state approvals.
Visit the Course Registration page to view the course schedule for this degree.
NURS 881V may or may not be required depending on clinical hours needed.