DNP in Education Online
Prepare for the highest level of clinical nursing practice while sharing your nursing expertise with other healthcare professionals.
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Program Overview
Strengthen your nursing practice with a DNP – Education
With 100% online coursework and pay-as-you-go tuition, our online DNP in nursing education program is flexible and affordable while empowering you to achieve your professional goals and expand your career opportunities as a leader in nurse education.
Built for working nurses, this online DNP nursing education program will provide you with relevant nursing and educator expertise you can implement immediately. Learn about industry-specific, contemporary topics such as healthcare informatics, policy, leadership, finance and translational research. Advance your skillset in designing and delivering innovative lessons to expertly educate patients, nurses and other healthcare professionals. Through hands-on research projects and immersive internships, you will work alongside supportive faculty to apply educational theories in real-world practicums.
This ACEN-accredited doctoral program empowers you to enhance your established healthcare competencies and achieve your professional goals. Select your area of interest for study and complete your clinicals, and correlating assignments, in the context of your workplace to personalize your doctorate experience. In addition to completing required core courses, you will take nine hours of education-focused courses to further strengthen your expertise and become a leader in healthcare education.
For state program approvals, please refer to our State Authorization & Licensure Disclosures page.
In this online DNP in nursing education program, you will learn how to:
- Develop and demonstrate expertise in the design and delivery of effective training and education for nursing and healthcare professions
- Learn to translate research findings into programs that improve patient and healthcare outcomes
- Develop expertise in a specialty area that is of interest to the student
- Identify system or organizational gaps in patient care or organizational effectiveness and develop/implement solutions to close those gaps
- Develop and demonstrate expertise in the design and delivery of effective training and education for nursing and healthcare professions
- Learn to translate research findings into programs that improve patient and healthcare outcomes
- Develop expertise in a specialty area that is of interest to the student
- Identify system or organizational gaps in patient care or organizational effectiveness and develop/implement solutions to close those gaps
Prepare for a variety of educator roles in healthcare, including:
- University Nursing Faculty
- Nursing School Academic Administrator
- Clinical Education Director
- Director of Nursing Education
- University Nursing Faculty
- Nursing School Academic Administrator
- Clinical Education Director
- Director of Nursing Education
DNP – Education 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
Get excited for A-State’s affordable, pay-as-you-go tuition
Our online Doctor of Nursing Practice – Education 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
Don't miss 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 |
Now enrolling:
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Admissions
How to apply for admission for the DNP – Education 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 in nursing education 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 – Education 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 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.
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 - 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.

Everything is simplified and streamlined. … You’re able to work and do the things that you need to do, but you’re still learning.
Dr. Cassandra Elliott, A-State online DNP – Education graduate
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
Explore our comprehensive curriculum
To finish the online DNP in nursing education program, you must complete a total of 36-39 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
NURS 881V may or may not be required depending on clinical hours needed.
What is curriculum development in health professions?
Curriculum development in health professions applies instructional design to healthcare education programs. It includes curriculum models, learning theories, competency-based frameworks, and assessment design. This process creates coherent educational experiences meeting accreditation standards and producing practice-ready healthcare professionals through continuous improvement.
This course examines the principles and processes of curriculum development within health professions education. Emphasis is placed on the connection between educational content and competency-based practice, preparing learners to design curricula that reflect both academic standards and professional expectations.
Students will:
Delineate the relationship between curricular components and teaching/learning strategies
Examine issues and policies that influence health professions education
Formulate curricular components aligned with program mission and philosophy
Analyze accreditation criteria and outcome assessment as they relate to curriculum development and evaluation
Evaluate social, educational and professional forces shaping curriculum design in health disciplines
By the end of the course, learners will be equipped to contribute to the development of effective, mission-driven curricula in health education settings.
What is teaching in advanced nursing roles?
Teaching in advanced nursing roles develops educator competencies for clinical and academic instruction. It applies pedagogical theories, instructional strategies, and assessment methods to nursing education. This practice includes clinical supervision, technology integration, simulation-based learning, and fostering clinical reasoning in nursing students.
This course is designed to develop the knowledge and skills needed to effectively teach clinical content in advanced nursing roles. It supports nurses engaged in both formal and informal education of peers and patients, with a focus on transitioning from clinician to educator.
Learners will:
Analyze the role of the nurse educator across diverse settings and identify core teaching competencies
Examine the transition process from clinical practice to education, including strategies to support this shift
Apply learning theories and learner characteristics — such as culture and learning styles — to teaching practices
Compare teaching methods and technologies for engaging learners across cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains
Explore best practices for instruction in classrooms, online environments, simulations, labs and clinical settings
Describe strategies for Interprofessional Education (IPE)
Analyze evidence-based educational practices and their connection to the scholarship of teaching in nursing
By the end of the course, participants will be equipped to deliver effective, learner-centered education in a variety of clinical and academic contexts.
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