Doctor of
Nursing Practice
Flexible Schedules,
High Demand Specialties
EXPLORE OUR 8 DNP SPECIALTIES
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
Full-Time Option Part-Time Option Clinical Specialty
The AGACNP specialty trains you to care for adults aged 17 and older facing complex, often life-threatening conditions. You’ll develop the nursing skills to succeed in fast-paced clinical settings where you may order and interpret labs and diagnostic tests, and perform invasive procedures to provide critical, life-saving care.
Executive Health Systems Leadership (EHSL)
Full-Time Option Part-Time Option
The EHSL DNP specialty prepares you to become an influential nurse leader who drives innovation and excellence in healthcare organizations. You'll learn about healthcare finance, policy, informatics, safety, and quality improvement; skills necessary for senior leadership roles. You'll be equipped to make data-driven decisions, improve care systems, and lead effectively in today’s complex healthcare settings.
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
Full-Time Option Part-Time Option Clinical Specialty
The FNP specialty prepares you to provide comprehensive, holistic nursing care for individuals and families throughout their lives. You’ll gain the knowledge and confidence to manage a wide range of health conditions and graduate prepared to create personalized, evidence-based treatment plans that promote lasting health and wellness for patients of all ages.
Nurse Anesthesiology (NA)
Full-Time Only Clinical Specialty
The NA specialty trains you to provide safe, high-quality anesthesia care by combining advanced scientific knowledge with clinical skills. You’ll manage the entire perioperative process using the latest pharmacological and scientific techniques to ensure patient safety and comfort. You’ll graduate prepared to administer all types of anesthesia, provide pre- and post-anesthesia care, and continuously monitor patients during procedures.
Nurse Education Leadership (NEL)
Full-Time Option Part-Time Option
The NEL specialty prepares you to become a leader and educator in both academic and healthcare settings. You’ll gain expertise in advanced nursing concepts, innovative teaching strategies, competency-based learning, and educational leadership. Through mentored experiences and hybrid coursework, you’ll be equipped to guide the next generation of nurses, elevate staff development, and influence the future of patient care.
Nurse Midwifery (NM)
Full-Time Option Part-Time Option Clinical Specialty
The NM specialty trains you to provide comprehensive, patient-centered nursing care across all life stages. You’ll support individuals during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, while also offering gynecologic, family planning, and preconception services, as well as care for healthy newborns in their first 28 days of life. You’ll graduate prepared to deliver compassionate, evidence-based care in various settings.
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
Full-Time Option Part-Time Option Clinical Specialty
The PNP specialty trains you to provide compassionate, comprehensive nursing care to patients from infancy to age 21. You'll learn to address the unique health needs of each developmental stage, supporting healthy growth and development in children, helping adolescents understand health risks, and empowering young adults to develop lifelong wellness habits.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
Full-Time Option Part-Time Option Clinical Specialty
The PMHNP specialty prepares you to deliver compassionate, evidence-based mental health care that integrates mind and body. You will learn to diagnose and treat depression, anxiety, and social disorders through multiple therapies, graduating ready to form strong patient relationships and create personalized treatment plans for healing and well-being.
Post-Master’s (MS to DNP) Program
Full-Time Option Part-Time Option
The Post-Master’s (MS to DNP) program is designed for certified advanced practice nurses and MS-prepared nurses seeking to advance their expertise without changing specialties. This flexible, online program strengthens leadership, policy, and quality-improvement skills to improve patient and population health outcomes and prepare graduates for the highest level of nursing practice.
Graduate Nurse Practitioner CERTIFICATES
Full-Time Option Part-Time Option
Not ready to pursue your DNP just yet? As an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), you can continue advancing your career through one of our graduate Nurse Practitioner (NP) certificate programs in the following specialties:
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP certificate
- Family NP certificate
- Nursing Education certificate
- Nurse Midwifery NP certificate
- Pediatric NP certificate
- Psychiatric Mental Health NP certificate
- Rural Telehealth certificate
Additional Program Options
Interested students may pursue two advanced practice specialties simultaneously. Options are:
| DNP Degree & | DNP Certificate |
| Family NP | Psychiatric Mental Health NP |
| Family NP | Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP |
| Pediatric NP | Psychiatric Mental Health NP |
Students should be aware of the following additional requirements when pursuing a dual specialty:
- Timeline: Requires one additional year (3 semesters).
- Clinical Requirements: 720 hours for each specialty, total = 1440 hours.
- RISE and CCI: Attend RISE once and on-Campus Clinical Immersions 6 times
- DNP Project: During the last year with your second specialty.
- Apply: Admitted DNP-FNP students will apply for the PMHNP or AGACNP Certificate in the next application cycle. It is also recommended to consult with the FNP, PMHNP, or AGACNP Specialty Coordinators.
The dual-degree Doctor of Nursing Practice and Master of Public Health (DNP/MPH) option addresses the need for nurses to receive advanced public health education, preparing them to improve population health services and to expand the scope and quality of healthcare for diverse individuals across the lifespan. This dual-degree option seamlessly integrates the College of Nursing's DNP Program with the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health's online MPH degree program, providing students with a structured, full-time, 3.5-year program of study. Students are admitted to both programs simultaneously, allowing them to begin both at the same time.
If you are interested in developing advanced clinical practice skills and strong research competencies, consider pursuing our dual Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees. You will be prepared at the highest level of nursing science and professional nursing practice, with advanced research skills to create, apply, and translate new knowledge to improve health care in practice domains and/or academia.
The Rural Health Professions Program (RHPP) is an innovative program to create a community of doctorally-prepared advanced practice registered nurses who have didactic and clinical expertise in providing care to rural and medically underserved patients and will serve as leaders in improving the quality and access to care for these patients. RHPP scholars complete additional coursework that focuses on the care of rural and medically underserved populations.
SANEs are essential nurses who provide specialized care to sexual assault survivors. This program improves awareness of sexual assault, expands available resources and training, and increases service locations. Applications are open to students in the College of Nursing’s DNP program who are in their clinical year.
Program Outcomes
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program strives to prepare professionals in all specialties to provide equitable care of unsurpassed excellence to lead in today's progressively complex healthcare structure. Students are immersed in an educational environment that cultivates the development of their professional identity and nurtures personal health, resilience, and well-being. The DNP program prepares graduates to work and make expectational improvements in the healthcare environment by:
- Generate and disseminate nursing practice knowledge to stimulate research and improve clinical outcomes.
- Improve health outcomes through scientifically based advanced practice within a specialty.
- Engage in and lead collaborative practice teams.
- Influence clinical practice transformation and policy initiatives.
Beginning Fall 2026, all incoming DNP degree-seeking students will benefit from a revised curriculum aligned with the latest American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials and evolving healthcare needs. Highlights include:
- Optimized course sequencing for a better learning experience and progression.
- Expanded clinical hours for select specialties, aligning with updated national recommendations.
- Compliance with recently updated national standards for exceptional preparation for advanced practice and leadership preparation.
- See the programs of study for each specialty reflecting these updates here.
Postgraduate certificate students will continue with the current plan of study.
Ready to take the next step?
See the full admissions requirements and application process on the DNP Admissions page.
Disclosure Statement: DOE 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v)
In accordance with regulation 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v) by the Department of Education, The University of Arizona College of Nursing discloses that the curricula of the DNP program meet licensure and certification requirements of all states. This has not yet been determined for the Territories of American Samoa, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Although the University of Arizona has sought information from other jurisdictions regarding licensure requirements, these requirements are subject to change. If you intend to seek professional licensure or certification outside of Arizona, you should contact the appropriate state licensing agency to obtain the most up-to-date information regarding licensure or certification requirements in your desired state of practice prior to accepting admission offers.