Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) Major in Nursing Practice Online
Build expertise in evidence-based practice, leadership, and population health in Texas State’s online D.N.P. program so you’re prepared to lead measurable improvements in healthcare systems.
Program Overview
Advance your expertise and credibility with a post-master's DNP in Nursing Practice
Advance your nursing leadership and clinical expertise in Texas State’s online Doctor of Nursing Practice program. Designed for master’s-prepared working nurses, this practice-focused program builds advanced competencies in evidence-based practice, quality improvement, leadership, policy, informatics, and population health.
Through a structured practicum sequence and D.N.P. Project, students complete a minimum of 520 practicum hours and work toward 1,000 total post-baccalaureate clinical hours, translating evidence into real-world healthcare improvements. Texas State’s post-master’s D.N.P. emphasizes practice translation and implementation, preparing you to drive measurable change at the clinical, organizational, and systems levels.
Choose between the Executive Practice Track and Executive Leadership Track, both supported by faculty mentorship and a committee model that allows you to apply learning directly within your professional practice environment. As a Texas Nurse Practitioners University Affiliate, the program also offers flexible, asynchronous course work designed for working professionals.
As a student in this online D.N.P. in Nursing Practice program, you will learn how to:
- Integrate nursing science, theory, and evidence-based principles to design and advance practice-focused solutions that improve healthcare outcomes
- Lead interprofessional teams in the analysis and improvement of complex healthcare systems and organizational processes
- Translate and apply evidence into practice to design, implement, evaluate, and disseminate initiatives that improve outcomes
- Evaluate healthcare interventions using epidemiological and scientific data to address quality, safety, equity, and population health needs
- Examine how health policy and advocacy efforts address ethical standards, cultural responsiveness, and social justice concepts in care delivery
- Integrate nursing science, theory, and evidence-based principles to design and advance practice-focused solutions that improve healthcare outcomes
- Lead interprofessional teams in the analysis and improvement of complex healthcare systems and organizational processes
- Translate and apply evidence into practice to design, implement, evaluate, and disseminate initiatives that improve outcomes
- Evaluate healthcare interventions using epidemiological and scientific data to address quality, safety, equity, and population health needs
- Examine how health policy and advocacy efforts address ethical standards, cultural responsiveness, and social justice concepts in care delivery
Career opportunities:
- Clinic, Hospital, or Health Systems Director
- Quality Improvement Director
- Nursing Informatics Leader
- Population Health Systems Director
- Healthcare Policy and Advocacy Leader
- Nursing Education/Clinical Education Leader
- Clinic, Hospital, or Health Systems Director
- Quality Improvement Director
- Nursing Informatics Leader
- Population Health Systems Director
- Healthcare Policy and Advocacy Leader
- Nursing Education/Clinical Education Leader
Also available:
We offer a variety of student-centered online degrees to help you advance. Don’t yet have a master’s degree? Start with our online MSN options. You can also explore other healthcare programs.
"My goal as an educator is to ensure the future of innovative healthcare delivery by providing quality online instruction that incorporates foundational knowledge, including nursing complexity theory, change management and leadership, political advocacy, and financial acumen required to emerge as nurse leaders capable of impacting healthcare systems on a larger scale."
Stacey Cropley D.N.P., RN, LNCC Graduate Program Director, Clinical Associate Professor
"My courses provide students with the foundational knowledge, concepts, and practice competencies in the role of the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, leveraging the current literature and standard of care in this field to support online learning to ensure that students develop the minimum competencies upon graduation to support clients with mental health issues."
Amber Littlefield D.N.P., M.Ed., FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, CNE PMHNP Track Coordinator, Clinical Associate Professor
"My courses support student learning in the role of the family nurse practitioner, incorporating foundational knowledge, skills, and competencies in providing primary care services to patients across the lifespan, emphasizing holistic care of the patient and family. Innovative learning experiences empower students to develop critical thinking, diagnostic reasoning, and therapeutic communication skills, preparing them for successful careers as primary care providers who deliver patient-centered, evidence-based care."
Ashley Walters-Snider MSN, APRN, FNP-C FNP Track Coordinator, Clinical Assistant Professor
"My objective is to combine my expertise in academia, family nurse practitioner practice, and life experiences into the online classroom to educate students, so they come away with a practical understanding of the important role of the family nurse practitioner in patient care equity and advocacy."
Tracey Smith D.N.P., APRN, FNP-BC DNP Program Coordinator, Clinical Associate Professor
"My courses support foundational student learning in the family nurse practitioner role in the delivery of primary care, drawing on advanced pathophysiology, health assessment, and primary care interventional modalities by leveraging my knowledge, expertise, and research interests to support the ability of students to translate research into practice, improving care delivery."
Gloria Park APRN, FNP-C, RN Assistant Professor
"My courses support student learning in the role of the family nurse practitioner, providing foundational and advanced knowledge, concepts, and skills needed to successfully manage patients across the lifespan. My goal is to impart to the family nurse practitioner student, not only medical facts, but the intellectual tools to approach any acute or chronic disease they may encounter."
Dixie Andelman D.N.P., APRN, FNP-C, BC-ADM Clinical Assistant Professor
Tuition
Our affordable tuition puts your future career within reach
Tuition for the online DNP degree program is affordable and paid by the course, so you can achieve your academic goals while remaining within your budget.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per Program |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) Major in Nursing Practice | $500 | $20,520* |
*Students in Accelerated Online Programs are not eligible for payment plans or emergency loans. Tuition and fees are subject to change by legislative or Board of Regents action; changes become effective on the date of enactment. BookSmart fees are automatically added each semester but are not included in program costs; students may opt out by the start of each term. Registrations after the tuition deadline require full payment at registration. Cost of Attendance details are available through TXST One Stop.
Tuition breakdown
Ready to take the next step
toward earning your degree?
Calendar
Ready to get started? View our upcoming start dates today
The Texas State post-master's DNP Major in Nursing Practice program is delivered in a convenient online learning format that offers maximum flexibility for working adults like you. Choose the start date that fits your goals.
| Term | Start Date | App Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Tuition Deadline | Class End Date | Term Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 1 2026 | 8/19/26 | 7/22/26 | 7/22/26 | 8/19/26 | 8/13/26 | 10/7/26 | 8 weeks |
Now Enrolling
Admissions
Explore the admission criteria for your Doctor of Nursing Practice online program
Apply to the D.N.P. Major in Nursing Practice online program quickly and easily with our streamlined admission process. Review the admission requirements below and take the next step toward your professional goals.
To be eligible to earn your Doctor of Nursing Practice online from Texas State University, you must have the following:
- Completed online application
- Nonrefundable application fee of $55 ($90 for international*)
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree from a regionally accredited institution and from a nursing program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or other nationally recognized nursing education accrediting body. The MSN degree must be reflected on the transcript at the time of application
- Official transcripts from each institution where course credit was granted
- A minimum 3.25 GPA on a 4.0 scale overall, including any completed graduate-level course work, and a 3.25 GPA on a 4.0 scale in nursing courses completed at an accredited college or university
- Verification of post-baccalaureate clinical hours from all universities or colleges attended
- 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
- Current, valid, unencumbered Registered Nurse license issued by the Texas Board of Nursing with date issued and Nursys Licensure report uploaded into the application system, reflecting at least one year of full-time experience as a Registered Nurse (RN) calculated from the RN licensure issue date and completed prior to the application period
- For Executive Practice track applicants, in addition to the RN licensing requirments, a current, valid, unencumbered Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) license issued by the Texas Board of Nursing with date issued and Nursys Licensure report uploaded into the application system, reflecting at least one year of full-time experience as a APRN calculated from the RN licensure issue date and completed prior to the application period
- Equivalent of one year of full-time experience in a leadership role or APRN practice before the application deadline for the program
- Resume/CV detailing work experience, extracurricular and community activities, and honors and achievements
- Statement of purpose outlining your personal history and goals that are relevant to obtaining this doctoral degree
- GRE not required
Transcripts may be sent electronically to [email protected] or mailed to:
TXST One Stop
Texas State University – Graduate Admissions
601 University Dr.
San Marcos, TX 78666
*Texas State defines an on-campus international student as anyone with a nonimmigrant visa status, including H-1B visa holders, or those seeking a visa to enroll. If you are not a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, refugee, or asylee, you will be classified as an international applicant.
An online international student is someone who holds citizenship in another country, is not a U.S. permanent resident, and resides outside the U.S. while enrolling in an online program.
Students who are not on a visa but are graduating from a Texas high school after three years in residence are considered domestic applicants.
If you are a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, refugee, or asylee, you are considered a domestic applicant.
Admission Requirements
- Master of Nursing (MSN) degree
- Minimum 3.25 GPA
- No GRE Required
Courses
Build in-demand nursing practice expertise in a flexible online format
To graduate from the Doctor of Nursing Practice online degree program, you must complete a total of 41 credit hours, including 23 credit hours of core courses, three credit hours of scholarly project courses, six credit hours of practicum courses, and nine credit hours of electives.
The St. David's School of Nursing at Texas State University is recognized among the "Top 30 Affordable Nursing Programs in the Southwest" by Mometrix, 2022
