We are still accepting applications for the Fall 2012 Start term.  We were able to fill a few more spots this year!  Please contact Kathy Dilks at dilksk@sacredheart.edu for more information.


The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, infuses practice-focused doctoral education with innovation and practical clinical research and scholarship. It is designed to serve academically talented nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, midwives, nurse anesthetists, nurse executives and educators.

This cohort program is designed to be completed part-time in three calendar years. The curriculum offers two different career tracks: 

» Doctoral Clinical Practice in Health Care Track is designed for the advanced practice nurse who wants to remain in clinical practice and have influence on health care outcomes at multiple levels

» Doctoral Leadership in Health Care Track is designed for the graduate who wants a career in executive nursing management, but who still prefers a nursing doctorate with a connection to clinical practice. Students in this track may take nursing education electives if they aspire to have a career in academia

Graduates of this program are prepared to teach, lead, and engage in practical, clinically focused scholarship and research. The Doctor of Nursing practice degree is a clinical doctorate requiring the completion of a practice dissertation focusing on clinical nursing practice. The practice dissertation is structured to be completed in one year preparing the student to utilize research for the improvement of clinical care delivery, patient outcomes, and system management. Graduates will be expert in designing, implementing, managing, and evaluating health care delivery systems and will be prepared to lead at the highest clinical and executive ranks.

This unique hybrid/intensive program is specifically designed to maximize the number of potential career roles the doctoral nursing graduate may assume, whether they are in academia, in advanced clinical practice, or in executive healthcare leadership. Classes are taught online and students are required to attend two on-campus residencies per semester. This cohort program is 39 credits and is designed to be completed in a 3 year part-time sequence.

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