Ursuline College offers 2 Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – AGPCNP
- Post-Graduate Certificate – AGPCNP
The programs are available online and in-person with flexible course delivery formats designed for working nurses, and Ursuline’s MSN program is ranked #34 among the nation’s top graduate nursing programs and #3 in Ohio by U.S. News & World Report.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program Name | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN AGPCNP | $51,168 | 2 years full-time (2.5–3 years part-time) |
| Post-Graduate Certificate AGPCNP | $36,894 | 1.5–2 years (schedule dependent) |
The National League for Nursing has designated the Breen School of Nursing a national Center of Excellence, emphasizing value-based frameworks and clinical components of advanced practice nursing.
Master of Science in Nursing – AGPCNP
The estimated cost for the MSN AGPCNP program is approximately $51,168 (39 credit hours × $1,312 per credit) and would take 2 years to complete on a full-time basis (2.5-3 years part-time).
MSN Curriculum
The MSN AGPCNP curriculum consists of 39 credit hours divided across three levels of coursework emphasizing health maintenance, disease prevention, counseling, and patient education.
The program follows Ursuline’s value-based framework with all students completing master’s core courses to enhance clinical reasoning and utilize evidence-based practice, developing knowledge and skills to become advanced practice nurses.
NR 532 – Intro to Evidence Based Practice
This course introduces the research process and shows how research strengthens nursing theory and practice. Students learn how to participate in research activities and how to evaluate nursing studies for practice use.
NR 533 – Application of Evidence Based Practice
This course focuses on turning research into clinical action. Students practice finding, synthesizing, and translating evidence to improve nursing care decisions.
NR 535 – Health Care Informatics
This course teaches how nurses use health information systems and data to support care and operations. Students build advanced computer skills, learn how systems guide administrative choices, and use data queries for clinical decision making. The course also reviews how technology affects communication.
NR 540 – Advanced Physiology and Pathology
This course explains disease development at the cellular and molecular level. Students study how changes in body systems lead to human illness.
NR 541 – Advanced Health Assessment
This course strengthens advanced assessment skills across the lifespan. Students integrate physical and psychosocial findings to form differential diagnoses and select health promotion and treatment strategies. The course also emphasizes appropriate diagnostic test selection.
NR 542 – Advanced Pharmacology
This course covers advanced drug principles, including kinetics, dynamics, therapeutics, and interactions. Students review major drug classes and match medication choices to pathophysiology. The course emphasizes safe selection of medications and patient-specific response differences.
NR 615 – Advanced Diagnostics
This course teaches when and how to use diagnostic testing to guide treatment. Students learn cost-aware test selection and accurate interpretation to improve patient outcomes.
NR 616 – Advanced Diagnostics AGNP/FNP Practicum
This introductory practicum applies advanced practice skills in real clinical settings. Students practice assessment, diagnosis, planning, and treatment for common conditions under supervision.
NR 617 – AGNP/FNP Adult Health Practicum
This practicum prepares students for adult-gerontology or family nurse practitioner roles in primary care. Students apply the nursing process to adults, children, and families. The course also develops skills for clinician, consultant, educator, administrator, and researcher roles.
NR 618 – Health Promotion, Maintenance, and Restoration Practicum
This course builds on earlier graduate and practicum work to strengthen health promotion and recovery-focused care. Students apply prevention and maintenance strategies across the lifespan in clinical practice.
NR 619 – Focused Population AGNP/FNP Practicum
This practicum targets common health problems in focused groups, such as women’s health, gender-specific care, and older adults. Students apply advanced practice roles and manage condition-specific needs in primary care settings.
NR 620 – Health Promotion, Maintenance, and Restoration
This course introduces frameworks that guide health promotion across the lifespan. Students use risk appraisal, development concepts, and therapeutic communication to manage common health problems. The course also connects epidemiology, ethics, policy, culture, and environment to community and family-focused care.
NR 635 – Focused Populations
This course covers primary care principles for focused populations across the lifespan, including adolescents, gender-specific groups, and older adults. Students emphasize health promotion, disease prevention, and management of common problems in these groups.
NR 636 – Adult-Gerontology Health and Disease Management
This course teaches diagnostic reasoning and treatment planning for common acute and chronic conditions in adolescents, adults, and older adults. Students integrate assessment, pathophysiology, and pharmacology with strong therapeutic communication. The course emphasizes family-centered management in primary care.
NR 650A – Health Care Policy
This course examines health policy and its effects on clinical practice. Students analyze current issues and trends from the views of policymakers, advanced practice nurses, and the public.
NR 650B – Health Care Organizations and Finance
This course introduces business and economics concepts used in health care leadership. Students apply basic finance and cost concepts to support quality and cost-effective care in advanced practice settings.
NR 650C – Advanced Practice Ethical and Legal Issues
This course links ethical principles and personal values to advanced nursing practice. Students study legal issues that affect advanced practice nurses and apply ethical reasoning to practice decisions.
NR 650D – Advanced Practice Roles and Responsibilities
This course reviews advanced practice roles and current trends in care delivery. Students evaluate practice issues through ethical and organizational lenses. The course includes a culminating project that showcases graduate-level learning.
Program Requirements:
- Students must complete Level 1 courses prior to Level 2, and Level 2 prior to Level 3
- Total credit hours: 39
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN Clinicals
The MSN AGPCNP program integrates clinical management practicums throughout Level 2 and Level 3 coursework. Students complete four clinical practicum courses (NR 616, NR 617, NR 618, NR 619) totaling 4 clinical credits embedded within advanced diagnostics, health disease management, health promotion, and focused populations courses.
Clinical Requirements:
- NR 616: Advanced Diagnostics AGNP/FNP Practicum (1 credit) – completed with NR 615
- NR 617: AGNP Health FNP Adult Health Practicum (1 credit) – completed with NR 636
- NR 618: Health Promotion Maintenance Restoration Practicum (1 credit) – completed with NR 620
- NR 619: Focused Population AGNP/FNP Practicum (1 credit) – completed with NR 635
- Total clinical credits: 4 credits
- Clinical experiences emphasize health maintenance, disease prevention, counseling, and patient education
- Practicums completed in conjunction with corresponding didactic courses
MSN Prerequisites & Admissions
General Admission Requirements:
- Application for Graduate Studies including 500-1,000 word essay
- Non-refundable $25 application fee
- Official transcripts for baccalaureate degree from accredited institution verifying completion of accredited BSN program
- All additional undergraduate or graduate academic coursework transcripts (even if credit not earned or program not completed)
- Transcripts forwarded directly to Office of Graduate Admission by issuing institution
- Recommended 3.0 GPA for evidence of ability to do graduate work
- Three recommendations using required recommendation form from appropriate professionals
- Preferred references: one previous instructor, one advanced practice nurse, one work supervisor
MSN Program-Specific Admission Requirements:
- Current, unencumbered Ohio Registered Nurse license
- Current resume reflecting minimum one-year work experience as registered nurse
- Nursing experience must be within past two years
Application Deadlines:
- Fall semester: Apply by July 1 (encouraged)
- Spring semester: Apply by December 1 (encouraged)
- Graduate nursing courses begin fall and spring semesters
State Authorization Notice:
- Program not available to students in: California, Idaho, Louisiana, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, or Washington
- Due to APRN distance education requirements
- Requirements may change; check NCSBN website for updates
Post-Graduate Certificate – AGPCNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Graduate Certificate AGPCNP program is approximately $36,894 (39 credit hours × $946 per credit for DNP and MSN Certificate programs) and would take 1.5-2 years to complete depending on schedule.
Post-Graduate Certificate Curriculum
The Post-Graduate Certificate AGPCNP curriculum consists of 39 credit hours identical to the MSN track coursework for students who already hold a Master of Science in Nursing degree and wish to gain Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner certification.
Students complete the same three-level progression of courses emphasizing specialized nursing leadership in health maintenance, disease prevention, counseling, and patient education.
Required Courses (39 credits total):
- NR 532: Introduction to Evidence Based Practice (3 credits)
- NR 533: Application of Evidence Based Practice (3 credits)
- NR 535: Health Care Informatics (2 credits)
- NR 540: Advanced Physiology & Pathology (3 credits)
- NR 541: Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits)
- NR 542: Advanced Pharmacology (4 credits)
- NR 615: Advanced Diagnostics (3 credits)
- NR 616: Advanced Diagnostics AGNP/FNP Practicum (1 credit)
- NR 617: AGNP Health FNP Adult Health Practicum (1 credit)
- NR 618: Health Promotion Maintenance Restoration Practicum (1 credit)
- NR 619: Focused Population AGNP/FNP Practicum (1 credit)
- NR 620: Health Promotion Maintenance Restoration (3 credits)
- NR 635: Focused Populations (3 credits)
- NR 636: Adult Gerontology Health Disease Management (3 credits)
- NR 650A: Health Care Policy (1 credit)
- NR 650B: Health Care Organizations & Finance (1 credit)
- NR 650C: Advanced Practice Ethical & Legal Responsibilities (1 credit)
- NR 650D: Advanced Practice Roles & Responsibilities (2 credits)
Post-Graduate Certificate Clinicals
The Post-Graduate Certificate program includes the same clinical practicum requirements as the MSN track, with four clinical management practicum courses totaling 4 clinical credits completed in conjunction with advanced diagnostics, adult gerontology health disease management, health promotion, and focused populations courses.
Clinical Requirements:
- Four clinical practicum courses totaling 4 credits
- Practicum experiences focus on primary care expertise spanning adolescents to advanced ages
- Preparation for independent practice or patient educator roles
- Clinical experiences integrated with didactic coursework throughout program
Post-Graduate Certificate Prerequisites & Admissions
Education Requirements:
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree from accredited institution
- Official transcripts for all previous graduate coursework
- Transcripts forwarded directly to Office of Graduate Admission by issuing institution
Licensure Requirements:
- Current, unencumbered Ohio Registered Nurse license
- Current resume reflecting minimum one-year work experience as registered nurse
- Nursing experience must be within past two years
Application Materials:
- Application for Graduate Studies including 500-1,000 word essay
- Non-refundable $25 application fee
- Three recommendations using required recommendation form
- Preferred references: one previous instructor, one advanced practice nurse, one work supervisor
Application Timeline:
- Post-master’s classes start every semester
- Applicants urged to apply as far as possible in advance of intended enrollment semester
State Authorization Notice:
- Program not available to students in: California, Idaho, Louisiana, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, or Washington
Tuition
Graduate MSN tuition is $1,312 per credit hour for 2025-2026.
Post-Graduate Certificate programs (DNP and MSN Certificate programs) are charged at $946 per credit hour.
Additional fees include $220 technology fee per semester, $50 facilities fee per semester, and one-time $100 matriculation fee for new students.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
The master’s degree program in nursing and post-graduate APRN certificate program at Ursuline College are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
The National League for Nursing has designated the Breen School of Nursing a national Center of Excellence, and U.S. News & World Report ranks Ursuline’s MSN program #34 among the nation’s top graduate nursing programs and #3 in Ohio.
More ACNP Programs in Ohio
- Case Western Reserve University - Cleveland
- Kent State University - Kent
- Ohio State University - Columbus
- University of Cincinnati - Cincinnati