The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner track.
Highlights include:
- 15-month full-time program completion (part-time option available)
- In-person format with some online/hybrid courses to accommodate busy schedules
- Clinical placements arranged within Penn network and leading local/mid-Atlantic health systems
Program Track Overview
The program teaches students to synthesize theoretical, scientific, and contemporary clinical knowledge to assess and manage health and illness from adolescence through end of life.
Master of Science in Nursing – Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the MSN – Adult Gerontology Primary Care NP program is approximately $89,885 for full-time students (12 course units) and would take 15 months to complete on a full-time basis starting each May.
MSN Curriculum
The curriculum is built around five core courses supplemented with three theory courses and four clinical courses focusing on physical assessment, pathophysiology, health maintenance, and management of acute and chronic health problems.
Clinical courses include classroom case studies and clinical preceptorships.
Core Courses
NURS 6070 – Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology (1 CU)
This course integrates advanced physiology with disease processes across the lifespan. It emphasizes organ system dysfunction, genetic influences, and clinical implications for advanced nursing practice.
NURS 6080 – Advanced Pharmacology and Therapeutics for Nursing Practice (1 CU)
This course focuses on medication selection, dosing, and monitoring for common conditions in adult and older populations. It applies pharmacologic principles to safe and effective treatment planning.
NURS 6560 – Professional Role Issues for Nurse Practitioners (1 CU)
This course examines the nurse practitioner role within healthcare systems. Topics include scope of practice, ethics, health policy, and interprofessional collaboration.
NURS 6570 – Advanced Physical Assessment and Clinical Decision Making (1 CU)
This course develops advanced assessment and diagnostic reasoning skills. Lab-based practice supports strong data collection and clinical judgment before practicum experiences.
NURS 5470 – Scientific Inquiry for Evidence-based Practice OR NURS 6370 – Introduction to Research Methods and Design (1 CU)
This course builds skills in research appraisal and evidence-based clinical decision making. Students learn to evaluate studies, interpret findings, and apply evidence to practice.
Theory Courses
NURS 6440 – Health Care in an Aging Society (1 CU)
This course explores healthcare needs of aging populations. It addresses chronic illness, functional change, and care delivery systems that affect older adults.
NURS 6460 – Primary Care: Diagnosis and Management of Adults Across the Lifespan (1 CU)
This course covers assessment, diagnosis, and management of common adult health conditions in primary care. It emphasizes preventive care and evidence-based treatment.
NURS 6480 – Primary Care: Complex Diagnosis and Management of Adults Across the Lifespan (1 CU)
This course focuses on adults with multiple or chronic conditions. It strengthens advanced clinical reasoning and long-term management planning.
Clinical Courses
NURS 6470 – Primary Care Clinical Practicum: Diagnosis & Management of Adults Across the Lifespan (1 CU)
This practicum provides supervised clinical experience in adult primary care settings. Students apply diagnostic and management skills with real patients.
NURS 6490 – Primary Care Clinical Practicum: Complex Diagnosis & Management of Adults Across the Lifespan (1 CU)
This practicum expands clinical exposure to adults with complex or high-acuity needs. It emphasizes advanced decision making and coordinated care.
NURS 6610 – Clinical Management of Primary Care with Adults (1 CU)
This course focuses on clinical management strategies for adult primary care populations. It integrates assessment findings, diagnostics, and treatment planning.
NURS 6630 – Advanced Concepts in Primary Care (1 CU)
This course examines advanced topics that shape modern primary care practice. It prepares students for higher-level clinical responsibility and care improvement.
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN Clinicals
Clinical experiences are arranged within the Penn network and other leading local and mid-Atlantic healthcare systems. Faculty actively work to identify supportive clinical placements with vetted preceptors to ensure student success. Clinical practicums emphasize:
- Physical assessment and pathophysiology applications
- Health maintenance and management of common acute and chronic health problems
- Case-based learning integrated with hands-on clinical experience
- Care delivery across multiple settings from adolescence through end of life
MSN Prerequisites & Admissions
Minimum Qualifications:
- BSN degree with GPA of 3.0 or higher
- College-level statistics course completed
- Current RN licensure
Application Deadlines:
- Full-time enrollment: November 3, 2025 (decision notification late-February)
- Part-time Spring 2026: October 15, 2025 (decision notification late-December)
- Part-time Summer 2026: March 16, 2026 (decision notification late-April)
- Part-time Fall 2026: April 1, 2026 (decision notification mid-May)
Tuition
Graduate tuition for the Adult Gerontology Primary Care NP program is $6,890 per course unit (CU) for Summer 2025 and Fall 2025/Spring 2026 terms.
Students registered for 4 or more CUs in Fall or Spring terms are charged the full-time rate of $27,419 tuition plus $2,054 general fee, $476 tech fee, and $371 clinical fee.
Students registered for fewer than 4 CUs are charged per CU with applicable fees including $510 general fee and $126 tech fee per CU. Full-time status is defined as registration of 3 or more CUs in any given term.
Applicants may be eligible for the Leonard A. Lauder Community Care Nurse Practitioner Program Fellowship offering free Penn education for NPs committed to working in underserved communities.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
The Master of Science in Nursing program at the University of Pennsylvania is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.
Upon successful program completion, graduates are eligible to apply for national certification through the designated certifying body for their specialty, with the program achieving a 100% first-time certification pass rate for the Class of 2022 and 2023, and 86% for the Class of 2024.
More Pennsylvania ACNP Programs
- Drexel University - Philadelphia
- La Salle University - Philadelphia
- Misericordia University - Dallas
- Moravian University - Bethlehem
- York College - York