Azusa Pacific University (APU) offers 3 Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) tracks:
- MSN – AGPCNP
- Post-Master’s Certificate – AGPCNP
- BSN to DNP – AGPCNP
All three tracks are offered at APU’s Southern California campuses (Azusa, Inland Empire, San Diego, and Monrovia), with select courses available online synchronously or asynchronously.
APU is a Yellow Ribbon and Military Friendly School, and its nationally ranked School of Nursing holds a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio — making it a strong option for working nurses seeking personalized support alongside clinical training.
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN – AGPCNP | $41,170 (46 units × $895) | ~2 years full-time |
| Post-Master’s Certificate – AGPCNP | $31,325 (35 units × $895) | ~1.5 years full-time |
| BSN to DNP – AGPCNP | $77,720–$82,360 (70–71 units, mixed rates) | ~3.5 years full-time |
Master of Science in Nursing – AGPCNP
The MSN – AGPCNP at Azusa Pacific University has an estimated tuition of $41,170 (46 units at $895/unit) and would take approximately 2 years to complete on a full-time basis.
MSN Curriculum
The program totals 46 units across four course tiers: Academic Core, Advanced Practice Core, AGPCNP Specialty, and a Concluding Examination course.
Up to 9 units of approved graduate transfer credit may be accepted; Advanced Pharmacology may transfer if taken within 24 months of the APU admit date.
GNRS 504 – Bioethics and Healthcare Policy (3 Units)
This course examines ethical principles and policy issues that influence healthcare systems. Students analyze moral decision-making, human rights, and policy development while applying bioethical frameworks to healthcare leadership and practice.
GNRS 506 – Spiritual Concept Analysis in Health Care (3 Units)
This seminar explores spiritual care in healthcare from a Judeo-Christian perspective. Students analyze spiritual concepts in healthcare literature and reflect on personal faith perspectives while examining diverse spiritual traditions in patient care.
GNRS 508A – Research and Theory in Advanced Practice Nursing (4 Units)
This course examines the relationship between nursing theory, research, and advanced clinical practice. Students learn to evaluate research studies, apply theoretical frameworks, and interpret statistical data to support evidence-based nursing practice.
GNRS 513 – Advanced Nursing Practice Role (2 Units)
This course explores the professional roles of advanced practice nurses within modern healthcare systems. Students examine leadership responsibilities in clinical practice, education, research, policy development, and care coordination.
GNRS 610 – Advanced Pathophysiology (3 Units)
This course develops advanced understanding of disease processes and physiologic changes that affect patient health. Students analyze clinical signs, diagnostic findings, and pathophysiologic mechanisms that support accurate diagnosis and population health assessment.
GNRS 611 – Advanced Pharmacology (3 Units)
This course examines pharmacologic therapies used in advanced nursing practice. Students study medication actions, prescribing guidelines, drug interactions, and patient responses across the lifespan while considering pharmacogenomics and cultural factors in treatment.
GNRS 612 – Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning I (4 Units)
This course develops advanced health assessment and diagnostic reasoning skills. Students perform comprehensive patient evaluations and apply screening, prevention, and health promotion strategies across diverse patient populations.
GNRS 600 – Nurse Practitioner Clinical Experience (12 Units)
This clinical course provides supervised patient care experience for nurse practitioner students. Students practice advanced assessment, diagnosis, and management skills under the guidance of approved preceptors while documenting clinical competencies.
GNRS 601 – Primary Healthcare I: Adult and Aging (3 Units)
This course focuses on diagnosing and managing common acute and chronic conditions in adolescents, adults, and older adults. Students integrate knowledge from advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and assessment to develop evidence-based treatment plans.
GNRS 602 – Primary Healthcare II: Population-based Health Interventions (3 Units)
This course introduces population health concepts and strategies for addressing social determinants of health. Students examine cultural competency, psychosocial assessment, and patient education methods that support health promotion and disease prevention.
GNRS 603 – Primary Healthcare III: Restorative and Palliative Interventions (3 Units)
This course focuses on chronic disease management, palliative care, and communication strategies in advanced practice nursing. Students study care transitions, interdisciplinary planning, and approaches that support patients and families during serious illness.
GNRS 580 – Gerontology (2 Units)
This course examines the biological, psychological, and social aspects of aging. Students explore gerontology research and interdisciplinary perspectives to understand the health needs of older adults in diverse cultural contexts.
GNRS 597 – Comprehensive Examination Directed Study (1 Unit)
This course prepares students for the comprehensive examination that concludes the program. Students review clinical, theoretical, and research concepts while demonstrating integration of advanced nursing knowledge.
See the course catalog for more curriculum details.
MSN Clinicals
Clinical hours are embedded in GNRS 600 (Nurse Practitioner Clinical Experience), totaling 12 clinical units. Students enroll in 2–6 clinical units per semester with faculty approval and are responsible for finding a clinical site and preceptor with assistance from APU staff and placement coordinators.
- 12 clinical units embedded in GNRS 600 (2–6 units/semester)
- Students find their own preceptor with APU staff assistance
- Affiliation agreement required for each clinical site
- CPR certification, malpractice insurance, TB screening, and immunization documentation required before clinical start
- Background check required prior to clinical site placement (student’s cost)
MSN Admissions & Prerequisites
- BSN from an NLN- or CCNE-accredited program with minimum 3.0 GPA
- Active California RN license (copy required with application)
- Undergraduate prerequisites: health assessment, pathophysiology, nursing research, statistics, nursing leadership, and community health nursing
- Written statement (1–2 pages): professional goals and personal definition of nursing
- Current résumé with employment, education, honors, and volunteer activities
- Two professional recommendations (managers, supervisors, or faculty — not coworkers)
- $45 nonrefundable application fee
- Application deadlines: Priority April 1 / Final June 15 (Fall); Priority October 20 (Spring)
- Up to 9 units of approved graduate transfer credit accepted
Post-Master’s Certificate – AGPCNP
The Post-Master’s Certificate – AGPCNP at Azusa Pacific University has an estimated tuition of $31,325 (35 units at $895/unit) and would take approximately 1.5 years to complete on a full-time basis.
Certificate Curriculum
The certificate totals 35 units and mirrors the clinical and specialty coursework of the MSN track — without the academic core courses, since applicants already hold a master’s degree in nursing. Students who hold current California NP or CNS certification may petition to challenge or waive certain courses.
Advanced Practice Core (12 units)
- GNRS 513 – Advanced Nursing Practice Role (2 units)
- GNRS 610 – Advanced Pathophysiology (3 units)
- GNRS 611 – Advanced Pharmacology (3 units)
- GNRS 612 – Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning (4 units; 3 classroom/1 clinical)
AGPCNP Specialty Courses (21 units)
- GNRS 600 – Nurse Practitioner Clinical Experience (12 units; 2–6 units/semester with faculty approval)
- GNRS 601 – Primary Healthcare I: Adult and Aging (3 units)
- GNRS 602 – Primary Healthcare II: Population-based Health Interventions (3 units)
- GNRS 603 – Primary Healthcare III: Restorative and Palliative Interventions (3 units)
Other Specialization Course (2 units)
- GNRS 580 – Gerontology (2 units)
More curriculum details in the couse catalog.
Certificate Clinicals
Clinical training is embedded in GNRS 600, with students enrolling in 2–6 clinical units per semester under faculty approval. Students self-source preceptors with APU staff assistance; an affiliation agreement must be in place for each site.
- 12 clinical units in GNRS 600 (2–6 units/semester)
- Students find preceptors with APU staff and placement coordinator support
- Affiliation agreement required for every clinical site
- CPR certification, malpractice insurance, TB screening, and immunization records required at clinical start
- Background check required before placement (student’s expense)
- Health status must permit safe completion of clinical requirements
Certificate Admissions & Prerequisites
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from an NLN- or CCNE-accredited program with minimum 3.0 GPA
- Active California RN license (copy required)
- Undergraduate health assessment course within the past 5 years (or completion of APU’s UNRS 220 prior to enrollment)
- Prerequisites completed at master’s level: health assessment, pathophysiology, nursing research, statistics, nursing leadership, and community health nursing
- Written statement (1–2 pages): professional goals and personal nursing philosophy
- Current résumé and two professional recommendations
- $45 nonrefundable application fee
- Application deadlines: Priority April 1 / Final June 15 (Fall); Priority July 15 / Final Sept 30 (Spring)
- Students with current CA NP, NM, or CNS certification may petition to waive certain required courses
BSN to DNP – AGPCNP
The BSN to DNP – AGPCNP at Azusa Pacific University has an estimated base cost of $77,720–$82,360 (70–71 units at mixed per-unit rates) and would take approximately 3.5 years to complete on a full-time basis.
DNP Curriculum
The program totals 70–71 units across APRN Core, FNP/AGPCNP Common Core, AGPCNP Specialty, additional DNP courses, four mandatory Intensives, and Doctoral Seminars. MSN and DNP degrees are both conferred at program completion — no intermediate MSN is awarded. The program is available in-person, online synchronous, and online asynchronous formats, though students in the AGPCNP track must reside near a Southern California regional center to satisfy in-person course and clinical requirements.
APRN Core (12 units)
- GNRS 513 – Advanced Nursing Practice Role (2 units)
- GNRS 610 – Advanced Pathophysiology (3 units)
- GNRS 611 – Advanced Pharmacology (3 units)
- GNRS 612 – Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning (4 units; 3 classroom/1 clinical)
FNP and AGPCNP Common Core (26 units)
- GNRS 600 – Nurse Practitioner Clinical Experience (2–6 units; 17 total units for program)
- GNRS 601 – Primary Healthcare I: Adult and Aging (3 units)
- GNRS 602 – Primary Healthcare II: Population-based Health Interventions (3 units)
- GNRS 603 – Primary Healthcare III: Restorative and Palliative Interventions (3 units)
AGPCNP Specialty Course (2 units)
- GNRS 580 – Gerontology (2 units)
Additional DNP Courses (21 units)
- GNRS 703 – Spirituality and Health (3 units)
- GNRS 705 – Social Ethics and Health Policy (3 units)
- GNRS 712 – Healthcare Quality Improvement, Program Planning, and Evaluation (3 units)
- GNRS 713 – Advanced Statistical Analysis I (3 units)
- GNRS 716 – Translation of Research to Practice (3 units)
- GNRS 717 – Health Technology and Informatics (3 units)
- GNRS 718 – Organizational Leadership and Strategic Planning (3 units)
- GNRS 732 – DNP Clinical Residency (0 units; hours tracked separately)
Intensives (4 units)
- GNRS 791 – DNP Intensive I (1 unit)
- GNRS 792 – DNP Intensive II (1 unit)
- GNRS 793 – DNP Intensive III (1 unit)
- GNRS 794 – DNP Intensive IV (1 unit)
Doctoral Seminars (5 units)
- GNRS 780 – Doctoral Seminar I: Elements of a Proposal and IRB Application (3 units)
- GNRS 736 – DNP Scholarly Project Seminar: Evaluation and Dissemination (2 units)
See the course catalog for more curriculum details.
DNP Clinicals
The BSN to DNP requires a total of 1,000 clinical residency hours logged through GNRS 732 (DNP Clinical Residency). Students self-source preceptors with support from APU staff and placement coordinators; an affiliation agreement must be in place for every site.
- 1,000 total DNP clinical residency hours required
- 17 total clinical units in GNRS 600 (2–6 units/semester with faculty approval)
- Students find preceptors with APU staff and placement coordinator assistance
- Affiliation agreement required for all clinical sites
- Must reside near a Southern California regional center (Azusa, Inland Empire, San Diego, or Monrovia) for in-person requirements
- Eight months of RN work experience required before entering the second year of the AGPCNP track
- $500 nonrefundable enrollment deposit required upon admission
DNP Admissions & Prerequisites
- BSN from a regionally accredited institution with minimum 3.0 GPA
- Active California RN license; at least 8 months of RN work experience (may occur during the program, must be complete before Year 2)
- Undergraduate research course and undergraduate statistics course required
- Written statement of educational objectives focusing on translational research, EBP or QI, and career goals
- Current curriculum vitae or résumé
- Two recommendations (preferably one academic and one professional, at least one from a direct supervisor or faculty member)
- Evidence of written creative work and/or scholarly papers
- Interview and holistic review (including preceptor experience, languages, presentations, volunteer activities)
- $45 nonrefundable application fee; $500 nonrefundable enrollment deposit upon admission
- Contact APU admissions for current start date and deadline information
Tuition
APU charges graduate nursing tuition by the unit. Current per-unit rates are as follows:
- MSN, Credentials, and Most Certificate Programs: $895/unit
- BSN to DNP (doctoral courses): $1,160/unit
- BSN to DNP (master’s-level courses within the pathway): $680–$860/unit
- Audit: half-price tuition
Additional recurring fees apply to all nursing programs:
- Nursing Clinical Fee: $600/semester (includes malpractice insurance)
- Graduate Nursing Advanced Practice Lab Fee: $275/course
- DNP Clinical Residency (GNRS 732): $200/course (BSN to DNP only)
Graduate living expense estimate (8-month COA, excluding tuition): approximately $27,784.
More tuition details are available here.
Accreditation
Azusa Pacific University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). The MSN, DNP, and baccalaureate nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and the nurse practitioner programs are approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (CA BRN). Graduates of all three AGPCNP tracks are eligible to apply for California NP certification and to sit for national certification examinations through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).