Morningside University AGPCNP Programs

Morningside University offers four Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:

• MSN – AGPCNP
• BSN-MSN-DNP – AGPCNP
• MSN-DNP – AGPCNP
• Post-Master’s Certificate – AGPCNP

All programs are delivered 100% online with two required on-site residencies — a three-day Advanced Practice Skills lab and a one-day Evidence-Based Capstone. Rolling admissions make it possible to apply year-round.

These programs are best suited for Iowa-based or compact-state nurses who want a flexible, affordable AGPCNP pathway with a clear progression from MSN to DNP.

Program Tracks Overview

MSN – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

The MSN AGPCNP at Morningside University is estimated at approximately ~$33,075 based on 49 credits at $675/credit. Additional fees apply — see the Tuition section below.

On a full-time basis, the program takes 4 to 6 semesters to complete. A part-time plan of study is also available.

MSN Curriculum

The MSN AGPCNP totals 49 credit hours — 23 credits of master’s core and 26 credits of AGPCNP specialty coursework. The core covers health care policy, quality and safety, pathophysiology, role development, pharmacology, health assessment, statistics, and evidence-based research. The AGPCNP specialty sequence adds adult primary care I and II, complex elderly care, health promotion, education in practice, and three clinical practicum courses. Two on-site residencies are required: a three-day Advanced Practice Skills lab in Semester 2 and a one-day Evidence-Based Capstone residency in Semester 4.

Semester 1 (11 cr.):

• NURS 709 – Health Care Policy & Advocacy for Individuals & Populations (2 cr.)
• NURS 715 – Quality, Safety, Informatics within Health Care Systems (3 cr.)
• NURS 517 – Advanced Pathophysiology (3 cr.)
• NURS 651 – Advanced Role Development (3 cr.)

Semester 2 (10 cr.):

• NURS 518 – Advanced Pharmacology (3 cr.)
• NURS 522 – Advanced Health Assessment (3 cr.)
• NURS 524 – Advanced Practice Skills — three-day on-site residency (1 cr.)
• NURS 530 – Statistics in Advanced Practice Nursing (3 cr.)

Summer Semester (8 cr.):

• NURS 516 – Education in Practice (3 cr.)
• NURS 655 – Adult Primary Care I (3 cr.)
• NURS 665 – AGNP Clinical Practicum I — 200–250 clinical hours (2 cr.)

Semester 3 (10 cr.):

• NURS 533 – Evidence-Based Research (3 cr.)
• NURS 653 – Health Promotion & Disease Prevention (2 cr.)
• NURS 668 – AGNP Clinical Practicum II — 200–250 clinical hours (2 cr.)
• NURS 669 – Complex Elderly Care (3 cr.)

Semester 4 (10 cr.):

• NURS 656 – Adult Primary Care II (3 cr.)
• NURS 670 – AGNP Clinical Practicum III — 200–250 clinical hours (2 cr.)
• NURS 672 – Role Transition & Certification Prep (2 cr.)
• NURS 686 – Evidence-Based Capstone — one-day on-site residency (3 cr.)

View more curriculum details in the course catalog.

MSN Clinicals

MSN students complete 750 total clinical/practicum hours across three sequential practicum courses, each requiring 200–250 hours in adult-gerontology primary care settings.

• NURS 665 – AGNP Clinical Practicum I (200–250 hrs)
• NURS 668 – AGNP Clinical Practicum II (200–250 hrs)
• NURS 670 – AGNP Clinical Practicum III (200–250 hrs)
• Total: 750 clinical/practicum hours
• Two on-site residencies required: three-day Advanced Practice Skills lab (Semester 2) and one-day Evidence-Based Capstone (Semester 4)
• ⚠️ Clinical site-specific requirements such as drug testing are at the student’s expense

MSN Admissions

Morningside uses rolling admissions — there is no fixed application deadline for the MSN. Applicants must hold an RN license in Iowa or a compact state.

• BSN with a nursing major, or bachelor’s degree in another field with an ADN from an accredited institution
• Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA (conditional acceptance possible for GPAs below 3.0; full admission available after completing 10 graduate credits with 3.0+ GPA)
• Valid RN license in Iowa or a compact state (non-compact license holders should contact the Dean of Nursing)
• New BSN graduates may be accepted for one semester while obtaining RN licensure
• Two professional and/or academic letters of recommendation
• Professional goal essay (500 words or fewer) — includes area of interest, professional goals, and how prior experience prepares you for graduate study
• Resume or CV
• Official transcripts from all prior undergraduate and graduate institutions
• Background check required by Iowa Board of Nursing ($45)
• Graduate Nursing application fee: $65
• Rolling admissions — no fixed deadline

BSN-MSN-DNP – AGAPCNP

The BSN-MSN-DNP AGPCNP at Morningside University is estimated at approximately ~$57,000 total — the MSN phase (49 cr. × $675 = ~$33,075) followed by the DNP phase (29 cr. × $825 = ~$23,925).

Students earn the MSN degree first, then continue directly into the DNP without starting over.

Total program duration is not clearly stated — approximately 3–4 years is a reasonable estimate based on the combined credit load.

A minimum of 1,000 total clinical/practicum hours is required for the DNP degree.

BSN-MSN-DNP Curriculum

The BSN-MSN-DNP AGPCNP totals 78 credit hours — 49 MSN credits (see MSN curriculum above) followed by 29 DNP credits. Students complete the full MSN-AGPCNP program first, earning their MSN degree.

They then transition into the DNP phase, which adds epidemiology, clinical prevention, organizational and systems leadership, a DNP project sequence (four courses), and four role integration practicum courses. A one-day on-site residency for DNP project dissemination is required.

DNP Core Courses (26 cr.):

• NURS 709 – Health Care Policy and Advocacy for Individuals and Populations (2 cr.) — shared with MSN
• NURS 715 – Quality, Safety, Informatics within Health Care Systems (3 cr.) — shared with MSN
• NURS 930 – Applied Epidemiology (3 cr.)
• NURS 945 – Leading Clinical Prevention and Population Health (3 cr.)
• NURS 950 – Organizational and Systems Leadership (3 cr.)
• NURS 955 – DNP Project I (3 cr.)
• NURS 956 – DNP Project II (3 cr.)
• NURS 957 – DNP Project III (3 cr.)
• NURS 958 – DNP Project IV (3 cr.)

Direct Patient Care DNP Track Courses (8 cr.):

• NURS 960 – Direct Care: Advanced Practice Role Integration I (100 practice hrs) (2 cr.)
• NURS 961 – Direct Care: Advanced Practice Role Integration II (100 practice hrs) (2 cr.)
• NURS 962 – Direct Care: Advanced Practice Role Integration III (100 practice hrs) (2 cr.)
• NURS 963 – Direct Care: Advanced Practice Role Integration IV (100 practice hrs) (2 cr.)

⚠️ NURS 709 and NURS 715 are shared between the MSN and DNP core — these credits are not doubled. The DNP phase adds 29 new credits beyond the MSN.

View more curriculum details in the course catalog.

BSN-MSN-DNP Clinicals

Students complete 1,000 total clinical/practicum hours across both phases — 750 hours from the MSN practicum sequence and 400 hours from the four DNP role integration courses.

• MSN phase: 750 clinical hours across NURS 665, 668, and 670 (200–250 hrs each)
• DNP phase: 400 practice hours across NURS 960–963 (100 hrs each)
• Total: 1,000 clinical/practicum hours
• One-day on-site residency required for DNP project dissemination
• Two on-site residencies from MSN phase also required (three-day skills lab + one-day capstone)

BSN-MSN-DNP Admissions

Admission to the BSN-MSN-DNP begins with entry into the MSN program. Admissions requirements mirror the MSN track — see MSN Admissions above. Upon completing the MSN, students continue into the DNP phase.

• All MSN admissions requirements apply — see MSN Admissions above
• Graduate-level statistics is a prerequisite for NURS 956 and NURS 962
• Graduate-level pathophysiology, physical assessment, and pharmacology serve as prerequisites for DNP direct patient care NP tracks
• Rolling admissions — no fixed deadline

MSN-DNP – AGPCNP

The MSN-DNP AGPCNP at Morningside University is estimated at approximately ~$28,050 based on 34 DNP credits at $825/credit. This track is designed for nurses who already hold an MSN.

Program duration is not clearly stated — contact the program for a timeline based on your individual gap analysis.

A minimum of 1,000 total post-baccalaureate clinical/practicum hours is required for DNP completion; a gap analysis determines how many additional hours are needed beyond what was completed in the prior MSN.

MSN-DNP Curriculum

The MSN-DNP totals 34 credit hours — 26 DNP core credits and 8 credits of direct patient care role integration. A gap analysis is conducted at admission to evaluate prior MSN coursework and clinical hours, and to determine if any additional didactic or clinical courses are needed.

Graduate-level statistics is a prerequisite for NURS 956 and NURS 962; graduate-level pathophysiology, physical assessment, and pharmacology are prerequisites for the direct patient care track.

The DNP curriculum and role integration courses are identical to those in the BSN-MSN-DNP phase — see BSN-MSN-DNP curriculum above.

⚠️ Students with fewer than 1,000 documented clinical hours from their MSN may need to enroll in NURS 975 – Role Integration for Continuous Practice (1–6 credits) to meet the total hour requirement.

View more curriculum details in the course catalog.

MSN-DNP Clinicals

MSN-DNP students complete a minimum of 400 DNP-phase practice hours through four role integration courses, with total post-baccalaureate hours evaluated against the 1,000-hour DNP requirement via gap analysis.

• NURS 960–963 – Direct Care: Advanced Practice Role Integration I–IV (100 hrs each = 400 hrs total)
• Gap analysis determines whether additional clinical hours are required to reach 1,000 total
• NURS 975 – Role Integration for Continuous Practice (1–6 cr.) available if additional hours needed
• One-day on-site residency required for DNP project dissemination

MSN-DNP Admissions

Admission requires an MSN degree. A gap analysis is conducted for each applicant to determine the individualized plan of study.

• MSN degree from an accredited institution
• Valid RN license in Iowa or a compact state
• Minimum 3.0 GPA
• Two professional and/or academic letters of recommendation
• Professional goal essay (500 words or fewer)
• Resume or CV
• Official transcripts from all prior institutions
• Background check required ($45)
• Graduate application fee: $65
• Gap analysis conducted at admission to determine final course of study
• Rolling admissions — no fixed deadline

Post-Master’s Certificate – AGPCNP

The Post-Master’s Certificate AGPCNP at Morningside University is estimated at approximately ~$23,625 based on 35 credits at $675/credit. The program takes approximately 4 semesters to complete.

A gap analysis is conducted at admission to determine if any prerequisite or additional coursework is needed beyond the standard 35-credit curriculum.

Certificate Curriculum

The Post-Master’s Certificate totals 35 credit hours and 750 clinical practicum hours.

The curriculum is designed for MSN-prepared nurses who want to gain AGPCNP specialty certification.

It covers the full AGPCNP clinical sequence — pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment, adult primary care I and II, complex elderly care, health promotion, role development, role transition, and three clinical practicum courses.

Two on-site residencies are required: a three-day Advanced Practice Skills lab and a one-day Evidence-Based Capstone.

• NURS 517 – Advanced Pathophysiology (3 cr.)
• NURS 518 – Advanced Pharmacology (3 cr.)
• NURS 522 – Advanced Health Assessment (3 cr.)
• NURS 524 – Advanced Practice Skills — three-day on-site residency (1 cr.)
• NURS 651 – Advanced Role Development (3 cr.)
• NURS 653 – Health Promotion & Disease Prevention (2 cr.)
• NURS 655 – Adult Primary Care I (3 cr.)
• NURS 656 – Adult Primary Care II (3 cr.)
• NURS 669 – Complex Elderly Care (3 cr.)
• NURS 672 – Role Transition & Certification Prep (2 cr.)
• NURS 686 – Evidence-Based Capstone — one-day on-site residency (3 cr.)
• NURS 665 – AGNP Clinical Practicum I — 200–250 clinical hours (2 cr.)
• NURS 668 – AGNP Clinical Practicum II — 200–250 clinical hours (2 cr.)
• NURS 670 – AGNP Clinical Practicum III — 200–250 clinical hours (2 cr.)

View more curriculum details in the course catalog.

Certificate Clinicals

Certificate students complete 750 total clinical/practicum hours across three sequential practicum courses, each requiring 200–250 hours in adult-gerontology primary care settings. Two on-site residencies are also required.

• NURS 665 – AGNP Clinical Practicum I (200–250 hrs)
• NURS 668 – AGNP Clinical Practicum II (200–250 hrs)
• NURS 670 – AGNP Clinical Practicum III (200–250 hrs)
• Total: 750 clinical/practicum hours
• Three-day Advanced Practice Skills on-site residency (NURS 524)
• One-day Evidence-Based Capstone on-site residency (NURS 686)
• Clinical site-specific requirements such as drug testing are at the student’s expense

Certificate Admissions

Admission requires an MSN degree. A gap analysis determines the final plan of study. Rolling admissions apply.

• MSN degree from an accredited nursing program
• Valid RN license in Iowa or a compact state
• Minimum 3.0 GPA
• Two professional and/or academic letters of recommendation
• Professional goal essay (500 words or fewer)
• Resume or CV
• Official transcripts from all prior institutions
• Background check required ($45)
• Graduate application fee: $65
• Gap analysis conducted at admission to determine individualized course of study
• Rolling admissions — no fixed deadline

Tuition

Morningside University charges separate per-credit rates by program level:

• MSN and Post-Master’s Certificate: $675/credit hour
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP): $825/credit hour

Additional fees to budget for:

• Graduate Nursing application fee: $65 (waived for Direct Admission applicants)
• Background check: $45
• Immunization tracking services: $35
• NURS 524 class fee: $175
• HIPAA training: $20/year
• OSHA training: $20/year
• Graduate Nursing technology fee: $225/term (fall and spring)
• Graduation fee: $150
• Textbooks and technology learning resources: ~$600–800/semester (estimated)
• Any clinical site-specific requirements (e.g., drug testing) are at the student’s expense

See the official tuition page for more details.

Accreditation

Morningside University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The graduate nursing programs hold full approval from the Iowa Board of Nursing.

Graduates of the MSN, DNP, and Post-Master’s Certificate AGPCNP tracks are eligible to sit for national certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).

Morningside’s online graduate nursing program was ranked #41 nationally by U.S. News & World Report in 2020. Specific CCNE or ACEN programmatic nursing accreditation is not explicitly stated in the available source materials — contact the Nylen School of Nursing & Health Sciences directly to confirm current accreditation status before applying.

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