James Madison University AGPCNP Programs

James Madison University School of Nursing offers three Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:

• MSN – AGPCNP
• BSN-DNP – AGPCNP
• MSN-DNP – AGPCNP

All three tracks are hybrid — NP diagnosis and management courses and practicum seminars meet in person on Wednesdays; approximately half of remaining coursework is online.

Program Tracks Overview

Clinical placements are assisted by a dedicated program coordinator. The MSN AGPCNP reports a 96% certification pass rate overall and 100% since 2020. Small cohort sizes allow frequent collaboration with faculty. JMU alumni receive guaranteed admission when minimum requirements are met.

MSN – AGPCNP

The MSN AGPCNP at James Madison University is estimated at approximately ~$30,820 for Virginia residents or ~$64,906 for out-of-state students.

Estimates based on 46 credits at the effective rate of $670/credit (in-state) or $1,411/credit (out-of-state), including the $97/credit NSG differential tuition surcharge.

On a full-time basis, the program takes 2 years to complete. Part-time students complete the program in 3 years. Full-time students begin in summer; part-time students begin in fall.

MSN Curriculum

The MSN AGPCNP totals 46 credit hours organized in two parts:

• MSN core (21 cr.): Covers advanced health assessment, pathophysiology, pharmacotherapeutics, nursing research, theoretical foundations, epidemiology, and health policy.
• AGPCNP concentration (25 cr.): Builds through care delivery and coordination across adult populations, coordinated care of the elderly, female reproductive health, advanced nursing role development, and three NP practicum courses.

The program meets the competencies outlined by NONPF and AACN.

MSN Core Courses (21 cr.):

• NSG 520 – Advanced Health Assessment (3 cr.)
• NSG 521 – Advanced Concepts in Pathophysiology (3 cr.)
• NSG 522 – Advanced Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics (3 cr.)
• NSG 611 – Research for the Advanced Health Professional (3 cr.)
• NSG 612 – Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing (3 cr.)
• NSG 690 – Epidemiology and Population Assessment (3 cr.)
• NSG 692 – Health Policy for Practice and Advocacy (3 cr.)

AGPCNP Concentration Courses (25 cr.):

• NSG 630 – Care Delivery and Coordination I (3 cr.)
• NSG 631 – Care Delivery and Coordination II (3 cr.)
• NSG 632 – Coordinated Care of the Elderly (3 cr.)
• NSG 634 – Advanced Nursing Role Development (1 cr.)
• NSG 636 – Care Delivery and Coordination: Female Reproductive Health (2 cr.)
• NSG 671 – NP Practicum I (3 cr. / 180 clinical hours)
• NSG 672 – NP Practicum II (5 cr. / 300 clinical hours)
• NSG 673 – NP Practicum III (5 cr. / 300 clinical hours)

View more curriculum details in the course catalog.

MSN Clinicals

MSN students complete 780 total clinical practicum hours across three sequential NP practicum courses. A dedicated program coordinator assists all students with clinical placements. Students should expect to spend approximately 2–3 days per week at practicum sites in addition to Wednesday on-campus classes.

• NSG 671 – NP Practicum I (180 clinical hours)
• NSG 672 – NP Practicum II (300 clinical hours)
• NSG 673 – NP Practicum III (300 clinical hours)
• Total: 780 clinical practicum hours
• Dedicated program coordinator assists with placement identification
• State-of-the-art simulation lab used for clinical preparation
• ⚠️ Clinical practicum occurs on days other than Wednesdays — students should plan for 2–3 additional days per week in clinical settings

MSN Admissions

Admission is competitive. The application process requires two separate applications — one to the JMU Graduate School and one to NursingCAS. GRE is not required. Interviews for NP applicants are held in January.

• BSN or bachelor’s degree in another field from an accredited institution (ADN + non-nursing bachelor’s accepted; transcript analysis may add up to 11 credits)
• Minimum 2.8 cumulative GPA (3.0 preferred for AGPCNP)
• Current, unencumbered Virginia RN license or compact state RN license
• Minimum 1 year of full-time RN experience required before beginning the NP program
• Undergraduate or graduate statistics course (grade of C or higher)
• Current CPR certification
• Two professional letters of recommendation (supervisors, professors, or healthcare team members; family/friends discouraged)
• Personal statement and professional goals
• Resume or CV
• Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions (submitted via NursingCAS)
• Interview required for top candidates (held in January)
• Criminal background and sexual offender check required prior to enrollment
• Health documentation required
• GRE not required
• Apply to JMU Graduate School AND NursingCAS — two separate applications required
• ⚠️ JMU alumni receive guaranteed admission when minimum requirements are met
• Application deadline: January 6 | Summer or fall start

BSN-DNP – AGPCNP

The BSN-DNP AGPCNP at James Madison University is estimated at approximately ~$51,590 for Virginia residents or ~$81,620 for out-of-state students.

Estimates based on 77 credits at the effective rate of $670/credit (in-state) or $1,060/credit (out-of-state), including the $97/credit NSG differential tuition surcharge.

The program takes 3 years full-time (9 semesters) to complete.

Full-time employment during the BSN-DNP is not recommended — the program expects approximately 40 hours per week of course and practicum commitment.

The BSN-DNP does not award an MSN — graduates receive a DNP only.

BSN-DNP Curriculum

The BSN-DNP AGPCNP totals 77 credit hours organized in two parts:

• Required core (65 cr.): Covers advanced assessment, pathophysiology, pharmacotherapeutics, nursing research, theoretical foundations, care delivery and coordination across adult populations, coordinated care of the elderly, female reproductive health, organizational behavior, epidemiology, health policy, analytical methods, scholarly inquiry, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and a DNP project sequence.
• AGPCNP concentration (12 cr.): Adds three advanced practicum courses and one NSG elective.

Students complete 650 clinical hours in the AGPCNP concentration, plus additional DNP-level practicum hours to reach the 1,000-hour total requirement.

Required Courses (65 cr.):

• NSG 520 – Advanced Health Assessment (3 cr.)
• NSG 521 – Advanced Concepts in Pathophysiology (3 cr.)
• NSG 522 – Advanced Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics (3 cr.)
• NSG 611 – Research for the Advanced Health Professional (3 cr.)
• NSG 612 – Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing (3 cr.)
• NSG 630 – Care Delivery and Coordination I (3 cr.)
• NSG 631 – Care Delivery and Coordination II (3 cr.)
• NSG 632 – Coordinated Care of the Elderly (3 cr.)
• NSG 634 – Advanced Nursing Role Development (1 cr.)
• NSG 636 – Care Delivery and Coordination: Female Reproductive Health (2 cr.)
• NSG 650 – Organizational Behavior in Health Care (3 cr.)
• NSG 671 – NP Practicum I (3 cr.)
• NSG 672 – NP Practicum II (5 cr.)
• NSG 673 – NP Practicum III (5 cr.)
• NSG 690 – Epidemiology and Population Assessment (3 cr.)
• NSG 692 – Health Policy for Practice and Advocacy (3 cr.)
• NSG 711 – Analytical Methods for Health Care (3 cr.)
• NSG 712 – Methods of Scholarly Inquiry (3 cr.)
• NSG 713 – Evidence Based Practice: Clinical Prevention and Population Health Promotion (3 cr.)
• NSG 714 – Improving Health Outcomes Through Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (3 cr.)
• NSG 800 – Dissemination of Nursing Scholarship (3 cr.)
• NSG 801 – Doctoral Project Completion, Evaluation and Dissemination (1 cr.)

AGPCNP Concentration Courses (12 cr.):

• NSG 771 – Advanced Practicum I (1–5 cr., must earn minimum 9 cr. total across practicum courses)
• NSG 772 – Advanced Practicum II (1–5 cr.)
• NSG 773 – Advanced Practicum III (1–5 cr.)
• One NSG elective course excluding NSG 635 (3 cr.)

View more curriculum details in the course catalog.

BSN-DNP Clinicals

BSN-DNP AGPCNP students complete 650 clinical practicum hours in the AGPCNP concentration sequence and additional DNP-level advanced practicum hours to reach the 1,000 total practice hour requirement.

A dedicated program coordinator assists with clinical placements.

• NSG 671–673 – NP Practicum I, II, III (concentration clinical hours)
• NSG 771–773 – Advanced Practicum I, II, III (DNP-level practicum hours)
• Total: 1,000 course-related practice hours required
• AGPCNP concentration: 650 clinical hours
• Dedicated program coordinator assists with placement identification

BSN-DNP Admissions

Admission requires a BSN and a minimum 3.2 GPA. The BSN-DNP offers spring admission only, with a November 1 application deadline.

Two separate applications are required — JMU Graduate School and NursingCAS.

• BSN from a nationally accredited institution
• Minimum 3.2 GPA
• Current, unencumbered RN license
• Health documentation and current CPR certification
• Two letters of recommendation
• Statement of professional goals and its relationship to the mission of the School of Nursing and scholarly inquiry focus
• Resume or CV
• Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions (submitted via NursingCAS)
• Interview may be required
• Criminal background and sexual offender check required prior to enrollment
• GRE not required
• Apply to JMU Graduate School AND NursingCAS — two separate applications required
• Application deadline: November 1 | Spring start only

MSN-DNP – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

The MSN-DNP AGPCNP at James Madison University is estimated at approximately $26,800–$30,820 for Virginia residents or $42,400–$48,760 for out-of-state students.

Estimates based on 40–46 credits at the effective rate of $670/credit (in-state) or $1,060/credit (out-of-state), including the $97/credit NSG differential tuition surcharge. The credit range depends on prior MSN coursework and practice hours — a gap analysis is conducted at admission to determine the individualized plan of study.

Full-time completion takes approximately 2 years (5–6 semesters); part-time takes approximately 3 years (7 semesters). Spring and fall starts are available.

MSN-DNP Curriculum

The MSN-DNP totals 40–46 credit hours — 21 credits of required DNP core courses, 9 credits of practicum (variable based on gap analysis), a 3-credit doctoral project completion course, a 1-credit dissemination course, and 6 credits of focused cognate courses.

A gap analysis of prior MSN coursework and practice hours is conducted upon admission to determine whether fewer practicum credits are needed and whether cognate courses replace practicum hours.

Up to 9 credits may be transferred in; the minimum of 40 credits must still be earned at JMU.

Required DNP Core Courses (21 cr.):

• NSG 650 – Organizational Behavior in Health Care (3 cr.)
• NSG 690 – Epidemiology and Population Assessment (3 cr.)
• NSG 692 – Health Policy for Practice and Advocacy (3 cr.)
• NSG 711 – Analytical Methods for Health Care (3 cr.)
• NSG 712 – Methods of Scholarly Inquiry (3 cr.)
• NSG 713 – Evidence Based Practice: Clinical Prevention and Population Health Promotion (3 cr.)
• NSG 714 – Improving Health Outcomes Through Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (3 cr.)

Practicum Courses (variable, up to 15 cr. based on gap analysis):

• NSG 771 – Advanced Practicum I (1–5 cr.)
• NSG 772 – Advanced Practicum II (1–5 cr.)
• NSG 773 – Advanced Practicum III (1–5 cr.)

Doctoral Project and Cognate Courses:

• NSG 800 – Dissemination of Nursing Scholarship (3 cr.)
• NSG 801 – Doctoral Project Completion, Evaluation and Dissemination (1 cr.)
• Focused Cognate Courses (6 cr.) — determined in consultation with faculty advisor; may be taken any semester including summer

View more curriculum details in the course catalog.

MSN-DNP Clinicals

MSN-DNP students must reach a total of 1,000 course-related practice hours. A gap analysis evaluates prior MSN practice hours; the number of advanced practicum credits required is determined accordingly.

If fewer than 9 credits of practicum are needed, cognate courses may replace additional practicum hours to satisfy the 40-credit minimum.

• NSG 771–773 – Advanced Practicum I, II, III (variable credit hours based on gap analysis)
• Total: 1,000 course-related practice hours required (prior MSN hours credited toward this total)
• Dedicated program coordinator assists with placement identification
• Most students who work full-time enroll part-time

MSN-DNP Admissions

Admission requires an MSN and a preferred minimum 3.2 GPA. Both full-time and part-time options are available. Spring and fall starts are offered. Two separate applications required — JMU Graduate School and NursingCAS.

• Master’s degree in nursing (or other field) from a regionally accredited institution
• Minimum 3.2 GPA preferred for graduate work
• Current, unencumbered RN license in the state where clinical practica will occur
• APRN certification required for APRN applicants (CNS, NP, CNM, CNL, or CRNA in specialty area)
• Undergraduate or graduate statistics course
• Current CPR certification and health documentation
• Two letters of recommendation (strong professional references; at least one academic; one current within last 2 years; doctorally prepared nurse encouraged as one recommender)
• Personal statement in APA format (500 words or fewer) addressing: why this program, plans upon completion, and how work/life experience will enhance success
• Resume or CV
• APRN certification card (for APRN applicants)
• Official transcripts from all institutions attended (submitted via NursingCAS)
• Interview required (conducted by DNP Coordinator and at least one DNP faculty member; may occur at any point in application process)
• Criminal background and sexual offender check required prior to enrollment
• GRE not required
• Apply to JMU Graduate School AND NursingCAS — two separate applications required
• JMU alumni receive guaranteed admission when minimum requirements are met
• Spring start: November 1 deadline | Fall start: March 15 deadline

Tuition

JMU charges a base per-credit rate plus a $97/credit differential tuition surcharge for all courses with an NSG prefix, effective Fall 2025. All three AGPCNP tracks consist entirely of NSG-prefix courses. Here is how the effective rates break down:

• MSN AGPCNP — Virginia residents: $573 base + $97 differential = $670/credit
• MSN AGPCNP — out-of-state: $1,314 base + $97 differential = $1,411/credit
• BSN-DNP and MSN-DNP — Virginia residents: $573 base + $97 differential = $670/credit
• BSN-DNP and MSN-DNP — out-of-state: $963 base + $97 differential = $1,060/credit

Criminal background and sexual offender checks are at the student’s expense. Students are responsible for any clinical site-specific requirements. Use JMU’s Cost of Attendance Calculator for a full program estimate.

See the official tuition page for more details.

Accreditation

The MSN AGPCNP program meets the competencies outlined by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).

The DNP program prepares graduates to demonstrate the competencies delineated in the AACN’s Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Practice Nursing.

Graduates of both the MSN and DNP AGPCNP tracks are eligible to sit for national certification through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

The MSN AGPCNP reports a 96% overall certification pass rate and 100% since 2020. Specific programmatic nursing accreditation (CCNE or ACEN) is not explicitly confirmed in the available source materials — contact the JMU School of Nursing directly to confirm current accreditation status before applying.

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