Program Tracks Overview
LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans offers 2 Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:
- BSN-DNP
- Post-Master’s DNP (two sub-pathways: same role/population, or adding new APRN role)
Both tracks are delivered in person at the New Orleans campus; this is not an online or hybrid program.
- The BSN-DNP is the primary entry point for BSN-prepared nurses and follows a structured full-time schedule.
- The post-master’s pathways are available full-time or part-time and are individualized based on prior experience
- Dual-concentration plans (complete AGPCNP alongside a second NP specialty) are available to qualifying students
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| BSN-DNP AGPCNP | ~$62K | 3 years |
| Post-Master’s DNP AGPCNP | ~$34K+ (variable) | 1.5–3.5 years |
LSUHSC-NO is one of the few programs where AGPCNP students can earn dual NP certification in a single program — at public university tuition rates among the lowest for a health sciences center DNP.
BSN-DNP AGPCNP
The estimated cost for the BSN-DNP Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans is approximately $62,000 in-state or $109,000 out-of-state (tuition and fees).
The program takes 3 years (9 semesters) to complete on a full-time basis.
DNP Curriculum
The BSN-DNP AGPCNP requires 86 total credits (current curriculum for students starting Summer 2025 and after) and is structured across three years of full-time study.
Year one builds DNP core and APRN foundations: organizational and systems leadership, advanced nursing practice foundations, epidemiology, biostatistics, pharmacology, pathophysiology, research methodology, advanced health assessment, pharmacotherapeutics, diagnostic procedures, and nursing theory.
Year two is the clinical core: three specialty-focused courses covering adult populations and episodic disease, vulnerable populations and chronic disease, and gerontology and reproductive health, each integrating didactic, lab, and practicum hours. Year two also includes health outcomes and information systems and evidence-based practice.
Year three shifts to the DNP scholarly project sequence — development, implementation, and evaluation/dissemination — paired with advanced nursing practicums and a health policy course, culminating in a role transition course.
The program includes 1,080 total practicum hours.
Year 1 courses:
- NURS 7103 – Organization and Systems Leadership (4 cr)
- NURS 7105 – Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr)
- NURS 6324 – Introduction to Epidemiology (3 cr)
- BSDS 6100 – Biostatistical Methods in Nursing (3 cr)
- HLSC 6409 – Advanced Pharmacology (3 cr)
- HLSC 6410 – Advanced Pathophysiology (3 cr)
- NURS 7203 – Research Design and Methodology (3 cr)
- NURS 6315 – Advanced Health Assessment (5 cr; 3.5 didactic, 1.5 lab)
- NURS 7709 – Advanced Practice Nursing Primary Care Pharmacotherapeutics Across the Lifespan (2 cr)
- NURS 7708 – Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures and Tests for Advanced Primary Care Nursing Practice Across the Lifespan (3 cr; 2 didactic, 1 lab)
- NURS 7101 – Theoretical and Philosophical Foundations of Nursing (3 cr)
Year 2 courses:
- NURS 7716 – Primary Care NP I: Adult Populations and Episodic Disease Management (7 cr; 3 didactic, 1 lab, 3 practicum)
- NURS 7717 – Adult/Gerontology PCNP II: Vulnerable Populations and Chronic Disease Management (8 cr; 3 didactic, 1 lab, 4 practicum)
- NURS 7109 – Health Outcomes: Information Systems, Measurement, Analysis and Management (3 cr)
- NURS 7481 – Evidence-Based Practice for Advanced Nursing Practice (4 cr)
- NURS 7719 – Adult/Gerontology PCNP III: Gerontology and Reproductive Health (9 cr; 3 didactic, 1 lab, 5 practicum)
Year 3 courses:
- NURS 7110 – Scholarly Project I: Project Development (3 cr)
- NURS 7021 – Advanced Nursing Practicum I (1 cr)
- NURS 7120 – Scholarly Project II: Implementation (3 cr)
- NURS 7022 – Advanced Nursing Practicum II (2 cr)
- NURS 7306 – Health Policy and Politics (3 cr)
- NURS 7130 – Scholarly Project III: Project Evaluation and Dissemination (3 cr)
- NURS 7023 – Advanced Nursing Practicum III (2 cr)
- NURS 7950 – Role Transition into Professional NP Practice (3 cr; 2 didactic, 1 practicum)
DNP Clinicals
The BSN-DNP AGPCNP requires 1,080 total practicum hours distributed across the specialty core courses and the Year 3 advanced nursing practicum series. Clinical settings include community-based clinics and urgent care settings, with a focus on the advanced assessment, diagnosis, and management of patients from middle adolescence through the adult lifespan.
- Total practicum hours: 1,080
- NURS 7716 – 3 practicum credits (Year 2 Summer)
- NURS 7717 – 4 practicum credits (Year 2 Fall)
- NURS 7719 – 5 practicum credits (Year 2 Spring)
- NURS 7021 / 7022 / 7023 – Advanced Nursing Practicum I, II, III (1 + 2 + 2 credits; Year 3)
- NURS 7950 – Role Transition practicum component (1 credit; Year 3 Spring)
- Clinical learning methods include lectures, seminars, case studies, presentations, and simulation
- Practicum experiences may occur on weekdays, weekends, and evening/night shifts — students should plan accordingly
- Clinical placement details (preceptor sourcing, site arrangement) are not fully specified on the official program page — contact the program directly for current policies
DNP Admissions
The BSN-DNP AGPCNP requires a BSN from a specialized nursing-accredited program; applications are submitted through NursingCAS.
- BSN or BSN equivalent required (note: BSN equivalent without a conferred master’s degree does not meet the requirement)
- Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions
- Cumulative GPA: 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all undergraduate and graduate coursework
- Current unencumbered RN license in any state, with eligibility for Louisiana licensure
- Three letters of reference submitted by deadline: at least one from a peer, one from a nurse practitioner, and one from a nursing supervisor
- Successful completion of the interview process
- BLS (Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers) certification
- $100 non-refundable application fee (paid separately from NursingCAS)
- TOEFL minimum: 550 paper-based / 79–80 internet-based (required for non-native English speakers or non-U.S. program graduates)
- International transcripts must be evaluated by an accredited credentialing service (WES or ECE recommended)
- Letter of academic good standing required if applicant attended a previous nursing program without degree conferral
- Summer entry deadline: January 31
- Holistic admissions review; faculty evaluate experiences, attributes, and metrics (EAMs) individually
Post-Master’s DNP AGPCNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s DNP in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner at LSUHSC-NO begins at approximately $34,000 in-state for the minimum 35-credit same-role pathway; the add-new-role pathway is variable based on a gap analysis conducted at admission.
Program length ranges from approximately 1.5 years (4 full-time semesters) to 3.5 years (7 part-time semesters) depending on the pathway and enrollment pace.
Post-Master’s DNP Curriculum
Two post-master’s pathways are available.
The same-role pathway is for nurses who hold a master’s degree and current APRN certification in the same role and population; it requires a minimum of 35 credits and focuses on completing DNP-level competencies not covered in the master’s program.
The add-new-role pathway is for board-certified APRNs who want to add the AGPCNP specialty to their existing certification; it incorporates specialty-specific clinical coursework and advanced nursing practicum credits in addition to the DNP core.
Both pathways are individualized based on a gap analysis at admission.
- Same-role pathway: minimum 35 credits; 4 full-time or 7 part-time semesters; maximum 8 years to complete
- Add-new-role pathway: variable credits based on gap analysis; must include AGPCNP specialty courses and advanced nursing practicum series
- All students must complete a minimum of 1,000 post-baccalaureate practice hours total; minimum 180 new practicum hours (3 credit hours) required for same-role pathway
- Students without verified completion of the APRN “3 P’s” must add: HLSC 6410 Advanced Pathophysiology (3 cr), HLSC 6409 Advanced Pharmacology (3 cr), NURS 7709 or 7909 Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics (2 cr), and NURS 6315 Advanced Health Assessment (5 cr)
- Specific plan of study is determined at admission; contact the program for an individualized estimate
Post-Master’s DNP Clinicals
Practicum hour requirements for the post-master’s pathways are individualized based on clinical hours completed during the master’s program.
All students must achieve a minimum of 1,000 total post-baccalaureate practice hours, with at least 180 new practicum hours required for the same-role pathway.
- Minimum new practicum hours (same-role): 180 hours (3 credit hours)
- Total post-baccalaureate practice hours required: 1,000
- Add-new-role pathway: additional clinical hours in AGPCNP specialty settings required (hours vary per plan of study)
- Exact clinical requirements determined at admission through gap analysis — contact the program directly
Post-Master’s DNP Admissions
Post-master’s applicants must hold a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing; admission requirements otherwise mirror the BSN-DNP track.
- Master’s degree (MSN or MN) in nursing required; applicants with non-APRN master’s degrees (CNL, healthcare management, nursing education) must apply via the BSN-DNP pathway
- Current APRN certification required for same-role pathway; current board certification required for add-new-role pathway
- Cumulative GPA: 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Current unencumbered RN license with eligibility for Louisiana licensure
- Three letters of reference (peer, NP, nursing supervisor)
- Interview required
- BLS certification
- $100 non-refundable application fee
- Applied via NursingCAS; Summer entry deadline: January 31
- Verification of clinical hours and 3 P’s coursework required at admission
Tuition
LSUHSC-NO charges flat-rate semester tuition for full-time DNP students and per-credit-hour rates for part-time enrollment.
Full-time DNP resident tuition and fees run approximately $8,755 per Fall or Spring semester and $4,397 per Summer semester; non-resident rates run approximately $15,296 per Fall or Spring and $7,670 per Summer.
Part-time DNP rates are $973 per credit hour for residents and $1,700 per credit hour for non-residents (Fall/Spring), and $733 per credit hour for residents and $1,278 per credit hour for non-residents (Summer).
There is no resident tuition benefit gained after one year as at some public programs — residency status is established at the time of application.