Barnes-Jewish College AGPCNP Programs

Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing • St. Louis, MO • Online

Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing offers 3 Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:

  • MSN AGPCNP
  • BSN/MSN-to-DNP AGPCNP
  • Post-Master’s Certificate AGPCNP

All three tracks use a year-round three-term academic calendar and are based in St. Louis, with clinical experiences in the local area. Theory courses are taught online; clinical experiences are in-person. Faculty assist students in securing clinical sites and preceptors, and preceptorships are guaranteed for doctoral students.

The MSN and DNP both accept rolling admissions with fall and spring start terms; the certificate accepts summer and fall starts.

Program Tracks Overview

ProgramEst. TuitionEst. Duration
MSN AGPCNP~$40K~27 months (7 terms)
BSN/MSN-DNP AGPCNP~$55K~3 years (9 terms)
Post-Master’s Certificate AGPCNP~$29K+~3 terms minimum

Goldfarb is the only program in this comparison where preceptorships are guaranteed for doctoral students — with faculty-assisted placement support across all AGPCNP tracks and direct access to the Barnes-Jewish clinical network, one of the nation’s leading academic medical center systems.

MSN AGPCNP

The estimated cost for the MSN Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner at Goldfarb School of Nursing is approximately $40,000.

Estimate based on 45 credits × $834/credit + $210 track fee + 7 terms × $375/term.

The program takes approximately 27 months (7 terms) to complete.

MSN Curriculum

The MSN AGPCNP requires 45 total credits across seven to eight terms, structured in sequential two-course blocks.

Core foundation courses cover health promotion theory and population health, scholarly writing and evidence-based practice, health systems policy, leadership and collaboration for quality and safety, pharmacotherapeutics, and professional aspects of advanced practice nursing.

Clinical preparation courses add advanced pathophysiology, skills and procedures for the primary care NP, and advanced health assessment. Notably, the MSN includes NURS 6240 Systems-Based Practice and DNP Project I — a doctoral-level project course embedded in the master’s curriculum that positions students well for a future DNP.

The specialty clinical sequence runs across the final three terms through three progressive primary care courses and their paired clinical courses.

Foundation and core courses:

  • NURS 6420 – Health Promotion Theory and Population Health (3 cr)
  • NURS 6523 – Foundations of Scholarly Writing and Evidence-Based Practice (3 cr)
  • NURS 6327 – Health Systems Policy (3 cr)
  • NURS 6500 – Leadership and Collaboration for Quality and Safety (3 cr)
  • NURS 5110 – Pharmacotherapeutics (3 cr)
  • NURS 6328 – Professional Aspects of Advanced Practice Nursing (3 cr)
  • NURS 5101 – Advanced Pathophysiology for Primary Care (3 cr)
  • NURS 6122 – Skills and Procedures for the Primary Care NP (3 cr)
  • NURS 5121 – Advanced Health Assessment (3 cr)
  • NURS 6240 – Systems-Based Practice and DNP Project I (3 cr)

AGPCNP specialty and clinical courses:

  • NURS 5805 – Primary Care I (3 cr)
  • NURS 5808 – Primary Care I Clinical (3 cr, 180 hrs)
  • NURS 5965 – Primary Care II (3 cr)
  • NURS 5968 – Primary Care II Clinical (3 cr, 180 hrs)
  • NURS 5970 – Primary Care III Clinical (3 cr, 180 hrs)

MSN Clinicals

The MSN AGPCNP includes 540 clinical hours across three clinical courses (at 60 hours per credit), completed in clinics, physicians’ offices, and primary care settings in the St. Louis area.

Faculty assist students in securing appropriate clinical sites and preceptors. The on-campus Clinical Simulation Institute provides simulation preparation prior to clinical rotations.

  • Total clinical hours: 540 (9 clinical credits × 60 hours/credit)
  • NURS 5808 – Primary Care I Clinical: 180 hours
  • NURS 5968 – Primary Care II Clinical: 180 hours
  • NURS 5970 – Primary Care III Clinical: 180 hours
  • Settings: clinics, physicians’ offices, and primary care settings in the St. Louis area
  • Faculty assist students in securing clinical sites and preceptors
  • On-campus Clinical Simulation Institute available for skills preparation prior to clinical rotations

MSN Admissions

The MSN AGPCNP requires a BSN from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA minimum; rolling admission with spring, summer, and fall starts.

  • BSN from a regionally accredited institution required
  • Minimum cumulative GPA: 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all undergraduate coursework
  • Current unencumbered, unrestricted Missouri RN licensure or a multi-state compact license in good standing
  • Current BLS provider status
  • Official transcripts from all institutions where credit was earned
  • Current CV or resume
  • Two letters of reference addressing academic and clinical potential
  • Personal statement addressing desired specialization, personal attributes, and career goals
  • Rolling admission; spring, summer, and fall start terms available
  • Application deadline for fall: July 31; for spring: November 30
  • International applicants: TOEFL IBT minimum 85 (21 reading, 23 writing) or equivalent

BSN/MSN-to-DNP AGPCNP

The estimated cost for the DNP Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner at Goldfarb School of Nursing is approximately $55,000.

Estimate based on 54 credits × $950/credit including the $116 DNP course surcharge + $230 track fee + 9 terms × $355/term.

The program takes approximately 3 years (9 terms) to complete.

DNP Curriculum

The BSN/MSN-to-DNP AGPCNP requires 54 total credits across nine terms. The program is open to both BSN-prepared and MSN-prepared registered nurses; credit for prior MSN coursework may be evaluated on an individual basis.

The DNP curriculum mirrors the MSN foundational sequence with one key substitution: NURS 6325 (Healthcare Informatics, Economics, and Financial Principles) replaces the MSN’s pharmacology course in Term 4, and the skills and procedures course is moved into the clinical phase.

The specialty clinical sequence runs across Terms 6–8, identical to the MSN.

The DNP extends beyond the MSN with two additional doctoral project courses — Systems-Based Practice and DNP Project II and III — completing the scholarly project sequence. A three-course DNP project arc (NURS 6240, 6245, 6250) runs across the program.

DNP core courses (first four terms):

  • NURS 6420 – Health Promotion Theory and Population Health (3 cr)
  • NURS 6523 – Foundations of Scholarly Writing and Evidence-Based Practice (3 cr)
  • NURS 6327 – Health Systems Policy (3 cr)
  • NURS 6500 – Leadership and Collaboration for Quality and Safety (3 cr)
  • NURS 5110 – Pharmacotherapeutics (3 cr)
  • NURS 6328 – Professional Aspects of Advanced Practice Nursing (3 cr)
  • NURS 5101 – Advanced Pathophysiology for Primary Care (3 cr)
  • NURS 6325 – Healthcare Informatics, Economics, and Financial Principles (3 cr)

Clinical preparation and specialty courses:

  • NURS 5121 – Advanced Health Assessment (3 cr)
  • NURS 6240 – Systems-Based Practice and DNP Project I (3 cr)
  • NURS 5805 – Primary Care I (3 cr)
  • NURS 5808 – Primary Care I Clinical (3 cr, 180 hrs)
  • NURS 6122 – Skills and Procedures for the Primary Care NP (3 cr)
  • NURS 5965 – Primary Care II (3 cr)
  • NURS 5968 – Primary Care II Clinical (3 cr, 180 hrs)
  • NURS 5970 – Primary Care III Clinical (3 cr, 180 hrs)

DNP project completion courses (Term 9):

  • NURS 6245 – Systems-Based Practice and DNP Project II (3 cr)
  • NURS 6250 – Systems-Based Practice and DNP Project III (3 cr)

DNP Clinicals

The DNP AGPCNP includes 540 clinical hours across three clinical courses, identical to the MSN clinical sequence, plus additional scholarly project practicum hours embedded in the DNP Project coursework.

Preceptorships are guaranteed for doctoral students. Faculty assist with securing clinical sites in the St. Louis area.

  • Total direct clinical hours from clinical courses: 540 (9 clinical credits × 60 hours/credit)
  • NURS 5808 – Primary Care I Clinical: 180 hours
  • NURS 5968 – Primary Care II Clinical: 180 hours
  • NURS 5970 – Primary Care III Clinical: 180 hours
  • Additional practicum hours through DNP project courses (NURS 6245, 6250)
  • Preceptorships guaranteed for doctoral students
  • Faculty assist in securing appropriate clinical sites and preceptors
  • Settings: clinics, primary care settings, and specialty care services in the St. Louis area

DNP Admissions

The DNP AGPCNP is open to both BSN- and MSN-prepared registered nurses with a minimum 3.0 GPA; fall and spring starts available.

  • BSN from a regionally accredited institution required (MSN-prepared nurses also eligible; prior coursework evaluated individually)
  • Minimum cumulative GPA: 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all undergraduate coursework
  • Current unencumbered, unrestricted Missouri RN licensure or multi-state compact license in good standing
  • Current BLS provider status
  • Official transcripts from all institutions attended
  • Current CV or resume
  • Two letters of reference addressing academic skills or clinical competence (preferably one from a doctorally prepared nurse)
  • One two-page essay
  • Copy of current unencumbered RN license
  • Copy of APRN license if required in home state (for MSN-prepared applicants)
  • Copy of APRN national board certification if applicable (for MSN-prepared applicants)
  • Application deadline for fall: July 31; for spring: November 30
  • Rolling admission; fall and spring start terms

Post-Master’s Certificate AGPCNP

The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s Certificate in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner at Goldfarb School of Nursing begins at approximately $29,000.

Estimate based on 33 credits × $834/credit + $150 track fee + 3 terms × $495/term).

The program takes approximately 3 terms to complete the core clinical sequence.

Prior graduate coursework is evaluated through a gap analysis; courses with equivalent coverage may be waived, reducing the total credit and cost requirement.

Certificate Curriculum

The post-master’s certificate totals 33 credits in full, organized as a core 3-term clinical sequence (18 credits) plus additional required courses (15 credits) that may be waived after a gap analysis based on the student’s prior MSN or DNP coursework.

Students who already hold a different APRN certification submit course syllabi for evaluation. The clinical sequence runs Primary Care I, II, and III across three terms, with the skills and procedures course integrated in the first term.

The additional required courses cover pharmacotherapeutics, advanced pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, health promotion theory, and professional aspects of APRN practice.

Core 3-term clinical sequence (18 credits — required for all students):

  • Term 1: NURS 5805 – Primary Care I (3 cr), NURS 5808 – Primary Care I Clinical (3 cr, 180 hrs), NURS 6122 – Skills and Procedures for the Primary Care NP (3 cr)
  • Term 2: NURS 5965 – Primary Care II (3 cr), NURS 5968 – Primary Care II Clinical (3 cr, 180 hrs)
  • Term 3: NURS 5970 – Primary Care III Clinical (3 cr, 180 hrs)

Additional required courses (15 credits — may be waived after gap analysis):

  • NURS 5110 – Pharmacotherapeutics (3 cr)
  • NURS 5101 – Advanced Pathophysiology for Primary Care (3 cr)
  • NURS 5121 – Advanced Health Assessment (3 cr)
  • NURS 6420 – Health Promotion Theory and Population Health (3 cr)
  • NURS 6328 – Professional Aspects of Advanced Practice Nursing (3 cr)

Certificate Clinicals

The certificate requires 540 clinical hours across the three primary care clinical courses (180 hours each, at 60 hours per credit). Clinical experiences are conducted in clinics, primary care settings, and specialty care services in the St. Louis area. All clinical compliance documentation is required before clinical courses begin.

  • Total clinical hours: 540 (3 clinical courses × 3 credits × 60 hrs/credit)
  • NURS 5808 – Primary Care I Clinical: 180 hours
  • NURS 5968 – Primary Care II Clinical: 180 hours
  • NURS 5970 – Primary Care III Clinical: 180 hours
  • Settings: clinics, primary care settings, and specialty care services in the St. Louis area
  • All clinical compliance requirements and documentation required before beginning clinical courses

Certificate Admissions

The post-master’s certificate requires an MSN, DNP, or PhD from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 graduate GPA; summer and fall starts available.

  • MSN, DNP, or PhD from a regionally accredited institution required
  • Minimum cumulative GPA: 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all graduate coursework
  • Current unencumbered, unrestricted Missouri RN licensure or multi-state compact license in good standing
  • Current BLS provider status
  • Official transcripts from all institutions where credit was earned
  • Current CV or resume
  • Two letters of reference addressing academic and clinical potential
  • Personal statement addressing desired specialization, personal attributes, and career goals
  • Course syllabi required for any courses submitted for gap analysis consideration
  • Certificate program students must complete all coursework within 3 years of enrollment
  • Application deadline for fall: July 31; for spring: November 30
  • Summer and fall start terms available

Tuition

Goldfarb School of Nursing charges $834 per credit for MSN, post-graduate certificate, and base DNP tuition (2026–27 rates).

DNP students pay an additional $116 per credit DNP course surcharge, bringing the effective DNP rate to $950 per credit.

Program-specific fees are charged both as a one-time track fee at the start of the first term and as a recurring per-term fee: MSN AGPCNP students pay $210 (track) + $375/term; DNP AGPCNP students pay $230 (track) + $355/term; certificate AGPCNP students pay $150 (track) + $495/term. BJC employee tuition assistance is available for employees of the BJC Health System.

Students should also budget for textbooks, transportation to clinical sites, parking, and health and liability insurance; graduate students are expected to provide their own otoscope/ophthalmoscope and professional-quality stethoscope. Goldfarb reserves the right to adjust tuition and fees at any time.

See the official tuition and fees page for more details.

Accreditation

The baccalaureate, master’s, DNP, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

The college is also accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and holds full approval from the Missouri State Board of Nursing. Graduates of all AGPCNP tracks are eligible to sit for the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner certification examination.

Review Other AGPCNP Programs in Missouri