Bradley University AGPCNP Programs

Bradley University offers 4 Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:

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

All four tracks are fully online with no campus residency requirements, making them particularly well suited to working nurses at any stage of their career.

Program Tracks Overview

RNs with an ADN, diploma, or non-nursing bachelor’s degree can enter directly through the RN-to-MSN bridge pathway, while BSN-prepared nurses have a streamlined MSN or a direct DNP option. The post-master’s certificate is the fastest path at approximately 1.7 years for MSN-credentialed nurses.

MSN AGPCNP

Bradley University offers two MSN AGPCNP entry points: a BSN-to-MSN and an RN-to-MSN for nurses without a BSN.

BSN-to-MSN AGPCNP
The estimated cost for the BSN-to-MSN AGPCNP at Bradley University is approximately $53K (47 credits × $1,135/credit), and wopuld take about 2 years to complete.

MSN Curriculum

The 47-credit BSN-to-MSN is built across a 9-credit core, 18 credits of AGPCNP specialty coursework, and a 2-credit capstone. The core covers nursing theories, evidence-based practice, advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment, health informatics, healthcare policy, diagnostic reasoning, and statistics.

The three AGPCNP specialty courses each carry 6 credits and address management of adolescents, adults, and geriatric patients across progressively complex case presentations. A comprehensive assessment is required before graduation.

Core Courses (27 credits):

BIO 526 – Advanced Pathophysiology (3.0)
Examines mechanisms of disease at the cellular and system level, focusing on pathophysiological alterations within the muscular, respiratory, renal, and cardiovascular systems.

COU 510 – Statistical Procedures (3.0)
Introduces principles of statistical analysis in healthcare research, including measurement, variability, correlation, and introductory predictive and inferential statistics for data interpretation.

NUR 300 – Conceptual Bases for Professional Nursing (3.0)
Explores nursing theories, professional roles, and the nursing process within the context of societal and cultural influences. Emphasizes adaptation theory, research foundations, and the evolving nature of professional nursing.

NUR 303 – Research in Nursing (3.0)
Focuses on evaluating and applying nursing research to practice. Students critique research studies, review literature, and use digital tools to support inquiry and evidence-based decision-making.

NUR 404 – Community Health Nursing: Theory (2.0)
Covers public health principles guiding nursing practice in community settings. Topics include epidemiology, health promotion, disease prevention, and population-focused care roles of the community health nurse.

NUR 407 – Community Health Practicum RN–MSN (1.0)
Applies theoretical principles from NUR 404 through practical community-based nursing experiences.

NUR 501 – Nursing Theories: Analysis and Development (3.0)
Analyzes nursing theoretical models and their implications for advanced practice, education, and research. Emphasizes critical evaluation and application to professional nursing contexts.

NUR 526 – Evidence-Based Practice (3.0)
Examines the integration of research evidence into clinical decision-making. Students identify practice issues, evaluate evidence, and design researchable projects that promote quality outcomes.

NUR 600 – Advanced Health Assessment (3.0)
Develops comprehensive assessment skills across the lifespan, with emphasis on interviewing, advanced physical examination, and the integration of subjective and objective findings into holistic patient evaluation.

NUR 615 – Health Informatics (3.0)
Introduces foundational concepts of healthcare informatics, including data management, clinical information systems, security, ethics, and emerging technologies. Focuses on leveraging information technology for patient care and professional practice improvement.

NUR 640 – Healthcare Policy (3.0)
Explores the policymaking process and its impact on health regulation, financing, and delivery. Students assess global and national initiatives, advocate for reform, and define provider roles in advancing health equity and quality care.

NUR 651 – Advanced Pharmacology I (3.0)
Provides advanced understanding of pharmacologic principles to support safe and effective treatment of common conditions. Emphasizes diagnostic reasoning in medication selection, dosing, and monitoring.

NUR 655 – Diagnostic Reasoning (3.0)
Focuses on the use of advanced assessment data and diagnostic testing in clinical decision-making. Students apply analytical reasoning to develop differential diagnoses and evidence-based treatment plans.

Specialty Courses (18 credits / 600 clinical hours)

NUR 666 – Management of Adolescents, Adults, and Geriatrics I (6.0)
Introduces primary care management of adolescents, adults, and older adults through comprehensive assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. Includes 200 supervised clinical hours emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration and health promotion.

NUR 667 – Management of Adolescents, Adults, and Geriatrics II (6.0)
Builds on NUR 666 by expanding advanced practice skills in managing chronic and complex primary care conditions. Includes 200 supervised clinical hours focused on evidence-based interventions and outcomes improvement.

NUR 668 – Management of Adolescents, Adults, and Geriatrics III (6.0)
Concludes the primary care management sequence, emphasizing integration of advanced diagnostics, treatment planning, and clinical leadership skills. Includes 200 supervised clinical hours refining expert competence in adult-gerontology care.

Capstone

NUR 690 – Professional Aspects of Advanced Nursing Practice (2.0)
Examines professional issues and leadership responsibilities in advanced practice nursing. Topics include organizational systems, ethical frameworks, interprofessional collaboration, and strategies for influencing population health outcomes.

View more curriculum details in the course catalog.

RN-to-MSN AGPCNP

The estimated cost for the RN-to-MSN AGPCNP at Bradley University is approximately $64K (56 credits × $1,135/credit), and would take about 2.5 years to complete.

RN-MSN Curriculum

The 56-credit RN-to-MSN adds four bridge courses to the BSN-to-MSN curriculum for nurses who lack a BSN. These cover conceptual bases for nursing practice, nursing research, community health nursing theory, and a community health practicum. The remainder of the curriculum is identical to the BSN-to-MSN track.

Bridge Courses (additional 10 credits for RN/ADN/diploma/non-nursing bachelor’s entry):

• NUR 300 – Conceptual Bases for Professional Nursing (3 credits)
• NUR 303 – Research in Nursing (3 credits)
• NUR 404 – Community Health Nursing – Theory (2 credits)
• NUR 407 – Community Health Practicum RN-MSN (1 credit)

Core, specialty, and capstone courses are identical to the BSN-to-MSN track — see above.
View more curriculum details in the course catalog.

MSN Clinicals

Both MSN tracks require 600 clinical hours embedded across the three specialty courses (NUR 666, 667, 668), completed in a variety of primary care and outpatient settings with qualified preceptors. No on-campus clinical requirements are stated.

• 600 total clinical hours across NUR 666, NUR 667, and NUR 668
• Settings include primary care and outpatient environments with qualified preceptor supervision
• Applicants in advanced practice programs must identify and discuss potential mentors in their admissions essay
• Population focus: adolescents, adults, and geriatric patients
• No campus visit requirements stated

MSN Admissions

BSN applicants need a CCNE-, ACEN-, or CNEA-accredited BSN and a 3.0 nursing GPA. RN applicants without a BSN may enter through the bridge pathway with an ADN, diploma, or non-nursing bachelor’s degree.

BSN-to-MSN requirements:

• BSN from a CNEA-, ACEN-, or CCNE-accredited nursing program at a regionally accredited institution
• Minimum nursing GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate coursework
• Proof of current, unencumbered RN license
• Online application with $40 nonrefundable application fee
• Official transcripts from all academic institutions
• One admission essay (must address potential clinical mentors for advanced practice applicants)
• Two letters of recommendation
• CV or résumé
• Applicants with deficiencies evaluated on an individual basis

RN-to-MSN additional/alternate requirements:

• ADN, diploma from a CNEA- or ACEN-accredited program, or non-nursing baccalaureate degree
• Same GPA, license, essay, recommendation, and transcript requirements as BSN entry
• Must complete four bridge courses before progressing to core MSN coursework

BSN-to-DNP AGPCNP

The estimated cost for the BSN-to-DNP AGPCNP at Bradley University is approximately $79K (70 credits × $1,135/credit), and would take about 3 years to complete.

DNP Curriculum

The 70-credit BSN-to-DNP builds the MSN AGPCNP specialty sequence into a full doctoral framework.

The core expands to include healthcare economics and finance, theoretical foundations of nursing science, health promotion in populations, research design and statistical methods, evidence-based practice methods, leadership in advanced practice nursing, healthcare policy and ethics, and advanced health informatics.

The same three AGPCNP specialty courses carry 600 of the total 1,000 required clinical hours; four DNP project courses add the remaining 300 hours (50 + 50 + 125 + 75). A DNP project must be planned, implemented, evaluated, and disseminated. A comprehensive assessment is required before graduation.

Core Courses (36 credits):

• BIO 526 – Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits)
• ECO 605 – Health Care Economics and Finance (3 credits)
• NUR 600 – Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits)
• NUR 651 – Advanced Pharmacology I (3 credits)
• NUR 655 – Diagnostic Reasoning (3 credits)
• NUR 700 – Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Science (3 credits)
• NUR 703 – Health Promotion in Populations (3 credits)
• NUR 705 – Research Design and Statistical Methods (3 credits)
• NUR 720 – Methods in Evidence Based Practice (3 credits)
• NUR 735 – Leadership in Advanced Nursing Practice (3 credits)
• NUR 740 – Healthcare Policy and Ethics in Advanced Practice Nursing (3 credits)
• NUR 752 – Advanced Health Informatics (3 credits)

Specialty Courses (18 credits / 600 clinical hours):

• NUR 666 – Management of Adolescents, Adults and Geriatrics I (6 credits)
• NUR 667 – Management of Adolescents, Adults and Geriatrics II (6 credits)
• NUR 668 – Management of Adolescents, Adults and Geriatrics III (6 credits)

DNP Project Courses (12 credits / 300 clinical hours):

• NUR 841 – DNP Project I (3 credits / 50 clinical hours)
• NUR 842 – DNP Project II (3 credits / 50 clinical hours)
• NUR 843 – DNP Project III (3 credits / 125 clinical hours)
• NUR 844 – DNP Project IV (3 credits / 75 clinical hours)

Capstone:

• NUR 690 – Professional Aspects of Advanced Nursing Practice (2 credits)

View more curriculum details in the course catalog.

DNP Clinicals

The BSN-to-DNP requires 1,000 total clinical hours — 600 in the AGPCNP specialty courses in primary care and outpatient settings, and 300 additional hours distributed across the four DNP project courses.

• 1,000 total clinical hours required
• 600 hours in primary care/outpatient settings via NUR 666, 667, and 668 with qualified preceptors
• 300 additional hours across DNP project courses: NUR 841 (50 hrs), NUR 842 (50 hrs), NUR 843 (125 hrs), NUR 844 (75 hrs)
• Applicants must identify and discuss potential clinical mentors in the admissions essay
• Population focus: adolescents, adults, and geriatric patients
• No campus visit requirements stated

DNP Admissions

Applicants need a BSN from a CCNE-, ACEN-, or CNEA-accredited program, a 3.0 nursing GPA, and an active RN license. The DNP admissions essay requires a portfolio in addition to the standard essay.

• BSN from a CNEA-, ACEN-, or CCNE-accredited nursing program at a regionally accredited institution
• Minimum nursing GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (undergraduate last 60 hours; graduate GPA also considered if 12+ graduate credits completed)
• Proof of current, unencumbered RN license
• Online application with $40 nonrefundable application fee
• Official transcripts from all academic institutions
• Admission essay and portfolio (must address potential clinical mentors for advanced practice)
• Two letters of recommendation
• CV or résumé

Post-Master’s Certificate AGPCNP

The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s Certificate AGPCNP at Bradley University is approximately $36K (32 credits × $1,135/credit), and the program takes approximately 1.7 years across 5 semesters.

Certificate Curriculum

The 32-credit post-master’s certificate is built around four foundational APRN courses and three AGPCNP specialty courses totaling 600 clinical hours, closing with a capstone.

Three of the four core courses — Advanced Pathophysiology (BIO 526), Advanced Health Assessment (NUR 600), and Advanced Pharmacology I (NUR 651) — may be waived if completed within the past five years with a grade of B or better from an accredited MSN program, potentially reducing the total credit load.

Core Courses (12 credits; some may be waivable):

• BIO 526 – Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits) — waivable
• NUR 600 – Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits) — waivable
• NUR 651 – Advanced Pharmacology I (3 credits) — waivable
• NUR 655 – Diagnostic Reasoning (3 credits)

Specialty Courses (18 credits / 600 clinical hours):

• NUR 666 – Management of Adolescents, Adults and Geriatrics I (6 credits)
• NUR 667 – Management of Adolescents, Adults and Geriatrics II (6 credits)
• NUR 668 – Management of Adolescents, Adults and Geriatrics III (6 credits)

Capstone:

• NUR 690 – Professional Aspects of Advanced Nursing Practice (2 credits)

View more curriculum details in the course catalog.

Certificate Clinicals

The certificate requires 600 total clinical hours distributed equally across the three specialty courses in primary care and outpatient settings with qualified preceptors.

• 600 total clinical hours across NUR 666, NUR 667, and NUR 668
• Settings: primary care and outpatient environments with qualified preceptor supervision
• Applicants must identify and discuss potential clinical mentors in the admissions essay
• Population focus: adolescents, adults, and geriatric patients
• No campus visit requirements stated

Certificate Admissions

Applicants must hold an MSN from an accredited nursing program and an active RN license. The certificate has the most streamlined admissions requirements of the four tracks — no letters of recommendation or portfolio are listed, though an essay is required.

• MSN from a CNEA-, ACEN-, or CCNE-accredited nursing program
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (undergraduate last 60 hours; graduate GPA considered if 12+ graduate credits completed)
• Proof of current, unencumbered RN license
• Online application with $40 nonrefundable application fee
• Official transcripts from all academic institutions
• One admission essay (must address potential clinical mentors for advanced practice)
• Two letters of recommendation
• CV or résumé
• Applicants with deficiencies evaluated on an individual basis

Tuition

Bradley University charges $1,135 per credit hour for all online graduate nursing programs — no in-state/out-of-state distinction applies.

Additional nursing-specific fees include a $100 Typhon clinical hours tracking fee, $66/year malpractice insurance, background check up to $118, and a $5/$10 nursing badge fee. A technology fee of $250 per semester applies to students enrolled in 4 or more credit hours. Books, supplies, and proctoring fees for select courses are additional.

Based on published credit totals, estimated tuition is approximately $64K for the RN-to-MSN (56 credits), $53K for the BSN-to-MSN (47 credits), $79K for the BSN-to-DNP (70 credits), and $36K for the post-master’s certificate (32 credits).

See the official tuition page for more details.

Accreditation

The master’s degree program in nursing, post-graduate APRN certificate program, and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Bradley University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

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

More AGPCNP Programs in Illinois

• Loyola University Chicago - Maywood
• North Park University - Chicago
• Rush University - Chicago
• University of Illinois Chicago - Chicago