Georgia Southern University AGPCNP Programs (Adult Gerontology)

Georgia Southern University offers 2 Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:

BSN-DNP AGPCNP (with MSN exit option)
Post-Master’s Certificate AGPCNP

Both programs are fully online with most content delivered asynchronously, making them accessible for working nurses.

Program Tracks Overview

Program Name	Est. Tuition	Est. Duration
BSN-DNP AGPCNP (full)	$58K–$87K	~3 years (FT) / 4–5 years (PT)
BSN-DNP AGPCNP (MSN exit option)	$33K–$49K	~2 years
Post-Master’s Certificate AGPCNP	$14K–$22K	~1–1.5 years

The BSN-DNP suits BSN-prepared RNs who want a direct path to a terminal practice degree with the flexibility to pause at the MSN level; the post-master’s certificate is designed for already-credentialed APRNs adding a primary care specialty. Some Geographic restrictions apply.

BSN-DNP AGPCNP

The estimated cost for the BSN-DNP AGPCNP at Georgia Southern University is approximately $58K–$87K for the full 77-credit DNP, or $33K–$49K for the 43-credit MSN exit option. The full DNP takes approximately 3 years full-time or 4–5 years part-time; the MSN exit option takes approximately 2 years.

Tuition note: Georgia Southern charges a flat $6,802 per semester for online graduate students. A separate per-credit rate is not published. Based on typical graduate loads of 6–9 credits per semester, the implied range is approximately $756–$1,134 per credit, yielding the estimates above.

DNP Curriculum

The 77-credit BSN-DNP combines a 16-credit graduate core, a 10-credit advanced practice core, a 17-credit AGPCNP specialty emphasis, and a 34-credit doctoral core. Students completing the 43-credit specialty portion may exit with an MSN and national certification eligibility.

Those who continue complete the doctoral core, which adds biometrics, biomedical ethics, outcomes management, role transition, leadership, a population-focused collaborative initiative, and three clinical project courses totaling 630 applied hours.

Three graduate electives allow students to specialize further in areas such as public health, informatics, or education. All students complete a clinical scholarship project with faculty mentor support.

Graduate Core (16 credits):

NURS 7121 – Theoretical Basis for Clinical Scholarship (2 credits)
Explores nursing and interdisciplinary theories for evidence-based practice, preparing students for clinical scholarship and professional role development.

NURS 7122 – Research Design and Dissemination (2 credits)
Develops skills to critique nursing research, participate in clinical research teams, and apply evidence to advanced practice.

NURS 7123 – Psychodynamics of Health (2 credits)
Examines psychological, cultural, and social influences on rural/urban family health using family theoretical frameworks and screening strategies.

NURS 7128 – Epidemiology (2 credits)
Introduces epidemiologic principles for clinical judgment, health promotion, disease prevention, and environmental health analysis.

NURS 7129 – Role Transition for APRN (2 credits)
Explores scientific foundations and multiple roles of APRNs within the evolving healthcare environment.

NURS 7130 – Health Policy Concerns in Delivery Systems (3 credits)
Analyzes healthcare policy, access issues, resource allocation, and advocacy strategies for APRNs in interprofessional teams.

NURS 7135 – Informatics (3 credits)
Prepares APRNs to use health informatics and technology for improved patient outcomes in clinical practice, education, research, and administration.

Advanced Practice Core (10 credits):

NURS 7141 – Pathophysiology and Differential Diagnosis (3 credits)
Explores advanced pathophysiology, clinical findings, and diagnostic methods to support differential diagnosis in adults and children.

NURS 7142 – Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits)
Covers pharmacologic principles for advanced nursing care across the lifespan, including safe, legal, and evidence-based prescribing.

NURS 7143 – Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits)
Builds advanced assessment skills across the lifespan, with emphasis on recognizing illness, pathology, and health promotion needs.

NURS 7710 – Advanced Health Assessment Clinical (1 credit)
Precepted clinical experience in primary care to refine advanced assessment, documentation, and communication skills.

AGPCNP Specialty Emphasis (17 credits) — MSN exit point:

NURS 8520 – Capstone Practice and Professional Issues (2 credits)
Capstone course integrating advanced assessment, practice, and management across diverse populations, with emphasis on APRN legal, ethical, and regulatory issues.

NURS 8531 – PC I: Adult and Gerontology Primary Care I (3 credits)
Introduces primary care management of adults with minor health concerns, focusing on prevention, health promotion, and APRN role development.

NURS 8532 – PC II: Adult and Gerontology Primary Care II (3 credits)
Builds on adult-gerontology primary care with emphasis on chronic conditions, clinical judgment, and advanced practice standards.

NURS 8533 – PC III: Adult and Gerontology Primary Care III (3 credits)
Culminating primary care course that synthesizes evidence-based practice, complex case management, and APRN role preparation.

NURS 8731 – PCC I: Adult and Gerontology Primary Care Clinical I (2 credits)
Clinical companion to PC I, applying primary care skills with adult clients experiencing minor health deviations.

NURS 8732 – PCC II: Adult and Gerontology Primary Care Clinical II (2 credits)
Clinical companion to PC II, focusing on chronic adult-geriatric care, wellness restoration, and advanced practice standards.

NURS 8733 – PCC III: Adult and Gerontology Primary Care Clinical III (2 credits)
Final clinical course emphasizing synthesis of primary care knowledge, NP competency, and advanced practice readiness.

Doctoral Core (34 credits — required for DNP completion):

NURS 9113 – Biometrics (3 credits)
NURS 9123 – Biomedical Ethics (2 credits)
NURS 9124 – Outcomes Management (2 credits)
NURS 9125 – Role Transition for DNP-Prepared APRNs (2 credits)
NURS 9143 – Population Focused Collaborative Initiative (3 credits)
NURS 9144 – Leadership and Management in Practice Transformation (3 credits)
NURS 9931 – Clinical Project I (3 credits / 180 applied hours)
NURS 9932 – Clinical Project II (3 credits / 180 applied hours)
NURS 9933 – Clinical Project III (3 credits / 180 applied hours)
3 graduate electives (9 credits)

View more curriculum details in the course catalog.

DNP Clinicals

The 43-credit MSN specialty portion requires 720 clinical hours across the three AGPCNP clinical courses. The full DNP adds 630 applied clinical hours through three Clinical Project courses in the doctoral core, for a combined total of 1,350 clinical and applied hours across the full BSN-DNP.

720 clinical hours within the AGPCNP specialty emphasis (MSN portion)
630 additional applied clinical hours via DNP Clinical Projects I, II, and III (180 hours each)
Students must proactively secure their own qualified preceptors — the program does not assign placements
Clinical placements are only supervised in Georgia and South Carolina; students residing outside these states must complete clinicals in GA or SC and attest to seeking initial APRN licensure there
Proof of student NP malpractice insurance required before entering any clinical NP course
Population focus: diverse adult and aging populations in primary care settings, with emphasis on rural and underserved communities

DNP Admissions

Applicants need a BSN including a health assessment course with a grade of C or better, a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA, and a current Georgia or multistate RN license. One year of full-time RN clinical experience is required before entering the health assessment course.

BSN from an appropriately accredited institution including a health assessment course with grade of C or better
Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
Current Georgia RN license or multistate eNLC compact license
One year of full-time clinical nursing experience prior to entering the nurse practitioner health assessment course
Undergraduate statistics course or statistically oriented methodology course with grade of C or better
Online College of Graduate Studies application ($50 fee)
Georgia Southern Health Services form and School of Nursing Student Health Appraisal forms
Three letters of professional recommendation (phone interview may be required)
Proof of current malpractice liability insurance
Proof of American Heart Association BLS certification
Application deadline: March 1 for Fall admission (Fall entry only; Spring and Summer do not admit)
Students residing in AL, AZ, CO, ID, LA, MO, NE, ND, NY, OH, PA, SD, TN, or WA are not eligible to enroll
No GRE required

Post-Master’s Certificate AGPCNP

The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s Certificate AGPCNP at Georgia Southern University is approximately $14K–$22K based on the maximum 19-credit program at the implied per-credit range of $756–$1,134.

The actual total depends on gap analysis results — students whose prior MSN coursework covers some requirements will complete fewer credits and pay less. Estimated duration is approximately 1–1.5 years.

Certificate Curriculum

The certificate curriculum mirrors the AGPCNP specialty emphasis from the BSN-DNP program. A gap analysis of each admitted student’s prior MSN coursework determines which courses may be waived and which must be completed, up to a maximum of 19 credits.

Coursework covers primary care management of adult patients with minor and chronic health deviations, with emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention. Most content is asynchronous online, with some required live sessions. Students who complete the certificate may subsequently apply to the Post-MSN DNP program to continue toward a doctoral degree.

AGPCNP Specialty Courses (up to 19 credits — gap analysis determines actual requirement):

NURS 8520 – Capstone Practice and Professional Issues (2 credits)
NURS 8531 – PC I: Adult and Gerontology Primary Care I (3 credits)
NURS 8532 – PC II: Adult and Gerontology Primary Care II (3 credits)
NURS 8533 – PC III: Adult and Gerontology Primary Care III (3 credits)
NURS 8731 – PCC I: Adult and Gerontology Primary Care Clinical I (2 credits)
NURS 8732 – PCC II: Adult and Gerontology Primary Care Clinical II (2 credits)
NURS 8733 – PCC III: Adult and Gerontology Primary Care Clinical III (2 credits)

View more curriculum details in the course catalog.

Certificate Clinicals

Clinical hours are embedded within the three AGPCNP clinical courses. The total depends on the individualized plan of study from the gap analysis. As with the BSN-DNP, students must self-source their own preceptors and all clinical supervision is limited to Georgia and South Carolina.

Clinical hours embedded in NURS 8731, NURS 8732, and NURS 8733; exact total depends on gap analysis results
Students must proactively secure their own qualified preceptors — the program does not assign placements
All clinicals must be completed in Georgia or South Carolina
Proof of student NP malpractice insurance required before entering any clinical NP course
Population focus: adult and aging patients in primary care and community settings

Certificate Admissions

Applicants must hold an MSN from a CCNE- or NLN-accredited program with a 3.0 GPA and current APRN certification. No GRE or MAT is required.

MSN from a NLN- or CCNE-accredited institution with minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
Current national certification as an APRN
Active Georgia RN license or multistate eNLC compact license
One year of full-time RN clinical experience prior to Advanced Health Assessment
Undergraduate introductory statistics course with grade of C or better
Undergraduate health appraisal/physical assessment course with grade of C or better
Online College of Graduate Studies application ($50 fee)
Georgia Southern University Health Services form
Three letters of recommendation
Proof of AHA BLS certification
Proof of Georgia RN licensure
Resume or CV with work history
Interviews may be conducted prior to admission
Application deadline: March 1 for Fall admission (Fall entry only)
No GRE or MAT required
Students residing in AL, AZ, CO, ID, LA, MO, NE, ND, NY, OH, PA, SD, TN, or WA are not eligible to enroll

Tuition

Georgia Southern charges a flat rate of $6,802 per semester for fully online graduate students, with no distinction between in-state and out-of-state residents.

A separate per-credit rate is not published, but based on typical graduate loads of 6–9 credits per semester, the implied per-credit range is approximately $756–$1,134.

Using that range, the full BSN-DNP (77 credits) estimates to roughly $58K–$87K; the MSN exit option (43 credits) falls in the $33K–$49K range; and the post-master’s certificate (up to 19 credits) runs approximately $14K–$22K.

Of course, the actual total depends on gap analysis results. An additional $200 per semester in fees applies to all students.

See the official tuition page for more details.

Accreditation

The baccalaureate, master’s, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at Georgia Southern University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Graduates of the AGPCNP track are eligible to sit for national certification examinations through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB).