Marquette University AGPCNP Programs

Marquette University College of Nursing • Marquette, WI • Hybrid

Marquette University offers 3 Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:

  • MSN
  • BSN-DNP (MSN awarded en route)
  • Post-Master’s Certificate

All three tracks are delivered in a combination of in-person, hybrid, and online formats. Personalized plans of study are developed with each student’s advisor to create a manageable, flexible schedule — typically 3 to 6 credits per term for working nurses.

Marquette facilitates clinical placements in the greater Milwaukee area, throughout Wisconsin, and in northern Illinois.

Program Tracks Overview

ProgramEst. TuitionEst. Duration
MSN AGPCNP~$61KNot clearly stated
BSN-DNP AGPCNP~$100KNot clearly stated
Post-Master’s Certificate AGPCNP$17K–$44KNot clearly stated

Marquette’s AGPCNP programs are built around the working nurse — rolling admission, personalized 3–6 credit-per-term schedules, facilitated clinical placements, and an MSN awarded en route to the BSN-DNP make it one of the most advisor-driven AGPCNP programs available.

MSN AGPCNP

The estimated cost for the MSN Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner at Marquette University is approximately $61,000 (42 credits × $1,450/credit), and program duration is not clearly stated.

At the typical pace of 3–6 credits per term, completion would take approximately 3–4 years for working nurses.

MSN Curriculum

The MSN AGPCNP requires 42 total credits divided into three components:

  • core nursing courses (12 credits),
  • APRN foundation courses (9 credits),
  • AGPCNP specialty courses (21 credits)

The core covers theoretical foundations of nursing, ethics and health care advocacy, organizational and systems leadership, and research and evidence as a foundation for nursing.

The APRN foundation addresses pathophysiology, pharmacology, and advanced health assessment.

The specialty sequence moves through episodic health problem management, complex health problems, interventions across the lifespan, health promotion, and three progressive clinical practicum courses focused on adult-gerontology primary care.

Required core courses (12 credits):

  • NURS 6000 – Theoretical Foundations of Nursing (3 cr)
  • NURS 6007 – Ethics, Policy and Health Care Advocacy (3 cr)
  • NURS 6009 – Organizational and Systems Leadership (3 cr)
  • NURS 6010 – Research and Evidence as a Foundation for Nursing (3 cr)

Foundation courses (9 credits):

  • NURS 6030 – Pathophysiological Concepts for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr)
  • NURS 6032 – Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr)
  • NURS 6036 – Advanced Health Assessment for the Advanced Practice Nurse (3 cr)

AGPCNP specialty courses (21 credits):

  • NURS 6037 – Management of Episodic Health Problems (3 cr)
  • NURS 6240 – Complex Health Problems (3 cr)
  • NURS 6242 – Concepts and Interventions for Health Problems Across the Life-Span (3 cr)
  • NURS 6244 – Health Promotion Across the Life-Span (3 cr)
  • NURS 6251 – Advanced Nursing of Adults-Gerontology 1-Clinical (3 cr)
  • NURS 6252 – Advanced Nursing of Adults-Gerontology 2-Clinical (3 cr)
  • NURS 6257 – Advanced Nursing of Adults-Gerontology 3-Clinical (3 cr)

MSN Clinicals

Clinical experiences are distributed across three progressive Adult-Gerontology clinical practicum courses (9 clinical credits total). The program facilitates clinical placements in the greater Milwaukee area, throughout Wisconsin, and in northern Illinois.

Exact total clinical hours are not explicitly stated in the source material — prospective students should confirm the hour requirement directly with the program.

  • Three clinical courses: NURS 6251, 6252, 6257 (3 credits each)
  • Clinical practicum experiences include a minimum of five hours per credit (per program general information)
  • Clinical settings: primary care and clinic settings for patients ages 13 and up
  • 1 year of full-time or equivalent professional nursing experience with an adult or gerontology population required before beginning clinical courses
  • Clinical facilities in greater Milwaukee, throughout Wisconsin, and northern Illinois
  • Access to Marquette’s Center for Clinical Simulation for skills development
  • Total clinical hours not explicitly stated in source — contact the program directly to confirm

MSN Admissions

The MSN AGPCNP requires a BSN from a nationally accredited nursing program; rolling admission with no GRE required.

  • BSN from a nationally accredited nursing program required (foreign graduates must submit evaluation documenting equivalency to U.S. BSN)
  • Minimum undergraduate GPA: 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • Current RN license in Wisconsin or an eNLC compact state
  • 1 year of full-time or equivalent professional nursing experience with adults or older adults required prior to clinical courses
  • Undergraduate nursing research course completed prior to or during first term
  • Statistics course with inferential analysis completed within 5 years of program start (required prior to or during first term)
  • Undergraduate health assessment course (required for advanced practice specialization applicants)
  • BLS certification from the American Heart Association (maintained throughout program)
  • Completed application form and application fee
  • Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
  • Three letters of recommendation from previous or present employers and teachers familiar with graduate nursing education
  • Resume and written statement of professional goals, including reasons for pursuing graduate study
  • Interview may be required (notification by email if invited)
  • Graduate Student Health Status Report, TB skin test, influenza vaccine, drug screen (3 months before clinical courses), and criminal background check via CastleBranch required upon acceptance
  • International applicants: TOEFL or other acceptable English proficiency proof required
  • No GRE required
  • Rolling admission

BSN-DNP AGPCNP

The estimated cost for the BSN-to-DNP Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner at Marquette University is approximately $100,000 (69 credits × $1,450/credit), and program duration is not clearly stated.

At 3–6 credits per term, completion would take approximately 5–6 years for working nurses.

DNP Curriculum

The BSN-DNP AGPCNP requires 69 total credits and integrates the full MSN AGPCNP curriculum with an added DNP core layer.

Students earn an MSN en route to the DNP.

The DNP core (27 credits) adds quality and patient safety, healthcare informatics, translational research, epidemiology, applied statistics, professional issues in APN/DNP practice, and a three-course DNP project sequence (proposal and residency, implementation and residency, and evaluation/dissemination and residency).

The remaining 42 credits mirror the MSN curriculum — core nursing courses, APRN foundation courses, and AGPCNP specialty courses including the three clinical practicum courses. Students enrolled in the DNP may also add a nursing education specialization for an additional 12 credits.

DNP core courses (27 credits):

  • HEAL 6825 – Quality and Patient Safety in Health Care (3 cr) or HEAL 6830 – Quality Improvement Science
  • HEAL 6835 – Health Care Informatics, Technology and Professional Issues (3 cr)
  • HEAL 7010 – Translational Research (3 cr)
  • HEAL 7012 – Epidemiology (3 cr)
  • HEAL 8015 – Applied Statistics for Health Sciences (3 cr)
  • NURS 6746 – Professional Issues in APN/DNP Practice (3 cr)
  • NURS 7963 – DNP Project 1: Proposal and Residency (3 cr)
  • NURS 7964 – DNP Project 2: Implementation and Residency (3 cr)
  • NURS 7965 – DNP Project 3: Evaluation, Dissemination and Residency (3 cr)

MSN core courses (12 credits):

  • NURS 6000 – Theoretical Foundations of Nursing (3 cr)
  • NURS 6007 – Ethics, Policy and Health Care Advocacy (3 cr)
  • NURS 6009 – Organizational and Systems Leadership (3 cr)
  • NURS 6010 – Research and Evidence as a Foundation for Nursing (3 cr)

Foundation courses (9 credits):

  • NURS 6030 – Pathophysiological Concepts for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr)
  • NURS 6032 – Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr)
  • NURS 6036 – Advanced Health Assessment for the Advanced Practice Nurse (3 cr)

AGPCNP specialty courses (21 credits — same as MSN):

  • NURS 6037 – Management of Episodic Health Problems (3 cr)
  • NURS 6240 – Complex Health Problems (3 cr)
  • NURS 6242 – Concepts and Interventions for Health Problems Across the Life-Span (3 cr)
  • NURS 6244 – Health Promotion Across the Life-Span (3 cr)
  • NURS 6251 – Advanced Nursing of Adults-Gerontology 1-Clinical (3 cr)
  • NURS 6252 – Advanced Nursing of Adults-Gerontology 2-Clinical (3 cr)
  • NURS 6257 – Advanced Nursing of Adults-Gerontology 3-Clinical (3 cr)

DNP Clinicals

Clinical requirements for the BSN-DNP mirror those of the MSN — three progressive Adult-Gerontology clinical practicum courses (9 clinical credits) — with the addition of DNP project residency hours embedded in the three DNP project courses.

Clinical placements are facilitated by the program across the greater Milwaukee area, Wisconsin, and northern Illinois.

  • Three AGPCNP clinical courses: NURS 6251, 6252, 6257 (3 credits each)
  • DNP project residency hours included in NURS 7963, 7964, 7965
  • 1 year of full-time or equivalent professional nursing experience required prior to clinical courses
  • Clinical settings: primary care and clinic settings for patients ages 13 and up
  • Program facilitates clinical site placement; access to Marquette’s Center for Clinical Simulation
  • Total clinical hours not explicitly stated — contact the program directly to confirm

DNP Admissions

BSN-DNP AGPCNP admissions requirements are consistent with the MSN track; BSN required, rolling admission, no GRE.

  • BSN from a nationally accredited nursing program required
  • Minimum undergraduate GPA: 3.0
  • Current RN license in Wisconsin or eNLC compact state
  • 1 year of professional nursing experience with adults or older adults required before clinical courses
  • Same prerequisite coursework as MSN (nursing research, statistics within 5 years, health assessment)
  • BLS certification (maintained throughout program)
  • Three letters of recommendation, resume, professional goals statement
  • Graduate Student Health Status Report, TB test, background check, drug screen via CastleBranch
  • Interview may be required
  • No GRE required
  • Rolling admission
  • Post-MSN DNP tracks are also offered — contact the program for details if you already hold an MSN

Post-Master’s Certificate AGPCNP

The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s Certificate in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner at Marquette University ranges from approximately $17,000 (12 credits) to $44,000 (30 credits) at $1,450 per credit

The program duration is not clearly stated — it varies based on the individually designed plan of study.

Certificate Curriculum

The post-master’s certificate requires a minimum of 12 credits and up to 30 credits, depending on which required courses are already documented on the applicant’s master’s transcript. The curriculum is individually designed at admission through transcript review. Foundation courses (up to 9 credits) cover pathophysiology, pharmacology, and advanced health assessment. Specialty courses (up to 21 credits) cover episodic health problem management, complex health problems, lifespan interventions, health promotion, and three progressive Adult-Gerontology clinical courses. Any course with an acceptable equivalent on the master’s transcript may be waived from the certificate plan.

Foundation courses (required unless equivalent documented on master’s transcript):

  • Pathophysiological Concepts for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr)
  • Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr)
  • Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan (3 cr)

Specialty courses (required unless equivalent documented on master’s transcript):

  • Management of Episodic Health Problems (3 cr)
  • Complex Health Problems (3 cr)
  • Concepts and Interventions for Health Problems Across the Life-Span (3 cr)
  • Health Promotion Across the Life-Span (3 cr)
  • Advanced Nursing of Adult-Gerontology 1 Clinical (3 cr)
  • Advanced Nursing of Adult-Gerontology 2 Clinical (3 cr)
  • Advanced Nursing of Adult-Gerontology 3 Clinical (3 cr)

The exact credits required are determined at admission through transcript review — minimum 12 credits, maximum 30 credits. Contact the program before applying for a preliminary estimate based on your master’s coursework.

Certificate Clinicals

Clinical requirements for the post-master’s certificate are based on the number of clinical courses required after transcript review. Up to three Adult-Gerontology clinical practicum courses (9 clinical credits) may be required. Clinical placements are facilitated by the program.

  • Up to three clinical courses (AGPCNP 1, 2, 3 Clinical) depending on prior coursework
  • 1 year of clinical experience required prior to beginning clinical courses
  • Program facilitates clinical placement in Milwaukee area, Wisconsin, and northern Illinois
  • Total clinical hours vary by plan of study — contact the program to confirm

Certificate Admissions

The post-master’s certificate requires an MSN; admissions requirements otherwise mirror the MSN and DNP tracks with rolling admission and no GRE.

  • MSN required (graduate degree in nursing)
  • Current RN license in Wisconsin or eNLC compact state
  • 1 year of practice required prior to clinical courses
  • Three letters of recommendation from previous/present employers and teachers familiar with graduate nursing education
  • Resume and written statement of professional goals
  • Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
  • Completed application form and application fee
  • Graduate Student Health Status Report, TB skin test, background check, drug screen via CastleBranch required upon acceptance
  • Interview may be required
  • No GRE required
  • Rolling admission
  • International applicants: TOEFL or acceptable English proficiency proof required

Tuition

Marquette University charges $1,450 per credit for all AGPCNP programs — MSN, BSN-DNP, and post-master’s certificate — with no resident/non-resident distinction.

Additional required costs include approximately $60 for CPR certification, $124 for the initial health requirements and criminal background check package via CastleBranch, a one-time $90 clinical tracking system (Typhon) fee for MSN and DNP students, and variable site fees based on individual clinical site requirements.

TB skin testing (annually), influenza vaccination (annually), and a drug screen (3 months before clinical courses) are also required; students bear the cost of these services.

See the official tuition and financial aid page for more details.

Accreditation

The MSN, DNP, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at Marquette University College of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Graduates of the AGPCNP specialty are academically eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB). Marquette typically reports 100% pass rates on the adult-gerontology primary care NP certification examination.

Additional Wisconsin AGPCNP Programs