Mercer University AGPCNP Programs

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

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

All three tracks are delivered in a blended format at the Atlanta campus.

Program Tracks Overview

The three annual MSN start terms give working nurses more scheduling flexibility than most Georgia programs.

Faculty members remain active in clinical practice and assist with securing placements while students are encouraged to identify potential preceptors through their own professional networks — all preceptors must meet program qualifications reviewed in advance.

MSN AGPCNP

The estimated cost for the MSN AGPCNP at Mercer University is approximately $41K, and the program takes 17 months full-time (4 semesters) or up to 28 months part-time (7 semesters).

Tuition note: Mercer charges $10,430/semester flat for 9 or more credits and $1,159/credit for lighter loads. Semesters 1–3 exceed 9 credits (flat rate applies); Semester 4 carries 8 credits at per-credit rate. Estimated total: $31,290 + $9,272 = ~$40,562.

MSN Curriculum

The 45-credit MSN is structured as four consecutive semesters of study with a fall entry point for full-time students, though January and May starts are also available.

Foundational courses in health assessment, pathophysiology, and pharmacology run in the first semester alongside the first primary care content course.

Three dedicated practicum courses in semesters 2, 3, and 4 carry 780 of the program’s total clinical hours across a 1:4 credit-to-hour ratio.

The curriculum closes with a synthesis course and an interprofessional leadership course alongside the final practicum.

NUR 602 – Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits)
Builds advanced assessment skills for clients across the lifespan, including history, physical exam, lab/radiology interpretation, and clinical decision-making.

NUR 603 – Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology (3 credits)
Covers advanced physiologic and pathophysiologic processes across the lifespan, with emphasis on genetics, diagnosis, and disease response.

NUR 607 – Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits)
Focuses on advanced pharmacologic principles, prescribing, dosage adjustment, drug interactions, and safe medication use across the lifespan.

NUR 631 – Care of Adults in Primary Care Settings (4 credits)
Prepares learners to assess, diagnose, manage, and refer adults with common acute and chronic conditions in primary care.

NUR 649 – Role and Scope of the APRN (1 credit)
Introduces the APRN role, including scope, standards, competencies, collaboration, and ethical/legal practice guidelines.

NUR 617 – Evidence-Based Practice and Research for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 credits)
Develops skills in research appraisal and evidence synthesis to guide clinical decisions and improve outcomes.

NUR 639 – Population Health and Policy for the APRN (2 credits)
Explores health equity, policy, advocacy, and population health strategies to improve care for diverse communities.

NUR 652 – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Practicum I (4 credits / 240 clinical hours)
First practicum in adult-gerontology primary care, emphasizing assessment, treatment, and collaborative direct care in clinical settings.

NUR 653 – Women’s Health (2 credits)
Covers advanced practice care for women across the lifespan, with emphasis on prevention, common conditions, and communication.

NUR 634 – Care of Adults in Primary Care Setting II (3 credits)
Continues adult primary care management with emphasis on diagnosis, screening, treatment, referral, and interdisciplinary care.

NUR 635 – Healthcare Information, Quality, and Safety (2 credits)
Examines health informatics and systems use to improve quality, safety, patient engagement, and care delivery.

NUR 657 – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Practicum II (4 credits / 240 clinical hours)
Second practicum in adult-gerontology primary care, providing hands-on management of adult and geriatric patients, including reproductive health.

NUR 675 – Statistics for the Behavioral and Clinical Sciences (3 credits)
Introduces core statistical methods used in clinical research and nursing education, including data analysis and interpretation.

MSN Clinicals

The MSN requires a minimum of 780 clinical practice hours distributed across three practicum courses at a 1:4 credit-to-contact-hour ratio. Faculty oversee all placements; students are encouraged to identify potential preceptors through professional networks, though all must meet program qualifications.

• 780 total clinical hours minimum (750 direct patient care, 30 indirect)
• NUR 652 – Practicum I: 240 hours
• NUR 657 – Practicum II: 240 hours
• NUR 658 – Practicum III: 300 hours
• Faculty oversee all placements; students may help identify preceptors through professional networks
• Population focus: adolescents through older adults in primary care settings
• Emphasis on health promotion, disease prevention, and management of acute and chronic conditions

MSN Admissions

Applicants need a BSN from an ACEN-, NLNAC-, CNEA-, or CCNE-accredited program, a 3.0 undergraduate GPA, and an active Georgia RN license. Conditional acceptance is available for applicants with a 2.75–2.99 GPA in upper-division nursing courses.

• BSN from an ACEN-, NLNAC-, CNEA-, or CCNE-accredited nursing program
• Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (conditional acceptance possible for 2.75–2.99 in upper-division nursing courses)
• Active, unencumbered RN license in the State of Georgia
• Minimum one year of professional RN work experience
• Official transcripts from all higher education institutions attended
• Current résumé including healthcare experience, community involvement, and academic honors
• Admissions cover letter (1,000 words or less) addressing professional goals and reasons for seeking graduate education
• Three professional references (at least one from a nurse prepared at the master’s level or higher; BSN graduates within the last five years must include a faculty reference)
• $50 nonrefundable application fee
• Admissions interview with graduate programs coordinator or dean
• Start terms: January, May, August

BSN-DNP AGPCNP

The estimated cost for the BSN-DNP AGPCNP at Mercer University is approximately $94K (73 credits × $1,285.50/credit), and the program takes approximately 3 years to complete on a full-time basis across 8 semesters.

DNP Curriculum

The 73-credit BSN-DNP integrates DNP-level coursework in clinical epidemiology, health policy, healthcare economics, population health, informatics, outcomes measurement, and translational science alongside the AGPCNP specialty sequence.

Clinical content mirrors the MSN specialty courses and practicum sequence, with four practicum courses totaling 780 clinical hours.

Two DNP immersion courses (NUR 740A and NUR 740B) add 240 immersion hours for a total of 1,020 post-baccalaureate practice hours. A DNP Scholarly Project is developed across semesters 6 through 8.

Semester 1 – Fall (11 credits):

• NUR 603 – Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology (3 credits)
• NUR 607 – Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits)
• NUR 730 – Transition to the Practice Doctorate (2 credits)
• NUR 731 – Clinical Epidemiology (3 credits)

Semester 2 – Spring (9 credits):

• NUR 732 – Population Health (3 credits)
• NUR 734 – Health Care Economics and Finance (3 credits)
• NUR 739 – Health Care Policy (3 credits)

Semester 3 – Summer (6 credits):

• NUR 675 – Statistics for the Behavioral and Clinical Sciences (3 credits)
• NUR 735 – Informatics and Patient Care Technology (3 credits)

Semester 4 – Fall (11 credits):

• NUR 602 – Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits)
• NUR 631 – Care of Adults in the Primary Care Settings (4 credits)
• NUR 649 – Role and Scope of the APRN (1 credit)
• NUR 728 – Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 credits)

Semester 5 – Spring (8 credits):

• NUR 653 – Women’s Health (2 credits)
• NUR 733 – Evidence Appraisal (3 credits)
• NUR 751 – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Practicum I for the DNP (3 credits / 180 practicum hours)

Semester 6 – Summer (10 credits):

• NUR 634 – Care of Adults in the Primary Care Setting II (3 credits)
• NUR 729 – DNP Project Development (1 credit)
• NUR 736 – Outcomes Measurement and Program Evaluation (3 credits)
• NUR 752 – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Practicum II for the DNP (3 credits / 180 practicum hours)

Semester 7 – Fall (10 credits):

• NUR 628 – Synthesis of Advanced Nursing Practice (1 credit)
• NUR 650 – Interprofessional Leadership and Practice Excellence for the APRN (2 credits)
• NUR 738 – Organizational and Systems Leadership (3 credits / 60 immersion hours)
• NUR 740A – DNP Immersion (1 credit / 60 immersion hours)
• NUR 753 – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Practicum III for the DNP (3 credits / 180 practicum hours)

Semester 8 – Spring (8 credits):

• NUR 740B – DNP Immersion (2 credits / 120 immersion hours)
• NUR 741 – Advancing Nursing Practice (2 credits)
• NUR 755 – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Practicum IV for the DNP (4 credits / 240 practicum hours)

DNP Clinicals

The BSN-DNP requires 780 practicum hours across four specialty clinical courses, plus 240 immersion hours in DNP-focused organizational and leadership experiences — totaling 1,020 post-baccalaureate practice hours.

• 780 total practicum hours across four AGPCNP clinical courses
• NUR 751 – Practicum I: 180 hours
• NUR 752 – Practicum II: 180 hours
• NUR 753 – Practicum III: 180 hours
• NUR 755 – Practicum IV: 240 hours
• 240 additional immersion hours via NUR 738 (60 hrs) and NUR 740A/740B (180 hrs)
• 1,020 total post-baccalaureate practice hours
• Population focus: adolescents through older adults in primary care settings
• Clinical placement support follows same faculty-assisted model as the MSN

DNP Admissions

BSN-DNP admissions follow the same core requirements as the MSN. Applicants must hold a BSN from an accredited program with a Georgia RN license and at least one year of RN work experience.

• BSN from an ACEN-, NLNAC-, CNEA-, or CCNE-accredited nursing program
• Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (conditional acceptance possible for 2.75–2.99 in upper-division nursing courses)
• Active, unencumbered RN license in the State of Georgia
• Minimum one year of professional RN work experience
• Official transcripts from all higher education institutions attended
• Current résumé
• Admissions cover letter (1,000 words or less) addressing professional goals and reasons for seeking doctoral education
• Three professional references (at least one from a master’s-prepared nurse; faculty reference required for recent BSN graduates)
• $50 nonrefundable application fee
• Admissions interview with graduate programs coordinator or dean

Post-Master’s Certificate AGPCNP

Mercer University’s Georgia Baptist College of Nursing offers a Post-Master’s Certificate in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner for MSN-prepared nurses seeking to add a primary care specialty. The certificate is one of four post-graduate certificates offered by the college alongside FNP, AGACNP, and PMHNP options. T

uition, credit requirements, clinical hours, and duration are not detailed on the official program page — prospective students should contact the college directly for a full program outline.

Certificate Admissions

Applicants must hold an MSN from an accredited program and an active Georgia APRN license.

• MSN from an NLNAC-, ACEN-, CNEA-, or CCNE-accredited program
• Active, unencumbered APRN license in the State of Georgia
• Three professional references from individuals who can speak to APRN experience
• Cover letter describing professional goals and reasons for seeking additional certification
• Resume or CV listing prior APRN experience
• Official transcripts from all graduate and BSN institutions attended
• $50 nonrefundable application fee
• Interview with the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs or faculty designee

Certificate Admissions

Applicants must hold an MSN from an NLNAC-, ACEN-, CNEA-, or CCNE-accredited program and an active Georgia APRN license.

• MSN from an NLNAC-, ACEN-, CNEA-, or CCNE-accredited program
• Active, unencumbered APRN license in the State of Georgia
• Three professional references from individuals who can speak to experience as an advanced practice nurse
• Cover letter describing professional goals and reasons for seeking additional certification
• Resume or CV listing prior APRN experience
• Official transcripts from all graduate and BSN institutions attended
• $50 nonrefundable application fee
• Interview with the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs or faculty designee

Tuition

Mercer charges $1,159 per credit hour for the MSN, with a flat rate of $10,430 per semester when enrolled in 9 or more credits.

Based on the full-time curriculum plan, the MSN AGPCNP totals approximately $41K across four semesters.

The BSN-DNP is priced at $1,285.50 per credit hour — no flat-rate semester pricing is referenced for the DNP — putting the 73-credit program at approximately $94K.

Additional fees include $230/semester activity fee, $25/semester credentialing fee, and $25 liability insurance in spring semesters.

See the official tuition page for more details.

Accreditation

Mercer University’s Georgia Baptist College of Nursing MSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Graduates of the AGPCNP track are eligible to sit for national certification through both the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB).

More AGPCNP Programs in Georgia

• Emory University - Atlanta
• Georgia Southern University - Statesboro
• Georgia State University - Atlanta