Michigan State University AGPCNP Programs

Michigan State University College of Nursing offers 4 Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:

• Master of Science in Nursing – AGPCNP (BSN entry)
• Doctor of Nursing Practice – AGPCNP (BSN entry)
• Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (MSN-prepared APRNs)
• Post-Graduate Certificate – AGPCNP (APRN entry)

All tracks are delivered in a hybrid format combining in-person and virtual instruction, with only 15 required on-campus days across the entire program.

Program Tracks Overview

MSU’s school-arranged clinical placement model, proven certification outcomes, and full-time/part-time flexibility make it a strong fit for working Michigan-based nurses targeting a structured program with minimal campus disruption.

MSN AGPCNP

The estimated cost for the MSN AGPCNP at Michigan State University is approximately $50,450 for Michigan residents or approximately $51,962 for non-residents (54 credits × $934.25/$962.25 per credit), and the program takes approximately 2 to 3 years to complete depending on whether students enroll full-time or part-time.

MSN Curriculum

The MSN AGPCNP requires 54 total credits organized across an 8-course, 24-credit graduate core shared with all nursing concentrations, followed by 30 credits of AGPCNP specialty coursework. The specialty sequence covers health promotion for adult-gerontology populations and four progressive clinical diagnosis and management courses — each carrying both didactic and clinical credit — that build from common adult primary care problems through increasingly complex case presentations.

Graduate Core (24 credits — required for all concentrations):

NUR 902 – Scientific Foundations for the Advanced Practice Nurse
Explores how nursing, natural, and social science evidence is analyzed and translated into advanced practice.

NUR 903 – Healthcare Informatics
Examines how communication technologies and informatics support practice, policy, and healthcare delivery.

NUR 904 – Health Policy and Advocacy
Reviews how economics, ethics, and legislation shape healthcare access, delivery, and organization.

NUR 905 – Patient Safety, Quality Improvement and Quality Management in Healthcare
Focuses on applying quality and safety frameworks to evaluate healthcare outcomes and improvement efforts.

NUR 906 – Leadership in Complex Health Systems
Develops the leadership skills needed for advanced practice nurses working in complex healthcare settings.

NUR 907 – Advanced Pathophysiology for the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
Covers advanced disease mechanisms as a foundation for assessment, diagnosis, and management.

NUR 908 – Advanced Physical Assessment for the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
Builds comprehensive, person-centered assessment skills across the lifespan.

NUR 909 – Advanced Pharmacology for the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
Studies advanced pharmacotherapeutics, including how medications work and are selected across the lifespan.

AGPCNP Concentration (30 credits):

EPI 840 – Clinical Epidemiology for Healthcare Practice
Introduces clinical epidemiology and evidence-based medicine for healthcare professionals.

NUR 913 – Health Promotion – Adult-Gerontology
Applies population health, prevention, and health promotion concepts to adults and older adults.

NUR 925 – Clinical Diagnosis and Management I – Adult-Gerontology
Integrates assessment and diagnostic testing to identify common adult and older adult conditions.

NUR 926 – Clinical Diagnosis and Management II – Adult-Gerontology
Focuses on interventions for health promotion and common clinical problems in adult and older adult care.

NUR 927 – Clinical Diagnosis and Management III – Adult-Gerontology
Develops individualized care planning for adults and older adults, including diverse and at-risk populations.

NUR 928 – Clinical Diagnosis and Management IV – Adult-Gerontology
Integrates evidence-based primary care across the wellness-to-illness continuum for adults and older adults.

More curriculum details are available here.

MSN Clinicals

Clinical hours are embedded across the four AGPCNP Clinical Diagnosis and Management courses; MSU vets and arranges all clinical rotations through its statewide clinical partnerships — students do not self-source placements.

• Clinical hours distributed across NUR 925, 926, 927, and 928 (each course carries both didactic and clinical credit)
• Total direct-care clinical hours not separately published for the MSN track — confirm specifics with the program
• Population focus: adolescents (age 13) through frail older adults in primary care settings including adolescent health, internal medicine, senior health, long-term care, and sub-acute rehab
• All clinical rotations vetted and arranged by MSU; statewide clinical partnerships throughout Michigan
• 100% first-time certification pass rate; 100% employment within one year of graduation
• Hybrid delivery: 15 total required on-campus days across the full program

MSN Admissions

Applicants need a BSN from an accredited program, a 3.0 GPA on the second half of undergraduate nursing coursework, and a current RN license. A faculty interview is part of the process for all applicants.

• BSN from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 3.0 GPA (4.0 scale) for total credits completed during the second half of the baccalaureate nursing program
• Current, unrestricted RN license in applicant’s state; Michigan RN license required for Michigan-based applicants
• Out-of-state applicants practicing in other states may be provisionally admitted; U.S. and Michigan RN license required before progression to clinical courses
• 3-credit statistics course (undergraduate grade ≥ 2.0 or graduate grade ≥ 3.0) completed within 5 years of program start
• Written essay addressing career goals and motivations for graduate study in the AGPCNP specialty
• Three letters of recommendation from sources with direct knowledge of academic and professional experience
• Admission interview with College of Nursing faculty (not all applicants are invited; if selected, expect 1.5–3 hours, virtual or on-campus)
• Curriculum vitae or resume submitted with university application
• TOEFL required if English is not native language (PBT minimum 550; iBT minimum 80 with sub-score minimums)
• Early deadline: December 1 | Final deadline: April 1 | Fall start only
• Provisional admission available for applicants who do not meet all standard requirements
• Up to 25% of graduate coursework may transfer from CCNE-, NLN CNEA-, or ACEN-accredited programs
• F-1 and J-1 visas not compatible with the NP program due to online course delivery requirements

BSN-DNP AGPCNP & Post-Master’s DNP

The estimated cost for the BSN-DNP AGPCNP at Michigan State University is approximately $65,398 for Michigan residents or approximately $67,358 for non-residents (70 credits × $934.25/$962.25 per credit), and the program takes approximately 3 to 4 years to complete.

The Post-Master’s DNP is individualized through a gap analysis and typically takes approximately 2 years to complete; cost varies based on the number of credits required beyond the mandatory DNP project sequence.

DNP Curriculum

The BSN-DNP AGPCNP totals 70 credits: a 28-credit doctoral core (which expands the MSN core with biostatistics and a three-course DNP project sequence) and a 42-credit AGPCNP concentration that adds a fifth clinical immersion course to the MSN specialty sequence. Students who complete all MSN-level requirements may be granted the MSN along the way before continuing to the DNP. The post-master’s DNP is individually designed — each applicant’s transcripts are reviewed to identify gaps relative to DNP outcomes, and a minimum of 1,000 supervised clinical hours across the combined master’s and DNP programs is required.

DNP Core (28 credits):

• NUR 902 – Scientific Foundations for the Advanced Practice Nurse (3 cr.)
• NUR 903 – Healthcare Informatics (3 cr.)
• NUR 904 – Health Policy and Advocacy (3 cr.)
• NUR 905 – Patient Safety, Quality Improvement and Quality Management in Healthcare (3 cr.)
• NUR 906 – Leadership in Complex Health Systems (3 cr.)
• NUR 914 – Biostatistics for the APRN (3 cr.)
• NUR 995 – Doctor of Nursing Practice Project I (4 cr.)
• NUR 996 – Doctor of Nursing Practice Project II (3 cr.)
• NUR 997 – Doctor of Nursing Practice Project III (3 cr.)

AGPCNP Concentration (42 credits):

• NUR 907 – Advanced Pathophysiology for the APRN (3 cr.)
• NUR 908 – Advanced Physical Assessment for the APRN (3 cr.)
• NUR 909 – Advanced Pharmacology for the APRN (3 cr.)
• NUR 913 – Health Promotion – Adult-Gerontology (3 cr.)
• NUR 925 – Clinical Diagnosis and Management I – Adult-Gerontology (6 cr.)
• NUR 926 – Clinical Diagnosis and Management II – Adult-Gerontology (6 cr.)
• NUR 927 – Clinical Diagnosis and Management III – Adult-Gerontology (6 cr.)
• NUR 928 – Clinical Diagnosis and Management IV – Adult-Gerontology (6 cr.)
• NUR 929 – Clinical Diagnosis and Management V: Clinical Immersion – Adult-Gerontology (6 cr.)

Post-Master’s DNP required courses (all students):

• NUR 995 – DNP Project I (4 cr.)
• NUR 996 – DNP Project II (3 cr.)
• NUR 997 – DNP Project III (3 cr.)
• Elective or core courses as determined by gap analysis review
• NUR 990 – Special Problems (credits as needed to reach 1,000 total supervised clinical hours)

More curriculum details are available here.

DNP Clinicals

The BSN-DNP AGPCNP adds a sixth-credit clinical immersion course (NUR 929) to the MSN specialty sequence; the post-master’s DNP requires a minimum of 1,000 combined supervised clinical hours across the master’s and DNP programs, with remaining hours completed through an individualized plan in NUR 990. All clinical placements are vetted and arranged by MSU.

• BSN-DNP: Clinical hours distributed across NUR 925–929 (all carry clinical credit); NUR 929 is a 6-credit clinical immersion added beyond the MSN sequence
• Post-Master’s DNP: Minimum 1,000 total supervised clinical hours between master’s and DNP programs; gap determined at admission; remaining hours completed via NUR 990
• Population focus: adolescents (age 13) through frail older adults in primary care settings statewide
• MSU arranges all clinical rotations through statewide partnerships — no student self-sourcing required
• 15 total on-campus days required across the full program

DNP Admissions

BSN-DNP applicants follow the same requirements as MSN applicants. Post-master’s DNP applicants must additionally hold an MSN from a CCNE- or NLN-accredited program and current national APRN certification.

BSN-DNP requirements (same as MSN plus):

• BSN from an accredited program; minimum 3.0 GPA on the second half of baccalaureate nursing coursework
• Current, unrestricted RN license; Michigan license required for Michigan-based applicants
• Statistics course, written essay, three letters of recommendation, faculty interview, CV — same requirements as MSN
• Early deadline: December 1 | Final deadline: April 1 | Fall start only

Post-Master’s DNP additional requirements:

• MSN from a CCNE- or NLN-accredited program; minimum 3.0 graduate GPA
• Current national certification from a U.S. certifying board (NP, CRNA, CNS, or CNM)
• Current, unrestricted RN license; Michigan license required before progression for Michigan-based applicants
• Statistics course (undergraduate grade ≥ 2.0 or graduate grade ≥ 3.0, within 5 years)
• Written essay addressing career goals and motivations for doctoral study
• Three letters of recommendation
• Faculty interview with College of Nursing
• Validation form required: applicants must submit a form to their APRN program administrator verifying total clinical hours and curriculum content for the three core APRN courses; must be received by the application deadline
• Deadlines: Fall (September start) March 1 | Spring (January start) September 1 | Summer (May start) January 1 | Applications reviewed on a rolling basis

Post-Graduate Certificate AGPCNP

The estimated cost for the Post-Graduate Certificate AGPCNP at Michigan State University is approximately $25,225 for Michigan residents (27 credits × $934.25/credit), and the program takes approximately 2.5 years to complete based on the published curriculum sequence of 1 course in year one and four courses spread across years two and three.

Certificate Curriculum

The 27-credit certificate mirrors the AGPCNP specialty emphasis from the MSN and DNP concentrations, covering health promotion through four progressive clinical diagnosis and management courses. A gap analysis is conducted to assess prior coursework in the three core APRN clinical courses (pathophysiology, physical assessment, and pharmacology); faculty may require one or all three before a student may enroll in certificate courses. All 27 specialty credits are required — there is no individualized reduction based on prior coursework beyond the “3 Ps” prerequisite review.

• NUR 913 – Health Promotion – Adult-Gerontology (3 cr.) — Year 1, Spring
• NUR 925 – Clinical Diagnosis and Management I – Adult-Gerontology (6 cr.) — Year 2, Fall
• NUR 926 – Clinical Diagnosis and Management II – Adult-Gerontology (6 cr.) — Year 2, Spring
• NUR 927 – Clinical Diagnosis and Management III – Adult-Gerontology (6 cr.) — Year 2, Summer
• NUR 928 – Clinical Diagnosis and Management IV – Adult-Gerontology (6 cr.) — Year 3, Fall

Potential prerequisite courses (assessed by gap analysis — may be required before certificate enrollment):

• NUR 907 – Advanced Pathophysiology for the APRN
• NUR 908 – Advanced Physical Assessment for the APRN
• NUR 909 – Advanced Pharmacology for the APRN (pharmacology coursework must be within the past 5 years)

More curriculum details are available here.

Certificate Clinicals

The certificate requires 543 direct-care clinical hours plus 42 simulation hours — 585 total — distributed across the four clinical diagnosis and management courses. MSU vets and arranges all placements; students do not self-source preceptors.

• NUR 925, 926, 927 — 135 direct clinical hours each (405 hours across three courses)
• NUR 928 — 180 direct clinical hours
• Total: 543 direct-care clinical hours + 42 simulation hours = 585 hours
• Population focus: adolescents (age 13) through frail older adults in primary care settings
• MSU arranges all clinical rotations — no self-sourcing required
• Spring program start (not fall); application deadline: October 1

Certificate Admissions

Applicants must hold a master’s or doctoral nursing degree from an accredited program, current APRN national certification, and an active RN license. A faculty interview is required.

• Master’s or doctoral degree in nursing from a CCNE- or NLN-accredited program
• Current national certification from a U.S. certifying board (NP, CNS, CRNA, or CNM)
• Current, unrestricted RN license in the applicant’s state; Michigan license required for Michigan-based applicants
• Minimum 3.0 GPA (4.0 scale) for the graduate nursing program
• Gap analysis of “3 Ps” coursework (pathophysiology, physical assessment, pharmacology); pharmacology must be within the past 5 years
• Validation form required: applicants submit to their APRN program administrator to verify total clinical hours and content of the three APRN core courses
• Written essay addressing career goals and motivations for additional graduate study in the AGPCNP specialty
• Three letters of recommendation from sources with direct knowledge of work and educational experience
• Faculty interview with College of Nursing
• Curriculum vitae or resume
• TOEFL required if English is not native language (same thresholds as MSN/DNP)
• Application deadline: October 1 | Spring start (January)

Tuition

MSU uses a per-credit tuition structure for nursing graduate programs. Because the AGPCNP program is hybrid, the applicable rate is the online nursing MSN/DNP special program fee rather than the standard graduate rate.

Per-credit rates (2025–2026):

• Michigan residents (MSN/DNP hybrid): $934.25/credit
• Non-residents (MSN/DNP hybrid): $962.25/credit
• Post-graduate certificate (resident): $934.25/credit (online Clinical Nurse Specialist certification rate; confirm with program)

Estimated total tuition by program:

• MSN AGPCNP (54 credits): ~$50,450 resident / ~$51,962 non-resident
• BSN-DNP AGPCNP (70 credits): ~$65,398 resident / ~$67,358 non-resident
• Post-Master’s DNP: Varies by gap analysis; minimum ~$9,343 for the 10-credit DNP project sequence (resident rate)
• Post-Graduate Certificate (27 credits): ~$25,225 resident

A Recreational & Wellness Center fee of $85 (part-time) or $170 (full-time) per semester applies to Michigan residents. Student-voted taxes of approximately $23.50 per semester apply to all degree students.

See the official tuition page for more details here.

Accreditation

The Master of Science in Nursing program at Michigan State University College of Nursing is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Graduates of the AGPCNP MSN and DNP tracks are eligible to sit for national certification examinations through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB).

More AGPCNP Programs in Michigan

• Madonna University - Livonia
• Oakland University - Rochester
• Spring Arbor University - Spring Arbor
• University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
• University of Michigan-Flint - Flint