Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) School of Nursing offers an MSN: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (A-GNP).
Highlights include:
- is delivered in an in-person, part-time format
- evening classes meet twice weekly
- students progress through the program as a cohort over 27 months
A distinctive feature of NDMU’s A-GNP program is its emphasis on wellness coaching and whole-person care, integrating caring science theory throughout the curriculum alongside 750 clinical practicum hours.
Program Tracks Overview
Master of Science in Nursing – AGPCNP
The estimated cost for the MSN: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program is approximately $33,120 (36 credits × $920/credit) and is designed to be completed in 27 months on a part-time basis.
MSN Curriculum
The MSN requires 36 total credits across four course groupings: core courses, core advanced practice courses, A-GNP track specialty courses, and corresponding practicum courses.
Here’s a concise and original rewording of each course description while keeping the professional academic tone and key outcomes intact—ideal for academic catalogs or program web content.
Core Courses
NUR-500 – Introduction to Scholarly Caring Inquiry (3 credits)
Introduces foundations of scholarly inquiry through the lens of caring science, emphasizing reflective dialogue, scholarly writing, and adherence to APA ethical standards.
NUR-501 – Theoretical Foundations of Nursing (3 credits)
Explores the philosophical, theoretical, and conceptual underpinnings of nursing science to guide patient care, education, and leadership decisions.
NUR-510 – Contemporary Leadership in Nursing (2 credits)
Examines leadership theories and strategies with attention to collaboration, influence, and innovation in evolving healthcare and educational settings.
NUR-542 – Advancing Caring Science through Scholarly Inquiry (3 credits)
Strengthens research literacy through analysis and application of evidence-based studies, culminating in the development of a caring science–based research proposal. Prereq: NUR-500.
Core Advanced Practice Courses
NUR-545 – Family Theory and Dynamics (2 credits)
Analyzes family systems, structure, and relationships within advanced practice roles using caring and family science theories to guide holistic family-centered care.
NUR-546 – Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning (3 credits)
Develops advanced assessment and diagnostic reasoning skills through comprehensive data collection and interpretation across the lifespan. Prereqs: NUR-500, NUR-501, NUR-545. Coreq: NUR-547.
NUR-547 – Pathophysiology for Advanced Practice (3 credits)
Examines the physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms of disease processes to support advanced diagnostic and clinical decision-making. Prereqs: NUR-500, NUR-501, NUR-545. Coreq: NUR-546.
NUR-548 – Advanced Clinical Pharmacology (3 credits)
Covers pharmacologic principles across major drug classes with emphasis on safe, evidence-based prescribing throughout the lifespan. Prereqs: NUR-500, NUR-501, NUR-545, NUR-546, NUR-547. Coreq: NUR-542.
NUR-549 – Population Health for Advanced Nursing Practice (3 credits)
Applies principles of epidemiology, genomics, and ethics to design culturally responsive health promotion and prevention strategies. Prereqs: NUR-500–548, NUR-542. Coreqs: NUR-630, NUR-635.
NUR-632 – Transition for the Advanced Practice Nurse (2 credits)
Explores evolving advanced practice roles, healthcare systems, and policy issues to prepare students for leadership and transition to independent practice. Prereqs: NUR-500–549, NUR-630, NUR-635. Coreqs: NUR-631, NUR-636.
Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Track Specialty
NUR-630 – Primary Care I: Adults in the Community (3 credits)
Introduces evidence-based primary care of adults, emphasizing health promotion, early detection, and management of common conditions, with a focus on holistic care of reproductive-age women. Prereqs: NUR-500–548, NUR-542. Coreqs: NUR-635, NUR-549.
NUR-631 – Primary Care II: Adolescents to Adult Gerontology (3 credits)
Applies advanced assessment and treatment strategies for adolescents and adults, integrating holistic, culturally sensitive approaches to long-term wellness. Prereqs: NUR-500–549, NUR-630, NUR-635. Coreqs: NUR-636, NUR-632.
NUR-634 – Advanced Primary Care of the Frail Elderly (2 credits)
Focuses on managing chronic illness and promoting wellness in older adults, addressing ethical and end-of-life considerations within a primary care context. Prereqs: NUR-500–632. Coreq: NUR-637.
Corresponding Practicum Courses
NUR-635 – Advanced Primary Care Practicum I (2 credits)
Introduces novice-level clinical skills in holistic assessment, diagnosis, and care planning through 130 hours of supervised primary care experience. Prereqs: NUR-500–548, NUR-542. Coreqs: NUR-630, NUR-549.
NUR-636 – Advanced Primary Care Practicum II (3 credits)
Expands clinical competence through 195 hours of supervised practice emphasizing evidence-based reasoning and beginner-level patient management. Prereqs: NUR-500–549. Coreqs: NUR-631, NUR-632.
NUR-637 – Advanced Primary Care Practicum III (3 credits)
Strengthens intermediate-level clinical judgment and collaborative care techniques over 195 hours of supervised experience. Prereqs: NUR-500–632. Coreqs: NUR-633, NUR-634.
NUR-638 – Advanced Primary Care Practicum IV (4 credits)
Refines advanced clinical proficiency and care coordination skills through 260 hours of practice, integrating palliative and end-of-life principles. Prereqs: NUR-500–637. Coreq: NUR-510.
See the full curriculum details here.
MSN Clinicals
Students complete a total of 750 clinical practicum hours distributed across four sequenced practicum courses, covering diverse populations from adolescents through older adults in primary care settings. Practicum sites are population-focused, specific to the A-GNP track, and distinct from those used in the FNP track even when coursework is shared.
- NUR-635: Advanced Primary Care Practicum I – 130 hours
- NUR-636: Advanced Primary Care Practicum II – 195 hours
- NUR-637: Advanced Primary Care Practicum III – 195 hours
- NUR-638: Advanced Primary Care Practicum IV – 260 hours
MSN Prerequisites & Admissions
- BSN from an accredited college or university (or equivalent foreign degree)
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Applicants must be currently practicing nurses; non-practicing nurses will not be considered
- Active, unrestricted Maryland RN license or compact state RN license
- Completed college-level statistics course with a grade of C (70%) or higher
- Official transcripts from all baccalaureate, graduate, and associate/community college coursework (sealed, sent directly to School of Nursing)
- Students with degrees from outside the U.S. must submit a course-by-course evaluated transcript via World Education Services (WES)
- Current résumé/CV (include education, work experience, and certifications)
- Essay (500–700 words, APA format preferred): address how you will “transform the world” upon program completion from the perspective of the A-GNP concentration, and provide a balanced assessment of personal characteristics that will support this mission
- Application materials submitted to NDMU School of Nursing, Theresa Hall 001, or via processing@ndm.edu
Tuition
NDMU charges $920 per credit hour for the MSN Family Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner tracks.
Additional fees include a $199 per-term non-refundable Registration/Technology Fee and variable nurse practitioner-specific resource fees that differ semester to semester.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Application Deadlines
No specific application deadlines were listed for this program. Prospective students should contact NDMU directly at processing@ndm.edu for current application cycle dates and cohort start information.
Accreditation
The NDMU MSN: AGPCNP program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Notre Dame of Maryland University is also institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission for Higher Education (MSCHE).