Post University offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – AGPCNP Specialization track.
- 100% online program with flexible 8-week courses and monthly start dates
- Designed for working nurses to balance school and professional responsibilities
- Includes 540 hours of individualized, precepted clinical experience
- Practice-focused curriculum aligned with real-world nursing skills
- One-on-one student success advisor support throughout the program
Program Track Overview
MSN – Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Specialization
The estimated cost for the MSN – AGPCNP Specialization program is $26,014 based on 42-45 credits and would take 28 months (approximately 2 years and 4 months) to complete on a full-time basis.
Estimate based on 30 didactic MSN core credits at $588 per credit hour and 12 clinical NP-focused credits at $603.75 per credit hour.
MSN Curriculum
The curriculum emphasizes critical areas in adult gerontology primary care settings, including assessment, prevention, diagnosis, and management of chronic and acute conditions in adults from young adulthood to old age.
MSN Nurse Practitioner Core Courses (21 credits):
- N 502: Advanced Role Development and Organizational Leadership (3 credits)
- N 503: Policy Advocacy and Healthcare Ethics (3 credits)
- N 515: Research Design (3 credits)
- N 512: Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits)
- N 521: Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits)
- N 522PE: Advanced Physical Assessment (3 credits)
- N 523: Diagnostic Reasoning (3 credits) – preparatory course if needed after APEA 3P Exam
MSN Adult Gerontology Primary Care NP Specialization Courses (24 credits):
N 502 – Advanced Role Development and Organizational Leadership (3 Credits)
This course reviews the APRN role with focus on nurse practitioner responsibilities. Students examine the history, ethics, law, policy, and social factors that shape NP practice. The course also covers scope of practice, regulation, and the NP role as leader, educator, and change agent.
N 503 – Policy Advocacy and Healthcare Ethics (3 Credits)
This course covers policy advocacy, organizational ethics, and healthcare finance. Students study how public, government, and payer systems influence care delivery and nursing practice. Students also analyze ethical standards for safety and quality and examine cost, resource management, and current policy trends. Prerequisites: N 501PE or N 502.
N 515 – Research Design (3 Credits)
This course explains the nursing research process and compares quantitative and qualitative methods. Students critique published studies and evaluate how research supports practice decisions. Prerequisites: N 501PE or N 502.
N 512 – Advanced Pathophysiology (3 Credits)
This course analyzes core pathophysiology concepts and common disease conditions across body systems. Students study regulation and compensation, cellular biology, genetics, immune defense, and organ-based dysfunction. The course supports stronger clinical judgment across the lifespan and uses Sentinel U simulations.
N 521 – Advanced Pharmacology (3 Credits)
This course covers pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics for prescription, OTC, and natural products. Students practice medication selection and evaluation using current research and pathophysiology knowledge. The course also addresses monitoring, patient education, and legal, ethical, and cost issues in drug therapy. Prerequisites: N 512.
N 522PE – Advanced Physical Assessment (3 Credits)
This course strengthens advanced assessment skills across the lifespan using a health promotion and prevention framework. Students perform comprehensive, culturally responsive assessments and improve data collection and documentation. The course builds on anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, and prior assessment training.
N 523 – Diagnostic Reasoning (3 Credits)
This course builds diagnostic reasoning skills and prepares students for the APEA 3P exam. Students complete system-based modules that integrate pathophysiology, pharmacology, and physical assessment in primary care. The course emphasizes pattern recognition, critical thinking, and clinical decision-making across the continuum of care. Prerequisite: 3P exam requirement.
N 580 – Advanced Practice Nursing I (3 Credits)
This course prepares students to assess, diagnose, and manage common acute and chronic conditions in primary care for adolescents, adults, and older adults. Students use health promotion, prevention, and pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions to build safe care plans. Students apply models and theories and link learning to the preceptorship experience. Prerequisites: N 502, N 503, N 515, 3P Exam.
N 581 – Advanced Practice Nursing I Preceptorship Experience (3 Credits)
This first preceptorship helps students apply advanced practice skills in primary care for stable acute and chronic conditions. Students practice under preceptor mentorship and build competence across core APRN domains, including leadership, quality, policy, ethics, and independent practice. The course requires 135 supervised clinical hours. Prerequisite: N 580.
N 582 – Advanced Practice Nursing II: Women’s Health (3 Credits)
This course focuses on women’s health management in primary care from menarche through older adulthood. Students address prevention, assessment, clinical management, and referral for common and recurring concerns, including reproductive health changes. Students apply models and theories and prepare to use these skills in precepted practice. Prerequisites: N 580, N 581.
N 583 – Advanced Practice Nursing II Preceptorship Experience: Women’s Health (3 Credits)
This preceptorship builds clinical skills in women’s health across the lifespan in primary care. Students strengthen assessment, diagnosis, management, and referral skills and begin to practice with more independence under supervision. Prerequisite: N 582.
N 584 – Complex Concepts of Aging (3 Credits)
This course prepares students to assess, diagnose, and manage care for older adults in primary care. Students examine common geriatric conditions, aging-related changes, and advanced interventions for acute and chronic problems. Students analyze pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic strategies and apply theory to improve outcomes. Prerequisites: N 582, N 583.
N 585 – Complex Concepts of Aging Preceptorship Experience (3 Credits)
This preceptorship strengthens advanced practice skills for geriatric primary care. Students work with a preceptor to apply assessment, diagnosis, and management skills while building competence across APRN domains. Prerequisites: N 580, N 581, N 582, N 583, N 584.
N 598 – Advanced Practice Nursing Integration (3 Credits)
This course integrates clinical and professional skills for comprehensive primary care across settings. Students identify learning gaps, apply evidence-based approaches to common conditions, and expand skills in health promotion, prevention, diagnosis, and behavioral health. The course emphasizes self-assessment and collaboration to support readiness for national certification. Prerequisites: N 585 or N 589.
N 599 – Advanced Practice Nursing Integration Preceptorship Experience (3 Credits)
This final preceptorship expands student ability to manage complex acute and chronic conditions across the lifespan in primary care. Students practice more independently under supervision while reinforcing competence across APRN domains and certification readiness. The course includes two clinical checkpoint meetings in week 3 and week 7. Prerequisite: N 598.
APEA 3P Exam Requirement: After completing Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Physical Assessment, and Advanced Pharmacology, students must pass the APEA 3P Exam before progressing. Students who do not pass must complete the Diagnostic Reasoning course (3 credits).
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN Clinicals
Students complete 540 clinical hours through individualized preceptorship experiences integrated with four clinical courses (N 581, N 583, N 585, N 599).
Each NP course is taken one at a time in 8-week formats, with all clinical hours completed within the allotted 8 weeks per course.
Students are responsible for finding their own clinical preceptor, though those struggling to secure placements may contract with specialized companies (at additional student expense not covered by program fees).
MSN Admissions Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) with minimum 3.0 GPA
- Active, unencumbered registered nursing license (must remain active throughout program)
- Minimum one year of full-time work experience in a nursing clinical role within the last three years
- Must reside in an approved state (not available to residents of Arizona, District of Columbia, Louisiana, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, or Washington)
- Transcript evaluation for transfer credit consideration
For MSN-Prepared Nurses: MSN-prepared nurses interested in becoming nurse practitioners can earn a second MSN in the AGPCNP specialization in as few as eight courses, completing the program in the same timeframe as most certificate programs. Transcript evaluation required to determine transfer credit.
Tuition
The MSN – AGPCNP Specialization charges $588 per credit hour for MSN core courses and $603.75 per credit hour for MSN NP role and population-focused courses.
Additional fees include a $50 Resource Fee per 3 credit hours, $750 Clinical Fee per clinical course, $50 Technology Fee per term, and $90 Electronic Course Materials Fee per course.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Additional Third-Party Costs (not billed by university):
- Shadow Health: $90-$110
- Shadow Health Pharmacology: $90-$110
- EHRGo: $45 per 12 weeks
- 3P Exam Fee: $35
- Typhon Clinical Tracking: $100
- CastleBranch account for clinical documentation (fees vary by state)
- Books: Approximately $150 per course estimate
Accreditation
The master’s degree program in nursing at Post University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Post University is also accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. Upon program completion, graduates are prepared to sit for the Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner certification examination through accredited organizations like the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).
More AGACNP Programs Nearby
- Quinnipiac University - Hamden
- Western Connecticut State University - Danbury
- Yale University - New Haven