St. Catherine University AGPCNP Programs

St. Catherine University offers 2 Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner tracks:

  • Doctor of Nursing Practice – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP (BSN entry)
  • Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Post-Graduate Certificate (MSN or DNP entry)

Both programs are delivered in a hybrid format combining flexible online courses with highly interactive in-person instruction for core NP courses, offered one day per week.

Program NameEst. TuitionEst. Duration
BSN-DNP AGPCNP$81,600 (68 credits × $1,200/credit)3–4 years
Post-Graduate Certificate AGPCNP$25,200 (21 credits × $1,200/credit)~2 years (6 semesters)

St. Kate’s dedicated clinical placement coordinator secures all practicum sites and preceptors — students do not self-source. The certificate can be pursued independently or alongside the DNP Post-Master’s track; state restrictions may apply for applicants outside Minnesota.

Program Tracks Overview

BSN-DNP AGPCNP

The estimated cost for the BSN-DNP AGPCNP at St. Catherine University is $81,600 (68 credits × $1,200/credit at 2025–2026 rates), and the program takes 3 years to complete on the standard plan or 4 years on the extended plan.

Tuition rates are subject to change each June 1. All applicants are reviewed for DNP scholarships at the time of admission; students employed by St. Kate’s corporate or community partners may qualify for a 10% tuition reduction.

DNP Curriculum

The BSN-DNP AGPCNP totals 68 credits organized across three phases: graduate foundation and APRN core courses, AGPCNP specialty coursework with progressive primary care sequences, and a four-course DNP practicum series running concurrently with specialty content in years two and three.

The foundation builds biostatistics, nursing theory, pharmacology, pathophysiology, health assessment, clinical reasoning, informatics, and interprofessional evidence-based practice.

The AGPCNP specialty sequence covers health promotion, three primary care content courses progressing from common acute conditions through complex chronic management, and four dedicated primary care clinical courses totaling 810 supervised hours. The DNP project runs through four practicum courses focused on quality improvement planning, implementation, data analysis, and dissemination.

Year 1 — Foundation and Core (27 credits)

NURS 7140 – Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice
Establishes core knowledge from nursing and related disciplines to develop, implement, and evaluate advanced nursing practice.

NURS 6223 – Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan
Examines pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics across age groups, including legal and practical prescribing issues.

STAT 7000 – Introduction to Biostatistics
Provides conceptual understanding of statistical methods for interpreting clinical research results and communicating findings.

IPE 7000 – Evidence Based Practice: Interprofessional Perspectives and Competencies
Applies evidence-based practice through interprofessional collaboration, social justice, and research translation to improve healthcare outcomes.

NURS 6160 – Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan
Analyzes normal and altered physiologic processes, including genetics and immunology, as they relate to disease across the lifespan.

NURS 7080 – Informatics for Advanced Nursing Practice
Explores how nursing informatics supports clinical judgment, quality improvement, and ethical technology use in diverse care settings.

NURS 6143 – Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan
Builds advanced history-taking, physical exam, and documentation skills for independent nurse practitioner practice.

NURS 6260 – Clinical Reasoning, Diagnostics, and Procedures
Develops diagnostic reasoning, differential diagnosis skills, and primary care procedures through case-based learning.

NURS 6135 – Health Promotion in Primary Care: Adult and Geriatric Populations
Applies population health strategies and evidence-based prevention to adult and geriatric primary care.

Year 2 — AGPCNP Specialty and DNP Practicum I & II (23 credits)

NURS 8150 – Leadership for Advanced Nursing Practice
Develops leadership skills to drive organizational change, promote diversity, equity, and interprofessional collaboration.

NURS 8536 – Healthcare Economics and Finance
Applies economic and financial concepts to healthcare leadership, budgeting, and system-level project analysis.

NURS 8300 – Advanced Outcomes Measurement and Evaluation
Teaches project management skills for quality improvement and evidence-based practice evaluation using data science and QI frameworks.

NURS 6420 – Primary Care I: Common and Acute Conditions in Adult and Geriatric Populations
Focuses on diagnosing and managing common acute physical and mental health conditions in adults and older adults.

NURS 8523 – Advanced Evidence-Based Practice
Critically appraises research across disciplines to improve healthcare practice patterns and population outcomes.

NURS 7420 – Primary Care II: Chronic Health Challenges in Adult and Geriatric Populations
Addresses chronic condition management considering patient characteristics and social determinants of health.

NURS 6445 – Primary Care Clinical I: Adults and Older Adults
Immersive clinical practice managing uncomplicated health conditions in adult and geriatric primary care patients.

NURS 8515 – DNP Practicum I: Leading QI
Systematic assessment and planning of quality improvement projects using theories and process improvement methods.

NURS 8516 – DNP Practicum II: Strategic Project Planning
Designs evidence-based quality improvement projects addressing systems-level problems with measurable outcomes.

Year 3 — AGPCNP Clinical Sequence and DNP Practicum III & IV (18 credits)

NURS 7820 – Primary Care III: Chronic and Complex Health Challenges in Adult and Geriatric Populations
Prepares DNP-prepared AGNPs to coordinate care for patients with complex multimorbidity in interprofessional teams.

NURS 7425 – Primary Care Clinical II: Adult and Geriatric Populations
Clinical experience managing chronic conditions common in adult and geriatric primary care.

NURS 8517 – DNP Practicum III: QI Implementation and Data Analysis
Implements quality improvement projects, collects data, and communicates outcomes to stakeholders.

NURS 8543 – Health Care: Power, Policy and Politics
Examines national/global healthcare systems, policy influence strategies, and interprofessional/cross-cultural care delivery.

NURS 7825 – Primary Care Clinical III: Adult and Geriatric Populations
Clinical practice coordinating care for adults and older adults with complex health conditions.

NURS 8125 – Primary Care Clinical IV: Adults and Older Adults
Advanced clinical immersion for adult-gerontology primary care practice.

NURS 8518 – DNP Practicum IV: Sustaining and Disseminating QI
Disseminates DNP quality improvement scholarship through papers, presentations, and stakeholder communication.

More curriculum details are available here.

DNP Clinicals

The BSN-DNP AGPCNP embeds clinical hours across four dedicated primary care clinical courses totaling 810 supervised hours, plus additional DNP practicum hours across four quality improvement project courses. A dedicated clinical placement coordinator arranges all clinical sites and preceptors — students do not self-source.

  • NURS 6445 – Primary Care Clinical I (1 cr.)
  • NURS 7425 – Primary Care Clinical II (3 cr.)
  • NURS 7825 – Primary Care Clinical III (3 cr.)
  • NURS 8125 – Primary Care Clinical IV (2 cr.)
  • Total primary care clinical hours: 810 (9 clinical credits × ~90 hours/credit)
  • Additional DNP practicum hours embedded in NURS 8515–8518 (QI project sequence, 8 credits total); total DNP practicum hours not separately published — confirm with program
  • Population focus: adults and older adults (adolescents through end of life) in primary care settings with emphasis on chronic and complex condition management
  • Clinical placement coordinator secures all sites and preceptors — no student self-sourcing required
  • St. Kate’s has partnerships with leading healthcare organizations in the region providing access to clinical sites, internships, and job opportunities

DNP Admissions

Applicants need a BSN and must commit to full-time enrollment. The program admits once per year in the fall. State restrictions may apply for applicants residing outside Minnesota — contact Graduate Admissions before applying.

  • BSN from an accredited nursing program required
  • Full-time enrollment required for the duration of the program
  • Current, active RN license required
  • Application submitted through Graduate Admissions
  • All applicants reviewed for DNP scholarships at time of admission
  • Students employed by St. Kate’s corporate or community partners may qualify for 10% tuition reduction
  • Fall start only; 3-year and 4-year program plans available
  • Program must be completed within 7 years of initial enrollment
  • State restrictions may apply for out-of-Minnesota applicants — confirm eligibility before applying
  • Specific GPA, essay, reference, and interview requirements not fully detailed in available source material — contact Graduate Admissions directly for complete requirements

Post-Graduate Certificate AGPCNP

The estimated cost for the Post-Graduate Certificate AGPCNP at St. Catherine University is $25,200 (21 credits × $1,200/credit at 2025–2026 rates).

The program takes approximately 2 years to complete across 6 semesters. A part-time plan of study is also available. There is no application fee and no GRE requirement for certificate applicants.

Certificate Curriculum

The 21-credit post-graduate certificate is built entirely around the AGPCNP specialty sequence from the DNP program — three primary care content courses progressing from common acute conditions through chronic and complex management, plus four clinical courses totaling 810 supervised hours.

The certificate is designed for nurses who already hold an MSN or DNP with APRN certification in another population focus and want to add adult-gerontology primary care as a second specialty.

Prior APRN clinical hours from a previous program may be credited toward the certificate through the program’s Gap Analysis Process.

  • NURS 6135 – Health Promotion in Primary Care: Adult and Geriatric Populations (3 cr.) — Year 1, Fall
  • NURS 6420 – Primary Care I: Common and Acute Conditions in Adult and Geriatric Populations (3 cr.) — Year 1, Spring
  • NURS 7420 – Primary Care II: Chronic Health Challenges in Adult and Geriatric Populations (3 cr.) — Year 1, Summer
  • NURS 6445 – Primary Care Clinical I: Adult and Geriatric Populations (1 cr.) — Year 1, Summer
  • NURS 7820 – Primary Care III: Chronic and Complex Health Challenges in Adult and Geriatric Populations (3 cr.) — Year 2, Fall
  • NURS 7425 – Primary Care Clinical II: Adult and Geriatric Populations (3 cr.) — Year 2, Fall
  • NURS 7825 – Primary Care Clinical III: Adult and Geriatric Populations (3 cr.) — Year 2, Spring
  • NURS 8125 – Primary Care Clinical IV: Adult and Geriatric Populations (2 cr.) — Year 2, Summer

More curriculum details are available here.

Certificate Clinicals

The certificate requires 810 supervised clinical hours distributed across four primary care clinical courses (9 clinical credits × ~90 hours/credit). Prior APRN clinical hours from a previous program may be applied toward the requirement through the Gap Analysis Process completed upon admission in coordination with the program coordinator.

  • NURS 6445 – Primary Care Clinical I (1 cr.)
  • NURS 7425 – Primary Care Clinical II (3 cr.)
  • NURS 7825 – Primary Care Clinical III (3 cr.)
  • NURS 8125 – Primary Care Clinical IV (2 cr.)
  • Total: 810 supervised clinical hours (9 credits × ~90 hours/credit)
  • Prior APRN clinical hours from a previous program may be credited via Gap Analysis — work with the program coordinator upon admission
  • Population focus: adults and older adults in primary care settings
  • Clinical placement coordinator arranges all sites and preceptors — no self-sourcing required

Certificate Admissions

Applicants must hold an MSN or DNP with current APRN certification in an existing population focus. No application fee and no GRE are required — St. Kate’s describes the process as streamlined specifically to accelerate certificate onboarding.

  • MSN or DNP from an accredited nursing program required
  • Current APRN certification in an existing population focus required
  • Current, active RN license required
  • No application fee
  • No GRE required
  • Students employed by St. Kate’s corporate partners may qualify for 10% tuition reduction
  • Fall start; part-time plan of study available
  • Gap Analysis Process completed upon admission to evaluate prior clinical hours for potential credit
  • State restrictions may apply for out-of-Minnesota applicants — confirm eligibility before applying
  • Full admissions requirements not comprehensively listed in available source material — contact Graduate Admissions at St. Catherine University directly for complete criteria

Tuition

St. Catherine University charges $1,200 per credit hour for the Doctor of Nursing Practice: Nurse Practitioner program (all tracks), including both the BSN-DNP and the post-graduate certificate. This rate applies for 2025–2026 and is subject to change each June 1. No separate in-state or out-of-state distinction is published for these programs.

Estimated total tuition:

  • BSN-DNP AGPCNP (68 credits): $81,600
  • Post-Graduate Certificate AGPCNP (21 credits): $25,200

All DNP applicants are reviewed for merit scholarships at the time of admission. Students employed by St. Kate’s corporate or community partners may be eligible for a 10% partner scholarship. Additional fees include a Student Activity Fee and Technology Fee — contact Student Accounts for current per-semester amounts. See the official tuition page for more details here.

Accreditation

St. Catherine University’s nursing programs — including the DNP: Nurse Practitioner and the post-graduate AGPCNP certificate — are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

Graduates are prepared to sit for national AGPCNP certification examinations through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).

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