Prepare to be a leader in the healthcare field. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Population Health at UNCP equips you to translate research into real-world results. Build on your experience, elevate your impact and become a driving force in the future of healthcare.
Our DNP program is more than a degree — it's a pathway to meaningful leadership in today’s evolving healthcare landscape.
Whether you’re seeking to lead complex healthcare systems, enhance care in rural and underserved communities, or shape the future of nursing, the DNP equips you with the skills, experience and support to make it happen.
Online
Credit Hours
Or Less to Complete
Advance Your Impact.
With a focus on advanced clinical practice and systems-level leadership, this program
emphasizes the application of evidence-based strategies to improve patient care and
community health. Join a program rooted in service, grounded in research and driven
by your passion to make a difference — because the community needs nurse leaders like
you.
100 %
35
24 Months
Learn more about each course in our catalog. Degree Requirements
To be admitted you must:
Additional requirements include:
Plan of Study Fall 2026 Start
The DNP program involves 35* credit hours of study over 2 years. The program is completely online with carefully selected clinical opportunities to enhance the advanced practice role of the doctorally prepared nurse.
A sample plan of study for the Cohort entering the DNP program in August of 2026 can be found below.
*Additional credits may be needed (1) for those students who do not bring in 500 hours from their MSN program, needing to complete additional clinical practicum hours. The number of credit hours is determined per student advising. (2) For those students who need an extension to complete their DNP Quality Improvement Action Project.
| Semester | Course Number | Course | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | NUR-8000 | Population & Public Health Theory: Problem Discovery | 3 |
| Fall 2026 | NUR-8010 | Advanced Nursing Health Policy, Practice and Ethics | 3 |
| Spring 2027 | NUR-8031 | Clinical Practicum I: Organizational & Public Health Systems Leadership | 4 |
| Spring 2027 | NUR-8020 | Evidence-Based Practice, Research Methods & Clinical Data Management | 3 |
| Summer 2027 | NUR-8101 | Nursing Inquiry: DNP Project I | 3 |
| Fall 2027 | NUR-8032 | Clinical Practicum II: Population Assessment & Health Promotion Modeling | 4 |
| Fall 2027 | NUR-8102 | Nursing Inquiry: DNP Project 2 | 3 |
| Spring 2028 | NUR-8033 | Clinical Practicum III: Population Intervention Planning, Implementation and Evaluation Strategies | 4 |
| Spring 2028 | NUR-8103 | Nursing Inquiry: DNP Project 3 | 3 |
| Summer 2028 | NUR-8034 | Clinical Practicum IV: Project Evaluation and Dissemination | 5 |
Find out how to transfer clinical hours from another school.
The educational outcomes of the DNP program are guided by AACN Essentials (2021). As a DNP graduate, you will be prepared to function at the highest level of advanced nursing practice. You will be able to:
The DNP project is your opportunity to translate evidence into practice. This is different from a PhD dissertation, which fills research gaps. Instead, the DNP project uses evidence-based research to create solutions for a specific population. This program connects new scientific findings to practical nursing applications. It prepares you to make a real-world impact.
As a DNP candidate, you'll focus on an important issue in your chosen population. You'll use research to study nursing practices or policies and suggest evidence-based changes. Your project may aim to:
You’ll begin your DNP project in your first semester. Here, you'll identify a concern and a population of interest. With faculty guidance, you’ll craft a problem statement based on theoretical, ethical and practical concepts. As you progress, a project mentor will help you gain skills and confidence. By the end of the program, you’ll have developed, implemented and evaluated a project tailored to your population's needs.
Upon admission to the DNP program, the student would complete section A and then email the Verification of Clinical Hours form to the appropriate official from your previous MSN granting School of Nursing for completion.
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN, 2021) guidelines, a DNP project typically requires a minimum of 1,000 post-baccalaureate practice hours to be completed as part of the program, which includes the time dedicated to developing and implementing the DNP project itself; this means the hours should be directly related to the student's chosen practice area and aligned with the DNP Essentials.
The McKenzie-Elliott School of Nursing allows the DNP student to bring in up to 500 post-baccalaureate clinical practice hours towards the completion of the 1,000 hours required for completion of the DNP degree.
At UNCP, I’m not just learning the technical skills to become a great nurse — I’m learning how to truly serve the people in my community. The program places a strong focus on rural health care and shows us how to care for the whole person, not just the condition. That’s what makes this experience so meaningful.
Matteo Rojas
Navigating the financial aspects of your education can feel overwhelming. Understanding tuition, fees and available financial aid options is essential for planning your path to success. At UNCP, we're committed to helping you find the resources you need to reach your goals.
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or call us at 910.521.6271
The Doctor of Nursing Practice program at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke is pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791. Applying for accreditation does not guarantee that accreditation will be granted.
