• On-Campus Component
    Yes
  • Cost
    $1,053.00 per credit (resident and nonresident)
  • Total Credits
    77
  • Credential
    Doctorate Degree
  • Admission GPA
    3.0
  • Application Deadlines
    Early Decision Review: January 2 | Final: March 1
  • Campus
    Twin Cities
  • College
    School of Nursing

This specialty prepares nurses to provide advanced practice care to women throughout their lifespan and encompasses the unique needs, challenges, and life transitions in women’s lives. Students gain expertise in educating women on prevention and health, as well as diagnosing, managing, and treating common and complex prenatal and reproductive health conditions.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at the University of Minnesota is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. 

Program Format

The post-baccalaureate option of the DNP program is a three-year full-time program. All DNP students are required to come to campus for a four-day session (Tuesday through Friday) each semester that includes: core courses, enhancement programming, specialty courses, and meetings with their advisor.

In addition, beginning in the second year of the program, students in the Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner specialty are expected to be on campus for coursework two additional times per semester for one to two days each time. Students also complete 1,000 hours at clinical sites arranged by the school.

Recommended 3-Year Program Plan

Sample Courses

  • NURS 5222 – Advanced Human Physiology (2 cr)
  • NURS 6305 – Women's Reproductive Healthcare (3 cr)
  • NURS 5229 – Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics (3 cr)
  • NURS 7310 – WHNP Clinical and Professional Integration (2 cr)
  • NURS 7400 – Health Policy Leadership (3 cr)

Online Catalog

International Students

Applicants who are not US citizens or permanent residents should understand that the University of Minnesota’s DNP program does not meet the requirements for eligibility needed to obtain the appropriate F-1 student visa or status because it has limited (fewer than four) face-to-face on-site classes per DNP course. During the application process, we ask that international students use ECE or WES credential services for the evaluations.

Career Readiness

Our graduates are prepared to:

  • serve as educators and leaders in women’s health services with a strong focus on patient centered care, health promotion, and disease prevention.
  • serve as providers in women’s health clinics and hospital setting, primary care settings, family planning clinics, infertility clinics, urogynecologic clinics, gynecological oncology clinics, health departments, public health clinics, community clinics, and women’s correctional facilities.
  • develop, implement, and evaluate quality improvement initiatives for women’s health in their practice settings applying evidence-based practice.

Completion of the program specialty and required clinical hours prepares graduates to take the Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner certification exam administered by the National Certification Corporation.