Program of Study: Family Nurse Practitioner DNP

Learn more about the courses you will take in the Family Nurse Practitioner DNP program.

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Curriculum Overview

The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) DNP is a three-year, full-time program for registered nurses entering with a bachelor's degree,as well as students in the Advanced Practice Nursing Immersion (APNI) to DNP pathway—designed for individuals with a non-nursing bachelor's degree—who have successfully completed the APNI prelicensure coursework. This program also offers an entry pathway for master's-prepared nurses—students entering with a master's degree will work with a DNP advisor to develop an individualized program of study.

Below are the programs of study for both the 2026–27 academic year (quarter calendar) and the 2027–28 academic year (semester calendar).

Program of study is listed as proposed to WABON, and currently subject to their review and approval. Nursing programs of study may change periodically to address state regulations, national accreditation, professional standards, licensing and certification requirements, and quality improvements to the curriculum. All nursing courses begin with prefix NURS.

2026-2027 Academic Year Program of Study

Below is the program of study for the Family Nurse Practitioner DNP program for the 2026-2027 academic year. 

Note: During the first year of advanced practice coursework, APNI-DNP and RN-DNP students follow different course sequences. Beginning in the second year, students in both pathways complete the remainder of the program together.

Students in the APNI-DNP program have a 4-year program of study (163-170 total credits). During the first five academic quarters of graduate study, students complete 67 credits of pre-licensure coursework. After successful completion of the pre-licensure coursework and RN exams, students begin their first year of advanced practice study—listed below.

Fall Quarter Year 1 (14 credits)

6020 Epidemiologic Analysis of Populations at Risk

6024 Advanced Pathophysiology

6130 Foundations of Nursing Knowledge for Advanced Practice

6160 Leadership in Health Care Systems

Winter Quarter Year 1 (12 credits)

6004 Pharmacology for Registered Nurses

6075 Clinical Reasoning

6111 Health Informatics

6190 Quality Improvement Process and Methodologies

Spring Quarter Year 1 (11 credits)

6010 Health Care Policy for a Just and Humane World

6017 Health Care Economics and Finance

6021 Mental Health in Primary Care and Community Lab

6121 Mental Health in Primary Care and Community Theory

Students entering the FNP program with an RN have a 3-year program of study (106-113 total credits) that includes advanced practice and doctoral coursework. First year courses are listed below.

Summer Quarter Year 1 (11 credits)

6004 Pharmacology for Registered Nurses

6024 Advanced Pathophysiology

6110 Ethical Care for Social Justice

Fall Quarter Year 1 (13 credits)

6020 Epidemiologic Analysis of Populations at Risk

6075 Clinical Reasoning

6130 Foundations of Nursing Knowledge for Advanced Practice

6190 Quality Improvement Process and Methodologies

Winter Quarter Year 1 (12 credits)

6017 Health Care Economics and Finance

6111 Health Informatics

6120 Population-Based Health Care

6160 Leadership in Health Care Systems

Spring Quarter Year 1 (11 credits)

6010 Health Care Policy for a Just and Humane World

6014 Theory Informed Critical Inquiry I

6021 Mental Health in Primary Care and Community Lab

6121 Mental Health in Primary Care and Community Theory

Summer Quarter Year 2 (0 credits)

No courses

Fall Quarter Year 2 (12 credits)

6001 Advanced Health Assessment Lab

6101 Advanced Health Assessment Theory

6022 Advanced Pharmacological Applications for Primary Care

6450 Primary Care Management I Theory: Acute Problems Across the Age Spectrum

Winter Quarter Year 2 (11 credits)

6015 Critical Inquiry II

6104 Management of Gynecologic and Reproductive Health Lab

6204 Management of Gynecologic and Reproductive Health Theory

6460 Primary Care Management II

Spring Quarter Year 2 (9-12 credits)

6018 Health Program Planning and Development

6360 Assessment of Common Geriatric Syndromes

6401 Diagnostics and Procedures (elective)

6470 Primary Care III

Summer Quarter Year 3 (5 credits)

6486 Primary Care Management Practicum I: Acute Management

Fall Quarter Year 3 (8 credits)

6487 Primary Care Practicum II: Chronic Issues

6901 DNP Internship I

Winer Quarter Year 3 (7-9 credits)

6488 Primary Care Management Practicum III: Complex Problems Across the Lifespan

6903 DNP Project Internship II

Spring Quarter Year 3 (7-9 credits)

6489 Transition to Advanced Practice Nursing: Practicum IV

6905 DNP Internship III

DNP Project Presentation and Program Synthesis

2027-2028 Academic Year Program of Study

Below is the program of study for the Family Nurse Practitioner DNP program under Seattle University's semester calendar, beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year.

Note: The total program length is three years for RN-DNP students and four years for APNI-DNP students. APNI-DNP and RN-DNP students follow the same plan of study throughout the three years of advanced practice coursework. For APNI-DNP students, advanced practice coursework begins after successful completion of all prelicensure coursework. The program of study below reflects only the three years of advanced practice coursework.

Summer Semester Year 1 (0 credits)

No courses

Fall Semester Year 1 (12 credits)

6XXX Professional Roles and Ethics in Advanced Practice (course code TBD)

6020 Principles of Epidemiology and Biostatistics

6022 Advanced Pharmacology

6024 Advanced Pathophysiology

Spring Semester Year 1 (7 credits)

6XXX Healthcare Informatics and Financial Management for Advanced Practice (course code TBD)

6XXX Population Health and Health Policy (course code TBD)

6001 Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning Across the Lifespan Theory

6101 Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning Across the Lifespan Lab

Summer Semester Year 2 (9 credits)

6XXX Systems Leadership for Quality Improvement in Healthcare (course code TBD)

6121 Mental Health in Primary Care

6450 Advanced Practice Nursing and Management in Primary Care I

Fall Semester Year 2 (13 credits)

6XXX DNP Project Planning and Preparation (course code TBD)

6460 Advanced Practice Nursing and Management in Primary Care II

6480 Diagnostics and Procedures for the Primary Care Provider Theory

6481 Diagnostics and Procedures for the Primary Care Provider Lab

6490 Reproductive Health

Spring Semester Year 2 (9 credits)

6901 DNP Internship I - Implementation and Evaluation

6470 Advanced Practice Nursing and Management in Primary Care III

6482 Primary Care - Applications of Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning I

Summer Semester Year 3 (6 credits)

6487 Primary Care Practicum I

6483 Primary Care - Applications of Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning II

Fall Semester Year 3 (9 credits)

6903 DNP Internship II - Analysis and Dissemination

6488 Primary Care Practicum II

6484 Primary Care - Applications of Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning III

Spring Semester Year 3 (7-9 credits)

6905 DNP Internship III - Elective

6489 Primary Care Practicum III and Transition to Practice

Transition to Semester Calendar

Beginning in summer 2027, Seattle University’s graduate programs will shift from a quarter system to a semester calendar. As the transition takes place, the university is committed to minimizing impact on your time to completion and program cost as you progress toward your degree. Learn more about the Graduate Programs Move to Semesters.

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Explore DNP Programs

Not sure if this is the right DNP program for you? We offer flexible entry paths for RNs, BSNs and even non-nurses, as well as five distinct advanced practice specializations. Find the best fit for your career goals.

Get in Touch

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