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Master of Science in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner

Beginning in Fall 2024, new students will complete the updated curriculum (below), aligned with the 2022 AACN Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education. If you have questions regarding the updated curriculum, please contact your Program Chair.

Students enrolled before Fall 2024 are not affected.

Professional Licensure Information

Prospective students seeking professional licensure outside of Delaware should verify state licensure requirements before applying.  For state-by-state contact information for individual state licensure requirements, please visit NC-SARA's Professional Licensure Directory.


Program Purpose

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Family Nurse Practitioner Program is designed to prepare professional nurses for advanced roles. The curriculum emphasizes relationships among advanced nursing practice, theory, and scholarly inquiry. Graduates are eligible for national board certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner through the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board.

Program Competencies:

In addition to the University’s graduate graduation competencies, students will be able to:

1. Examine evidence-based practice and clinical judgment to improve quality, safety, and clinical outcomes for professional nursing practice;

2. Evaluate social justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, and ethical principles for professional nursing practice;

3. Analyze health policy, fiscal, and information technology implications for professional nursing practice;

4. Assess the impact of social determinants of health for professional nursing practice;

5. Design effective leadership strategies with interprofessional teams to enhance systems-based professional nursing practice;

6. Demonstrate effective communication, compassionate care, personal health, and professional maturity.

Pre-Requisite Course Requirements 

Applicants who have not completed an undergraduate course in statistics with a grade of "C" or better will be required to take a statistics course before registering for GRN 8102 and/or before consideration for degree candidacy (completion of 12 credits). If an undergraduate statistics course has not been completed, the following Â鶹ÊÓƵ course may be taken: 

MAT 308 - Inferential Statistics  

Nurse Practitioner Program Design

The Family Nurse Practitioner program emphasizes the direct caregiver role while combining nursing and related theory, advanced nursing practice, and scholarly inquiry. Nurses prepared as nurse practitioners have advanced health assessment skills; the ability to determine, implement, and evaluate a plan of health care; and the ability to implement strategies aimed at both health promotion and health restoration.

Several courses contain laboratory and/or clinical experiences in conjunction with a didactic experience. Selected courses have an associated lab/clinical fee. To participate in clinical experiences, students must show verification of current cardiopulmonary certification and registered nurse licensure for the state in which the clinical experience occurs. The University, under a group policy, carries professional liability insurance coverage for students.

The program is to be completed within a (5) five-year time frame. However, students who have a leave of absence of one year or more will be required to repeat select courses due to the nature of the material.

Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration

This program can be completed in seven (7) semesters. Students must complete all courses, consisting of 55 credits while maintaining a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Up to 12 transfer credits may be accepted if the course content corresponds to the required courses. Students are required to complete a minimum of 700 clinical hours (including planned simulation experiences). Courses are not listed in the order of completion.


Nurse Practitioner Program Design

The Family Nurse Practitioner program emphasizes the direct caregiver role while combining nursing and related theory, advanced nursing practice, and scholarly inquiry. Nurses prepared as nurse practitioners have advanced health assessment skills; the ability to determine, implement, and evaluate a plan of health care; and the ability to implement strategies aimed at both health promotion and health restoration.

Several courses contain laboratory and/or clinical experiences in conjunction with a didactic experience. Selected courses have an associated fee. To participate in clinical experiences, students must show verification of current cardiopulmonary certification and registered nurse licensure for the state in which the clinical experience occurs. The University, under a group policy, carries professional liability insurance coverage for students.

The program is to be completed within a five-year time frame. However, students who miss more than one year of study are required to repeat select courses due to the nature of the material.

Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration

This program can be completed in 24 months. Students must complete all courses, consisting of 55 credits, while maintaining a grade point average of 3.0 or better. Up to 12 transfer credits may be accepted if the course content corresponds to required courses. Students are required to complete a minimum of 700 clinical hours (including planned simulation experiences). Courses are not listed in the order of completion.

Core Courses ( 16 Credits)

Scholarly Writing

Advanced Practice Roles in Nursing Practice

Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice

Epidemiology and Population Health

Healthcare Politics and Policy

Healthcare Informatics

Family NP Courses ( 39 Credits, 700 Clinical Hours)

Advanced Pathophysiology

Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan

Advanced Health Assessment

Differential Diagnosis and Clinical Decision Making Across the Lifespan

Family Practicum I

Acute and Chronic Care Across the Lifespan I

Family Practicum II

Acute and Chronic Care Across the Lifespan II

Acute and Chronic Care Across the Lifespan III

Family Practicum III

Family Practicum IV



This information applies to students who enter this degree program during the 2024-2025 Academic Year. If you entered this degree program before the Fall 2023 semester, please refer to the academic catalog for the year you began your degree program.