Graduate Nursing Programs

Prepares registered nurses and advanced practice nurses to expand scope of practice through advanced clinical training, applied research, and evaluation of healthcare delivery models. Grounded in a Christ-centered philosophy. Emphasizes practical coursework and relevant clinical experiences designed to enhance leadership, clinical excellence, and evidence-based practice.

Program Highlights

• 42–50 credits depending on emphasis selected, fully online or in a hybrid format
• Completed in approximately two years of full-time study
• Post-master’s doctorate for registered nurses and advanced practice nurses
• Focus on advanced clinical practice, applied research, and care-delivery evaluation
• Designed for working professionals with full-time and part-time enrollment options

Delivery Format

• Campus-based nurse practitioner emphases and fully online options are available.
• Fully online options include Lifestyle Medicine, Nurse Educator, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and General DNP .
• All students must attend the annual DNP seminar, which alternates yearly between on-campus and online formats.

DNP Emphases

Students may choose from the following emphases:

• Acute Care—Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
• Primary Care—Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)
• Primary Care—Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
• Primary Care—Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)*
• Lifestyle Medicine (fully online)
• Nurse Educator (fully online)
• General DNP (no emphasis, fully online)

*Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner emphasis available to United States residents only.

Clinical Placement Requirements

Students planning to complete clinical experiences outside the State of Tennessee must verify that the state is a member of the the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) and obtain approval from the appropriate State Board of Nursing. Clinical placements in some states may not be available due to state-specific nursing regulations.

Designed for registered nurses to progress seamlessly to a doctoral degree without completing a separate Master of Science in Nursing degree. Prepares advanced practice nurses for leadership, clinical excellence, and innovation in healthcare while offering flexible pathways tailored to professional goals.

Program Highlights

• 77 credits, fully online or in a hybrid format
• Completed in approximately three years of full-time study
• Allows BSN graduates to bypass MSN degree
• Designed for nurses with a minimum of two years (4,000 hours) of nursing experience prior to beginning practicum courses
• Offers flexible full-time and part-time enrollment options

Delivery Format

• Acute Care and Primary Care emphases, except Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, include face-to-face courses and some coursework offered online.
• Lifestyle Medicine, Nurse Educator, and Primary Care––Psychiatric Mental Health emphases are fully online.
• All students must attend the annual DNP seminar, which alternates yearly between on-campus and online formats.

DNP Emphases

Students select a primary emphasis and either a secondary emphasis or elective hours to complete degree requirements:

• Acute Care—Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
• Primary Care—Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)
• Lifestyle Medicine (fully online)
• Nurse Educator (fully online)
• Primary Care—Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
• Primary Care—Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)* (fully online)
• Dual Emphasis: Acute Care + Family Nurse Practitioner

*Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner emphasis available to United States residents only

Clinical Placement Requirements

Students planning to complete clinical experiences outside the State of Tennessee must verify that the state is a member of the the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) and obtain approval from the appropriate State Board of Nursing. Clinical placements in some states may not be available due to state-specific nursing regulations.

Designed for BSN students to bypass the Master of Science in Nursing, moving seamlessly to dual doctoral and business credentials. Prepares experienced nurses for advanced leadership roles by combining clinical expertise with business and healthcare administration skills. Equips graduates to lead with vision, influence healthcare policy, and drive innovation in nursing and healthcare organizations.

Program Highlights

• Dual-degree program combining a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Fully online, designed for working professionals
• 77 credit program
• Completed in approximately three years of full-time study
• Flexible full-time and part-time enrollment options designed for working professionals
• Provides interdisciplinary expertise in nursing, healthcare leadership, and business administration
• Prepares graduates to lead, influence policy, and improve healthcare systems
• Requires admission to both the School of Nursing and the School of Business*

Prepares experienced nurses for advanced leadership in healthcare by integrating clinical expertise with business and administrative skills. Rooted in a Christ-centered approach. Equips graduates to lead with vision, influence healthcare policy, and shape the future of nursing and healthcare organizations.

Program Highlights

• Dual-degree program combining a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Fully online, designed for working professionals
• 53 credit program
• Completed in approximately two years of full-time study
• Flexible full-time and part-time enrollment options designed for working professionals
• Provides interdisciplinary expertise in nursing, healthcare leadership, and business administration
• Prepares graduates to lead, influence policy, and implement innovative healthcare solutions
• Requires admission to both the School of Nursing and the School of Business*

Equips nurses with advanced expertise in nursing, business, and healthcare leadership. This fully online, Christ-centered program prepares graduates to influence healthcare policy, lead organizations with compassion, and advance the future of nursing through a strong foundation in management, research, and strategic decision-making.

Program Highlights

• Dual-degree program combining a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Fully online, designed for working professionals
• 50-credit program
• MBA courses offered in eight-week accelerated modules
• Completed in approximately two years of full-time study
• Flexible full-time and part-time enrollment options designed for working professionals
• Provides interdisciplinary expertise in nursing, healthcare leadership, and business administration
• Prepares graduates to lead, influence policy, and implement innovative healthcare solutions
• Requires admission to both the School of Nursing and the School of Business*

Prepares registered nurses for advanced clinical practice, education, and leadership roles. Combines practical clinical experiences with a Christ-centered approach to nursing leadership and patient care. Equips for career advancement in a growing healthcare market. Graduates have a strong record of job placement and excellent certification exam pass rates.

Program Highlights

• 50-56 credits depending on emphasis selected, fully online or hybrid format
• Completed in approximately two to two and a half years of full-time study
• Classes on campus held on Tuesdays
• Flexible full-time and part-time enrollment options to accommodate working professionals
• Prepares graduates for certification exams and advanced nursing practice

MSN Emphases

• Acute Care—Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
• Primary Care—Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)
• Nurse Educator (fully online)
• Primary Care—Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
• Primary Care—Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)*

*Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner emphasis available to United States residents only.

Clinical Placement Requirements

Students planning to complete clinical experiences outside the State of Tennessee must verify that the state is a member of the the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) and obtain approval from the appropriate State Board of Nursing. Clinical placements in some states may not be available due to state-specific nursing regulations.

Allows registered nurses to progress seamlessly to a Christ-centered master’s degree, bypassing a separate bachelor’s degree. Prepares nurses for advanced clinical practice, leadership, and education roles. Equips graduates to meet the growing demand for highly skilled nursing professionals.

Program Highlights

• 50–62 credits depending on emphasis and prior coursework, fully online or hybrid format
• Completed in approximately two to three years of full-time study
• Accelerated pathway combining undergraduate-level general education and nursing courses with graduate-level master’s classes
• Flexible full-time and part-time enrollment options designed for working professionals
• Graduates prepared for certification exams and advanced nursing practice

MSN Emphases

• Acute Care—Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
• Primary Care—Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)
• Nurse Educator (fully online)
• Primary Care—Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
• Primary Care—Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)* (fully online)

*Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner emphasis available to United States residents only.

Clinical Placement Requirements

Students planning to complete clinical experiences outside the State of Tennessee must verify that the state is a member of the the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) and obtain approval from the appropriate State Board of Nursing. Clinical placements in some states may not be available due to state-specific nursing regulations.

Undergraduate Requirements

RN to MSN students must complete a specific set of general-education and cognate courses prior to registering for graduate-level courses. Transfer credit options can be discussed with an academic adviser.

Designed for nurses who already hold a master’s degree and wish to expand their scope of practice in a new specialty without pursuing a doctoral degree. Grounded in a Christ-centered approach. Prepare advanced practice nurses to gain additional expertise, enhance leadership, and pursue certification in a new area of nursing practice.

Program Highlights

• 17–34 credits depending on emphasis selected
• Completed in approximately one to one and a half years of full-time study
• Full-time or part-time enrollment options designed for working professionals
• Flexible, individualized programs of study for MSN-prepared nurses based on previous coursework and professional goals

Emphases

• Acute Care—Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
• Primary Care—Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)
• Primary Care—Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
• Primary Care—Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)*
• Lifestyle Medicine (fully online)
• MBA in Healthcare Administration (fully online)
• Nurse Educator (fully online)

Designed for nurses who already hold a doctoral degree and wish to expand their scope of practice in a new specialty area. Rooted in a Christ-centered approach. Provide advanced expertise, preparing DNP-prepared nurses to assume leadership roles and pursue additional certification in a specialized area of nursing practice.

Program Highlights

• 17–34 credits depending on emphasis selected
• Completed in approximately one to one and half years of full-time study
• Full-time or part-time enrollment options designed for working professionals
• Flexible, individualized programs of study for DNP-prepared nurses based on prior coursework and professional goals

Emphases

• Acute Care—Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
• Primary Care—Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)
• Lifestyle Medicine (fully online)
• Nurse Educator (fully online)
• Primary Care—Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
• Primary Care—Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)* (fully online)