Baylor University Online DNP Programs – 5 NP & Nurse-Midwifery Tracks
Through the Louise Herrington School of Nursing at Baylor University, BSN-prepared nurses can earn their doctor of nursing practice (DNP) with five nurse practitioner (NP) specializations and a nurse-midwifery track.
The specializations offered include: family nurse practitioner (FNP), neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP), pediatric primary care nurse practitioner (PNP-PC), dual pediatric primary/acute care nurse practitioner (PNP-PC/AC), adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner (AGACNP), and nurse-midwifery (NM).
The DNP program offers fully online coursework with local clinicals in approved states. BSN-prepared nurses can complete the single track DNP program in three years and four months and the dual PNP-PC/AC track in four years. Start dates land three times per year and two to three campus visits are required, depending on the track chosen.
Baylor University is a Christian institution and follows the motto: Learn. Lead. Serve.® The university and School of Nursing are committed to servant leadership and preparing nurses spiritually, academically, and personally to serve globally or in communities with under-served populations.
As part of the DNP program students complete practicum and residency hours at approved sites, supervised by a clinical preceptor. Baylor University offers clinical placement services to help this process move forward more smoothly. Students also complete a DNP project toward the end of their program.
Graduates of the Baylor online DNP programs are eligible to take their respective certification exams from the following organizations:
American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB)
- Certified Midwife (CM) or Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)
American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- Family Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified (FNP-BC)
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified (AGACNP-BC)
- Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified (PPCNP-BC)
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
- FNP Certification
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification (ACNPC-AG)
Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB)
- PNP-PC Certification – Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN) and Primary Care Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP-PC)
- PNP-AC Certification – Acute Care Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP-AC)
National Certification Corporation (NCC)
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified (NNP-BC)
Graduates of family NP and pediatric primary care NP programs may go on to DNP leadership positions in clinics, clinic systems, hospitals, OB/GYN clinics, mother and baby units, schools, and government organizations. Graduates of acute care programs usually work with patients with critical illness and chronic conditions.
Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) typically work in mother and baby units, labor and delivery departments, OB/GYN clinics, and birthing centers. Neonatal nurse practitioners usually work with critically ill and premature infants and their families in NICUs, labor and delivery departments, and clinics.
Baylor University also offers a post-graduate DNP program for MSN-prepared nurse practitioners who wish to earn a DNP with a second NP specialization. The NP specializations the applicant must have earned include FNP, NNP, and NM at this time, with PNP and AGACNP qualifying soon. Students should contact the Louise Herrington School of Nursing for more information on this program.
Baylor University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The online DNP specializations are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The nurse-midwifery specialization is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME). Baylor University is located in Waco, Texas.
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What to Expect from the Baylor University Online DNP Programs
Admission Requirements: The BSN-to-DNP program requires proof of a BSN earned from a regionally accredited nursing school with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Application materials include proof of an unrestricted RN license, a written statement, three letters of recommendation, and official transcripts. No GMAT or GRE is required.
Applicants to the FNP, PNP-PC, PNP-PC/AC, and AGACNP specializations must have at least one year of full-time professional nursing experience by the first day of classes.
Applicants to the NNP specialization must have at least one year of full-time neonatal clinical work experience in a Level 3 NICU within the past five years, including experience caring for critically ill neonates or infants in inpatient settings. This work experience must be completed before beginning the clinical portion of the program.
Those interested in the nurse-midwifery specialization must have at least one year of full-time nursing experience as a labor and delivery nurse in an outpatient OB/GYN clinical setting or a mother-baby unit.
State Restrictions: Baylor University accepts students into the DNP nurse-midwifery program from the following states: Colorado, Washington DC, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.
The DNP NP programs accept students from those states listed and Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Mississippi, and Ohio.
Students outside of Texas should inquire with the Louise Herrington School of Nursing at Baylor University and their state Board of Nursing to verify licensure requirements and out-of-state distance learning eligibility.
Study Plan: Start dates for the DNP programs land in January, May, and August. The DNP NP and nurse-midwifery specializations take about three years and four months to complete. The dual pediatric primary and acute care NP specialization takes about four years to complete. Students have up to eight years to complete the programs but typically stay with the same group of students throughout the programs. Clinicals are completed local to the student with clinical placement services available. Two to five campus visits are required depending on the track selected.
DNP Curriculum: The online single-track DNP programs comprise 75 credits plus 1,125 practicum hours. The dual DNP pediatric nurse practitioner PC/AC program comprises 89 credits plus 1,125 practicum hours for the primary care portion and 600 practicum hours for the acute care portion.
Core courses for all specializations include introduction to Statistical Methods; Servant Leadership; Theoretical Concepts for the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse; Roles and Business of the APRN; Health Informatics and Innovations in Technology; Advanced Human Pathophysiology; Advanced Pharmacology; Advanced Health Assessment; Scientific Inquiry; Global Healthcare and Missions; Data Management; DNP Project I-III; Applied Ethics for Advanced Practice Nursing; Clinical Epidemiology; Transforming Healthcare Organizations and Changing Outcomes; Translational Science; Policy Implications for Healthcare; and Advanced Nursing Practice Residency (taken twice).
- FNP Specialty Courses: Advanced Practice FNP I Primary Care Practicum; Advanced Family Practice III/Low Resource Clinical; Family Nurse Practitioner International Clinical; Primary Care Pediatric Management for the FNP; Family Healthcare Management II-III; Advanced Family Practice II; FNP I: Primary Care for APRNs; Women’s Health Across the Lifespan; Family Nurse Practitioner Residency.
- NNP Specialty Courses: Advanced Assessment of the Newborn/Infant Practicum; Advanced Assessment and Diagnosis of the Newborn/Infant; Embryology and Development Physiology; Advanced Newborn/Infant Pharmacotherapeutics; Advanced Neonatal Nursing Practicum I-II; Advanced Neonatal Nursing Management I: High-Risk and Critically Ill Newborns/Infants; Advanced Neonatal Nursing Management II: Acute and Chronic Problems of Newborns/Infants; The NICU Graduate; Clinical Genetics in Practice; Advanced Neonatal Nursing Practicum III Residency.
- PNP Primary Care Specialty Courses: Advanced Pediatric Health Care Management I: Primary Care and Corresponding Practicum; PNP Primary Care Residency; Advanced Practice Nursing Residency; Genomics in the Pediatric Setting; Advanced Pediatric Health Care Management II: Acute and Common Health; Needs Advanced Pediatric Health Care Management II: Practicum; Advanced Pediatric Health Care Management III: Chronic Health Needs and the corresponding practicum
- Dual PNP Primary/Acute Care Specialty Courses: All PNP primary care specialty courses plus pediatric acute care nurse practitioner I-II and the corresponding practicums
- AGACNP Specialty Courses: Gerontology Considerations for APRN Practice; Diagnostic Reasoning; AGACNP Management I: Common Problems and corresponding practicum; Translational Science; AGACNP Management II: Chronic Problems and the corresponding practicum; AGACNP Management III: Acute and Critical Care Problems and the corresponding practicum; AGACNP Residency
- Nurse-Midwifery Specialty Courses: Professional Issues for Nurse-Midwives; Nurse-Midwifery I: Primary Care of Women and corresponding practicum; Nurse-Midwifery IIA-IIB: Women’s Health and the corresponding practicum; Nurse-Midwifery III: Care of the Childbearing Family and corresponding practicum; Nurse-Midwifery IV: High-Risk Family and the corresponding practicum; Advanced Practice Nurse-Midwifery Residency
Online Experience: Baylor University delivers courses through the Canvas online Learning Management System (LMS). Courses may include asynchronous and live, synchronous components. Discussion boards and online chats may be utilized during courses.
Online DNP students are paired with a Student Success Coach who can help ensure nursing students access needed resources. The Coach assists with orientation, academic advising, and course progress monitoring.
Baylor University also offers clinical placement support, working with nursing students to locate and secure sites and preceptors for clinical practicums and residencies. Other services may include career counseling, library services, and access to faculty through online office hours.
On-Site Requirements: Some campus visits are required for the DNP programs. The FNP and PNP-PC tracks require three campus visits in Waco, TX. The dual PNP-PC/AC track requires five campus visits although some may be virtual and not require travel to Waco. The NNP, AGACNP, and nurse-midwifery DNP programs require two to three campus visits. Interested parties should contact the Louise Herrington School of Nursing for current information about on-site requirements.
Paying for the Baylor University Online DNP Programs
Baylor University’s online DNP program tuition and fees are listed in the tables below. Interested nurses should contact the Louise Herrington School of Nursing for up-to-date tuition information as costs typically change each year.
Tuition funding options vary and may include unsubsidized federal student loans secured through approval by applying through the FAFSA. As well, many employers offer tuition reimbursement programs or tuition discounts. Finally, graduate students may choose to secure private loans or seek community and organizational scholarships or grants.
Baylor University offers several NP and Nurse-Midwifery DNP programs with a focus on servant leadership to under-served and global communities.
BSN to DNP – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
BSN to DNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
BSN to DNP – Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
BSN to DNP – Nurse-Midwifery
BSN to DNP – Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
BSN to DNP – Pediatric Primary/Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
1311 S 5th Street
Waco, Texas 76706
Program Essentials
DNP – Doctor of Nursing Practice
AGNP – Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
January, May, August
No
2
75
1,125
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, DE, LA, MN, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NY, ND, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SD, TN, WA, WI, WY
Program Tuition
75
$1,150
$86,250.00
$1,150
$86,250.00
Program Essentials
DNP – Doctor of Nursing Practice
FNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
January, May, August
No
3
75
1,125
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, DE, LA, MN, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NY, ND, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SD, TN, WA, WI, WY
Program Tuition
75
$1,150
$86,250.00
$1,150
$86,250.00
Program Essentials
DNP – Doctor of Nursing Practice
NNP – Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
January, May, August
No
2
75
1,125
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, DE, LA, MN, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NY, ND, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SD, TN, WA, WI, WY
Program Tuition
75
$1,150
$86,250.00
$1,150
$86,250.00
Program Essentials
DNP – Doctor of Nursing Practice
NM – Nurse-Midwife
January, May, August
No
2
75
1,125
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, DE, LA, MN, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NY, ND, OK, OR, PA, PR, SD, TN, WA, WY
Program Tuition
75
$1,150
$86,250.00
$1,150
$86,250.00
Program Essentials
DNP – Doctor of Nursing Practice
PNP – Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
January, May, August
No
3
75
1,125
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, DE, LA, MN, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NY, ND, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SD, TN, WA, WI, WY
Program Tuition
75
$1,150
$86,250.00
$1,150
$86,250.00
Program Essentials
DNP – Doctor of Nursing Practice
PNP – Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
January, May, August
No
3
89
1,725
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, DE, LA, MN, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NY, ND, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SD, TN, WA, WI, WY
Program Tuition
89
$1,150
$102,350.00
$1,150
$102,350.00
Tuition is calculated based on credits, at the published tuition rate. Rates may change, so please check here for the latest tuition information. For programs with variable tuition rates, we use the rates for part-time students. “Resident” and “non-resident” refer to the student’s school-recognized state residency status. Tuition number represents the cost of tuition for the entire program, not per semester or year. Estimated total tuition does not include additional fees.
Sara Navratil
WriterSara Navratil is a freelance writer and a Certified Canfield Success Principles Trainer. She’s the owner of Sara Liza Life, a company dedicated to helping people rewrite their lives. She enjoys researching and writing about healthcare-related topics, including information on online NP programs. When not working she likes to read, bake, and spend time with her family.