South University Online Nurse Practitioner Programs – FNP, AGPCNP

What to Expect from the South University Online FNP and AGPCNP Programs

Admission Requirements: All nursing students must have an unencumbered RN license in a US state or territory. This license must be maintained throughout the nursing studies. Application materials include three letters of reference through the Nursing Graduate School Appraisal Form, a resume, official transcripts, and the application itself. Statistics and nursing research courses with a grade of C or better are prerequisites. Students whose primary language is not English must also provide proof of English language proficiency.

• Program Specific Admission Requirements
• MSN FNP and AGPCNP: Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate coursework; hold a BSN degree from an accredited US institution; submit a 1-2 page essay or goal statement
• RN to MSN FNP and AGPCNP Bridge: Hold an associate’s degree or a diploma in nursing from an accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher; submit a 1-2 page essay or goal statement
• Post-Master’s Certificate FNP and AGPCNP: Hold a master of science in nursing (MSN) degree from an accredited institution

State Restrictions: While South University accepts students from many states, applicants outside of Georgia should check with the admissions department to make sure they are eligible for the nursing programs. The following state restrictions apply at this time:

• MSN – FNP: This program is not available to residents of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, New York, North Carolina, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington, Wisconsin, and Washington DC.
• MSN – AGPCNP: This program is not available to residents of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington, Wisconsin, and Washington DC.
• RN to MSN – FNP: This program is not available to residents of Alabama, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington, and Washington DC.
• RN to MSN – AGPCNP: This program is not available to residents of Alabama, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington, and Washington DC.
• Post-Master’s Certificate: The AGPCNP and FNP Post-master’s program is not available to residents of Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, New York, North Carolina, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington, Wisconsin, and Washington DC. The AGPCNP specialization is also not available to residents of Nevada.

Interested students should also contact the licensing board of their specific state of residence to determine if the program meets state requirements for NP licensure.

Study Plan: South University runs on a quarter system with start dates for online programs every month except April. Online courses begin every two weeks. Courses run for 5 or 10 weeks to provide a fast-paced learning environment. The AGPCNP Post-Master’s Certificate can be completed in as little as 13 months and the FNP specialization can be completed in as little as 16 months. The MSN – FNP can be completed in 19 months and the MSN – AGPCNP can be completed in 17 months. The RN to MSN – FNP can be completed in 45 months and the RN to MSN – AGPCNP can be completed in 43 months.

MSN – FNP and AGPCNP Core Curriculum: The MSN – FNP degree comprises 62 credits and includes at least 650 hours of clinicals. The MSN – AGPCNP degree comprises 56 credits and includes at least 500 hours of clinicals. Courses for both specialties include Advanced Pathophysiology; Advanced Theoretical Perspectives for Nursing; Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse: Transformational Leadership in Advanced Practice; Health Policy and Health Promotion in Advanced Nursing Practice; Advanced Nursing Practice; Advanced Health and Physical Assessment; Advanced Pharmacology; Graduate Project in Nursing; and Nursing Research Methods.

Students also complete Pre-Specialty Evaluation and Pre-Clinical Evaluation which are non-credit courses. If a student receives a failing grade in Pre-Clinical Evaluation an additional 4-credit course called Nurse Practitioner Enhancement must be taken.

• MSN – FNP Specialty Curriculum: Specialty courses include Practicum I: Family Health – Adults and Gerontology; Practicum II: Family Health: Women’s Health; Practicum III: Family Health – Pediatrics; and Practicum IV: Family Health – Primary Care.
• MSN – AGPCNP Specialty Curriculum: Specialty courses include Pre-Specialty Evaluation; Pre-Clinical Evaluation; Practicum I: Adult Health – Adults and Gerontology; Practicum II: Adult Health: Women’s Health; and Practicum III: Adult Health – Primary Care.

RN to MSN – FNP and AGPCNP Bridge Curriculum: The RN to MSN – FNP degree comprises 233 credits, of which approximately 98 must be taken through South University and the rest may be transferred in. It also includes a minimum of 650 hours of clinicals. The RN to MSN – AGPCNP degree comprises 227 credits, of which approximately 92 must be taken through South University and the rest may be transferred in. It also includes a minimum of 500 clinical hours. Students may transfer in up to 90 general education credits and 45 undergraduate nursing credits. RN to MSN students do not earn a BSN degree.

Undergraduate nursing courses through South University include Foundations for Professional Nursing; Foundations of Nursing Research; Concepts of Teaching and Learning; Leadership in a Diverse Society; Information Management and Technology; Illness and Disease Management Across the Life Span; Trends in Healthcare Policy; Gerontological Nursing; and Health Promotion and Clinical Prevention.

Subsequently, RN to MSN students complete the full MSN curriculum including core courses and specialty courses listed above for each specialty.

Post-Master’s FNP and AGPCNP Certificate Curriculum: The Post-Master’s FNP Certificate comprises 42 credits plus at least 650 clinical hours and the AGPCNP Certificate program comprises 36 credits plus at least 500 clinical hours. Courses may be waived if the transcript indicates the course or an equivalent course was successfully completed. Courses include Advanced Pharmacology; Advanced Nursing Practice; Advanced Health and Physical Assessment; and Graduate Project in Nursing. Students also complete Pre-Specialty Evaluation and Pre-Clinical Evaluation which are non-credit courses. As with the MSN, if a student receives a failing grade in Pre-Clinical Evaluation an additional 4-credit course called Nurse Practitioner Enhancement must be taken.

• FNP Certificate Specialty Curriculum: Courses include Practicum I: Family Health – Adults and Gerontology; Practicum II: Family Health: Women’s Health; Practicum III: Family Health – Pediatrics; and Practicum IV: Family Health – Primary Care.
• AGPCNP Certificate Specialty Curriculum: Courses include Pre-Specialty Evaluation; Pre-Clinical Evaluation; Practicum I: Adult Health – Adults and Gerontology; Practicum II: Adult Health: Women’s Health; and Practicum III: Adult Health – Primary Care.

Online Experience: South University utilizes Brightspace as its online Learning Management System (LMS). Brightspace offers personalized navigation, a simple online learning platform, advanced media content, digital book access, email, instant messaging, discussion boards, and other tools. Course materials may include videos, readings, assignments, discussion boards, and assessments. The online classroom can also be accessed on the go through the Pulse App. The Peers Student Community provides access to the online library, career services, 24/7 technical support, online tutoring, and faculty and peer interaction through the Connections online social network. In addition, South University offers graduation teams consisting of three people to make sure the online learning environment is successful for the student: an admissions representative, a student financial counselor, and an academic counselor.

On-Site Requirements: There are no on-site requirements for the South University nursing programs as they are 100% online with clinicals local to the student.