University of Detroit Mercy Online CNS & ENP Programs
The University of Detroit Mercy, located in Detroit, Michigan, is a Catholic university of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and Religious Sisters of Mercy spiritual traditions. The University of Detroit Mercy (UD Mercy) is the only university in the world that combines these two particular charisms. These two traditions synergistically work together to advance UD Mercy’s vision of creating competent, compassionate, and prepared leaders to meet the world’s diverse needs. UD Mercy’s various academic and professional programs incorporate moral and ethical issues into their curricula. UD Mercy students complete an education emphasizing their intellectual, spiritual, ethical, and social development.
The UD Mercy College of Health Professions & McAuley School of Nursing offers nursing professionals a master of science in nursing (MSN) degree program designed to prepare their graduates to become advanced practice nurses specializing in the role of adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialists. Students also have the option to complete a post-graduate certificate with specialization options in that same field as well as emergency nursing practice.
MSN AG-CNS degree students develop the clinical expertise necessary to become advanced practice nurses capable of providing quality care and driving change in various settings. AG-CNS graduates are prepared to work in three major spheres of responsibility. These are caregiving for both individual patients and families, sustaining an effective and professional nursing practice workplace, and serving as systems-level leaders committed to quality improvement, innovation and advocacy. The post-graduate certificate program is very similar in curriculum but is a less intensive time commitment. Degree program graduates are eligible to sit for the national AG-CNS certification examination offered by both the American Nurses Credentialing Center and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.
UD Mercy is noteworthy for offering Michigan’s first post-FNP emergency nurse practitioner (ENP) certificate program. This program is designed for family nurse practitioners (FNP) seeking to enhance their skills in providing urgent and emergent health care services to adults, children, and families. Graduates are eligible to sit for the national ENP specialty certification examination offered by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANPCP).
UD Mercy nursing students complete a curriculum to prepare skilled, compassionate nursing professionals. The curriculum is designed to achieve a number of learning outcomes. Such outcomes include:
- Demonstrating professionalism, ethical conduct, and skills competency associated with master’s level prepared nursing professionals
- Applying nursing theory, knowledge, and practice experience in advanced practice nursing care to ultimately realize optimal health and patient safety outcomes
- Delivering effective person-centered care through the integration of informatics, various healthcare technologies, collaboration with other healthcare professionals and teams, and other valued knowledge and skills
- Providing systems leadership focused on patient wellness and disease prevention, effective policy, and patient advocacy
- Integrating the Jesuit and Mercy traditions in providing person-centered care based in a fundamental recognition of human dignity
University of Detroit Mercy’s MSN-AGCNS program and its postgraduate certificate programs are all accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
What to Expect from UD Mercy MSN-AGCNS and Certificate Programs
Admission Requirements: Admission requirements to the MSN-AGCNS degree and the AGCNS and ENP certificate programs are very similar. All three programs require completion of an academic degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. The MSN-AGCNS degree requires completion of a BSN, while the post-graduate certificate programs require an MSN or doctor of nursing practice (DNP). Applicants must have a current unencumbered license to practice as an RN in Michigan or their state of residence.
Complete applications include a statement of personal goals and objectives, a CV or current resume, letters of recommendation, and official transcripts. Post-graduate certificate program applicants must also have at least 2,000 hours of clinical experience in nursing.
RNs with bachelor’s degrees in another field can also enter via the MSN bridge program. Bridge program applicants will be assessed individually to determine what prerequisite coursework may be required to gain entry.
State Restrictions: UD Mercy welcomes a wide variety of students, including transfer, dual-enrollment, international, readmission, and online students. Students should thoroughly review the UD Mercy website for details on requirements that apply to them.
International nursing students must complete additional steps for admission beyond what domestic students complete. Their applications must include a transcript evaluation for each college attended, a bank statement, a statement of financial support form if needed, and proof of a valid passport. International applicants must demonstrate that their educational background is equivalent to that of US program graduates. To illustrate this equivalency, applicants must have their transcripts of foreign coursework reviewed by a member organization of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or the Association of International Credential Evaluators. English language proficiency is another important matter.
International applicants are often not required to demonstrate English proficiency it may be needed if English is not the applicant’s native language or if the student has not completed a degree program from an approved U.S. school. In such instances, incoming students are typically required to take the English as a Second Language (ESL) test upon arrival on campus. International applicants can contact the UD Mercy International Services Office for assistance.
Study Plan: MSN-AGCNS degree students are offered three different start times throughout the year. Students may customize their study plans to meet their needs. Full-time students can complete the program in five study terms over approximately eighteen months while part-time students can complete in eight terms over roughly thirty months. AGCNS courses and clinical hours are to be completed at the end of the master’s program after students have completed their advanced P courses. Certificate programs are a smaller time commitment.
MSN Curriculum: The MSN-AGCNS degree program consists of 42 credits of coursework and is based on both the Criteria for the Evaluation of Clinical Nurse Specialist Master’s, Practice Doctorate, and Post-Graduate Certificate Educational Programs (NACNS, 2019) and The Essentials (AACN, 2021).
Curriculum design is aligned with the three spheres of AG-CNS impact. These spheres are patients, nurses (coaches and mentors), and healthcare systems. Students complete MSN integrated core courses, advanced practice core courses, and AGCNS core courses. The curriculum provides extensive training in patient assessment, evidence-based nursing practice, health care policy, nursing theory, leadership, information management, pathophysiology and more. Students develop expertise in the sub-specialties of advanced holistic nursing and care for older adults.
AGCNS Certificate Specialization Courses: Students complete 12 credits of specialization courses for the AGCNS certificate, including adult-gerontology CNS role and theory, wellness adult-gerontology CNS practice, and practicum coursework. Combined with nine credits of advanced practice core courses, students ultimately complete 21 credits to obtain this certificate.
ENP Certificate Specialization Courses: Students complete six courses for 15 credits within three semesters over one calendar year. Courses include the emergency nurse practitioner (ENP) role, ethical issues in advanced nursing practice, ENP procedures, and ENP clinical practicum placements. Students complete a total of 400 clinical contact hours.
Course topics include practice models, team-based care, collaboration, quality and safety. Graduates are trained to become highly skilled, culturally sensitive advanced practice nurses who offer urgent and emergent care services to individuals, families and whole communities.
Online Experience: The degree and certificate programs feature an online learning delivery model designed to accommodate the needs of working professionals. Information sessions for prospective applicants are also offered online.
On-Site Requirements: Though students complete most of their requirements online, they must complete their practicum requirement in person. The clinical practicum requirement is a critical element of academic nursing programs designed to provide students with essential hands-on patient care experience and confidence. Such placements are crucial to preparing students to work post-graduation successfully.
Paying for the University of Detroit Mercy MSN Degree and Certificate Programs
The tuition numbers for the UD Mercy MSN degree and certificate program are listed in the tables below. In general, applicants should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine what sort of financial aid they may qualify for.
The UD Mercy website features financial aid data organized by student category. The website provides a wealth of information on topics including a student’s anticipated cost of attendance, a listing of financial aid sources such as university scholarships, federal grants, private scholarships, and student fellowships, and guidance on completing the FAFSA. Students may also finance their education via college work-study as well as loans. In addition, UD Mercy also participates in three tuition exchange programs.
UD Mercy has repeatedly been recognized for its resources and openness to students with military backgrounds. In 2024, the university was again designated as a Gold-certified Michigan Veteran-Friendly School by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency. UD Mercy participates in a variety of programs, including the Montgomery GI Bill® (Chapters 30 and 1606), the Post 9/11 GI Bill® – Chapter 33 (including Yellow Ribbon), the Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 35), and still more. Service members, veterans, their spouses, and dependents benefit from a network of individuals who are especially skilled to work with them. These staff are found in many of UD Mercy’s on-campus service offices.
University of Detroit Mercy offers a fully online Adult-Gerontology CNS program, both at the MSN and Post-MSN level, as well as an online post-FNP Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP) certificate for practicing FNPs.
MSN – Adult-Gerontology CNS
Post-FNP Emergency NP Certificate
Post-Master's Certificate – Adult-Gerontology CNS
4001 W. McNichols Road
Detroit, Michigan 48221-3038
Program Essentials
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
CNS-AG – Clinical Nurse Specialist in Adult Gerontology
Fall, Winter, Summer
Yes
0
42
600
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE required
3.0 or higher
AL, LA, MN, NY, TN
Program Tuition
42
$959.00
$40,278.00
$959.00
$40,278.00
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
ENP – Emergency Nurse Practitioner
Winter
No
2
15
400
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
No GRE required
3.0 or higher
None
Program Tuition
15
$959.00
$14,385.00
$959.00
$14,385.00
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
CNS-AG – Clinical Nurse Specialist in Adult Gerontology
Fall, Winter, Summer
Yes
0
24
600
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
No GRE required
3.0 or higher
AL, LA, MN, NY, TN
Program Tuition
24
$959.00
$23,016.00
$959.00
$23,016.00
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.
Bernd Geels
WriterBernd Geels is a Berlin, Germany-based freelance writer and artist. He holds an undergraduate degree in atmospheric science and two graduate degrees. He completed his most recent graduate degree in international environmental studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in 2011. He is interested in healthcare, climate change, marine conservation, indigenous science, and refugee issues. You can reach him directly at [email protected].