A small number of students may desire to have terminal degrees in both practice (DNP) and research (PhD). For these students, an earned Master of Science in Nursing degree in an advanced practice specialty will be required prior to admission. Advanced practice is defined as direct care specialization (e.g., nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife) or indirect care specialization (e.g., nursing administration, nursing informatics). The curriculum for these students recognizes their attainment of the advanced practice specialty master’s degree. Depending on the advanced practice specialty, students pursuing the PhD-to-DNP pathway may or may not have prerequisites to meet prior to or concurrent with admission to the program. The DNP-PhD Comparison Chart provides more detail.
The MSN admission criteria provide the full requirements for PhD-prepared nurses wishing to pursue a DNP degree.