Missouri Nursing Doctorate Degree Programs

Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes Jewish College: DNP and PhD in Nursing Program Review
Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes Jewish College, 4483 Duncan Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110.
This nursing school, formerly Barnes Jewish College of Nursing and Allied Health, is based in St. Louis, Missouri. The college offers healthcare programs in nursing at the undergraduate and graduate level. The institution was founded in 1902 as Jewish Hospital School of Nursing.

The college is a union between Barnes College and Jewish Hospital School of Nursing. The School of Nursing bears the name of benefactor Alvin Goldfarb.

The Goldfarb School of Nursing offers a unique dual degree program which awards nurses both a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and PhD in Nursing qualification. The degree program claims to be the only nursing PhD/DNP dual degree program in the nation.

Entry options are available for both bachelors and masters prepared nurses seeking to earn a DNP/PhD. The college uses the term “practice scientists” to describe its graduates which are uniquely prepared to work in both a practice and research setting.

The Post-MSN (Master of Science in Nursing) DNP normally requires 84 academic credits.

Post-MSN admission requirements to the DNP/PhD program include a minimum 3.5 GPA from a masters program accredited by the CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education).

A variety of financial aid opportunities including scholarships and federal financial aid are available to students pursuing nursing education at the Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes Jewish College.

Graceland University: DNP Program Review

Graceland University

1401 W. Truman Road

Independence, MO 64050-3434

Graceland University is a private university established in 1895. The university has campuses in Iowa and Missouri, the Lamoni and Independence campuses respectively.

Graceland University offers online degree programs in several academic fields including nursing, religion and education.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is the first doctoral program to be offered at Graceland University. The DNP is offered through distance learning and requires two on-campus sessions in the course of the program. In the course of the nursing doctoral program, students will learn to use nursing theory, research findings and other relevant knowledge to inform clinical practice.

The DNP at Graceland University is a student centered program. Students in the program will benefit by learning from and interacting with the DNP’s nursing faculty of all of which are prepared with doctoral qualifications. Furthermore, the program is offered online to cater to the needs of working nurses.

The DNP has a focus in Organizational Leadership, and does not prepare nurses for APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse) certification. The nursing program does offer the opportunity to take a 12 credit Nurse Educator certificate to prepare students interested in a faculty program.

Nurses with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) are eligible to apply for the Doctor of Nursing practice program at Graceland University. The program does not currently offer admission to nurses with a BSN and masters in a field other than nursing. Doctoral programs are being developed for a BSN to DNP and PhD in Nursing Education.

Maryville University: DNP Program Review

Maryville University

650 Maryville University Drive

St. Louis, MO 63141

Maryville University is a private, research university located in St. Louis, Missouri. The university was established in 1872. Maryville University’s 130 acre campus is located in the suburbs and surrounded by creeks, lakes and walking trails. Approximately 3,000 students are enrolled in Maryville University’s undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Financial aid is offered to over 90% of full-time students at Maryville University.

The DNP program at Maryville University prepares nurses for advanced practice in the nursing profession. The Doctor of Nursing Practice focuses on training nurses to utilize an evidence-based practice approach to healthcare by using research to understand and improve various functions in the healthcare system. The Post-Masters DNP can be completed in 5 semesters and requires 500 clinical practicum hours in addition to coursework.

Admission requirements for the Post-MSN and Post-BSN DNP programs include a BSN or MSN from a nursing program accredited by CCNE or NLNAC. A minimum 3.5 GPA (3.25 for Post-BSN applicants) in the previous nursing degree program, three letters of recommendation, CV and an admission essay are additional admission criteria. Select applicants may be required to participate in an interview as part of the admission process. Masters prepared applicants are required to have APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse) certification, while applicants to the post-BSN program need only a valid RN license obtained in the USA.

Saint Louis University: DNP and PhD in Nursing Program Review

Saint Louis University

School of Nursing

3525 Caroline Street

St. Louis, MO 63104-1099

St. Louis University, founded in 1818, claims to be the oldest university west of the Mississippi River. The university was founded by Reverend Louis Guillaume Valentin Dubourg and is affiliated with Catholic and Jesuit religious traditions. St. Louis University is located in St. Louis, Missouri.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice program is designed for nurses who desire to remain in practice in a healthcare setting, but function as leaders either through improving programs or managing patient care. Post-Baccalaureate and Post-Masters DNP programs are offered. The majority of coursework for the DNP is delivered online, with students required to attend campus twice during the course of the program, with each visit less than five days. Nurses enrolled in the DNP program complete clinical program requirements in their area.

For nurses who desire an academic role in the nursing profession, which involves exploring nursing research and contributing to the body of nursing knowledge, the PhD in Nursing is a viable option. Students can choose from online or campus-based courses. Nurses interested in online courses should note that students watch classes live, and are therefore required to access the internet at specified times. Admission requirements to the PhD in Nursing program include a minimum 3.25 GPA, an MSN (Masters of Science in Nursing) and satisfactory GRE scores within the past five years. Financial aid is available to students in the PhD in Nursing program.

University of Missouri: DNP and PhD in Nursing Program Review

University of Missouri

S246 School of Nursing

University of Missouri

Columbia, MO 65211

The University of Missouri has campuses in Columbia, St. Louis, and Kansas City. The flagship campus of the university is located in Columbia and was founded in 1839. The University of Missouri, informally referred to as Mizzou, is part of the University of Missouri system.

The Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs are offered in the Sinclair School of Nursing at the University of Missouri. The most obvious difference between the PhD in Nursing and DNP degrees is that the PhD is ideal for nurses seeking a career in research and academia, while the DNP is a practice-focused degree for nurses seeking to remain in clinical practice through managing care or in a leadership role.

The deadline to apply to the DNP program is annually each November 1, though the Sinclair School of Nursing accepts applications for the DNP year round. Admission requirements include a bachelors degree in nursing and a prerequisite course in statistics completed with a grade of “C” or better. Masters prepared nurses can complete the program in two to three years, while nurses with a BSN will require five to six years to fulfill the requirements to earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice qualification.

The PhD in Nursing is offered both on-campus and through distance education. International students are also eligible for both attendance options. Admission requirements for the PhD include a BSN with a 3.2 or higher GPA or an MSN with a 3.5 or higher GPA. Applicants to the doctoral research program are required to take the GRE.

University of Missouri Kansas City: DNP and PhD in Nursing Program Review

University of Missouri

5100 Cherry St

Kansas City, MO 64110

The University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC) is based in Kansas City, Missouri and is part of the University of Missouri system along with campuses in Columbia and St. Louis. The university has received many accolades and honors for its green campus, programs in innovation and management, affordable education and being a veteran-friendly institution. The University of Missouri Kansas City was established in 1929.

The PhD in Nursing program at the University of Missouri takes a modern and interdisciplinary approach to nursing education. The PhD program begins in summer, and includes at least two summer sessions. Students in the doctoral program complete most of their coursework via distance education, but are required to attend several on campus seminars throughout the year. The online nursing program meets the needs of working nurses who manage multiple interests in addition to education. In addition to taking core nursing courses in research and nursing, nurses in the PhD program will also take courses in an additional field of study related to their research interests. The PhD program offers both bachelors and masters entry pathways for nurses.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program prepares masters qualified advanced practice nurses with additional training necessary for a terminal degree in nursing, while the BSN to DNP program prepares nurses as APRNs in addition to providing doctoral education. Both programs are offered online or on-campus. The BSN to DNP offers four specializations- adult and family nurse practitioner programs to be completed on campus and women’s health or pediatric nurse that are completed online.

University of Missouri St. Louis: DNP and PhD in Nursing Program Review

University of Missouri St. Louis

1 University Blvd.

St. Louis, MO 63121-4400

The University of Missouri St. Louis is based in St. Louis, Missouri. The university offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs. Over 16,000 students are enrolled at the University of Missouri, with most students, whether undergraduate or graduate, receiving a form of financial aid.

The PhD in Nursing program focuses on developing and studying research to further knowledge in the nursing practice. To apply, prospective applicants should have earned a BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) or MSN (Master of Science in Nursing) from an accredited nursing program. The BSN GPA requirement is 3.2 or higher and a 3.5 or higher GPA is required for masters prepared applicants. In addition to submitting transcripts, exam scores for the GRE, letters of reference, a personal statement of research interests and GRE scores are all required for the PhD application.

The Doctor of Nursing practice is a terminal nursing practice degree which trains nurses to perform evidence-based practice, utilizing research to improve healthcare outcomes. Admission criteria for the DNP program include an earned MSN with a 3.0 or higher GPA, letters of reference, a proposed research project that demonstrates a match with faculty research interests, completion of a prerequisite course in statistics and an APRN certification valid in Missouri.