University of South Alabama FNP Programs

The University of South Alabama offers 3 Family Nurse Practitioner tracks:

  • MSN FNP
  • BSN-DNP FNP
  • Post-Master’s Certificate FNP

All three tracks run entirely online, with clinicals arranged locally through approved preceptors. At least one on-campus Clinical Skills Intensive is required per specialty track.

Program Tracks Overview

Program NameEst. TuitionEst. Duration
MSN FNP$27K~2 years
BSN-DNP FNP$41K~3.5 years
Post-Master’s Certificate FNP$14KUp to 2 years

Clinicals are typically completed in the student’s home community, making the program well-suited for working nurses who cannot relocate.

MSN FNP

The estimated cost for the MSN FNP at the University of South Alabama is approximately $27,000 (45 credits × $594/credit), and the program would take about 2 years to complete on a full-time basis.

BSN-prepared RNs complete 45 total credit hours across support, core, and FNP specialty courses. RNs holding a non-nursing bachelor’s degree enter via the RN-to-MSN pathway and complete an additional 12 credit hours (NU 506, 507, 508), bringing their total to 57 credits (~$33,858).

The MSN degree must be completed within five years of matriculation. Four MSN core courses are taught at a doctoral level, meaning students who continue to a DNP program will have already fulfilled 12 of those required credits.

MSN Curriculum

The MSN FNP curriculum covers advanced assessment, pathophysiology, pharmacology, evidence-based practice, healthcare policy, and systems leadership, followed by a progressive series of FNP specialty didactic and practicum courses. Total credit hours: 45 (BSN entry) or 57 (RN-to-MSN with non-nursing bachelor’s).

Support Courses (9 credits):

  • NU 518 – Advanced Nursing Assessment (3 cr)
  • NU 545 – Physio-pathological Basis of Advanced Nursing (3 cr)
  • NU 578 – Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nurses (3 cr)

MSN Core Courses (12 credits):

  • NU 607 – Scientific Underpinnings of Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr)
  • NU 608 – Evidence-Based Practice and Quality Improvement in Healthcare (3 cr)
  • NU 610 – Healthcare Policy and Finance (3 cr)
  • NU 613 – Organizational & Systems Leadership (3 cr)

FNP Specialty Courses (24 credits):

CMN 568 – Introduction to Family NP (3 credit hours)
Introduces primary care management for patients across the lifespan, focusing on assessment, diagnosis, and evidence-based care. Emphasizes clinical reasoning, differential diagnoses, and holistic, culturally responsive care in collaborative settings.

CMN 571 – Health Promotion & Disease Prevention for Family NP (2 credit hours)
Prepares students to design and implement health promotion and disease prevention strategies across the lifespan. Highlights social determinants of health, prevention levels, and team-based approaches to improving outcomes.

CMN 572 – Family NP I (3 credit hours)
Builds foundational skills in assessing, diagnosing, and managing acute and chronic conditions in primary care. Focuses on evidence-based practice, clinical judgment, and person-centered care across diverse populations.

CMN 573 – Family NP Practicum I (3 credit hours, 180 clinical hours)
Provides supervised clinical experience to apply assessment, diagnostic reasoning, and management planning skills. Emphasizes professionalism, documentation, and holistic care in real-world settings.

CMN 574 – Family NP II (3 credit hours)
Expands primary care competencies with continued focus on clinical decision-making, differential diagnoses, and management of complex health conditions across the lifespan.

CMN 575 – Family NP Practicum II (3 credit hours, 180 clinical hours)
Advances clinical application of diagnostic and management skills in diverse care settings. Reinforces evidence-based practice, ethical care, and professional development.

CMN 576 – Family NP Practicum III (4 credit hours, 240 clinical hours)
Culminating practicum emphasizing advanced clinical competence, leadership, and care delivery in complex settings. Integrates diagnostic reasoning, collaboration, and quality improvement.

CMN 577 – Family NP III (3 credit hours)
Prepares students for transition into advanced practice by integrating clinical knowledge, evidence-based treatment, and professional role development. Explores current issues and trends in family healthcare.

RN-to-MSN Additional Courses (12 credits):

  • NU 506 – Evidence-Based Practice & Informatics for Professional Nurses (4 cr)
  • NU 507 – Leadership & Management Roles for Professional Nurses (4 cr)
  • NU 508 – Clinical Prevention and Population Health for Professional Nurses (4 cr)

More curriuclum details on the course catalog page.

MSN Clinicals

The MSN FNP track requires 600 total supervised clinical hours, distributed across three practicum courses. Clinicals are typically completed with preceptors in the student’s home community.

  • CMN 573 – Practicum I: 180 hours
  • CMN 575 – Practicum II: 180 hours
  • CMN 576 – Practicum III: 240 hours
  • One mandatory on-campus Clinical Skills Intensive (CSI), held during the spring semester when enrolled in CMN 573
  • CSI is conducted through the USA Simulation Program and covers advanced practice assessments and procedures relevant to the FNP scope
  • Students must have a confirmed clinical placement prior to full admission; conditional admission is available for up to 9 support course credits while placement is arranged

MSN Admissions

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents with an unrestricted RN license and a minimum 3.0 GPA on all BSN coursework.

  • Current RN license with no restrictions (including no participation in voluntary disciplinary alternative programs)
  • BSN from a regionally accredited institution (CCNE, ACEN, or NLN accredited nursing program)
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA on all BSN work
  • 2 years of RN experience in an area appropriate to the specialty track, prior to enrolling in NP clinical courses
  • Personal Goal Statement (used as a scholarly writing sample)
  • Résumé documenting clinical experience
  • Official transcripts submitted through NursingCAS
  • Completed primary application via NursingCAS plus supplemental application submitted to the USA CON
  • $100 non-refundable supplemental application processing fee
  • Negative drug screen, acceptable background check, and completed health requirements
  • Confirmed clinical placement and preceptor agreement for full admission
  • RN-to-MSN applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution in a discipline other than nursing

BSN-DNP FNP

The estimated cost for the BSN-DNP FNP at the University of South Alabama is approximately $41,000 (69 credits × $594/credit), and the program would take about 3.5 years to complete on a full-time basis (10 semesters).

The BSN-DNP track bundles the FNP specialty with doctoral-level coursework and a practice-focused scholarly project, eliminating the need for a separate DNP application after the MSN.

The MSN portion must be completed within five years; the full DNP must be completed within seven years. Part-time study is available and extends to 16 semesters.

MSN-prepared nurses who already hold an FNP or other APRN certification may enter the MSN-to-DNP pathway, which requires only 36 credit hours to complete the DNP core, project planning, and residency — estimated at ~$21,384.

DNP Curriculum

The BSN-DNP FNP curriculum encompasses the same support and specialty courses as the MSN track, plus eight additional DNP core courses and four DNP project/residency courses. Total: 69 credit hours for BSN entry.

Support Courses (9 credits) — same as MSN track:

  • NU 518 – Advanced Nursing Assessment (3 cr)
  • NU 545 – Physio-pathological Basis of Advanced Nursing (3 cr)
  • NU 578 – Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nurses (3 cr)

FNP Specialty Courses (24 credits) — same as MSN track:

  • CMN 568 – Introduction to Family NP (3 cr)
  • CMN 571 – Health Promotion/Disease Prevention & Issues for Family NP (2 cr)
  • CMN 572 – Family NP I (3 cr)
  • CMN 573 – Family NP Practicum I – 180 Clinical Hours (3 cr)
  • CMN 574 – Family NP II (3 cr)
  • CMN 575 – Family NP Practicum II – 180 Clinical Hours (3 cr)
  • CMN 576 – Family NP Practicum III – 240 Clinical Hours (4 cr)
  • CMN 577 – Family NP III (3 cr)

DNP Core Courses (24 credits):

  • NU 607 – Scientific Underpinnings of Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr)
  • NU 608 – Evidence-Based Practice and Quality Improvement in Healthcare (3 cr)
  • NU 610 – Healthcare Policy and Finance (3 cr)
  • NU 613 – Organizational & Systems Leadership (3 cr)
  • NU 611 – Translating Evidence Into Practice Systems (3 cr)
  • NU 612 – Clinical Prevention and Population Health (3 cr)
  • NU 615 – Quality Improvement and Outcomes Assessment (3 cr)
  • NU 616 – Data Management & Decision Making in Complex Healthcare Systems (3 cr)

DNP Project Planning, Development & Residency (12 credits):

  • CMN 680 – Family NP Project Planning & Development (3 cr)
  • CMN 681 – Family NP Residency I – 180 specialty clinical hours (3 cr)
  • CMN 682 – Family NP Residency II – 180 specialty clinical hours (3 cr)
  • CMN 683 – Family NP Residency III – 180 specialty clinical hours (3 cr)

More DNP curriculum info can be found in the course catalog.

No thesis or dissertation is required. Students complete an evidence-based scholarly project resulting in a measurable quality improvement change. Residency work can be completed in the student’s home region with an approved mentor.

DNP Clinicals

The BSN-DNP FNP track requires approximately 1,140 total clinical hours across the specialty practicum and DNP residency phases. All clinical work is completed with community-based preceptors; no mandatory clinical rotations require travel beyond the initial campus CSI.

  • FNP Practicum I: 180 hours (CMN 573)
  • FNP Practicum II: 180 hours (CMN 575)
  • FNP Practicum III: 240 hours (CMN 576)
  • DNP Residency I: 180 specialty clinical hours (CMN 681)
  • DNP Residency II: 180 specialty clinical hours (CMN 682)
  • DNP Residency III: 180 specialty clinical hours (CMN 683)
  • One mandatory on-campus CSI, occurring during the spring semester of the first clinical course
  • DNP project must be reviewed by the USA CON Scientific Review Committee before enrolling in Residency I

DNP Admissions

BSN-DNP applicants must hold a BSN from a nationally accredited nursing program and meet the same licensure and GPA standards as MSN applicants.

  • U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Current unrestricted RN license
  • BSN from a CCNE-, ACEN-, or NLN-accredited nursing program
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA on all BSN coursework
  • 2 years of nursing experience in the relevant specialty area, prior to clinical coursework
  • Personal Goal Statement
  • Résumé documenting clinical experience
  • Official transcripts via NursingCAS
  • Completed primary application (NursingCAS) and supplemental application submitted to the USA CON DNP Office
  • $100 non-refundable supplemental application fee
  • Negative drug screen, acceptable background check, completed health requirements
  • Confirmed clinical placement prior to full admission; conditional admission available for up to 9 support course credits
  • Applications accepted three times per year

Post-Master’s Certificate FNP

The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s Certificate FNP at the University of South Alabama is approximately $14,256 (24 specialty credits × $594/credit), and the program must be completed within 2 years of beginning specialty coursework. Students who have not previously completed the three support courses (NU 518, 545, 578) will add up to 9 additional credits (~$5,346), bringing the maximum to approximately $19,602.

This certificate is designed for MSN- or doctoral-prepared RNs who want to add FNP certification without re-completing an entire degree program. Core and research coursework from the prior graduate degree is not repeated.

Certificate Curriculum

Certificate students complete the FNP specialty courses and any support courses not already completed in their graduate program. Graduate core courses (NU 607, 608, 610, 613) are not required unless the student has not yet taken them.

FNP Specialty Courses (24 credits):

  • CMN 568 – Introduction to Family NP (3 cr)
  • CMN 571 – Health Promotion/Disease Prevention & Issues for Family NP (2 cr)
  • CMN 572 – Family NP I (3 cr)
  • CMN 573 – Family NP Practicum I – 180 Clinical Hours (3 cr)
  • CMN 574 – Family NP II (3 cr)
  • CMN 575 – Family NP Practicum II – 180 Clinical Hours (3 cr)
  • CMN 576 – Family NP Practicum III – 240 Clinical Hours (4 cr)
  • CMN 577 – Family NP III (3 cr)

Support Courses (if not previously completed — up to 9 credits):

  • NU 518 – Advanced Nursing Assessment (3 cr)
  • NU 545 – Physio-pathological Basis of Advanced Nursing (3 cr)
  • NU 578 – Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nurses (3 cr)

More curriculum details available on the course catalog page.

Certificate Clinicals

Certificate students complete the same 600 supervised clinical hours required in the MSN FNP specialty sequence, arranged locally with approved preceptors.

  • Practicum I: 180 hours (CMN 573)
  • Practicum II: 180 hours (CMN 575)
  • Practicum III: 240 hours (CMN 576)
  • One mandatory on-campus CSI through the USA Simulation Program
  • Post-graduate certificate students admitted directly to the clinical specialty must provide confirmed clinical placement and preceptor documentation for full admission
  • Must complete the program within 2 years from the start of specialty coursework

Certificate Admissions

Applicants must hold an MSN or doctoral degree in nursing and meet licensure and GPA requirements consistent with other USA CON graduate tracks.

  • U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Current unrestricted RN license
  • MSN or doctoral degree in nursing from a nationally accredited institution (CCNE, ACEN, or NLN)
  • Minimum 3.0 overall graduate GPA as calculated by NursingCAS
  • 2 years of RN experience appropriate to the FNP specialty, prior to clinical coursework
  • Personal Goal Statement
  • Résumé documenting clinical experience
  • Official transcripts via NursingCAS
  • Completed primary (NursingCAS) and supplemental applications submitted to the USA CON MSN Office
  • $100 non-refundable supplemental application fee
  • Negative drug screen, acceptable background check, completed health requirements
  • Confirmed clinical placement required for full admission
  • Applications accepted year-round

Tuition

The University of South Alabama College of Nursing charges a flat tuition rate of $594 per credit hour for all graduate nursing courses, regardless of residency. There is no difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition, so students across the country pay the same rate. Tuition is also consistent across program levels, meaning MSN and DNP students pay the same per-credit cost.

Total program costs vary based on the number of credits required, ranging from about $14,256 for a Post-Master’s Certificate (specialty credits only) to approximately $41,000 for the 69-credit BSN-to-DNP pathway. Additional expenses include a $100 non-refundable supplemental application fee, as well as required drug screening and background checks.

See the official tuition page for more details.

Accreditation

The University of South Alabama College of Nursing’s graduate nursing programs are designed to comply with national certification requirements recognized by accrediting bodies including CCNE, ACEN, and NLN — all recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Specific accreditation status is not explicitly stated on the program pages reviewed; prospective students should confirm current accreditation directly with the College of Nursing before enrolling.