Fresno Pacific University FNP Programs

School of Nursing • Fresno, CA • Hybrid • $800/credit

Fresno Pacific University offers 1 Family Nurse Practitioner track: an MSN with an FNP emphasis.

Program highlights:

  • 51 units over two years, completed together as a cohort
  • Blended format — face-to-face class one day per week at the North Fresno campus, plus online work
  • FNP emphasis built on a primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention practicum sequence
  • Faith-based curriculum integrating Christian values, capped by a scholarly master’s project

It’s designed for working BSN-prepared RNs in California’s Central Valley and prepares graduates for the national FNP certification exams through the AANP or ANCC. The program is CCNE-accredited.

Program Tracks Overview

Program NameEst. TuitionEst. Duration
MSN FNP~$41K (51 units × $800)2 years

Fresno Pacific is a faith-based university offering a cohort MSN-FNP that meets on campus just one day a week — a manageable, in-person path to FNP practice for working nurses in California’s Central Valley.

MSN FNP

The estimated cost for the MSN FNP at Fresno Pacific University is about $40,800 in tuition (51 units at $800 each). The program takes about two years to complete.

MSN Curriculum

The MSN-FNP totals 51 units, blending FNP clinical preparation with leadership and nurse-educator content that reflects FPU’s Christian mission. It covers the APRN core (health assessment, pathophysiology, pharmacology), nursing research, a primary/secondary/tertiary prevention practicum sequence, systems leadership and budgeting, and a scholarly project, finishing with a clinical immersion.

Delivery is blended, with one face-to-face day per week.

NURS 700 — Professional Foundation and Advanced Nursing Role Development
Examines the foundations of nursing knowledge, the AACN master’s essentials, and transition into the advanced practice role, with emphasis on lifelong learning and holistic professional growth.

NURS 705 — Christian Values for Social Justice, Health Care Economics and Advocacy
Explores Christian/Anabaptist values in relation to health policy, economics, financing, and advocacy, with attention to conflict resolution, negotiation, and social justice.

NURS 710 — Nursing Curriculum, Planning, Implementation and Evaluation
Covers teaching and learning theory, curriculum design, classroom management, technology integration, and evaluation methods for nursing education roles. Requires NURS 710A.

NURS 710A — Microteaching Practicum
Provides supervised practice in teaching, learning, and evaluation through development of a nursing education teaching project. (45 hours). Requires NURS 710.

NURS 715 — Advanced Health Assessment
Builds advanced assessment skills for collecting, organizing, and interpreting health data across the lifespan, including history, physical exam, and lab findings.

NURS 720 — Advanced Patho-Physiology
Examines physiological responses to disease using key systems concepts, applying pathophysiology across age groups and clinical settings to advanced nursing practice.

NURS 725 — Advanced Pharmacology
Focuses on pharmacologic decision-making for advanced practice, including drug action, adverse effects, contraindications, prescribing, and medication safety.

NURS 730 — Advanced Nursing Research
Introduces scholarly inquiry, research methods, literature review, data management, and research use in improving quality and patient care, supporting thesis/project work.

NURS 735 — Primary Prevention: Individual, Family and Community Health
Focuses on health promotion and disease prevention through screening, education, anticipatory guidance, and case management for individuals, families, and communities. Requires NURS 735A.

NURS 735A — Primary Prevention Practicum
Clinical practicum in health promotion and maintenance for individuals, families, and communities, with use of educational technologies. (135 hours). Requires NURS 735.

NURS 740A — Thesis/Project Development
Guides students through thesis or project planning, including topic approval, literature review, research design, and development of the first three proposal chapters.

NURS 740B — Thesis/Project Development
Continues thesis/project development from NURS 740A, supporting proposal approval, IRB submission, and completion of the scholarly project. Repeatable for credit.

NURS 745 — Secondary Clinical Prevention: Individual, Family and Community Health
Covers assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of minor acute conditions across the lifespan, with emphasis on secondary prevention and use of clinical protocols.

NURS 745A — Secondary Prevention Practicum: Individual, Family and Community Health
Supervised clinical experience in primary or acute care focused on secondary prevention, assessments, and case management for clients of all ages. (135 hours).

NURS 750 — Tertiary Prevention: Older Adults
Focuses on chronic disease management, care coordination, and long-term care, with emphasis on tertiary prevention and managing complex conditions across the lifespan.

NURS 750A — Tertiary Prevention Practicum
Supervised practicum in primary or acute care focused on tertiary prevention and chronic care management for clients of all ages. (135 hours).

NURS 755 — Systems Leadership, Business and Budget Planning
Develops leadership skills for advanced nursing practice, including systems leadership, interprofessional teamwork, and business and budget planning in healthcare.

NURS 760 — Role Synthesis and Evaluation for Advanced Practice
Supports synthesis of APRN role development through self-mastery, evaluation, and interprofessional collaboration to strengthen advanced practice readiness.

NURS 790 — Clinical Immersion Experience
Capstone immersion that integrates prior coursework into clinical practice, strengthening reasoning, confidence, and readiness for beginning independent practice. (225 hours)

More curriculum details are available here.

MSN Clinicals

Clinical preparation runs through a prevention-focused practicum sequence — primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention practicums plus a final clinical immersion. A total required clinical-hour count is not clearly stated.

  • Practicums: Primary (735A), Secondary (745A), and Tertiary (750A) Prevention Practicums (3 units each)
  • Clinical immersion: NURS 790 Clinical Immersion Experience (3 units)
  • Population focus: family-centered primary care across the lifespan
  • Total clinical hours: not clearly stated
  • Project: a scholarly master’s project in the student’s practice area

MSN Admissions

Admission requires a BSN and a California RN license, plus an interview.

  • BSN from an accredited nursing program (a letter of explanation is required if GPA is below 3.0)
  • Prerequisite coursework: college-level statistics, chemistry with lab, and upper-division writing
  • Active California RN license
  • Two professional references from the medical field
  • Statement of intent and a resume
  • Program interview

By the end of the first semester, students must also submit a background check, a current physical exam and immunization records, and proof of malpractice insurance.

Deadlines are June 1 for Fall and November 15 for Spring, with a $45 application fee.

Tuition

Fresno Pacific charges $800 per unit for the MSN. Across the 51-unit program that’s about $40,800 in tuition, plus a $139 per-semester student services fee and the usual books and clinical costs. As a private Christian university, FPU offers institutional aid alongside federal and state options.

See the official cost page for more details: Cost & Financial Aid.

Accreditation

The master’s nursing program at Fresno Pacific University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing. The university is regionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission. FNP graduates are eligible to sit for national FNP certification through the AANP (AANPCB) or the ANCC.

Explore Additional California FNP Programs