by Caroline Tomlinson, Communications Content Manager
Having received full approval from the Higher Learning Commission and Ohio Department of Higher Education, Cedarville University’s school of nursing will launch a new Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) online degree program this fall. Applications are now being accepted for the inaugural cohort that is slated to begin in August 2023. 
Cedarville’s D.N.P. program is one of only 10 offered by universities in Ohio.
Cedarville’s school of nursing began offering its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) degree in 1982 and 28 years later, began offering the Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.). The M.S.N. program offers tracks in family nurse practitioner, pediatric nurse practitioner, leadership and nurse educator.
Now, with the D.N.P. degree program, Cedarville University can further prepare its graduates for health care leadership and population-based health care, while staying at the forefront of anticipated changes within the nursing profession.
Cedarville’s M.S.N. program was ranked fifth in the state of Ohio and in the top 100 in the nation according to U.S. News and World Report’s January 2023 listing of Best Online Programs. Cedarville will continue to offer its B.S.N. and M.S.N. programs to help Christian nurses achieve their educational and career goals.
This is the University’s third terminal degree, following the Doctor of Pharmacy and physician assistant studies programs.
“The increasing demands in the complex health care environment require the highest level of knowledge and practice to ensure quality patient care,” said Kim Higginbotham, assistant dean and director of graduate nursing programs. “We see the future of graduate nursing education as a time to meet the needs of the community and the trajectory of the nursing profession.”
Cedarville’s D.N.P. program offers two tracks — nurse practitioner and nursing leadership. The nurse practitioner track allows graduates to work as advanced practice nurses, while the leadership track prepares them for a career in nursing administration.
Cedarville’s online program features two completion pathways:
- B.S.N. to D.N.P. – This pathway allows B.S.N.-prepared nurses to complete a D.N.P. degree in 75-79 credit hours over four years.
- M.S.N. to D.N.P. – This pathway enables M.S.N.-prepared nurses to complete a D.N.P. degree in as little as 35 credit hours, or two years. The required hours will be determined by an M.S.N. transcript review and customized to each student’s career goal.
The D.N.P. program follows the Cedarville school of nursing’s vision of equipping exceptional nurses who use nursing as their ministry for Christ.
“Providing an education grounded in biblical truth prepares students to care for vulnerable populations holistically,” said Higginbotham. “D.N.P. graduates will be equipped to influence the nursing profession, the health and well-being of populations and use nursing as a ministry for Christ.”
To begin your application, go to cedarville.edu/gradnursing.
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 5,082 undergraduate, graduate, and dual enrolled high school students in more than 175 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is one of the largest private universities in Ohio, recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, high graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and the #4 national ranking by the Wall Street Journal for student engagement. For more information about the University, visit cedarville.edu.