Doctoral Nursing Program

The doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) program will prepare you for a leadership role in a variety of organizations, health-related agencies, and educational institutions. The curriculum, which can be completed in about four years, follows the research-focused doctorate by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. It focuses first on building a knowledge based in nursing, leadership, policy, and research to begin the process of conducting original studies that lead to the dissertation.

At Molloy, you’ll benefit from:

• A program rooted in a humanistic framework focused on preparing you to lead in knowledge development and nursing interventions that demonstrate value and respect for persons vulnerable to illness.
• An emphasis on health policy with an experiential learning component in Washington, D.C., and a doctoral course in health policy.
• Strong faculty-student engagement via small classes and interactive, face-to-face dialogue.
• A robust research program with planned, individualized research residency experiences where students can select among faculty research mentors to gain firsthand experience, mentorship, and essential research skill development. We also have a Center for Nursing Research and Evaluation that supports and enhances the research quality and productivity of faculty and students.
• A convenient, part-time evening schedule. Students take two classes per semester and sometimes over the summer. Our courses are regularly scheduled on Thursday evenings, so our students typically do not have a problem requesting the time off.

This innovative, clinically focused program will prepare you to become an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) and meet today’s changing healthcare challenges. You’ll learn to think holistically and execute creatively to address the need to improve patient outcomes, reduce costs, eliminate health disparities, prioritize prevention, and improve access and utilization of health services, particularly primary care.

At Molloy, you’ll benefit from:

• A focus on practice inquiry, evidence-based practice, and translational research that bridges the gap between research and clinical applications to improve overall population health and patient outcomes.
• An interdisciplinary and intradisciplinary approach, with opportunities to participate in global medical missions, community outreach, service projects, and policy immersion.
• Flexible learning opportunities with both in-person evening and hybrid course formats. If you have a master’s or post-master’s certificate, you earn your DNP in three years, attending part time. If you have a bachelor’s, the program can be completed in five years, attending part time.
• Participating in projects that directly impact patient and population outcomes. All our students have disseminated their projects with poster and podium presentations, either on the local, national, or international level.
• Individualized attention and support. Time management, work/life balance, and wellness are all considered part of the doctoral process, and your DNP faculty is here to assist you every step of the way.

Strengthen or broaden your clinical or management capabilities and enhance or change your nursing career path in the post-graduate advanced certificate program to DNP pathway at Molloy University.

At Molloy you’ll benefit from:

• Your choice of five pathways: Adult-gerontology primary care (AGNP), adult gerontology acute care (AG-ACNP), family (FNP), pediatric (PNP) and psychiatric mental health (PMHNP).
• A flexible, part-time course format:The program includes 27 credits (30 for FNP and AGACNP) and a minimum of 500 clinical hours for AGNP, AG-ACNP, PNP and PMHNP areas and 715 clinical hours for the FNP concentration.
• Admission based on gap analysis for certified AGNP, PNP, or women’s health practitioners. A minimum of six credits and 300 clinical hours are required to be taken at Molloy. Accepted students will have a gap analysis of previous graduate work to determine their progression plan.
• Individualized attention and support.Time management, work/life balance, and wellness are all considered part of the doctoral process, and your DNP faculty is here to assist you every step of the way.

Designed for working nurses looking to advance their careers, the post-master’s to DNP pathway is for those who have a master’s degree as well as advanced practice certification and registration as a nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist.

At Molloy you’ll benefit from:

• A flexible, part-time course format. The program comprises nine core courses totaling 27 hours and four clinical residency courses totaling 500 clinical hours and 10 credits. You can earn your DNP in three years.
• An interdisciplinary educational approach. Each course explores the concepts of policy development, business acumen, translational research, advanced practice, leadership, scholarly writing, informatics, and media savvy.
• Individualized attention and support. Time management, work/life balance, and wellness are all considered part of the doctoral process, and your DNP faculty is here to assist you every step of the way.

The post-baccalaureate to DNP pathway provides you with an integrated course of study to prepare you to become a certified nurse practitioner—and healthcare leader in the specialty area of your choice.

At Molloy you’ll benefit from:

• Your choice of specialty area. Choose to become a nurse practitioner in adult-gerontology primary care, adult gerontology acute care, family, pediatric, or psychiatric mental health. Once you graduate, you’ll receive state and national certification in that specialty.
• A flexible, part-time course format. The program ranges from 67 to 70 credits based on the specialty selected, with at least 1,000 clinical hours. You can earn your DNP in five years.
• Individualized attention and support. Time management, work/life balance, and wellness are all considered part of the doctoral process, and your DNP faculty is here to assist you every step of the way.

Molloy University is accredited by:

• Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York
• The State Education Department – Albany, New York
• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools