2018-2019 Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2018-2019 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Healthcare Systems Leadership, DNP [Applications No Longer Accepted]


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Profound and unprecedented change in healthcare has created a need for knowledgeable and innovative clinical leaders. Career opportunities for nurses with 21st-century leadership skills have never been greater. The healthcare systems leadership program is designed to prepare students to assume leadership and care management roles across the continuum of care delivery in the emerging healthcare delivery system.

The curriculum includes coursework that integrates nursing, business, informatics, and health services administration to provide students with the opportunity to develop advanced analytical and communication skills. Leadership development is enhanced by exposure to diverse perspectives, a knowledge of theory and research, and a critical understanding of professional practice issues.

Students complete practicum courses in a variety of settings and specialty areas. Hospitals, ambulatory care clinics, home health agencies, public health agencies, and community-based agencies are used to develop a student experience consonant with the individual’s career path and learning objectives.

Faculty believe in the principles of adult learning, with individualized, interactive experiences designed to foster lifelong learning. Courses in the healthcare systems leadership program combine distance learning with traditional classroom experiences. Students enrolling in this program must have access to email and the web to complete the distance learning assignments.

This specialty is available in the:

  • BSN to DNP
  • DNP completion program

Program Learning Outcomes


  Contact department/program

HCSL Curriculum


This is a sample curriculum pattern for a BSN-DNP student in the Clinical Nurse Leader curriculum track. Individual curriculum plans are negotiated between the student and adviser. The Clinical Nurse Leader curriculum track is ideal for a student interested in a CNL master’s degree in conjunction with the DNP degree. Students in this curriculum track often complete their CNL and DNP projects in their current workplace.

Total Units: 54-70


Expected Units: 60


  • Must complete a minimum of 1000 hours of supervised practicum experience throughout program. Completion of CNL program will provide 400 hours that will be counted towards total DNP hours.
  • This pattern is a guide and can be adjusted per students’ needs.
  • If student opts to complete project earlier, chair and committee must agree.

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