Purpose
The purpose of the Post-Graduate Certificate (PGC) is to prepare nurses with previous MSN or DNP degrees for advanced practice in an additional specialty. Note that as of Fall 2021, the former Post-Master's Certificate is known as the Post-Graduate Certificate.
Second-specialty PGC course flexibility based on your previous education background, nursing experience and career goals.
Your Post-Graduate Certificate plan of study will depend on previous coursework in your MSN or DNP program. Required coursework is dependent on a gap analysis completed by a faculty advisor in your chosen specialty upon admission to the program. The faculty advisor will provide guidance based on your classroom and clinical training, your experience as a practicing nurse, and your professional goals.
Students in the Post-Graduate Certificate program may have a plan of study ranging from approximately 20 to 30 credit hours and can expect to complete the program in one to two years.
Course requirements per specialty can be found within each specialty curriculum plan, which is located in the Masters of Science in Nursing Program section.
The outcomes and competencies of the Post-Graduate Certificate are based on the outcomes and competencies of the MSN program.
Post-Graduate Certificate Options
A PGC can be earned in these MSN specialty track choices:
Adult–Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Adult–Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Family Nurse Practitioner
Pediatrics Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Pediatrics Primary and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
PGC completion qualifies students to apply to take the appropriate Nurse Practitioner board certification exam as noted in the Specialty Tracks section.
Admission Requirements
Admission is competitive and capacity is limited. Applicants with strong educational backgrounds are considered first. See the Admission Policies for Master's Degree (5.3.3) in the Student Policies section for details.
Admission Key Dates
These PGC specialty tracks admit students once annually.
| MSN/PGC Specialty | Application Opens | Application Due | Program Start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult-Gerontological Acute Care NP | September 1 | February 1 | August |
| Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP | September 1 | February 1 | August |
| Family NP | September 1 | February 1 | August |
| Pediatric NP | September 1 | February 1 | August |
| Psychiatric Mental Health NP | September 1 | February 1 | August |
This PGC specialty track admits students twice annually.
| MSN/PGC Specialty | Application Opens | Application Due | Program Start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women's Health NP | September 1 | February 1 | August |
| Women's Health NP | April 1 | August 1 | January |