Graduate Programs
Master of Science in Nursing
The MSN programs at WVU offer baccalaureate-prepared nurses the opportunity to earn a master's degree with part-time or full-time curriculum options. Our current program includes a master’s degree in the FNP (family) nurse practitioner specialty track.
Post-Graduate Certificate
The post-graduate APRN certificate programs are offered to professional nurses who have previously earned a master's degree or higher in nursing and who are interested in obtaining national certification in advanced practice nursing. The focus areas are Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). The post-master’s certificate in Nurse Executive Leadership (NEL) is specifically designed for current nursing professionals holding a Master’s degree or higher in nursing who may be in advanced practice, education, leadership, and/or direct patient care roles.
Doctor of Nursing Practice
The WVU School of Nursing Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program prepares nurses to practice at the highest level of professional nursing. Graduates of the DNP program advance the application of nursing knowledge through the translation and implementation of evidence for practice to improve health outcomes for diverse populations. This expert level practice builds on past advanced practice education, experience, and certification. The DNP program can be completed in as few as 32 credit hours.
DNP Nurse Anesthetist
This accredited, hybrid curriculum prepares the student nurse anesthetist for certification in nurse anesthesia and will confer a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. A student enrolling in this major can expect a rigorous, challenging program of study, heavily based in sciences including anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, chemistry, and physics. This full-time program will require students to take 88 credits and at least 2,000 clinical hours over three years or nine continuous semesters.
PhD
The Ph.D. in Nursing offers both part-time and full-time options, composed of in-person and online learning components. Coursework is delivered online during fall and spring semesters, and summer courses are offered in a seminar-style, face-to-face format. Once students defend a dissertation proposal, they advance to become doctoral candidates. Students then complete the research and dissertation phase, which culminates in a written and oral dissertation defense.