Bellarmine MSN AG-ACNP: Program Details and Cost

Bellarmine University’s Master of Science in Nursing includes an Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP) track. It prepares nurses to care for adults and older adults with acute, critical, and complex chronic conditions. The program is primarily online with one required on-campus visit, and most students finish in about two years of part-time study. The school lists $835 per credit for standard courses and $920 per credit for specialty courses, for a total of $38,200. Two Bellarmine pages give different credit totals, so confirm which one applies to your start term.

For all five Bellarmine MSN tracks side by side, see the Bellarmine MSN overview. This page sets out what the school publishes about this track: credits, format, practicum, admission, cost, certification eligibility, and the points where the sources differ. It does not rank this program or compare it with others.

Program at a Glance

Where the School’s Pages Differ

The school publishes two credit totals for this track. The catalog’s requirements page lists 43 credits. The program page and the curriculum map list 45 credits. The two lists also differ in course content: the catalog includes a 1-credit intensive course, NURS 657, while the curriculum map includes a 3-credit bioethics course, PHIL 543, and does not list NURS 657.

What Students Study

The curriculum map lists the following course sequence. Credits are shown in parentheses.

Year 1

• Fall: NURS 604 Transition to Advanced Practice (3), NURS 624 Introduction to Knowledge Translation (3), NURS 620 Quality and Safety (2)
• Spring: NURS 611 Advanced Physical Assessment (3), NURS 629 Pathophysiologic Concepts (3), NURS 621 Informatics and Clinical Decision Making (3)
• Summer: NURS 605 Clinical Prevention and Population Health (2), NURS 650 Pharmacology for Advanced Providers (3), NURS 600 Health Policy (2)

Year 2

• Fall: NURS 669 Adult Gerontology Acute Care I (6.5), with 225 practicum hours; NURS 665 Adult Gerontology Acute Care Pharmacology (1)
• Spring: NURS 670 Adult Gerontology Acute Care II (6.5), with 225 practicum hours
• Summer: NURS 673 Comprehensive AG-ACNP Practicum (4), with 360 practicum hours; PHIL 543 Bioethics (3)

The catalog also requires a minimum 3.0 GPA throughout the program. Students in the AG-ACNP track must earn a grade of B- or higher in NURS 611, 629, 650, 665, 669, and 670.

Clinical Practicum

The curriculum map lists 810 practicum hours: 225 in each specialty course in year two and 360 in the comprehensive practicum. A question on the program’s FAQ lists 720 total clinical hours, and the page does not say which track that figure covers.

Placement works differently depending on where you live, according to the school’s FAQ:

• Kentucky residents: the graduate practicum coordinator places you in a clinical site.
• Students outside Kentucky: you secure your own site, with guidance from the clinical coordinator.

The program page describes practicum hours in a healthcare setting near you, supervised by a preceptor selected with help from the clinical coordinator.

Admission Requirements

The catalog lists these admission criteria for the MSN program:

1. A BSN from a program accredited by CCNE or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
2. Official transcripts from all previous undergraduate and graduate coursework, sent directly from each institution.
3. A minimum GPA of 3.0.
4. GRE scores, if the program requests them. The FAQ says the GRE is not required.
5. English language proficiency for applicants who need it, shown by an accepted test score or approved language training.
6. Two professional references on the school’s form.
7. A goal statement and a resume describing relevant work, professional, and volunteer experience.
8. Proof of an active, unrestricted nursing license in Kentucky, or in compact states.

The program’s FAQ says a background check and drug screening are required, and that one year of bedside RN experience is required. The FAQ says that year can be completed during the first year of the program. Confirm these points for the AG-ACNP track.

Cost

The school’s tuition page lists the AG-ACNP track as follows:

The school’s listed total of $38,200 matches the arithmetic above, which uses the catalog’s 43-credit count. The page says all prices are subject to change, and it does not state the academic year the rates apply to. If the track is 45 credits, the total would be higher; ask the program to confirm.

The tuition page lists these discounts:

• Alumni: 20 percent off master’s programs for Bellarmine graduates who return to study. Students who start graduate work before finishing their undergraduate degree are not eligible.
• Partnership: 20 percent off master’s programs for affiliates of partner organizations.

The tuition page also notes that many employers offer tuition reimbursement. It does not list separate fees for this track. Ask the program whether any technology, clinical, or program fees apply.

If You Already Hold an MSN

Certification

The catalog says graduates are eligible to apply for certification through ANCC or AACN. Certification eligibility, exam content, and fees are set by each certifying body. Check the current requirements with the certifier before you plan your study or your application.

Questions to Ask Before You Apply

1. Which credit total applies to my start term: 43 or 45?
2. Is the $835 and $920 per-credit rate for the current academic year, and do any separate fees apply?
3. How many practicum hours does the AG-ACNP track require, and is it 720 or 810?
4. How is placement handled for my state, and what happens if my preceptor leaves mid-course?
5. If I already hold an MSN, which AG-ACNP option fits my credit count and cost?

Frequently Asked Questions

Key Takeaway